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MKIII as a mtn-x bike, WTF?

TheInedibleHulk

TheInedibleHulk

Turbo Monkey
May 26, 2004
1,886
0
Colorado
After having ridden several different MKIII's built as mountain cross bikes, I think I can honestly say it is hands down the worst full suspension mountain cross bike I have ever ridden. To be fair, it wasnt suposed to be used as one, but still, holy crap. With the shock completely locked out is is marignally acceptable, but with any travel at all the back end feels like a wet noodle. Pushing into a lip makes the back end deflect so badly it feels like the tire is rolling off the rim. With the first bike I put together I couldnt believe it could be the frame. Went over absolutely everything. The second bike I tried was even worse. Had a handful of other riders try it out, and everyone else agreed. So I then got an SX mountain cross bike and a Trance I rode them all back to back. Both felt many many times better. I thought maybe it was just my imagination or some nuance of the DW link system. Nope, just farking flexy as sh1t. Both the other bikes tracked perfectly straight and held thier line, the MK3 went wherever it wanted.

No real point to this post, just to say its garbage. May the flaming begin.
 
Bicyclist

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
Wow. I thought they looked pretty cool but I guess not. I LOVED my SX for DJ/4X but I couldn't justify owning it. Too bad.
 
bikerpunk98199

bikerpunk98199

Turbo Monkey
Apr 24, 2005
1,313
0
the hood
Transcend said:
Wait, so you used a bike in a way it wasn't intended to be used...and it sucked. This surprises you?
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very true you have to relise the iron horse/ mad katz and iron horse factory team rides costum geo. frames and well do i need to say more?
 
TheInedibleHulk

TheInedibleHulk

Turbo Monkey
May 26, 2004
1,886
0
Colorado
Transcend said:
Wait, so you used a bike in a way it wasn't intended to be used...and it sucked. This surprises you?
Click to expand...
Yes and no. I didnt expect it to be exactly ideal. But I had sort of assumed it worked well since Ive seen alot of people riding them for 4x and as someone else mentioned the team uses a frame that at least looks like a MkIII. As a five inch trailbike you would expect the frame to at least be reasonably stiff. The trance which matches the MkIII in price and intended usage was far, far better.
 
bballe336

bballe336

Turbo Monkey
Mar 3, 2005
1,757
0
MA
Well thats too bad.
[hijack]Anyone have suggestions for a trail bike/xc bike/4x/slalom bike? (not an SX)[/hijack]
 
B

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
Transcend said:
Wait, so you used a bike in a way it wasn't intended to be used...and it sucked. This surprises you?
Click to expand...
Whilst reading the first post I was thinking the exact same thing. Why do you think companies make mtn-x specific frames?
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
bballe336 said:
Well thats too bad.
[hijack]Anyone have suggestions for a trail bike/xc bike/4x/slalom bike? (not an SX)[/hijack]
Click to expand...
Prophet? I have the standard version (not the MX) as a trail bike and it works great. Very stiff and stable...could work well as a 4x bike.
 
B

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
JRogers said:
Prophet? I have the standard version (not the MX) as a trail bike and it works great. Very stiff and stable...could work well as a 4x bike.
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I'll second that. I DJed an MX once...stiff as a beast. Kinda pricey, but if you've got the coin, go for it.
 
Zutroy

Zutroy

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2004
2,443
0
Ventura,CA
bikerpunk98199 said:
very true you have to relise the iron horse/ mad katz and iron horse factory team rides costum geo. frames and well do i need to say more?
Click to expand...

I don't think they do, i could have sworn DW or Ska Todd posted they ride stock frames.
 
S

sbabuser

Turbo Monkey
Dec 22, 2004
1,114
55
Golden, CO
blue said:
I'll second that. I DJed an MX once...stiff as a beast. Kinda pricey, but if you've got the coin, go for it.
Click to expand...
Maybe the 4x is, but I've done a little djing on a non-4x prophet, I feel the rear end flex over every lip.
 
TheInedibleHulk

TheInedibleHulk

Turbo Monkey
May 26, 2004
1,886
0
Colorado
blue said:
Whilst reading the first post I was thinking the exact same thing. Why do you think companies make mtn-x specific frames?
Click to expand...
Well, Ironhorse doesnt. Niether does Giant, Cannondale, Trek, ect, ect. Only a small number of larger companies make 4x specific frames, and they usually want boutique prices for them. Since for me and alot of other people the full suspension 4x bike is the third or fourth priority bike in the stable, I cant be paying dh frame prices for one.

