Slopestyle/Freeride bikes that climb?

I'd throw a Transition Bottlerocket and the Specialized SX Trail into that mix as well.

The Shore seems like a bit of a big bike for what you are looking to do especially compared to the Konig. Why not look into a Norco Empire 5 or older Norco Six (they don't make Six's anymore)?

Either way, you're going to need to be more specific about what you are trying to do with the bike. How much travel do you want?

i would put a vote in for the konig. i have had a good thrash on one and was real happy.

Bullit
Bottle Rocket
SX Trail
Dirtbag
Uzzi

Add Intense SS to the list. My buddy has one, has full length seat tube so works ok for climbing as long as you are not on a frame that is too small.

dethklok r u a roc local? do you know all the sweet trails in the bristol, italy valley, potter, hi-tor areas? these can b shuttle runs, all but potter have a fairly easy trail to ride up (i can ride up them all on a 6" 35lb freeride bike) and then multiple options down, anything from fast single track, fire roads, rooty steep full out dh sections.

Gotta recommend a Giant reign x. I have the normal reign with a marz. all mountain 2 w/ eta and it climbs like a goat with the fork cranked down. I only weigh 120lbs so it can take pretty big hits with my light weight with no flex. The head angle is a bit steep for FR which makes downhill switch-backs a bit twitchy, but I think my fork needs tuning.

i like the norco a lot but if the bikes are local see if u can take the owner and bike to webster, whiting road trails couple of small loops with a little of everything only 5 miles total of trails.
its rider preference, a friend of mine had a perp that he loved i rode it and i was not feeling it

Dethklok said:

How much harder will the Shore be to do flips and variables on?

Click to expand...

cant help you with that one

realistically do you have the skills to pull off these tricks? People constantly buy bikes overbuilt and that have far too much technology, suspension, geometry, etc for their given abilities.

I think you should give us a break down of your trails that you ride most and the conditions (ie short uphill, downhill rolling terrian or steep techy climbs to techy dh/ or high speed long runs etc). Seeing as how you have no lifts around you and from the sounds of things not too many full blown dh trails I would look into bikes such as the:

banshee wildcard or the new model they have
intense ss
specialized sx (4x edition)
norco empire 5 (bike is dope)
commencial mini dh
bullit
remedy w/ shorter shock
reign x
turner highline


There is a huge trade off to be made. If you want something to rip through jumps and do tricks on, lower travel and steeper angles are far superior. If you want something to blast trails and freeride a slacker longer travel bike will be a better option. There is always a trade off and dont settle for something just because you have it in your head that your going to learn or do something with it. Not trying to be a dick, just dont want you to end up on the wrong bike for its given intention.

You can take a freeride bike out and jump it and vice versa but neither will be ideal in the opposite situation.

I did everything on my bottle rocket, jumps great, was designed for slope style when people wanted more travel then now days. won't break either.

a co-worker of mine just got a wildcard. took a ride on it round the parking lot and i was sold. working at a shop i can ride anything i want. but it just seems like its the one bike that will suit all my gravity oriented needs and still be able to go ride trails with the spandex folk. I've ridden the bottlerocket before too but the wildcard just feels more solid and quicker.

i've had a bottlerocket for 4 years, i've always thought of it as the ultimate play bike for the flowier jump trails at 7 springs and winter park. it feels like a super duper dirtjump bike.

but it always pedaled like CRAP with my fairly plush pushed dhx coil, sooooo much pedal bob.

i threw a hammerschmidt on it a couple of months ago, now that the chainpull is lined up with the pivot it pedals GREAT and i've been using it as a heavy xc and all mountian rig. i did 20 miles on it last weekend and the weekend before.

fantastic machine, pedals great, jumps great, durable as hell and fantastic support from tbc. can't go wrong.

i think a small is what you would want, the only major change was going to larger bearings for the dropout pivot, but maybe that was 07... anyways, no major differences, but i think maybe the 09's are tweeked to be a little lighter.

i don't have nor need any sort of lockout or platform*. i'd stick with a coil.

(push removed my propedal)

www.dropnzone.com has some of the older(small dropout pivot) small bottle rockets including a pbr one if you want new for less than $1000. some thing like $985

if you get one with a dhx air make sure it(the dhx) is 08 or newer with the propedal lever instead of dial, and get the small air sleeve.