[Lumpy_Gravy]

I'm a downhiller, a 6'6" downhiller and only know about DH and DH bikes. I want to get into some of those short flat tracks that have lots of small jumps and tight berms (partly becuase these tracks are more accessible, and partly because experience in this riding wil improve my DH (i hope), I dont know if it is BSX, BMX, Dual, 4x, or what but personally my ignorance categorises them all into one.

Anyway, I want a frame and fork onto I can swap over m DH bits onto and will give me a nice light hardtail, with which I can attack the local tracks /trails with rather than taking my 45lb DH monster 1'5 hours to the local DH track.

First question,... .what is a strong, good, cheapish hardtail for a 6'6" bloke that does BSX, duel, jump etc (XC need not apply)

Second question...what is a strong, good, cheapish fork for BSX, duel, jump etc (XC need not apply)I was thinking Shiver SC as I lovemy Shiver DC

third question.....Is single speed the easiest and most efficient format for BSX, duel, jump etc (XC need not apply). If so can I get front and rear chain ringto accomodate this? and what tooth might these chain rings be?

thanks, please inform me as as far as was concerned DH was the only form of biking on this planet, but since I cained it in a BSX track on a 4" Front and back duel bike (light as hell) I have since expanded my ignorant mind.

 

[Bicyclist]

Specialized makes a 23 or 24 Hardrock Comp. Maybe you could buy the bike and sell the parts, or get the frame from Specialized. It's really light (2.5 lbs.) and strong. A Dirt Jumper would be a good fork for you. It's really strong. You might even want to get a custom bike, since most DJ/MTX/DS bikes are really small.

 

[kidwoo]

Specialized makes a 23 or 24 Hardrock Comp. Maybe you could buy the bike and sell the parts, or get the frame from Specialized. It's really light (2.5 lbs.) and strong. A Dirt Jumper would be a good fork for you. It's really strong. You might even want to get a custom bike, since most DJ/MTX/DS bikes are really small.

I have a feeling he would crush that bike. It is not their best alumnium (and there's no way a 23 weighs 2.5 lbs) and it is more of an xc bike despite it's beefy looking top/down tubes. Push around the rear triangle a bit, it's all xc. The P. series bikes are more geared towards the beef.

Some of the burlier hardtails are made by evil, 24, .243 (CroMo), sovereign. Don't know about big sizing, you'll have to look around. Kona, Azonic and a few others have aluminum hardtails that are a little lighter but maybe not as much suited to the bigger fellas like yourself.

As far as forks, I didn't really like the shiver sc I rode on a freind's bike at a bmx track and on some dirt jumps. It felt a little too active, more like something I'd want on my xc bike. It also seemed like it was bending in really hard bermed turns, almost like the wheel had loose spokes......definitely odd.

The dj forks should be fine but keep an eye on the crowns, they do crack. Manitou makes the shermans but I think 100mm is the shortest travel readily available.

 

[sikocycles]

I am 6'5" and ride a BMW parkbike and a clifcat tankass but a large sinister ridge looks tastie.

 

[BigMike]

Check out the Jamis Eureka/Komodo also

 

[bigkonarider]

I'm a solid 6'2" & have had a Azonic DS-1 18" w/ layback post & 75mm stem + 5" fork..
worked real good ..
ALSO have had a LeTOY3 LARGE.. with 5" fork & worked even BETTER !
But best of all is my LARGE Santa Cruz BULLET....!
You can actually rip it up on a 50# Freeride/DH rig on mntn-x course..
Get a light build on a BULLET in Lg or XL & you'll be set...
Just as fast w/ a big dude like you & more traction + stability at speed for sure..
Little bikes are twitchy & get crooked lot's easier in the air i have found...
{ex: a meduim Bullet i had sucked} but the large is totally better !
What you lose in weight, you will gain back in fast pure freighttrain speed..

plus.Most good hardtails often cost as much as a decent FS frameset. :dancing:
my .02

 

[Sir_Crackien]

hey i'm a big guy(6'5" and 230-240 lbs). i ride a 16" banshee morphine and i love it i use it for all of the above applications and i take it to the skatepark and urban and also a little dh. the cool thing about banshee is that they use a long top tube. my 16" is a 23.5" top tube but feels like a 24". as for the fork i would stay away from the shiver sc because they are so flexy for us big guys. go with something like a marz. drop off 1. it is a great bang for buck fork it is a little more than you might want to send but it is well worth the money. i also bought it but i bought the Z150 instead because of the dh and geometery reasons. banshee also make 2 other hardtails one lighter and the other more park orianted. all of their bike are bullit proof when it comes to longevity of product!!

pm me with any questions

 

[BigMike]

hey i'm a big guy(6'5" and 230-240 lbs). i ride a 16" banshee morphine and i love it i use it for all of the above applications and i take it to the skatepark and urban and also a little dh. the cool thing about banshee is that they use a long top tube. my 16" is a 23.5" top tube but feels like a 24". as for the fork i would stay away from the shiver sc because they are so flexy for us big guys. go with something like a marz. drop off 1. it is a great bang for buck fork it is a little more than you might want to send but it is well worth the money. i also bought it but i bought the Z150 instead because of the dh and geometery reasons. banshee also make 2 other hardtails one lighter and the other more park orianted. all of their bike are bullit proof when it comes to longevity of product!!

pm me with any questions

Oh yeah, forgot about them. And yeah, Sir_Crackien is a big guy

And the good thing about Banshee is, you can get them through any shop. Thier distributor is QBP.

 

[Wigga]

evil imperial. ive never ridden a shiver sc but i loved my shiver dc. u could look into a marz dj fork too. i havent ridden them but ive heard that they are strong.

 

[Leethal]

A XL Chameleon would work well... Also the endless frame has a way long top tube.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

Why is everyone recommending these giant frames, i know the guy is big but allot of guys riding eddy’s that are 6" ride 15" frames (or something close ). Personally i would go with some of the suggestions above if you want unbreakable but a little heavy, check out the morphine in a size 17", the evil imperial would rock as well...really stiff bike. I think that the chameleon suggestion is a good balance between weight and strength. I have had 2 of their frames and seen a bunch of big boys that have never broken them!

As for forks i would stay away from anything QR, go with a through axle for sure. The best offering on the market right now for your intended usage is the Manitou Sherman line maybe the dirt jumper . The hex axle is sooooooooo solid. Stay away from zoch they seem to flex alot more than the Shermans IMO (dont want to start a war) and i have seen a bunch of DJ series forks broken at the steerer. Maybe check out fox's new 36 fork that is coming out soon with the 36mm stanchions. Looks sweeeeeet....hope this helps

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

ps dont know why it says "eddys" up there?

 

[BMXman]

click on my sig and all your problems will be solved....D

 

[Brian Peterson]

I am 6-1 and just got a medium Mountain Cycle Rumble.... Take a look at the large... It runs pretty long.

Brian

 

[Slugman]

Inexpensive and solid - Soul Cycle Titan... have to get a '04 for the bigger 18" (they are discontinuing this size)

I'm 6'1" and 200lbs - I've cased a 5' drop and took a big crash doing DH - bike's fine... I'm still healing.