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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions?
#18768041 - 08/28/13 11:24 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I threw out my old bike because it broke (many times) and was an all around piece of junk from Walmart. Lately, I've been really missing having a bike and was thinking I'd save over the winter and buy something with a little more quality come spring.
I've always liked the freeride/downhill style bikes with the full suspension & disc brakes etc. and was looking at getting one of those but damn they're pretty pricey.. Hell, I bought my motorcycle for less than many of the bikes I've seen.. I was looking for an entry level bike but that has a frame that can be readily upgraded as time goes by and/or things break. I was looking at something like this Specialized - Status but read that the axle width is too narrow to upgrade that later down the road. Also, it's a little on the pricey side for me.
Anyone with experience with these style bikes and have any suggestions to offer? Though I primarily want it for downhill/freeride, I'd imagine a quality downhill bike would still handle better with other riding like cross country than my cheap $300 Walmart bike too right?
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fee
Im he who is the


Registered: 01/16/03
Posts: 18,238
Loc: amsterdam
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: A Day InThe Life]
#18768053 - 08/28/13 11:32 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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blankk said to fee: btw you're a total fucking psychedelic pimp Turtletotem said: I want to become a sun worshipper, so next time an atheist smugly asks me where god is, I can point smugly at the sun and laugh my ass off. Then I drive away in my solar powered piece of shit car, cool stuff man. And then I go kill a bitch because the flaming orb in the sky told me to do so, and I don't know, oppress a few minorities here and there in the name of nuclear fusion? Religion is fun.
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Tangich


Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 8,723
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: A Day InThe Life]
#18768068 - 08/28/13 11:36 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Some bulkier all-mountain bikes handle almost as well as a downhiller when you drop the seatpost on the descends, but are a better all around choice if you plan on trail riding, and not just taking a shuttle to the top of the hill and riding to the bottom. And they are usually cheaper then downhill bikes, and much lighter. Unfortunately I don't know what brands and prices you have in the States, Kona is the only American company I'm familiar with, they've got great bikes, a bit pricey maybe. Kona Proccess or Kona Cadabra are some fine examples of what I'm referring to.
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
Posts: 12,317
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: fee]
#18768074 - 08/28/13 11:38 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
fee said: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/sjht/stumpjumpercomp29
That is a hardtail cross-country bike. TERRIBLE suggestion for freeride and downhill.
Quote:
A Day InThe Life said: Though I primarily want it for downhill/freeride, I'd imagine a quality downhill bike would still handle better with other riding like cross country than my cheap $300 Walmart bike too right?
Yes, it would be better than a $300 Wal-Mart bike, but DH bikes are HEAVY. It's going to suck for cross-country.
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fee
Im he who is the


Registered: 01/16/03
Posts: 18,238
Loc: amsterdam
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#18768087 - 08/28/13 11:41 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
Quote:
fee said: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/sjht/stumpjumpercomp29
That is a hardtail cross-country bike. TERRIBLE suggestion for freeride and downhill.
Yes, it would be better than a $300 Wal-Mart bike, but DH bikes are HEAVY. It's going to suck for cross-country.
Yeah but a great suggestion to someone going from a Walmart bike to something else.
Op are you going to only ride downhill racing type shit or are you riding single track and around town?
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blankk said to fee: btw you're a total fucking psychedelic pimp Turtletotem said: I want to become a sun worshipper, so next time an atheist smugly asks me where god is, I can point smugly at the sun and laugh my ass off. Then I drive away in my solar powered piece of shit car, cool stuff man. And then I go kill a bitch because the flaming orb in the sky told me to do so, and I don't know, oppress a few minorities here and there in the name of nuclear fusion? Religion is fun.
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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: Tangich]
#18768092 - 08/28/13 11:43 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yeah I was thinking of the stump jumper, I can see quite a few used ones for sale in my area for very good prices on Kijiji. I kinda want the full suspension though for downhill riding, is it not necessary?
I actually live in Canada, I'm guessing the companies would be relatively the same as the States? Albeit more expensive of course..
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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#18768110 - 08/28/13 11:46 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
Quote:
fee said: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/sjht/stumpjumpercomp29
That is a hardtail cross-country bike. TERRIBLE suggestion for freeride and downhill.
Quote:
A Day InThe Life said: Though I primarily want it for downhill/freeride, I'd imagine a quality downhill bike would still handle better with other riding like cross country than my cheap $300 Walmart bike too right?
Yes, it would be better than a $300 Wal-Mart bike, but DH bikes are HEAVY. It's going to suck for cross-country.
I don't know, my old bike was very heavy too
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Lynnch
Strangerer



