Hello everyone, great forum you have here with tons of information. So I've never really DH'd before until I went to Whistler a while ago. What a hoot, I'm now addicted and looking to possibly buy my own bike. I rented a kona there for 4 hrs and was absolutely burnt out after that. I also have a X-country Kona so I'm kinda partial to them, but am willing to look at other brands aswell. Top price is 1500-2500, and am willing to go for a used bike. Any suggestions?
Begginer's DH Bike?
- Thread starter Double D
- Start date
You can get a Kona Stinky dee-lux for a great price and save some of that cash for future upgrades.
He could also, for that budget, pick up a very capable used DH bike with great spec.
To repeat the usual "1st DH bike guidelines": buy something used, cheap, test ride a whole bunch of other bikes, save up money, and get something you really like once you know what it is you really like. I think I covered all the cliches there.
Honestly, I think the best advice here is to not spend a TON of money on a new bike. I'd try and keep the budget down to below 1700 for the first bike. Used stinkys and bighits will go for well within that. By season's end I think picking up a glory DH within that price range wouldn't be too farfetched given the all-new frame for next year.
Just cruise the classifieds, and if you're confused on something, search the forums, or start a thread. People are fairly helpful as long as you've tried to get the answers elsewhere before starting a new thread on a topic that's been addressed before.
Good luck.
To repeat the usual "1st DH bike guidelines": buy something used, cheap, test ride a whole bunch of other bikes, save up money, and get something you really like once you know what it is you really like. I think I covered all the cliches there.
Honestly, I think the best advice here is to not spend a TON of money on a new bike. I'd try and keep the budget down to below 1700 for the first bike. Used stinkys and bighits will go for well within that. By season's end I think picking up a glory DH within that price range wouldn't be too farfetched given the all-new frame for next year.
Just cruise the classifieds, and if you're confused on something, search the forums, or start a thread. People are fairly helpful as long as you've tried to get the answers elsewhere before starting a new thread on a topic that's been addressed before.
Good luck.
with 2500 you can get an amazing spec on a real nice DH bike, you should try to get "an experts" used bike, many people sell a bike at the end of a season, mayb its time to start looking?
I have a US built 2001 GT DHi complete bike that I would sell for $1k Boxxer fork, XTR/XT drivetrain. I only rode it in 2001 and since then it has only been ridden a few times as a buddy bike and when I was between sponsors in 2004. PM me you email address if your interesed in some pictures.
I've got a BRAND NEW 2008 Specialized Demo 7 size medium that i'm looking to sell that's in your price range, pm me if you're interested.
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2008&spid=34366
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2008&spid=34366
Yo I will sell you my Eastern Slash. It has 7 inches of travel, all X9 Drivetrain, Rockshox Domain, Race Face Diab. Bars and Stem, and Hayes X9 Brakes. PM me for pics and more info. Would sell for 1200.00 I will thrown in extra also....... Helmet, tires, etc.....
My Demo 8 with 2010 boxxer team will be for sale
PM if interested
PM if interested
Attachments
As the other said, try to stay cheap. below $2k. If you find a great buy for $2500 though, then I'd jump on that. Getting a great bike as a beginner is good and bad. It's good because it will help you improve, because it can handle anything you can dish out. It's also bad because the suspension and other components work better, so you never figure stuff out when the suspension doesn't work, so you won't be as smooth. You may break more parts this way, but most likely you won't have a problem.
Bikes to look for would be: Fairly new Specialized Bighits, Kona Stinkys, Rocky Mtn. RMX, Giant Glory, Giant Reign (w/ DH build), Possibly a Trek Session 77, Session 88, or Session 10. Some more expensive, but possibly in your price range: Specialized Demo, Kona Stab, Turner DHR, Ironhorse Sunday(these you can find in either price range, but mainly $2k+), Orange 223, Transition Gran Mal or Blindside, and if you're lucky, you might be able to find a first gen Intense M3, Socom, or Uzzi.
Bikes to look for would be: Fairly new Specialized Bighits, Kona Stinkys, Rocky Mtn. RMX, Giant Glory, Giant Reign (w/ DH build), Possibly a Trek Session 77, Session 88, or Session 10. Some more expensive, but possibly in your price range: Specialized Demo, Kona Stab, Turner DHR, Ironhorse Sunday(these you can find in either price range, but mainly $2k+), Orange 223, Transition Gran Mal or Blindside, and if you're lucky, you might be able to find a first gen Intense M3, Socom, or Uzzi.
you can cop a used Sunday on the cheap now in the classifieds
When I first started DH'ing, I got a 6"-travel Turner RFX, because I knew I would be on beginner/sport courses, and would not need the weight and travel that a full-on DH bike had. That bike taught me how to ride and prepared me for the more challenging courses I would be on later.
