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Dh Bike Choices

f0ggy

Monkey
Aug 6, 2006
242
0
Ca
Yo, Need yalls help on this one, Saving all my pennies and working every single weekend has gotten me the money for a Dh bike, Dont really have a budget cuz I dont have any thing else to buy like cars n stuff, so heres my cituation, (sitiuation?) not a big guy but I can hold my own, 5'10 145lbs and ride as much as I can weekdays and hopefully some weekends now that summers comming up. I love downhill plain and simple the faster the better. Looking to get into more racing and progressing my riding to a whole new level this summer and also looking for a dh bike so I can go up to northstar and down more tech trails at higher speeds. I already have a 4x bike so I dont nessicarily need a bike thats perfect for pedaling up hills but it would be nice. I want to start to do some freeriding in the mix of solid dh hopefully and this is where I kinda get in a pickle. Heres some of my options,

Socom: Awesome looking bike, Light which would be better for me I think and Im getting a pretty good deal on one from my lbs. The FRO is kinda scaring me away though, I dont want a disposable frame and I know after 2 years at my weight it wont crap out and im hoping that. But Im woundering if its the right bike for me.

Uzzi: Socoms uncle and bit burlier than the socom and still has the same bottom bracket heigth of 14.125" but a lil steeper headtube angle by about a half of a degree (I dont know much about ht angles except I like slack ones like on my blur 4x) about a half a pound frame weight difference, Socom 8.5, Uzzi 9.2.

Sunday: like em but they seam to be too much of a race bike and not enough fr or anything else mixed in with it for that matter. And expensive, I would have to get one with no deal on it at all or look used. So I dont know about this one, bb looks too low like if I drop I would be scrapin the ground.

Glory: This is a big bike, with 46 lbs out of the box this bike is sure to stick its line though the rockgarden. Looks like it has good geo and price along with suspension design but again is pretty heavy, and I wouldnt have the funds to build it up light.

Again im open to all suggestions but Dont just say the name of the bike please explain why you think I should get that choice. Ive kind of made up my mind with the Socom but im open to suggestions. Im kinda worried about the socom cuz I eat **** ALOT, like nearly everyride I go on I have a big crash so I dont know if it would be burly enough for me.

Thanks

F0g
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
Socom - Great bike, but really not a FR bike. One of my personal favs, I'm really seriously considering one for next year.

Uzzi - If speed's your thing, it may be a bit too upright, but still a great bike, and a bit more FR-able.

Sunday - Strictly DH but damn good at what it does.

Glory - Too heavy for you plain and simple IMO.

Maybe check out a Specialized Demo 7 because it's a good mix of FR and DH? Or a Morewood for a simple, no-nonsense bike?
 

rigidhack

Turbo Monkey
Aug 16, 2004
1,206
1
In a Van(couver) down by the river
OK,
the SOCOM is a really beautiful bike, but if you are crashing lots it may not be the right choice. It is built to be a lighter, race specific bike. I think Bicyclist is right on the money about the others.

I would personally take a very close look at a Sinister R9. The ones that I have ridden have all felt fantastic, but just too fast for me (that's why I got a Sinister Splinter instead). Riding one is a very cool experience because the faster you go, the easier they are to ride. Some people complain about them being too long, but in my own experience, that feeling goes away as soon as you are going any faster than walking speed. Also, they make a short version now. At speed, the bike turns when you think about turning. The suspension action is totally predictable and will keep you stuck down in all kinds of nastiness. They are also one of the stronger frames out there, so durability in a crash won't really be an issue.

If I ever get the 'nads to handle pure speed, one of these will be mine right away. As it is, the bike is too fast for me. Feels awesome, but I know I'd turn myself into hamburger on one by riding WAY outside my limits. If you live for speed, this is the bike for you.
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
I really really want to ride one of those things, especially 'cause I can EP one.

Foggy, do you work at a shop? Because most small brands will EP even when you're not a dealer.

Also, maybe check out a Turner DHR. You can get an older one for cheap (like an 05 or 06) and they're durable, yet super fast bikes.
 

f0ggy

Monkey
Aug 6, 2006
242
0
Ca
na dont work at a shop, havent really considered a Sinister, ill look more into em. Thanks for the tips guys and keep em comming.
 

.Pit Steelers.

Nostradumbass
Jun 18, 2006
1,429
0
Hawaii
Cove Playmate, or Cove STD (Skinnys, Trails, Drop) Was first called the Stinger. Why i think you should get one of these is that they are both freeride/dh bikes. Both smaller brothers of the two ahead which are the Shocker and the Peller. Both can take front derailers ( almost sure on STD) for sure on playmate. Both are hella strong YOU WILL NOT BREAK IT. Finally they have fun names.
 

