[clamber]

Dude, you've changed bike set ups like fifteen times since you've joined the forum. You don't want a Boxxer on a bike that you plan on riding all mountain on. You've never ridden a mtn bike before, so anything is going to work. Just buy a used bike and shred it.

Hah I know!
My budget has pretty much gone up $2000 since Ive first decided to get a MTB.

And Ive rode one before. My bro has a Cannondale, and I used a Glory the other day.

I would get used, but I hate doing that. And Ill have $4500 so why not spend about $4200 of that on a bike?

 

[rigidhack]

I would get used, but I hate doing that. And Ill have $4500 so why not spend about $4200 of that on a bike?

Because you will beat that sh*t down in very short order due to your lack of biking skills - which you have not ridden enough to have yet. 3 months down the road you end up with the wrong bike that is worth 1/3 of what it should be worth when you go to resell it and get the right one - which you could have got first time around if you were paying more attention to what everybody else is saying to you...

I got a drivers license and loads of $, why should I not buy a monster truck for my first car? I rode in one once at the county fair and it was really cool.

BECAUSE IT IS STUPID and possibly even dangerous, that's why.

 

[Da Peach]

Because you will beat that sh*t down in very short order due to your lack of biking skills ...

As harsh as this might sound, it's kinda true. I went and got a brand new bike after 1.5 seasons, and proceeded to dent the chainstay after about 3 rides. Suxxord. My brake levers are kinda beat up too. They work fine, but in rough looking shape compared to my buddies' bikes who don't crash as much.

I've gotten way less crash happy, and my next bike will likely stay prettier a lot longer.

 

[gobighitmtb]

Because you will beat that sh*t down in very short order due to your lack of biking skills - which you have not ridden enough to have yet. 3 months down the road you end up with the wrong bike that is worth 1/3 of what it should be worth when you go to resell it and get the right one - which you could have got first time around if you were paying more attention to what everybody else is saying to you...

I got a drivers license and loads of $, why should I not buy a monster truck for my first car? I rode in one once at the county fair and it was really cool.

BECAUSE IT IS STUPID and possibly even dangerous, that's why.

This is funny, harsh, and one of the most blatantly honest and truthful things said in this thread. You would have to have a head full of rocks not to listen to this.

 

[clamber]

Well, I wont have this kind of money for a long while. So Id rather spend it on a good bike.

So now its down to either the Rune, Scythe, Covert, Blindside or ASR-7.

And Ill be able to sell my motorcycle for more than I thought, so the most I can spend on the bike is $4500, and that will leave me $500 for gear and tools.

And as far as not knowing how to ride. I cant really argue with that, but maybe my motocross past will shorten the learning time and keep my from making basic mistakes.

When I rode the Glory the other day, I was pretty comfortable and seemed like I was riding relatively well. and Im not going to go out and do stuff way out of my skill range. I did that with MX and ended up with 2 broken wrists, 3 cracked ribs and a smashed vertebrea.

 

[metalhead119042]

So now its down to either the Rune, Scythe, Covert, Blindside or ASR-7

People have been giving you their opinions on what you want and you either ignore it or add it to your ever growing list. Any of those bikes are going to be great, I'm jealous that you have the ability to put any of those on your list. I've never ridden any of them, but I would say the Rune looks to be the most fun and versatile. That would be my choice.

 

[blue]

Well, I wont have this kind of money for a long while. So Id rather spend it on a good bike.

Financial lecturing aside, buy two used rides if you absolutely must blow all your cash. I don't know what your aversion is to used, especially as a brand-new rider. Bike companies are very good about honoring warranties on used bikes, and if you buy a mechanically sorted out one, you're not going to have reliability issues. If you're buying most of this stuff online anyway, you're really shooting yourself in the foot with the biggest reason to buy new at retail (the support and hookups an LBS can provide). In addition to the above, you've got no fvcking clue what you'll want or not want in a bike. Until you've spent a season riding, you won't know. Blowing four large on something you a), know nothing about, and b), likely won't be satisfied with after you've thoroughly abused it (and killed resale) is mind boggling to me. It doesn't sound like you're rolling on a heap of cash right now, so resale is probably going to be important to you.

