Arrow bikes?
- Thread starter tartosuc
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The hardtail is a really cool frame...very well-made, pretty light, tough, good geometry IMHO, great value. I wouldn't touch the f/s frame, because a friend had one which bobbed mercilessly...but that's not firsthand experience. Maybe with a 5th element or something it'd work better.
My friend's son rides the hardtail: http://www.msdhw.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=850&stc=1
What exactly do ya want to know?
What exactly do ya want to know?
I had a DS3 for a season. I liked it a lot, but the TT was a bit long for me (5'8"). I ran 24" wheels for DJ and 26" wheels for FR. I had a Psylo with adjustable travel that made it easy to match the adjustable travel on the rear of the bike.
For FR it didn't bother me that the bike bobbed more than some other designs and then for DJ I would shorten the travel so it barely bobbed.
As noticed, it is made in the same factory as the Cove G-Spot, so they do have some design and structural similarities.
For FR it didn't bother me that the bike bobbed more than some other designs and then for DJ I would shorten the travel so it barely bobbed.
As noticed, it is made in the same factory as the Cove G-Spot, so they do have some design and structural similarities.
who cares about bob. how much can there be on a 3.5" travel bike? hell, i have more sag on my bb7 than the arrow has travel (not that i use it to pedal up anything, i just like working the fact that i have a bb7 into any thread i can).
i was looking at the arrow full suspension for a while. it seems like a good bike if you don't need a bunch of seated pedaling. you can also run it single speed due to the bottom bracket pivot. that was my plan. but i got distracted by a great deal on the bb7 and could not buy both.
i was looking at the arrow full suspension for a while. it seems like a good bike if you don't need a bunch of seated pedaling. you can also run it single speed due to the bottom bracket pivot. that was my plan. but i got distracted by a great deal on the bb7 and could not buy both.
i looked at ds3 before i decided on my zigzag. and i think it would be sweet little bike. throw a sherman jumper on that bad boy and you are set......
hey neat, somebody else actually interested in arrows.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=65729
I own a Ds3, and I can vouch that it is a fun bike. It's so little, and I always run a 24" in the rear, which makes it accelerate pretty damn quickly. The bike does have a lot of bob, any bike with a concentric is less than ideal. i'm thinking about having my fox pushed depending on cash flow. They are correct however, that in short travel (2.5 and 3.5) it no longer bobs noticeably. If efficiancy is your thing, I would stay away. It is a relatively unsophisticated design in comparison with newer bikes. That's not to say it doesn't ride well, which it does. Geometry is quick by my interpretation with dual 24's, and nice and slack with 24/26, which I switch between freely. I took the bike recently to jiminy peak and it rode OK, which is to say that it didn't give me the confidence to fly down chutes at 40 mph, but it did make it down them at a controlled rate. Again, the size of the bike is fantastic when it gets steep. You can get so far behind it with a 24 on the back that it just feels natural. Braking is unnoticable. There's probably some brake jack, it might lock up (stiffen) a little bit, but again- you're on 4.5" of travel, so you really can't tell. The bike soaked up enough for me, and I certainly wouldn't be afraid of the bike breaking on drops. I'd be more worried about my sh.tty truvativ cranks and pile-o-sand BB.
The bike is extremely versatile, however, as you can run 26's, 24's and anything in between. If you get yourself a long enough seatpost (as I have) you can ride cross country without too much of an issue. Honestly, when my seat is sky high, it doesn't feel too much different than an 18" bike. The top tube is nice and long, if that's your thing. I run a 45mm stem without much of an issue. I guess if I were riding mostly flats or hills I'd switch to a longer setup.
The bike jumps OK, but if you're serious about air I'd stick with a HT. It does well on 2.5, is barely managable on 3.5, and sticks to the ground on 4.5. This might be more of a testament to my setup, however, as I bottom out frequently.
What would I change? I'd love to get a full push on my shock, that could solve some bob issues. I'm looking at an 05 Z1 or a Manitou in the same area. I'd like to get 4.5.6 inches adjustable on the front, to match the 2.5-4.5 on the rear. A 20mm would definately be it for me, as I would like to run 8" disks. I'd also like a set of stronger brakes. My cranks need to go too, but that's not important here. One more thing- a rohloff could be run with no chainslap......mmmmm, silent.