You cant blame a trailbike for having less than ideal geo to be a 4X crossover, but I dont think a reasonably sturdy back end is too much to ask.
 
bballe336

bballe336

Turbo Monkey
Mar 3, 2005
1,757
0
MA
TheInedibleHulk said:
A loose hub doesnt account for the bike feeling like the tire just rolled off and fell off the rim going 6mph through kneecap.
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When my BMX hub was loose it felt like the tire was rolling off the rim. With a properly tightened hub it may not be as noodly.
 
redical

redical

Monkey
May 19, 2004
388
0
TheInedibleHulk said:
Well, Ironhorse doesnt. Niether does Giant, Cannondale, Trek, ect, ect. Only a small number of larger companies make 4x specific frames, and they usually want boutique prices for them. Since for me and alot of other people the full suspension 4x bike is the third or fourth priority bike in the stable, I cant be paying dh frame prices for one.

You cant blame a trailbike for having less than ideal geo to be a 4X crossover, but I dont think a reasonably sturdy back end is too much to ask.
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How about a 4" travel 4x frame that is very stiff, 6.5 lbs. with Fox air shock and retails for around $900? Try the Soul Cycles Matador. I just rode won to a 30-39 Expert 4X win at Fontana.
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,192
13,339
Portland, OR
Ironhorse made a hollowpoint 4x before the newer link design that was very nice. But it was a shorter travel frame than the MK3, so that might be part of it.

As much as I like squishy bikes, I would think a hardtail would be the only route for 4x. But that's just me and I'm slow.
 
TheInedibleHulk

TheInedibleHulk

Turbo Monkey
May 26, 2004
1,886
0
Colorado
A hardtail is a neccesity for sure. Thats the one bike I can never go without. On some courses its a serious disadvantage though. Id like to have an fs 4X bike I can put a long seatpost on and go trail riding.
 
motomike

motomike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 19, 2005
4,584
0
North Carolina
TheInedibleHulk said:
Id like to have an fs 4X bike I can put a long seatpost on and go trail riding.
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well that's exactly what I do with my SX. I can use the same seatpost for DJing and trailriding. I love it.
 
D

dw

Wiffle Ball ninja
Sep 10, 2001
2,943
0
MV
I'm not going to come out her and say that the MK is a purpose built 4X race bike, its not. There are however, a lot of very talented riders who race the bikes for 4X with a shortened shock (a 7.5X2 with a spacer, a 6.5X1.5 will not work) and love them. I haven't heard of or observed any significant flex as reported for this use, but hey, that is one opinion, and that is OK for sure.

Ride on

Dave
 
A

AtTheGates

Monkey
Mar 5, 2003
259
0
dw said:
I'm not going to come out her and say that the MK is a purpose built 4X race bike, its not. There are however, a lot of very talented riders who race the bikes for 4X with a shortened shock (a 7.5X2 with a spacer, a 6.5X1.5 will not work) and love them. I haven't heard of or observed any significant flex as reported for this use, but hey, that is one opinion, and that is OK for sure.

Ride on

Dave
Click to expand...
Does anyone know anything about this modification? Is it an added bottom out bumper to limit travel or an internal spacer, shortening i2i and travel?


Note: this is a new response to an old thread.
 
D

dw

Wiffle Ball ninja
Sep 10, 2001
2,943
0
MV
Its just a spacer inside the air can that limits the shock I2I to 7 inches.

Also, it should be pointed out that the 07 MKIII models have revised tubing and forgings. Not that this makes the bike suitable for 4X, just stiffer and lighter.
 
frorider

frorider

Monkey
Jul 21, 2004
971
20
cali
don't the '07 MKIII frames also have a slightly slacker HA than the '06? thought i'd heard that somewhere.
 
D

dw

Wiffle Ball ninja
Sep 10, 2001
2,943
0
MV
frorider said:
don't the '07 MKIII frames also have a slightly slacker HA than the '06? thought i'd heard that somewhere.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the 07 bike has a 69 degree head tube angle with the 7.5X2 shock that comes with it.

Dave
 
syadasti

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
dw said:
Its just a spacer inside the air can that limits the shock I2I to 7 inches.

Also, it should be pointed out that the 07 MKIII models have revised tubing and forgings. Not that this makes the bike suitable for 4X, just stiffer and lighter.
Click to expand...
Yeah its only good enough for DH - is this the 06 or the 07 :busted:

[url=http://www.descent-world.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=95&task=view&id=536]descent-world[/url] said:
Ben Reid was of course the star of the day by pulling off the fasted time, 1.16 was what it took…albeit on his XC bike…a 5” travel Iron Horse
Click to expand...
 
intensified

intensified

Monkey
Mar 31, 2004
519
6
Canton,Ma
I disagree, I tried a 15inch mk set up for mtx type ridin and it seemed perfect.
I rode 2 hardtails on the same course and got smoked, jumped on the mk and won a heat.
 
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