Whatever, you'll just be the toolshed who can't ride that shows up on a shiny new $4000 bike at the trailhead - it's obvious these threads aren't really for advice, anyway.

 

[metalhead119042]

Whatever, you'll just be the toolshed who can't ride that shows up on a shiny new $4000 bike at the trailhead - it's obvious these threads aren't really for advice, anyway.

The blunt truth.

 

[clamber]

People have been giving you their opinions on what you want and you either ignore it or add it to your ever growing list. Any of those bikes are going to be great, I'm jealous that you have the ability to put any of those on your list. I've never ridden any of them, but I would say the Rune looks to be the most fun and versatile. That would be my choice.

Every bike that people have recommended I have looked into, but some just dont fit the bill of what Im looking for.

And yeah, the Rune is looking likea good all around bike, but Im just worried about the chainstay and seatstay. They dont looks at bulky and strong as some others.

Financial lecturing aside, buy two used rides if you absolutely must blow all your cash. I don't know what your aversion is to used, especially as a brand-new rider. Bike companies are very good about honoring warranties on used bikes, and if you buy a mechanically sorted out one, you're not going to have reliability issues. If you're buying most of this stuff online anyway, you're really shooting yourself in the foot with the biggest reason to buy new at retail (the support and hookups an LBS can provide). In addition to the above, you've got no fvcking clue what you'll want or not want in a bike. Until you've spent a season riding, you won't know. Blowing four large on something you a), know nothing about, and b), likely won't be satisfied with after you've thoroughly abused it (and killed resale) is mind boggling to me. It doesn't sound like you're rolling on a heap of cash right now, so resale is probably going to be important to you.

Whatever, you'll just be the toolshed who can't ride that shows up on a shiny new $4000 bike at the trailhead - it's obvious these threads aren't really for advice, anyway.

Buying a bike used just doesnt sound appealing to me. Bikes seem like something that could be abused potentially, and seeing as Im a heavy guy, Im not to keen on the idea of getting a used bike only to find out that there are minor cracks present.

Ill probably buy online because the guys at DropNZone seem really nice and helpful, theres a 10% off on parts for a complete there, and I dont think Ill have to pay $250+ on tax.

And no, Im not rolling around in cash. In fact, the only reason Ill have $4k is because my dad died in May and he left me some money and some other stuff

The blunt truth.

So just because I want to get a good first bike means that Ill be the kind of guy that has a good bike, but cant ride it for ****?

Okay, its obvious that there's not much logic put into that, but whatever.

I guess its clear that some of you are annoyed by me being so indecisive, so I guess Ill just refrain from posting here.

Sorry, I appreciate the help though. You guys have helped me learn a lot about bikes and whatnot.

 

[jekyll991]

Buying a bike used just doesnt sound appealing to me. Bikes seem like something that could be abused potentially, and seeing as Im a heavy guy, Im not to keen on the idea of getting a used bike only to find out that there are minor cracks present.

Cracks don't just form on frames for no reason, I highly doubt a seller selling a cracked frame, especially on here, simply due to them being liable if it broke and caused injury, but I'm not going to deny it is possible for someone to that.

Also, seeing as you're a heavy guy, you'll probably put a bike through a lot more abuse than the "average" rider. I actually find comfort in knowing that a bike has been put through it's paces and survived. Both of my previous mountain bikes (cannondale jekyll, and giant reign) were bought second hand and i received them exactly as they were advertised. However I did just buy a brand new bike, but only because I got a sick deal from chainlove.

I'm not saying your worries about used bikes are unfounded, just exaggerated.

And speaking of chainlove, there has been a commencal supreme DH popping and commencal 666 frame popping up along with some other commencal bikes. If you're wanting a brand new bike I believe chainlove is the way to go especially if you're after a 2 bike stable.

