[motomike]

OK, so I'm thinkin' about getting a downhill bike. I already have a dirt jump hardtail, which I just love. Please don't hate me for what I'm about to say!: I am toying around with the idea of selling my motocross bike in order to get a full blown dh bike. I know I know, it sounds crazy, but I am racing XC all season long and have no time to ride MX anymore. But when I do, I can get a bike to ride on pretty easily. This would let me ride/race dh the day before my XC races and get some good "openers" in to warm up.
On to the advice part: I have choices of anything from Specialized, Giant, and maybe Rocky Mountain.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[binary visions]

Hate you for it?! Indeed, just the opposite...

...welcome to the fold, brother.

 

[Jeremy R]

In order to help you out, I am willing to trade you a brand new Boxxer Race fork for your motocross bike to help get you started on the right foot. neaky: I am a heckuva guy huh?
No seriously, what moto are you selling?

 

[J.R]

yeah bro, all the way against moto x. I wanted a moto x bike until i started dh it is the sickest biking there is

 

[MikeD]

Your choices in Giant are the Giant DH (classic, proven bike) and the Giant Maestro, the newer VPP-type thing; Specialized gives you the Big Hit (forces you to run a 24" wheel, better freeride bike than DH bike IMHO), the Demo 9 (really heavy, pretty freeridish) and the Demo 8 (lighter, racier, still has a high bottom bracket.

I wouldn't look at Rockies, myself.

I'd get the Giant Team DH if it were my choice:

The Demo 8 would be my second choice...not a bad ride either, but I like the Giant's suspension, geometry, and components, and while some don't like the new top tube design, I LOVE low-standover bikes.

 

[profro]

Yeah, I'd look at the Giant DH or the Demo 8.

Jeremy, you still have that fork? You should regift it and put it back in the pot for prizes this year.

 

[Tootrikky]

Giant=Great Race Bike,
Good
-Improved for 05 with lower standover and a 150mm rear end.
-Super Low center of gravity
-Great Geometry
-Great warranty (lifetime)
-Don't break that often (except for bearin pivots)
Bad
-Bearing pivots (I've had three frames and all three ate the linkage pivot bearings like candy)
-Horrible resale value

Demo 8= Seems to be well reiceved so far, Don't know much about the bike (only test rode a Demo 9) but seems pretty hot, defintely look in to it.

Rocky Mtn RMX= Never been a fan, notoriously weak rear ends in the past (RM-6,7, and 9's) I think the goemmetry is more Freeride then race also

 

[motomike]

In order to help you out, I am willing to trade you a brand new Boxxer Race fork for your motocross bike to help get you started on the right foot. neaky: I am a heckuva guy huh?
No seriously, what moto are you selling?

Yeah, thanks a lot! To answer your question, it is a 2001 Yahama YZ 125. Bored up to 139 by Rick Peterson.(the dude who does all of the factory bikes. oops, you didn't hear that from me...

 

[zane]

Well, they just about covered it. I haven't heard of anyone not liking their demo 9, and the giant Dh's aren't bad race bikes either. The RMX isn't that great, it would work but I wouldn't buy one if I had the choice. I'd say ride every bike you can and base your decisions off that. The other issue is price, if you have 5 g's to spend that'll get you more than a 3 g's, in terms of new bikes. Unless you have a good hookup a demo 9 Dh will cost you upwards of 5 grand.

 

[biker3]

Your choices in Giant are the Giant DH (classic, proven bike) and the Giant Maestro, the newer VPP-type thing; Specialized gives you the Big Hit (forces you to run a 24" wheel, better freeride bike than DH bike IMHO), the Demo 9 (really heavy, pretty freeridish) and the Demo 8 (lighter, racier, still has a high bottom bracket.

I wouldn't look at Rockies, myself.

I'd get the Giant Team DH if it were my choice:

The Demo 8 would be my second choice...not a bad ride either, but I like the Giant's suspension, geometry, and components, and while some don't like the new top tube design, I LOVE low-standover bikes.

Demo 8 high bottem bracket? Last time I checked it was 14.2 without sag which is PRETTY DARN Low especially considering ALL the weight on the bike is near the BB. Id go for the Demo 8 if possible. I was going to get one but due to lack of availability I went with the Gemini DH which is SICK i might say. The Demo is gunna brake much better than the Giant, The quality is top notch and I mean TOP NOTCH when I say that. Specialized has REALLY stepped it up with their bikes note the extremely high price tag. Its costing them so much to make the demos and that is why they are so pricey, to prove that they aren't just trying to make money they aren't letting ANY employee EP a demo 8 this year which sucks for peeps like me. Anyhow can't go wrong with either the Giant or the Demo 8 but id pick Demo 8 because of the quality and the FOX DH40 YO (if thats the model your looking at). The lower spec is pretty crappy so id steer clear of it if I were you.