FCLinder

Turbo Monkey
Mar 6, 2002
4,402
0
Greenville, South Carolina
I will chime in on the Glory. I have had one now for 2 months and love the thing. It is heavy out of the box, but can be made lighter some what cheap… It was 46 lbs out of the box and I have mine down to 41.5 now. The Geo is dead on for me “I am a DH racer” and feels very comfortable to ride. I have taken this bike on some epic DH shuttles where we did have to climb and when I put my seat up and turned the Pro Pedal on all the way the bike climbed like a 4.5” bike. It was unreal for a DH bike. The good thing is when you on the bike you don’t feel the weight. This is because most of the extra weight on the frame is low and centered. My last year’s race bike was 39.6lbs and the Glory feels the same. I run about 30+% sag most of the time because I like my suspension soft. My upgrades from stock were; Easton EA70 Bars, ODI Grips, Thomson Stem and Seat Post, Funn Rail Seat, Azonic Outlaws Wheelset setup Tubeless with Michelin tires, 11-26 cog, and a 450 Ti spring. I lost the most weight off the wheelset. The bikes strong characteristics are; Strong Pedaling bike, Rails Corners, easy to jump, bunny hops well, Manuals easy, no brake jack under braking, and most of all it tracks the ground so well…. I have to say so far this is the best bike I have had.

Good luck on your decision!!!!
Cecil
 

ATOMICFIREBALL

DISARMED IN A BATTLE OF WITS
May 26, 2004
1,354
0
Tennessee
I prefer a Single pivot..Might want to consider one !
I had a--
V10
Giant ATX DH
Yeti DH9
Azonic Eliminator
1'st & 2nd Generation Bullit's
Heckler
Yeti ASX

In the end i like the 2nd generation Santa Cruz BULLIT for beefy performance.Try the Moorewood bikes too.Izumi or Shova ?

.02
 

ridea

Monkey
Oct 30, 2006
354
1
south west of England
Well freeride imo if your not talking about ****ty northshore or nothing is just dh really, most dh bikes will do that sort of stuff, if you look at allot of the freeriders when there not ridng short travels there just riding dh bikes (usually slightly steeper and higher but there would be no problem with running a dh bike). single piviots are good, check the 224 (i find it alittle long in the rear) or the morewood. Glory a nice bike, quite slack though, im not sure how the prices work out but you could probably build one cheaper and lighter by building it yourself. Sunday, imo you need to ride one first and see if you like it to me its a bike that needs a certain style to get the best out of it. Socom is light and waiting on reports it sould be good, ive already heard good stuff, but over two years, who knows but it has a standard warrenty so try and break it within the first two. Just one idea for you, i dont know if these are avaliable where you are but ram make a really nice bike, it's a 10" 4bar but it seems to ride quite light and pedal like a 8/7 inch really well, weight is pretty good, the frame is cheep and i belive they do a full factory build wich is also very cheep for what you get, the bb is just under 15 inch which is high enough for fr pedaling but it atually corners very well(no idea why but its better than many with lower bbs) the handeling is also quite quick and uprightish aswell but as soon as you get it going its a hell of a race machine.
 

Red Bull

Turbo Monkey
Oct 22, 2004
1,772
0
970
i can get you that morewood izimu for a better price than all of those gaurenteed. talk to me on aim one of these days and ill give you his email.
 

dhmike

Turbo Monkey
Dec 20, 2006
4,304
43
Boise Idaho
i love my socom , it's a fast ass mofo ! but if your looking for a frame to last many seasons you might want to choose another frame. i don't see a socom holding up to good on say something like a world cup course . i could be wrong , just my opinon . the socom is great for what i use mine for flying around fontucky .bicyclist i will get the specs. posted on my baby when i got the time .
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
Right on dude.

I'm actually in the same boat as foggy, I'm looking for a new bike, whether it be a Sunday, DHR, Socom, Demo 7, Morewood, R9, or even something like an SX Trail or Reign X, I just want a change to something a bit more race-y.
 

f0ggy

Monkey
Aug 6, 2006
242
0
Ca
mozilla firefox? it won't help you get down the hill any faster, but will definitely help with spelling... ;)
bro dont need to be an ass, I go to school for 8 hours a day I dont need one more person bitching to me about my grammer (or it is grammar) anyways thanks for your imput...
 

dhmike

Turbo Monkey
Dec 20, 2006
4,304
43
Boise Idaho
bicyclist heads up , there's a nice sunday frame for sale on socaltrailriders.org i think it's 1100 or best offer.
 

thesacrifice

Monkey
Aug 4, 2004
451
0
360
I'm in the market for something new too...I think

The Yeti ASX has been wonderful to me, but I want something more DH oriented but still freerideable.