 

[clamber]

Cracks don't just form on frames for no reason, I highly doubt a seller selling a cracked frame, especially on here, simply due to them being liable if it broke and caused injury, but I'm not going to deny it is possible for someone to that.

Also, seeing as you're a heavy guy, you'll probably put a bike through a lot more abuse than the "average" rider. I actually find comfort in knowing that a bike has been put through it's paces and survived. Both of my previous mountain bikes (cannondale jekyll, and giant reign) were bought second hand and i received them exactly as they were advertised. However I did just buy a brand new bike, but only because I got a sick deal from .

I'm not saying your worries about used bikes are unfounded, just exaggerated.

And speaking of , there has been a commencal supreme DH popping and commencal 666 frame popping up along with some other commencal bikes. If you're wanting a brand new bike I believe is the way to go especially if you're after a 2 bike stable.

Yeah. Id just rather not take the chance. But Ill keep my eyes open on the local classifieds and of forums.

And Chainlove is my current homepage. I saw the Commencal Supreme on there yesterday and was tempted, but I wasnt sure if they would be big enough.

 

[William42]

Hm. I've been riding for several years, and I'm breaking bike parts now more then ever. I think as you get faster and more agressive, you break more parts. Noobs riding noobie like don't crush bikes nearly as fast. But hey, way to be dicks. If he is stoked on riding, why not go get a nice bike.

 

[slowitdown]

The internet has definitely made "researching my next project" something that doesn't need to be as publicized as "clamber" is making it.

Thanks for thinking out loud, dude. Here are my thoughts.

1) you keep referencing that you're a "big guy" and that somehow, that means you need more travel. WRONG. shocks and forks are designed to adjust SPRING RATE to handle heavier people. heavier does not mean more travel. it means firmer spring rate.

2) as a moto crossover newbie, ask yourself right now: HOW MUCH DO I LIKE PEDALING? if the answer is "none" then remind yourself: YOU NEED A SHUTTLE RIG OR LIFT SERVICE to make the MTB thing work for you. pedaling is work, dude. if you actually weigh 250 lbs, you should be concerned about pedaling that weight around, and especially up a hill. watch the Tour de France, see how many of those alpine climbing specialists weigh more than 160 lbs.

3) pretending all these comparisons you are making ON PAPER will mean a damned thing to you when you own and ride the bike = FOOLISH. they're a fun way to pass time, and a great way for you to publicly reveal your plans to get the admiration you desperately crave, but they're nothing at all like owning and riding a bike. nothing.

4) go talk to the guys at Go-Ride, be humble enough to hear what they tell you about the differences between moto and MTB, and then choose a bike based on their wise recommendations. END OF PROBLEM.

Sorry, I appreciate the help though. You guys have helped me learn a lot about bikes and whatnot.

If you actually think you can "learn a lot about bikes" from reading 2 or 3 pages of threads on the internet, you are a bigger newb than you seem. If all it took was to read a few pages on the internet to develop knowledge and skill, Americans would be ruling bicycle racing. And they're not. Uh huh.

 

[metalhead119042]

And yeah, the Rune is looking likea good all around bike, but Im just worried about the chainstay and seatstay. They dont looks at bulky and strong as some others.

I'll just go ahead and say a bike built by Banshee is not going to break. You're going to be happy with any of those bikes, just buy one so you can start riding. And yes, many people do hate on the newbie with a fancy bike, because like I said earlier, many of us started on $400 entry level bikes and just made them work until we knew exactly what we wanted to do with our riding.

 

[Da Peach]

Perhaps a used Banshee then?

 

[demo 9]

Banshees break, mine on my 3rd run, horrible CS. IMHO, avoid banshee. I will add that they do make good stuff, just not the most reliable in my experience with mine and my friends

 

[Sandwich]

I vote buy a used AM and a used DH bike. Learn how to do most of your own service, like brakes and some suspension stuff. Everything else besides wheelbuilding is pretty easy to figure out.

