Quantcast

New Bike Advice

Mr.Bishop

Mr.Bishop

King of Beers
Jun 2, 2009
286
0
Montreal
Here's the quick rundown of my situation:

Used to bike a ton. Loved riding trails, but really loved hitting jumps and jumping off stairs and the like in the city. Bit older now, but the previous 3 bikes I owned were all very XC specific bikes bought because my friends convinced me I needed something that was light and fast.

I really always wanted a more freeride type bike. Hard tail, tough, able to jump. I had always wished I would have gotten that, but at the time (I have been out of biking seriously since like 1998) those kinds of bikes weren't that popular.

Now I need a new one. My buddy works at KHS and can get me a good deal, and I was looking at this - http://www.khscanada.com/dirtjump/dj200.html

I know its a dirt jump bike, but its got enough gears (I broke my top chain ring and rode without it for a really long time and didn't mind) and it looks tough enough to take a bit of a beating.

I do want to be able to hit the trails too. Not concerned about winning any XC races or anything, just want to go out and rip, and be able to have a good time.

Is it crazy of me to think that I really want this bike? Any other suggestions? Is this the wrong forum?

Any advice is helpful. Been a long time since I've been seriously into biking, but I'm fired up to charge it this season. Little help from some people who are probably more experts than me would be much appreciated! :thumb:
 
4xBoy

4xBoy

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2006
7,043
2,887
Minneapolis
I have used a Yeti DJ for a trail bike for a long time, it works, not ideal but works.

If the KHS has a long enough TT for you buy it.
 
Mr.Bishop

Mr.Bishop

King of Beers
Jun 2, 2009
286
0
Montreal
4xBoy said:
I have used a Yeti DJ for a trail bike for a long time, it works, not ideal but works.

If the KHS has a long enough TT for you buy it.
Click to expand...
Yeah you mean its not ideal like you're missing that super high gear, its not super light, and the seat post doesn't go up quite high enough?

This is definitely all stuff I'm fully willing to sacrifice. My last bike was a GT Avalanche (yay early 90s) and I put flat pedals on it, used the big ring as a bash guard, dropped the seat, put raised handlebars, and hated that I couldn't drop the seat more when I wanted. I knew I didn't have that big ring to go hyper fast, but I didn't care.

When I was jumping off stairs or trying to hit a dirt jump though, I would be filled with a murderous rage that I couldn't drop my seat far enough, or that I was in that super forwards position of an XC bike.

So you'd say if I accept that I'm making those sacrifices, then I'm looking at exactly the right bike?
 
UNHrider

UNHrider

Monkey
Apr 20, 2004
479
2
Epping, NH
If youre going to spend most of your time riding street and hitting DJ's, and a little bit of time on the trails then i imagine youll be pretty happy with it. I couldnt find a geometry chart, but youre going to be making sacrifices on the trail for sure. Climbing will suffer, bike may feel slow as far steering and the like compared to a xc geometry, may end up riding a lot out of the saddle.

any chance of trying one out before buying it?

Try looking for a sinister ridge or something like it, theyre meant to be a burly all purpose bike.
 
TreeSaw

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,670
1,855
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
It would work, but it won't be a comfortable trail riding rig. The geometry is different than an XC hardtail and your back will likely ache after a long ride (atleast that's what happend to my husband & I when we rode our Cowan's for XC). Check out their Alite 1000 or 2000, it's a solid build and would be a beefy enough hardtail though I don't really know much about the fork.

I don't usually XC with a big ring (bash guard) so I don't miss the top gears either. Steering and climbing will definitely be different between an XC hardtail and a DJ bike too.

Also check out the Santa Cruz Chameleon, Kona Five-O, Stuff or Cinder Cone, Transition TransAm, Cove Stiffee, (I could go on) ;)

Edit: How could I forget the Ridge? Good call UNHrider!
 
Last edited:
4xBoy

4xBoy

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2006
7,043
2,887
Minneapolis
Mr.Bishop said:
Yeah you mean its not ideal like you're missing that super high gear, its not super light, and the seat post doesn't go up quite high enough?
Click to expand...
Well with a 11-34 cassette and a 36 front ring gearing isn't a problem and with a 410mm post I have full leg extension.