All in all, it's a fun bike that does everything but excells at nothing. If racing is your thing, I might steer clear. If you're jumping specific, again- HT is the way to go. And if you're strictly earbone-jibeing, then you might be better off with a HT too. However, if you go out into the woods to just kind of ride and have a good time, with maybe some lifting and jumping thrown in, and perhaps a street ride afterwards, this bike excells. If I could do it again, I'm not sure whether I would or not. I like the idea of having such a rare bike, and it does what I ask of it, but I'm a bit of a technophile and I like a suspension designs that isolates movement from pedalling. I'll probably end up with the bike for a while, as I have no idea what to try and ask used, and cars are becomming my main attraction now. A rail would be nice, and probably similar, but it's a little more expensive, if I recall, and is probably slacker and heavier.
If you want something different, I say go for it. If you're in MA or the area, you can ride mine.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=65729
I own a Ds3, and I can vouch that it is a fun bike. It's so little, and I always run a 24" in the rear, which makes it accelerate pretty damn quickly. The bike does have a lot of bob, any bike with a concentric is less than ideal. i'm thinking about having my fox pushed depending on cash flow. They are correct however, that in short travel (2.5 and 3.5) it no longer bobs noticeably. If efficiancy is your thing, I would stay away. It is a relatively unsophisticated design in comparison with newer bikes. That's not to say it doesn't ride well, which it does. Geometry is quick by my interpretation with dual 24's, and nice and slack with 24/26, which I switch between freely. I took the bike recently to jiminy peak and it rode OK, which is to say that it didn't give me the confidence to fly down chutes at 40 mph, but it did make it down them at a controlled rate. Again, the size of the bike is fantastic when it gets steep. You can get so far behind it with a 24 on the back that it just feels natural. Braking is unnoticable. There's probably some brake jack, it might lock up (stiffen) a little bit, but again- you're on 4.5" of travel, so you really can't tell. The bike soaked up enough for me, and I certainly wouldn't be afraid of the bike breaking on drops. I'd be more worried about my sh.tty truvativ cranks and pile-o-sand BB.
The bike is extremely versatile, however, as you can run 26's, 24's and anything in between. If you get yourself a long enough seatpost (as I have) you can ride cross country without too much of an issue. Honestly, when my seat is sky high, it doesn't feel too much different than an 18" bike. The top tube is nice and long, if that's your thing. I run a 45mm stem without much of an issue. I guess if I were riding mostly flats or hills I'd switch to a longer setup.
The bike jumps OK, but if you're serious about air I'd stick with a HT. It does well on 2.5, is barely managable on 3.5, and sticks to the ground on 4.5. This might be more of a testament to my setup, however, as I bottom out frequently.
What would I change? I'd love to get a full push on my shock, that could solve some bob issues. I'm looking at an 05 Z1 or a Manitou in the same area. I'd like to get 4.5.6 inches adjustable on the front, to match the 2.5-4.5 on the rear. A 20mm would definately be it for me, as I would like to run 8" disks. I'd also like a set of stronger brakes. My cranks need to go too, but that's not important here. One more thing- a rohloff could be run with no chainslap......mmmmm, silent.
All in all, it's a fun bike that does everything but excells at nothing. If racing is your thing, I might steer clear. If you're jumping specific, again- HT is the way to go. And if you're strictly earbone-jibeing, then you might be better off with a HT too. However, if you go out into the woods to just kind of ride and have a good time, with maybe some lifting and jumping thrown in, and perhaps a street ride afterwards, this bike excells. If I could do it again, I'm not sure whether I would or not. I like the idea of having such a rare bike, and it does what I ask of it, but I'm a bit of a technophile and I like a suspension designs that isolates movement from pedalling. I'll probably end up with the bike for a while, as I have no idea what to try and ask used, and cars are becomming my main attraction now. A rail would be nice, and probably similar, but it's a little more expensive, if I recall, and is probably slacker and heavier.
If you want something different, I say go for it. If you're in MA or the area, you can ride mine.
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Well a guy raced one in WA only 4 man Bikercross and dominated....so it might not be as limiting as people claim....or the guy was that good.
He went BIG and it didn't look like he was being held back.
Just saying......
Can you get the bike with a 5th or similiar? That would take any bob worries you have especially since it is a short travel bike.
Rhino
He went BIG and it didn't look like he was being held back.
Just saying......
Can you get the bike with a 5th or similiar? That would take any bob worries you have especially since it is a short travel bike.
Rhino
that picture of the one (posted by sandwich) with the really really high seat makes me sick