The last thing I would want to do is show up on a $5600 trek to race beginner DH. Take some other dude's clapped out ride and get better...then spend the big bucks if you still love it in a year or two.

 

[OGRipper]

Whatever, you'll just be the toolshed who can't ride that shows up on a shiny new $4000 bike at the trailhead - it's obvious these threads aren't really for advice, anyway.

Kind of funny, but why do people get annoyed if someone who is not a great rider has a sweet rig? Smells a lot like jealousy.

The whole "paying your dues" attitude is pretty lame and is one reason some newer riders have bad experiences with the DH crowd. Why do you care if dude wants to spend his cash on a good bike? If he's got a good attitude and rides with respect for the mountain and everyone on it, what's the problem? How is a good bike more dangerous than some janky used rig? How much is too much? Is there a place he can go to get a decent bike that is used just enough for your elitist criteria?

"Run what you brung" is an old saying. To it I'll add this: Don't worry about what others done brung.

 

[Transcend]

Buy used. You don't even know if you'll like it yet.

 

[davec113]

Another vote for buy 2 bikes. DH and AM. I used to have 1 bike, it's a huge compromise in either direction. Sucks to pedal compared to a 30 lb am bike and isn't anywhere close to a real dh bike on the way down.

 

[metalhead119042]

Banshees break, mine on my 3rd run, horrible CS. IMHO, avoid banshee. I will add that they do make good stuff, just not the most reliable in my experience with mine and my friends

I stand corrected

 

[clamber]

The internet has definitely made "researching my next project" something that doesn't need to be as publicized as "clamber" is making it.

Thanks for thinking out loud, dude. Here are my thoughts.

1) you keep referencing that you're a "big guy" and that somehow, that means you need more travel. WRONG. shocks and forks are designed to adjust SPRING RATE to handle heavier people. heavier does not mean more travel. it means firmer spring rate.

2) as a moto crossover newbie, ask yourself right now: HOW MUCH DO I LIKE PEDALING? if the answer is "none" then remind yourself: YOU NEED A SHUTTLE RIG OR LIFT SERVICE to make the MTB thing work for you. pedaling is work, dude. if you actually weigh 250 lbs, you should be concerned about pedaling that weight around, and especially up a hill. watch the Tour de France, see how many of those alpine climbing specialists weigh more than 160 lbs.

3) pretending all these comparisons you are making ON PAPER will mean a damned thing to you when you own and ride the bike = FOOLISH. they're a fun way to pass time, and a great way for you to publicly reveal your plans to get the admiration you desperately crave, but they're nothing at all like owning and riding a bike. nothing.

4) go talk to the guys at Go-Ride, be humble enough to hear what they tell you about the differences between moto and MTB, and then choose a bike based on their wise recommendations. END OF PROBLEM.



If you actually think you can "learn a lot about bikes" from reading 2 or 3 pages of threads on the internet, you are a bigger newb than you seem. If all it took was to read a few pages on the internet to develop knowledge and skill, Americans would be ruling bicycle racing. And they're not. Uh huh.

1. I know that just because Im bigger doesnt mean i need more travel, I would just really like it.

2. I know Im not going to enjoy pedaling 100%, but I know that is something that needs to be done so Ill be willing to do it as much as possible.

3. Well duh.

4. Ive been talking to them, and I plan on going in there to see if I like the ASR-7.

Im not saying Ive learned anything about riding bikes, but I have learned relatively a lot about the tech, and how they work and whatnot. 1 month ago I didnt know ****, but now I know a little.

I wish i knew how many hours in the last month that Ive spent looking on the net at bike stuff. Its ridiculous.

Kind of funny, but why do people get annoyed if someone who is not a great rider has a sweet rig? Smells a lot like jealousy.

The whole "paying your dues" attitude is pretty lame and is one reason some newer riders have bad experiences with the DH crowd. Why do you care if dude wants to spend his cash on a good bike? If he's got a good attitude and rides with respect for the mountain and everyone on it, what's the problem? How is a good bike more dangerous than some janky used rig? How much is too much? Is there a place he can go to get a decent bike that is used just enough for your elitist criteria?