Glory, Sunday, and Demo 8 top my list.
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
[SPAM]I'm selling a Demo 8 if you're remotely interested, it's definately a way nicer ride IMO than my bud's ASX.[/SPAM]
 

TheInedibleHulk

Turbo Monkey
May 26, 2004
1,886
0
Colorado
I think you should look at every bike available on the market, the more obscure and crappy the better. And always trust reviews from people who have only owned one bike and suck at riding anyway.

Hatred aside, your list is a good one, and the Demo 7 sounds pretty ideal as well. Dont bother with sinisters or coves or canfields or any other nonsense, not necesarily bad bikes, theres just no good reason to go out of your way to get one. If you've got a hookup on Intense, the uzzi is probably the way to go. I used to have one, super easy to ride and turn, and if you are not a expert-pro level rider it wont slow you down. I'd compare prices and specs on what you can get on the uzzi vs. the demo 7, go with whatever is the better deal.
 

eater

Monkey
Nov 25, 2005
476
20
Switzerland
i ride now since 3mt a c-dale perp with dhx5 and boxxer wc solo air, very nice flow... !if you put a drs chainguide on, you can use as a all mountain dh bike!!! like pictured 18.5Kg :nopity:
 

rigidhack

Turbo Monkey
Aug 16, 2004
1,206
1
In a Van(couver) down by the river
Dont bother with sinisters or coves or canfields or any other nonsense, not necesarily bad bikes, theres just no good reason to go out of your way to get one.
Funny, that is more or less what I thought before I actually rode an R9, too. Maybe you like the feel of the other bikes. I just liked the feel of the R9 much more than any other DH bike I tried, so for me there is a very definite reason to go find one.
 

djjohnr

Turbo Monkey
Apr 21, 2002
3,001
1,693
Northern California
Reign X. My 18" Reign X measures 45" WB, 13.6" BB, 22.85 TT - great DH measurements.

You'd have no problem rocking Northstar on this thing, just slap on a 8" dual crown. With an 888 you should wind up with a 65 degree headangle and about a 14" bb. The chainstays are fairly long so the front end shouldn't get twitchy when you raise it up. I'm looking forward to runs down Karpiel and Boondocks.

Rear suspension is f'in dialed. Feels like 8" of travel with no need to dial up propredal. Handles square edge bumps better then any of my FSR or single pivot bikes ever did. Glad I didn't pull the trigger on a Demo 7.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
man, I really like the cdale derp/judge. Both of those are great looking, simple bikes.

My suggestion:
Buy used. There are a ton of good bikes out there for not too much more than the price of a frame alone. Then, if you don't like it, you can sell it without losing too much money. If you buy new, you're going to lose a ton of cash. Figure out what you like, and then buy a new one when you can. Select the best bike you can in your price range off the classifieds...and go from there. If it's a high-single pivot, and you like it, buy another. If it's a low SP and you hate it, get something else. Figure out your geometry too, while you're at it. I'd hate to drop so much coin on a new bike and have it be too short/slack/low.
 

ridea

Monkey
Oct 30, 2006
354
1
south west of England
lol i forgot to mention the last bike i was talking about (4bar 10 inch one) is a RAM i think its made somwhere in europe its like a refined and racier old azonic and allot cheeper.
 

SK6

Turbo Monkey
Jul 10, 2001
7,586
0
Shut up and ride...
Actually, you can get a killer deal on a Shockwave 9.5....

US Info :
Mountain Cycle INC.
26371 Beckman Court, Suite C
MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA 92562 USA
Tel : 951-696-2560
Fax : 951-696-2592
Toll Free : 888-462-1988

Ask for Eric.

Just a thought.
 

Lollapalooza

Monkey
Jan 22, 2007
527
0
Why not go with a Canfield Lucky? It's BB height is a manageable 14" and the 66* HA is slack enough to race in a place like Corral Hollow or other mellow places yet still still steep enough to climb.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
Here's a noob question. Why is a low BB bad for freeriding?
people generally want a low bb for DH racing. It's better for cornering but you sacrifice clearance in the rough. In my opinion, I'd much rather have a high BB unless you're pinning it all the time. I don't like to run short cranks either, so I'll pass on the 13" bb, especially here on the east coast.
 

dexter

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2001
3,053
99
Boise, Idaho
r9 or demo 7 fo sho. i wish i never got rid of my r9 but had to find a last minute replacement for this season and chose the demo 7, no ride son mine yet but the others i have ridden were amazing