Registered: 04/29/09
Posts: 7,855
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: A Day InThe Life]
#18768114 - 08/28/13 11:51 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Are you planning on launching off 5 foot vertical drops and plowing through rock gardens? Or are you planning on going mountain biking on trails with some downhill sections? The general thought is that it's better to get a nicer hardtail crosscountry bike than a cheap full suspension 'downhill' bike.
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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: Lynnch]
#18768128 - 08/28/13 11:55 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Well to do want to do downhill/freeride trails someday, but maybe I'll just have to hold off on that till its in my budget I'd rather that than be disappointed by a low quality full suspension bike.
Edited by A Day InThe Life (08/28/13 11:56 AM)
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
Posts: 12,317
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: A Day InThe Life]
#18768270 - 08/28/13 12:36 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yes, full suspension DH bikes are pricy, and cheap suspension is suspension not worth having.
If you plan on taking chairlifts up mountains and downhilling, you NEED a downhill bike. A hardtail will suck ass. If you're climbing hills and riding XC, you want an XC bike. The pros use full suspension for XC, but you definitely do not have to. For freeride / DH, you pretty much have to have full suspension.
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Tangich


Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 8,723
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: A Day InThe Life]
#18768276 - 08/28/13 12:38 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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 http://www.konaworld.com/process_134.cfm Bikes like this are great for both XC and downhill. Better to save for a bit longer to buy a bike you really like, then to buy something a bit cheaper you'll want to change almost immediately.
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
Posts: 12,317
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: Tangich]
#18768286 - 08/28/13 12:42 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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That's an OK bike. Pretty cheap components. It would survive downhill occasionally, but if you went often you would blow it up. If you plan on riding downhill 10+ times a season you need a DH bike. XC bikes simply can't handle the impact.
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Tangich


Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 8,723
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#18768322 - 08/28/13 12:52 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I agree, definitely. But for a beginner, it could easily handle some steep technical descents. For jumps and 10ft drops, get a high end downhill bike. What constitutes an enjoyable bike ride for me is climbing some 3000 ft on my own power, then descending down some technical single trail. That's why I love bikes like these.
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



Registered: 07/16/08
Posts: 12,317
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: Tangich]
#18768338 - 08/28/13 12:57 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Personally I would rather drop the money on nicer shifting groupo and a better front fork on a hardtail than springing for shitty front and rear suspension just to say you have dual suspension.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,372
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#18768367 - 08/28/13 01:02 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
If you plan on taking chairlifts up mountains and downhilling, you NEED a downhill bike.
This^. Are you really planning on doing stuff like this on a bike?:
Bikes depreciate like cars. Your best bet is to find something 3-5 years old, and used. It'll have taken a HUGE drop in price. As a noobie, you'll neither appreciate (or miss) all the latest and greatest tweaks that are offered at a premium price just because it's "new".
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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A Day InThe Life
Jack of All


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 1,175
Loc: Canada
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Re: Want a New Bike. Downhill/Freeride Suggestions? [Re: badchad]
#18770282 - 08/28/13 08:11 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said:
Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
If you plan on taking chairlifts up mountains and downhilling, you NEED a downhill bike.
This^. Are you really planning on doing stuff like this on a bike?:
Bikes depreciate like cars. Your best bet is to find something 3-5 years old, and used. It'll have taken a HUGE drop in price. As a noobie, you'll neither appreciate (or miss) all the latest and greatest tweaks that are offered at a premium price just because it's "new".
Yeah basically; I'd like to work my way up to that.
I guess I'll get a less expensive, used hardtail bike for now and save for something more serious.
I see stumpjumpers with rear suspension like these though:
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=513373761&Keyword=stumpjumper http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=517533678&Keyword=stumpjumper
Or should I just go for something like this? http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-bikes-mountain-Specialized-Stump-Jumper-M4-hardtail-W0QQAdIdZ490946643
What other brands would you recommend?
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