"Run what you brung" is an old saying. To it I'll add this: Don't worry about what others done brung.

Thanks!
To be honest, with all my other hobbies and passions, Ive never really had the best euqipment. and Ive been wanting to get into MTBing for a long time, and now that Ill have about $5000 soon, I really would like to get a good bike.

Im glad someone understands.

Another vote for buy 2 bikes. DH and AM. I used to have 1 bike, it's a huge compromise in either direction. Sucks to pedal compared to a 30 lb am bike and isn't anywhere close to a real dh bike on the way down.

I didnt like this idea at first, but Im going to keep my eye out for some used AM and DH bikes near me.

 

[LOOnatic]

Another vote for buy 2 bikes. DH and AM. I used to have 1 bike, it's a huge compromise in either direction. Sucks to pedal compared to a 30 lb am bike and isn't anywhere close to a real dh bike on the way down.

This really is the best advice.
I do-it-all bike sucks and we all have tried to do it. I still have a friend that pedals a Cannondale judge around with a 40 and a front deral with 2 rings and its pitiful.
Do your best to buy 2 clean used bikes : a 5-6" trailbike and a 8" dh bike and you will have done wise deeds.

 

[Leppah]

You really should get a used bike. You don't even know if you'll like the DH scene in Utah. It's not that hip at all. And if you buy a super pimp brand new bike, you won't even know how to maintain it at all. Buy used, get the gear you'll need, go ride and go learn. You're going to learn a lot. And believe me, the DH scene out here isn't that exciting. It might be the first few times, but you have to travel to get the good stuff. Don't be the dork that gets the $5000 DH bike and doesn't know how to ride. You're going to look like a poser that's crashing everywhere trying to be fast. Take baby steps, get two used bikes and call it good. Blowing a $5000 on a bike is pretty crazy when you don't race as a pro and you don't have a few years under your belt. I've been riding bikes for 13 years and I couldn't even justify spending that much on a single bike. I'd rather have two bikes with different purposes. Right now i have a coilair that i use for everything just because i have a tight budget and a kid on the way. If i had 5 grand to spend, i'd be getting a nice used trail bike and a used DH bike fo sho. My current bike will climb, but it's heavy (42 pounds). It also descends pretty good, although i have to switch up my riding style a bit. I can't just plow through everything like i used to. One bike to do everything is ok, but like others have said, it won't really be great at anything. It'll always lack in certain areas. Too heavy to go fast uphill, too small of travel to go fast on DH trails.
There are a ton of bikes you can get local. Where you have no idea what you want or why, you should just go get one that has a good fork and rear shock. Don't get caught up in the hype. You'll get used to whatever it is you ride. You don't know enough about it to tell the difference between geo's and suspension designs.

 

[rigidhack]

Kind of funny, but why do people get annoyed if someone who is not a great rider has a sweet rig? Smells a lot like jealousy.

The whole "paying your dues" attitude is pretty lame and is one reason some newer riders have bad experiences with the DH crowd. Why do you care if dude wants to spend his cash on a good bike? If he's got a good attitude and rides with respect for the mountain and everyone on it, what's the problem? How is a good bike more dangerous than some janky used rig? How much is too much? Is there a place he can go to get a decent bike that is used just enough for your elitist criteria?

"Run what you brung" is an old saying. To it I'll add this: Don't worry about what others done brung.

I actually agree with this, wholeheartedly in fact.

One of the points I was making earlier, and perhaps I did not spell it out well enough is that a big travel bike allows for the rider to make all kinds of basic mistakes - poor line choice, sloppy technique - which, when you combine them with the speeds a big bike allows means big injuries.

In an odd way then, a big expensive bike - which is generally expensive precisely because it is so good at making up for rider error - under a new rider is, at least indirectly, more dangerous.