It is Stiff that is the only part that can get to me, but that's when I ride way to many miles on it.
 
Mr.Bishop

Mr.Bishop

King of Beers
Jun 2, 2009
286
0
Montreal
4xBoy said:
Well with a 11-34 cassette and a 36 front ring gearing isn't a problem and with a 410mm post I have full leg extension.

It is Stiff that is the only part that can get to me, but that's when I ride way to many miles on it.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm... so the big sacrifice is basically uncomfortable on super long distance rides, and not as quick and nimble on the trails?

Those other more XC type bikes look really good too... I guess those are a cross between beffy and XC, but a bit more on the XC side of things than what I'm looking at?

My main other issue here is that I can get a really good deal on the KHS one... whereas my contacts on the other bikes are somewhat lacking. :)

That Kona one certainly looks very, very cool.
 
andres611

andres611

Chimp
Jun 28, 2007
99
0
here seems to be a good and inexpensive option

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10P.AllMTN&eid=4348&menuItemId=9252

The P bikes from specialized came out as dirt jumpers, but now they have this one that has the same ideology but has a much better geometry for trail riding. Seems like a really good al around hard tail.

Must hardtails, for what I've seen are either XC racing bikes, Dirt jumpers or recreational, but this P All mountain seems to do what you are looking for.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
I think weight, gearing, and suspension is all in your head.

Seat post extension and correct top tube length is not.

I've heard stories about "I ride my bmx bike everywhere". Well, I haven't seen one on any ride longer than 5 miles.

I have a 2001 Norco Torrent which can substitute for a FR/DJ/AM bike. The geo is relatively conservative, no problems with seat post extension, and the bike is not going to shatter with a 2.5 inch downtube or Fatboy Slim Bars. Plus I got it with handbuilt Mavic 521's and a Z1 FR fork.

 
proglife

proglife

Monkey
Apr 18, 2002
339
0
Annapolis, MD
I've had the same Cove Stiffee FR for 9 or so years now. It has an old 5" Z1 QR20 fork on it, Easton Havoc AM wheels, 2.3" Nevegals and a shortish Thomson stem. I would be you'd be happy with a setup like that. The bike feels way more capable than I am. You can get full seat post extension and pedal all day or you can slam the seat down and lean back/jump/do whatever. It's not very dirt jumpy, but it's not twitchy/xc feeling.
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,065
5,975
borcester rhymes
I think that KHS would be a pig on anything besides urban huxx0rjibbing and reeeeeeeeally quick rides in your backyard/woods.

Seems to me like the best compromise would be an overbuilt aluminum hardtail...something that's more burly than pure XC but not pure park/jump quality.

You ought to be able to find something either cheap and easy from one of the big name shops, or used and dirt cheap. W00dy here on RM has an old balfa that he'd probably give you for a couple of growlers from unibroue.
 
bohorec

bohorec

Monkey
Jun 26, 2007
327
0
Seems like on-one 456 has everything you are asking for. Spec it with pike or something similar and you are ready to go. It would climb and descent better than KHS you posted.
 
H

Hans

Monkey
Aug 8, 2003
196
0
Copenhagen, Denmark
I would strongly advice against the KHS, haven't checked the numbers on it, but I used to ride xc on a C-Dale Chase because I wanted a bike that could double for dirtjumps and skatepark as well. It was a effing chore, and I eventually sold it. I should probably mention that it's a ten mile ride to the trailhead from my home and if you have a trail right in the backyard it might not be as bad, but still. I wouldn't downplay the importance of leg extension and a decent length toptube.
 
Mr.Bishop

Mr.Bishop

King of Beers
Jun 2, 2009
286
0
Montreal
I definitely think you guys have convinced me. I'm looking at different options now... you're right... I should be honest with myself that likely I need something that I can ride long distances... if I end up getting that serious about jumping... get a second bike. :)

Appreciate all the advice, its been awesome!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom