Between 1987 and 2009, Iron Horse Bicycles was a maker of racing and mountain bikes in New York, USA. But are Iron Horse Bikes good?
Iron Horse is undoubtedly a solid brand. They not just focused on upscale and seasoned cyclists, but also manufactured a number of the best entry-level bicycles commercially available.
In this article, we will look at whether iron horse bikes are good, as well as the factors that make them good.
What Are Iron Horse Bikes?
Iron Horse Bicycles was established in New York City in 1987 and immediately rose to prominence. Iron Horse is well known for its mountain and extreme racing bikes, which were sold across the United States and overseas.
Iron Horse’s line of bicycles includes road bikes, trail bikes and mountain bikes, as well as comfort and hybrid bikes.
Are Iron Horse Bikes Good?
The Iron Horse bicycle range is one of the greatest deals available. When determining how excellent a bicycle is, there are two factors to consider:
- The parts
- The structure and frame
So are Iron Horse bikes good in terms of frame and components? Iron Horse made every effort to outfit each bike with the greatest parts that a particular price range will allow. This is the reason they provide such excellent value.
A large number of bicycle frames are of exceptionally good standard (several made by the same supplier), with the main difference being some design aspects and weight.
Customers ultimately pay extra for the “brand” on some bicycles, allowing Iron Horse to give more value for their money while still piecing together a pretty fine bicycle.
What Makes Iron Horse Bikes Good?
If you’re wondering “Are Iron Horse bikes good?”, there are quite a few factors which make Iron Horse bikes stand out from other manufacturers.
Aesthetics and Durability
One thing to notice about all Iron Horse bicycles is the aesthetics, which are really beautiful. The frames are usually built of strong materials that withstand well when put under load. This implies that if you choose one of these bicycles, you will also enjoy exceptional durability.
The bright colours are what distinguish it in the sense of style, and these bicycles look fantastic. You will be given the choice of choosing an alternative colour if you so like, however, this will incur an additional cost.
Suspension
The suspension of Iron Horse bikes is notable for its ability to change the smoothness of the pedalling. There is nothing more annoying than wobbling because of uneven pedalling, and in this area, Iron Horse has excelled. But on tacky bicycles, the frame might not constantly perform to your advantage, which may be irritating.
Unisex Bike Models
Finding a good cross-country mountain bike for women riders has long been difficult, and if you are searching for something created exclusively for them, you may need to explore it a bit further. So are Iron Horse Bikes good for women?
Luckily, Iron Horse has created bicycles for both men and women.
Adaptability
One thing which is noticeable about this company is its desire to make everything adaptable. The bikes are intended for multipurpose use, and you may utilise them as you choose.
The Iron Horse cross-country mountain bicycles, especially the Phoenix, are a terrific instance of what flexibility means, and you can ride them on practically any terrain you choose.
Price
We rarely have tonnes of dollars to invest in the greatest bicycles, so the price is constantly a concern. But are Iron Horse bikes good when it comes to pricing?
Price is actually what distinguishes Iron Horse as a wonderful brand. The brand does provide decent bikes at reasonable costs. When it comes to pricing, we would not advocate purchasing a bike for less than $400. Those bikes are not as durable.
Why is the Iron Horse Sunday considered one of the best bicycles ever made?
We can’t answer the question “Are Iron Horse bikes good?” without mentioning Iron Horse Sunday. Iron Horse had been manufacturing high-end racing and mountain bikes since 1987, but the design that really took off was their classical Sunday downhill bicycle.
Iron Horse released the legendary Sunday downhill bicycle in 2004, which employed Dave Weagle’s DW-Link technology, a change from the preceding Horst-Link SGS design. Hill and now the Sunday were indeed a legendary couple with their bursts of brilliance on 2 wheels and shimmering green paint throughout Sam Hill’s reign.
Owing to its established qualities, the Sunday, much like the impressive M1 well before the beginning of the century, became a familiar sight among individual private World Cup competitors.
Iron Horse ceased operations as an upscale mountain bike business in 2009, but the Sunday had such an influence on the global downhill racing scene that private competitors and bicycle park old timers immediately purchased spare parts supply.
Riders praised Pivot Cycles’ initial Phoenix downhill design for drawing cues from the Sunday and attempting to resurrect original Iron Horse supporters. One combined firm, Zelvy, even planned to produce a steel frontal triangle to match with the old Sundays’ frame and back triangle, but the concept evolved into a totally new design, the Preston.
What Happened To Iron Horse Bikes?
In early 2009, Iron Horse declared bankruptcy. It owed lenders and copyright holders $5 million in the United States.
The DW link suspension design was a trademark that was featured on a series of Ironhorse racing bicycles. The name was drawn from the name of its designer and mechanical engineer Dave Weagle. Many more bike manufacturers are still using DW link suspension technology on a daily basis.
Dorel Industries Inc., the parent company of Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, and Sugoi, purchased the struggling Iron Horse Bikes.
In a deal estimated at US$5.2 million (EUR 3.35 million), the Canadians disclosed the purchase of some holdings of Iron Horse Bicycles, including stocks, numerous copyrights and business identities, in addition to the ‘Iron Horse’ trademark.
Iron Horse’s guaranteed creditor purchased the holdings in a bankruptcy bidding after the firm decided to halt business for monetary reasons. Iron Horses’ worldwide sales volume in 2008 was US$25 million (EUR 16 million).
Wrapping It Up
In this article, we answered the question “Are Iron Horse Bikes Good?” and also looked at various factors that make Iron Horse bikes excellent value for money.
While it is difficult to claim that Iron Horse is the best bicycle manufacturer, they do provide some high-quality bicycles at reasonable pricing. With easily available components, you will not be out of action for long.