On a lesser bike, like a hard tail or a rigid for an extreme example, the speeds are far lower and the demands of the ride higher, and therefore the chance to develop the appropriate skill set is greater. This also means, indirectly, that it can in the end be safer to start on a smaller bike. Take someone used to riding a rigid and put him on a big bike. Chances are he'll rip up the hill almost right away. Now take someone who learned on a big bike and put him on a rigid...

Personally, I do not care what bike the OP ends up with, and I am glad that he has chosen to get into this fantastic sport. We have all been through the steep learning curve that the technology of this sport demands. It can be really confusing. What is fairly obvious is that the OP comes across in this and the numerous other threads (here and on other boards) as suffering badly from indecision. Or rather he goes from absolute certainty that he wants one thing to absolute certainty that he wants another with little or no information. That part gets a bit old.

I have always been of the opinion that if you are asking for advice, you are actually wanting to listen to it when it is given. Maybe I'm wrong. The advice I have been giving is actually intended to be a practical and cost effective guide to getting the right bike, based on my own first hand experience. If noting that jumping right in with $4000 bike that may turn out to be not what he was after in the first place is "elitist," then I suppose you and I define that term differently. Personally, I look at "elitism" as being the kind of attitude that assumes one can't possibly ride without the latest and greatest (and most expensive) gear.

 

[P.T.W]

IMO i would take 2000 of your 4500 and buy a tidy second hand middle of the road all mountain bike like you originally wanted in your 1st thread. Then bank the remaining 2500 and slowly add to it over a year while you ride your all mountain bike into the ground learning just what sort of bike you really want or/and need.
Then after a year or so you can either keep your all mountain bike an spend the banked/saved money on a nice dh bike if needed or flick the old bike an combine your funds into a new n nice all mountain or dh bike.
You keep mentioning that you don't have this kind of money very often, so why blow it all at once on something your obviously not sure about, and also have no experience off.
Oh an in case you haven't noticed, your threads are wearing thin an soon i think the advice will dry up both here and on the other forums you have similar threads on.

 

[was?]

i don´t know if this has been mentioned before - but do you have any experience on a bicycle at all?
are you physically able/sporty in any way, and i´m not meaning motorsports...

if i were you, i´d buy only one bike, an used am/light freeride rig. your main concern really should become getting used to the vehicle of this sport and the possibilities it can provide.

look at it this way, you´ll have one bike that allows you to take it for a quick spin after work and is able to take some abuse on the local dh.
2000,- is quite a lot on the used market, the leftover money could be spent on road trips and a bmx cruiser.
or hookers and blow if that´s what you crave....

 

[HH310]

Its not a cheap sport. new tires & pads every season. New rims every couple years. Constant tune ups but would never give up the sport. You may think about purchasing a used DH bike. Huge savings. there are plenty of impulse buyers you could take advantage of & save 50% or more. Don't forget about a good set of armor! Sizing is not like XC. when in doubt, go smaller. you won't regret it.

 

[blackohio]

i cant ride for **** and have a evil revolt and trek remedy 8, do i deserve to have a clapped out sunday and mkiii?

actually i did ride a clapped out Sunday and mkiii for many years, but it was a beast and never let me down. Im going to second everyone here with the 2 used bikes. Youll be FAR happier in the long run buying 2 - $2000 used bikes than one rig you think can do it all.

Look you seem to think because you're 250 that your just going to break ****, thats not the case unless you're sending **** and sending it to flat. There are quite a a few 2K used set-ups that'll handle WAY more than you can throw at them. Right now you're much harder e-rider than real rider. There are alot of bikes that seem awesome on paper, but the reality is you'll never know until some hard ride time and i'd much rather try to sell a used bike thats fully depreciated than take a massive hit on a new bike because something wasnt right.

but like others have said your going to do what you want to so why listen to nationally ranked riders, veterans, pro's, class 3 guys and whatnot. afterall you have a moto background.

 

[bullcrew]

with that budget buy a AM and a DH bike used of course tons of smokin deals and get a good deal keep a good resale..

Ride em both and have one for the foothills more AM/FR and the other DH/FR then if you have a couple hundred bucks get a good rack and your set...