 

[caputo1989]

Me Me:

 

[UiUiUiUi]

www.canfieldbrothers.com
thr F1 is a great bike!


for real!

out of the frames you mentioned the Giant DH frame seems to be a really good bet.

btw who already has some real life riding time on a demo 8?

 

[caputo1989]

I do One of the reps had one.

 

[UiUiUiUi]

please elaborate!

 

[oly]

A targeet price range may help narrow down your choices. You mentioned brands that span the scale of pricing. No sence suggesting the D9 if your looking to spend in the BigHit range (just as an example).

 

[motomike]

price is no option! I work in a bike shop...

 

[MikeD]

Demo 8 high bottem bracket?

Sorry, I was quoting it in the high/steep position. It's 367mm in the low/slack, which is 14.48"...not terribly high. I was thinking of the 383/15.07" setting.

MD

 

[gastro]

price is no option! I work in a bike shop...

Don't hear that very often.

I vote for the demo 8, only because I might be able to talk my way into riding it.

 

[mtbpaint]

MX seems like it would be fun for a while but than get boring....good choice switching over to the good side of riding (no offense to all you dirt bikers all of my MX buddies just hate DHers) I love my Canfield brothers F1 great service, no pedal bob, 9 inches, flickable so its a lot of fun

 

[me89]

from the choices id go the D8 PRO. make sure its the pro model. fox dh40 on it and awsome componet list. that is my vote. yeh its got a high bb but that can come in handy to when your having to worry about getting over a damn tree that is in your way, or some narly rock garden. so the d8 gets my vote. and i love the linkage.

 

[lovebunny]

i too vote for the d8. the demo 9 has proven to be an awesome bike and the demo8 is jus a slimmed up version of it

 

[mtbpaint]

i chose the F1 over the Demo 8 but thats just cause i got it used with awsome parts


If you want something that comes complete get the Demo 8

 

[zane]

Demo 9 since you have no price constraints (damn you....)

 

[biggins]

dont get a demo-9 mike cause then everytime i ride in greensboro i'll be sidelined with a boner from lookin at the bike.

 

[bizutch]

price is no concern... '05 Turner DHR baby!!! Case closed!!!
(bet you guys never saw that one coming)

 

[E.T.]

Demo-8 HIGH BB. What are you guys talking about? The Demo-8 has a 14.4" bb height withan 8" fork. The Canfield has a 15", and the giant is the same as the Demo (14.4").

Please people think before you make assumptions about bikes that you've never ridden.

They are all good bikes. For your money I think that the Demo-8 and the Canfield are your best options. The Demo-8 is a nice and light, very confidence inspiring, great handling DH bike with top of the line suspension. Bone stock it is an awesome bike. The only thing I would recommend is to purchase a Fox DHX 5.0 for the rear because it beats the snot out of the Manitou.

Also any of you who have heard the remote resevoir Manitou shocks in action will let you know that they have the most annoying (fingernails on chalkboard) squeeking once they warm up. I've heard it from the chairlift on Giant's and on a Schwinn dh-9 with a remote resi Manitou.

Ultimately it's your decision. Don't drop 4-5 grand without trying it first.

 

[E.T.]

Oh! almost forgot. D-8 all the way baby. Mine is sitting in the garage waiting for the Fox 40 and a few other parts. I can't wait...

 

[me89]

Sorry, I was quoting it in the high/steep position. It's 367mm in the low/slack, which is 14.48"...not terribly high. I was thinking of the 383/15.07" setting.

Please people think before you make assumptions about bikes that you've never ridden.

now dude mike d posted that i think he kinda knows what hes talkin about and also if you didnt notice we had coverd this already pay attention dude. and also its not an assumtion and we did think. why dont you think before you go and say something like that man.

ohh yeh demo 8 all the way again.

 

[motomike]

one other thing. do you think that '05 deemax wheels would look ok on a demo 8 pro? Yellow wheels, ti colored frame....

 

[me89]

dude dee maxes look good on every bike. and even if it doesnt look good everyone will be jelous cause you got deemaxes and a fox 40 and they dont. lol have fun.

 

[dexterq20]

...they aren't letting ANY employee EP a demo 8 this year...

I think you're mistaken about that...

 

[motomike]

haha, yeah I guess you're right. It helps to work in a freakin' bike shop. Only the best will do!

 

[konahucker43]

ur all wrong, no matter what, its got to have gazz's 3's and a super monster or it will be sucky

 

[Salami]

one other thing. do you think that '05 deemax wheels would look ok on a demo 8 pro? Yellow wheels, ti colored frame....

Will it even work? I thought the Demo 8 had the rear wheel offset 6mm to one side.

 

[sk8kid33]

take a look at the kaos on www.adrcycles.com its got a dhx 5.0 and top of the line components for not a bad price, and you can get the fox 40 on it too!!!!!! its turbo nice looking and not a bad price!!

 

[Bicyclist]

I rode a Demo 8 vs. a Demo 9. It feels SIGNIFICANTLY lighter. That's what I would get.