Are they strong enough?
Da Casualista...
Posts: 2
Hey all. Sorry about the long post but I thought it better to have too much detail than not enough if I wanted some useful answers. I’ll write a simpler one next time, promise.
I’m looking for some first-hand opinions of the bikes and things I haven’t thought of to help me resolve my dilemma. I’ve not been riding regularly for about 18 months now, but I’m really pining to get back out there.
I was looking at spending four or five hundred quid on a Commencal Combi Hydro/Kona Blast/Rockhopper or something like that as XC (though not to serious) is the order of the day with the few of my mates who ride and my local area is quite hilly.
Now I do love riding trails, I really do, but I also like jumping off stuff and since I’ve been getting a few mags lately to spur myself along I’m keen to get some of the basic skills/tricks dialed too. And, Since most my old riding buddies have moved away or lost interest I’m finding the social aspect of 4x (plus it looks so much fun!) pretty interesting and this is a more realistic direction for my riding to head in than Big hucking and dirt heroics.
Though I’m sure the above bikes would be fine for me, especially as I'm only 9stone, I have seen some writing, including Kona’s own advertising, saying that these sort of bikes ain’t built for too much jumping around.
So now I’m starting to wonder if I wouldn’t be better off with a jumpbike like one of the lower model Giant STPs or top GT chucker (both around the £400 mark at the mo) and putting an ‘all mountain’ fork and some front gears on it? Or a Kona Shred which has got a dual chain ring on the front anyway and just change the forks? Are these gonna be too heavy to ‘enjoy’ all the climbs in the local woods I need to contend with to get to the fun bits?
Or what about a Charge Blender Mid? A 4X bike, about 600quid, that’s light and supposedly strong enough sounds just what I’m looking for. I found a couple of reviews; MBUK loved it but I think it was MBR gave it a right slating saying the head angle was far too slack making it not too nimble.
I want to try them all out but it looks like riding on the street in front of the shops is the closest I’m gonna get unless I hire one for a weekend for like 70quid. Especially the Charge, don’t think any shops around South Birmingham (where I live) do them.
If you have tried any of these bikes please let me know what you think.
Max.
I’m looking for some first-hand opinions of the bikes and things I haven’t thought of to help me resolve my dilemma. I’ve not been riding regularly for about 18 months now, but I’m really pining to get back out there.
I was looking at spending four or five hundred quid on a Commencal Combi Hydro/Kona Blast/Rockhopper or something like that as XC (though not to serious) is the order of the day with the few of my mates who ride and my local area is quite hilly.
Now I do love riding trails, I really do, but I also like jumping off stuff and since I’ve been getting a few mags lately to spur myself along I’m keen to get some of the basic skills/tricks dialed too. And, Since most my old riding buddies have moved away or lost interest I’m finding the social aspect of 4x (plus it looks so much fun!) pretty interesting and this is a more realistic direction for my riding to head in than Big hucking and dirt heroics.
Though I’m sure the above bikes would be fine for me, especially as I'm only 9stone, I have seen some writing, including Kona’s own advertising, saying that these sort of bikes ain’t built for too much jumping around.
So now I’m starting to wonder if I wouldn’t be better off with a jumpbike like one of the lower model Giant STPs or top GT chucker (both around the £400 mark at the mo) and putting an ‘all mountain’ fork and some front gears on it? Or a Kona Shred which has got a dual chain ring on the front anyway and just change the forks? Are these gonna be too heavy to ‘enjoy’ all the climbs in the local woods I need to contend with to get to the fun bits?
Or what about a Charge Blender Mid? A 4X bike, about 600quid, that’s light and supposedly strong enough sounds just what I’m looking for. I found a couple of reviews; MBUK loved it but I think it was MBR gave it a right slating saying the head angle was far too slack making it not too nimble.
I want to try them all out but it looks like riding on the street in front of the shops is the closest I’m gonna get unless I hire one for a weekend for like 70quid. Especially the Charge, don’t think any shops around South Birmingham (where I live) do them.
If you have tried any of these bikes please let me know what you think.
Max.
Who's the Johnson now, Johnson?
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