 

[Da Peach]

Don't blow all your cash on your bike.

I've had my bike for 1.5 years. I ride at least once a week for about 4hrs or 2 laps of the North Shore mountains in Vancouver. In the summer, I'll go to Whistler around 8-10 times.

I've had to buy: a new rear wheel, 2 new derailleurs, 1 hanger, a bleed kit, 2 sets of brake pads, a shock rebuild, 2 fork rebuilds, new grips, new pads, 1 set of tires, 2 pairs of gloves, new headset, new riding shoes. new bash guard/chain guide.

I've chosen to buy: new hitch rack, new helmet, new knee/shin pads, new handlebars, new cranks, new pedals, new shorts, new jersey, new seat clamp.

Just sayin' you'll be spending plenty more cash on maintenance and peripherals than you might think.

The links I've sent you from the nsmb classifieds are likely really good deals. People around here spend fortunes on their bikes, and take really good care of them. My girlfriend bought a Santa Cruz Blur with full XTR, Stans Olympics, Thompson everything, etc.. .for $1,600. The thing is mint. There are plenty of similar deals on there.

if you're going to buy online, buy used. If you're going to buy new, buy from a local shop. All those peripherals and maintenance will be waaaaay cheaper and easier.

Good luck.

 

[Sandwich]

I bought my bike for $2500 total from a used frame and fork and brand new everything else. It's a 2008 frame and still going strong (but uglier). There is nothing on it, besides the wheels, that isn't capable of winning a world cup (OK, maybe the shock). Not that it ever will, but it's a great bike that will keep up with anything I throw at it.

Like da pork said above, please please please include in your budget a good full face helmet, gloves, upper armor or elbow pads, knee/shin pads, riding shoes, and a pair of decent shorts. you can get away with NJ-style T-shirts or a real jersey if you care about being hot, but you need protective gear. Anybody who tells you otherwise is an A-hole. It took me a long while to get all my gear...I don't ride without it.

 

[kickstand]

many of us started on $400 entry level bikes and just made them work until we knew exactly what we wanted to do with our riding.

and many of us who have been riding bikes since we were 6 years old are STILL sporting our $600 Trek Hardtails we bought in college, not out of choice but out of necessity. I'm one of those people, I ride often, I ride hard, and I "think" I am pretty fast, at least I am always pretty quick with the groups I ride with. I've neglected the bike for a while and did a tune up on it recently and replaced a lot of parts, it STILL rides nice and is not a BAD bike and is an all around good XC bike and i've pushed it pretty hard on some other stuff.

I then FINALLY last fall purchased a Kona Coiler, which is still not the coolest of the cool, but for where I live 6" travel is PLENTY, what did I learn? I can do all the same trails I did on my hardtail, but I am slower on the uphills and the flats, and faster on the downhills, if you took the AVERAGE all mountain trail, that has equal ups and downs, the coiler is more FUN to ride because the downs are faster and more adrenalin, but OVERALL I am probably somewhat close to the same speed on both bikes.

A downhill bike that is purely designed to be ridden DOWN HILL will only be fun if you never HAVE to pedal it, even my coiler which is known to be a pretty decent pedaling all mountain bike is not fun to pedal all day long.

Granted, my bikes are not all "that jazz" but they are fun bikes.

1. I know that just because Im bigger doesnt mean i need more travel, I would just really like it.

Yup, lots of people think this, then they get out on the trails with friends who have less travel then them and see how much faster they are because they expending less energy pedaling, and then they also see that those same guys with good bike handling skills and less travel are keeping up with them DOWN the hills as well....

Unless you are riding all shuttle, and all lift assisted trails, get 2 bikes, a nice long travel XC / All mountain ride, and a downhill bike, which means, get 2 used bikes or you will be miserable.

These guys are giving you GREAT advice. Listen to it.

That or you will spend a lot of time at the back of the pack not enjoying the ride just to get to that sweet downhill section. Enjoy the whole ride.

