[DomDil]

Hey, i ride all xc but want to try out freeriding, i didn't want to spend alot on a ride..so I picked up an iron horse sinister, it comes with the same frame as their top end "stout"..it has a marzocchi exr, hayes discs, lx/deore, truvativ husselfelts etc..its a nice spec..i got it new from a closeout for $799 canadian ( around $500 us). it was marked down from $1400 Canadian, is this a solid bike for the money??
Thanks

 

[Roasted]

For people that want to look at spec here

http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/sinister.html#

Now an opinion. I think you got a sweet deal. The frame has a decent geometry with good components. Norco and Kona both offer bikes with similar parts for way more. Now for specifics. I hate hayes discs. They suck and will generally loose power the longer the ride and eventually you will want something else (on some occasions I was brakeless). The forks are 'decent' they are the lowest end fork marzocchi makes and if you want to do any real freeriding upgrade these ASAP. They are fine for xc and little drops.

I don't know a lot about formula hubs but I have heard only good. I personally think mavics are better rims than sun but these will do as you learn to do drops etc...

I think you scored. I personally would upgrade as things brake but really this bike should go 3 months of freeride learning before anything brakes.

Cheers

 

[DomDil]

thanks.
yeah, my friend just sold me his 2000 z1 5" for so cheap. So there the fork upgrade
as for the discs..i'll use them until they wither to nothing
thanks

how will the bike ride with 5"?

 

[Roasted]

It will be fine. You shouldn't notice a huge difference. In all reality it will help with wheelie drops. (tilting it back farther) The geometry has changed but not for the worst. I have a similar geometry and will be switch to a 5" z1 fr.

One note. You will have problems on extreme uphills. If you decide to pedal everywhere you will have a tendancy to tip backwards. The ECC shows its true power here (in the 2002 z1 FR) but really walking the odd time isn't as embarresing and endoing an easy drop

PS you may want to go to fatter tires. 2.35 to 2.5 are AWESOME for freeriding. Narrow tires sometimes get stuck in the dh sections of areas. This is another future upgrade of course

 

[Roasted]

In fact that is such a good deal I would consider buying the bike for winter riding.

Did you get it at sportChek?

 

[DomDil]

Yeah, i got it at sportchek, i usually dont even go in to look at their bikes but this year they're carrying some nice iron horses for killer prices..Look at the iron horse ginsu..same parts as the sinister except it has 6" rear wheel travel and a manitou black elite 100/120..its only going for $1300!!

 

[Roasted]

Yeah I used to work for them. I think they are one of the few authorized dealers up here. (there are a whole family of sports stores that carry them all under the Forzani group)

 

[ohio]

Don't know too much about the bike, other than I like Iron Horse as a company, but I was wondering why you hate the brakes so much, Maelstrom? Did the Sinister come with the hydros or mechs. If it's the mechs I'd understand, but the hydros...???
Hayes are by far the most popular disc brake in the US, and it's certainly not because of the price. They're strong, extremely reliable, and it's super easy to find replacement parts...

 

[powderboy]

OHIO

I had the same question when he was dissing on the Hayes brakes, so I looked at the specs. They are, in fact the mechanical brakes.

DomDil
Sounds like you got a good deal on an entry-level freeride hard-tail. Though I don't understand the whole hard-tail "freeride" idea.

Great deal on a good bike. You should be stoked!

I don't know a ton about Iron Horse other than they have been around awhile and their rear triangle is similar to the GT triple-triangle, but more slack seat tube angles.