When I graduated to expert a couple years later, I was ready for a new bike, and went with the 8" Morewood Izimu.
If I had it to do over, I would do it exactly the same.
Depending on your current skill level, goals, and the locations you intend to ride/race, you might do well with a single crown 7"-travel bike for now, rather than a full-on, 40 lbs DH bike.
When I graduated to expert a couple years later, I was ready for a new bike, and went with the 8" Morewood Izimu.
If I had it to do over, I would do it exactly the same.
Depending on your current skill level, goals, and the locations you intend to ride/race, you might do well with a single crown 7"-travel bike for now, rather than a full-on, 40 lbs DH bike.
If you're a BC local, the Pinkbike and NSMB buy n'sell are chock full of used bikes. check that out...
I love how every "what bike should I get?" thread turns into "buy my bike I got for sale".
Like mentioned above, try to throw a leg over some different bikes. If you can and are serious about a bike, see if the person will let you ride it on a trail to see how it feels. There are a ton of different suspension designs and they all have their benefits and drawbacks. Find something that works for you. If you do some looking around, you really can't get a 'bad' bike in the price range you are looking in....
Like mentioned above, try to throw a leg over some different bikes. If you can and are serious about a bike, see if the person will let you ride it on a trail to see how it feels. There are a ton of different suspension designs and they all have their benefits and drawbacks. Find something that works for you. If you do some looking around, you really can't get a 'bad' bike in the price range you are looking in....
Agreed, I've noticed that FSR, VPS and other horst link designs aren't too great at the high speed DH race. ALTHOUGH it is amazingly good if you're riding North Shore trails and not going super fast. If you're looking to race in the future get a expensive single pivot(turner dhr, morewood izumi(can pick these up for around 2k now) and other top brands) also try and test ride every design you can get your paws on.
please don't let reality get in the way of your mistaken conclusions.
What hesh said, but those aren't cliches, they're just good advice. You can pick up a hell of a bike for cheap used, and it'll last as long as you need it to.
I would advise to try a few different bikes to get a feel for the geometry that you like. Sizing is still important on a DH bike, even if manufacturers don't really believe it. Make sure the top tube and reach are good lengths for you, and that the standover works. You will probably be falling off, on, or around the bike quite a bit when you're first starting out.
When you have the geometry dialed, see what you can find in your area that fits those specs. Make sure the bike isn't clapped out from being ridden hard for a long time. DH isn't like road, stuff sees a lot of abuse and has finite fatigue lives.
#C, pick a design that's robust but not cutting edge. A lot of people need the latest and greatest, and neglect to realize that previous designs worked fine less than a year ago. For example, many people have jumped ship, but the Sunday is still one of the best designs out there, and the frame hasn't changed drastically from when it was introduced in 06 (or 05???). Bikes like Konas, Rocky Mountains, older treks, and several others don't have the cult following that other brands do, but are still very capable bikes.
Pick something up that fits you and suits your budget, then go from there. I'd say rent a few times and try to meet people that know more than you do, and they can help guide you as to what sucks and what works in the real world. Good luck!
I would advise to try a few different bikes to get a feel for the geometry that you like. Sizing is still important on a DH bike, even if manufacturers don't really believe it. Make sure the top tube and reach are good lengths for you, and that the standover works. You will probably be falling off, on, or around the bike quite a bit when you're first starting out.
When you have the geometry dialed, see what you can find in your area that fits those specs. Make sure the bike isn't clapped out from being ridden hard for a long time. DH isn't like road, stuff sees a lot of abuse and has finite fatigue lives.
#C, pick a design that's robust but not cutting edge. A lot of people need the latest and greatest, and neglect to realize that previous designs worked fine less than a year ago. For example, many people have jumped ship, but the Sunday is still one of the best designs out there, and the frame hasn't changed drastically from when it was introduced in 06 (or 05???). Bikes like Konas, Rocky Mountains, older treks, and several others don't have the cult following that other brands do, but are still very capable bikes.
Pick something up that fits you and suits your budget, then go from there. I'd say rent a few times and try to meet people that know more than you do, and they can help guide you as to what sucks and what works in the real world. Good luck!
Making sure whichever bike you do decide to buy is properly set up and maintained is the most important part. You don't want to be waiting (and paying) for a fork to be overhauled or a shock to be rebuilt or trying to find a discontinued frame hardware kit...etc. Every system is critical on a DH bike. Even shifting. Get to know the bike, take it apart, put it back together...etc.