 

[rockofullr]

lol, Silky are you in here somewhere

But seriously, and you should know from motoing, biking is still expensive after you have the bike. So take peach's advice don't use all that cash on a bike leave some for gas, lift tickets, hospital bills, parts, armor, etc.

 

[slowitdown]

I actually agree with this, wholeheartedly in fact.

One of the points I was making earlier, and perhaps I did not spell it out well enough is that a big travel bike allows for the rider to make all kinds of basic mistakes - poor line choice, sloppy technique - which, when you combine them with the speeds a big bike allows means big injuries.

In an odd way then, a big expensive bike - which is generally expensive precisely because it is so good at making up for rider error - under a new rider is, at least indirectly, more dangerous.

On a lesser bike, like a hard tail or a rigid for an extreme example, the speeds are far lower and the demands of the ride higher, and therefore the chance to develop the appropriate skill set is greater. This also means, indirectly, that it can in the end be safer to start on a smaller bike. Take someone used to riding a rigid and put him on a big bike. Chances are he'll rip up the hill almost right away. Now take someone who learned on a big bike and put him on a rigid...

rigidhack for the win!

"clamber" seems like a dude who's all about the image. he wants his MTB to "say something about" him.

if he was serious about "getting into MTB" then he would buy a decent used bike for about $2000, and get to riding about 15 hrs per week.

instead, I predict he'll spend all $5,000 on a blingy bike that he will put on his car/truck/SUV and hang out at the trailhead with a beer in his hand, pretending to have just finished "a gnarly ride."

but I'd be very positively surprised if he went the real route and actually became a bike rider.

.....


Best 2d place post = rockofullr, with Dave Chappelle!

 

[BBanville]

Plenty of good advice here, buying two used bikes (one am one dh) or one used am bike to use for a season while you focus in on your preferred riding style is great advice. I've been riding a $300 hardtail for years and just now did I make the move to a full suspension rig, a 2009 marin quake 7.8. I bought the quake for less than 2k new because it was last years model and while it isn't ideal for xc or a dh beast it works pretty well for shorter trail rides and still handles dh like a champ, especially compared to my hardtail. Just another option to confuse you even more.

 

[mandown]

As another who has tried the do-it-all route, go with two bikes. Start used. You need to ride it, and just seeing the numbers on paper/screen won't help you much for your first ride.

That said, if you are looking for a do-it-all, I'd suggest the Trek Scratch line-up.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/scratch/scratch7/
A good solid frame and parts spec. The 142mm rear is weird, but they have adapters to 135 if you change the rear wheel later. There is a large and an extra large to fit you.

 

[OGRipper]

Good stuff

You make good points for sure. I think there is real debate over whether ANY bike is "safe" (as long as it's mechanically and structurally sound), since it really comes down to the rider. All bikes can be ridden safely or unsafely. A big squishy bike can erase user error - does that make it safer or more dangerous than a hardtail if the guy is going to ride the same trails with a beginner's skill?

I learned on hardtails but rarely ride one these days, and personally I don't really agree that everyone has to learn hardtail skills before eventually moving to FS and learning some different things. Guess I've gotten used to the fact that the learning curve is just faster these days and that new riders can benefit from the advances we've seen along the way.

And while I agree that elitism can be tied to the cost of a bike, I think it comes in many other forms of exclusionary conduct too. Some people are elitist about NOT having the latest and greatest, and immediately assume that a guy with a nice new bike is a tool.

As for the OP, at this point I don't really care either!

 

[JeffKill]

If you have the money, buy whatever bike you want.

If it was your friends bike that got you so stoked on DH, why not consider the same bike?

 

[sbabuser]

1) you keep referencing that you're a "big guy" and that somehow, that means you need more travel. WRONG. shocks and forks are designed to adjust SPRING RATE to handle heavier people. heavier does not mean more travel. it means firmer spring rate.

So 4" of travel feels exactly the same for a 5', 100lb rider as it does for a 6'5" 250lb rider if they each have the proper spring rates? Does physics mean anything to you?