Motocrosser,
The fact that you have raced BMX, means that you are not really a total beginner, as you will have a lot of skill of flicking a bike around, also you have ridden motocross, so you will be comfortable in the air, and a heavy bike wont really bother you I feel.
If you buy new you can pick up last years Specialized Big Hit 3 for under 2 grand. If you feel downhill is something you are going to take seriously you should get a demo 7 or 8. if I was to do again I'd probably just get a demo. I find the big hit really hard to ride on anything but downhill. If you get a demo (with a dhx 5)with propedal it will be a bit easier to ride, ( have riden one and its really nice)
At 6'2" a size large Big Hit maybe a bit big, Im nearly 6'6 and ride a large and its fine....
If you think you want to cyle a bit rather than pure downhill, look at a second hand Santa Cruz vpfree, or intense UZZI, I guess over there in the states you can pick up on for a good price...
Thats my .02 worth but I was a real beginner, having to learn a lot of skill and stuff so the Big Hit absorbed my mistakes.. In my opinion considering your experience, if you get the big hit in a couple of weeks on the bike you will be a lot faster than lads on more expensive bikes. The main thing is you will really enjoy it!
The fact that you have raced BMX, means that you are not really a total beginner, as you will have a lot of skill of flicking a bike around, also you have ridden motocross, so you will be comfortable in the air, and a heavy bike wont really bother you I feel.
If you buy new you can pick up last years Specialized Big Hit 3 for under 2 grand. If you feel downhill is something you are going to take seriously you should get a demo 7 or 8. if I was to do again I'd probably just get a demo. I find the big hit really hard to ride on anything but downhill. If you get a demo (with a dhx 5)with propedal it will be a bit easier to ride, ( have riden one and its really nice)
At 6'2" a size large Big Hit maybe a bit big, Im nearly 6'6 and ride a large and its fine....
If you think you want to cyle a bit rather than pure downhill, look at a second hand Santa Cruz vpfree, or intense UZZI, I guess over there in the states you can pick up on for a good price...
Thats my .02 worth but I was a real beginner, having to learn a lot of skill and stuff so the Big Hit absorbed my mistakes.. In my opinion considering your experience, if you get the big hit in a couple of weeks on the bike you will be a lot faster than lads on more expensive bikes. The main thing is you will really enjoy it!
also a great bike, much cheaper than other Dh rigs out there. .