Trail bike - would this take some abuse?

teacherman

Looking for a trail bike and saw this frame 4" I think?

Kona's are fairly tough - want to take a few http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=22326 drops, jumps etc.
Would this be too much of an XC rig?

Would 5" more trail dedicated be a better idea?

supersonic

Page wont load for me.

Many 4 inch frames are for XC, but do get 4x ones that are tougher.

teacherman

Oh, me neither! :oops:

What did I do?

Anyhow its a Kona King '07 - guessing scandium = very light and therefore a bit on the fragile side.

Want to keep the hardtail for XC rides and a dedicated trail bike for the tougher stuff.

supersonic

Oh, an XC race frame! Personally, I wouldnt jump and drop it!

I use an Idrive XC4 - its tough, and has held up to a bit of punishment. But as above, more travel copes better, and usally is a tougher build too.

nicklouse

link fixed

and Nope i would not be getting it for your required use.

teacherman

Aye, thought as much.

What's the weight of the XC4 with the build you've got there?

Have weight worries - 30lbs and over starts to scare me

Cheers Nicklouse.

supersonic

13.4kg listed weight, so 30lbs. But for 250 quid for the LOT, I wasnt complaining! Plenty of scope to lighten it. I got the forks out at 130mm.

teacherman

:shock: :shock: You been taking candy from babies as well?

30lbs I could cope with.

Would want to use it for NY Moors summer rides as well so needs to be a reasonable climber.

Will probably buy frame, forks and drive train and then swap rest between the 2 bikes (fitting permitting) have a budget of around £900 by the time I'm ready to buy.

Any thoughts?

supersonic

Get a whole bike here for half that!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15121

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... Suspension

Sell the bits you dont want or store for a rainy day. Amazing bargain, as cheap as the frame on its own.

teacherman

Nice - well apart from the hideous yellow on CRC

What do you reckon to the wisdom of buying 2nd hand on ebay or similar? Have tracked things like '07 Norco Fluid that went for about £300 - looked to be in mint condition. Just wasn't my size.

supersonic

Mine was 2nd hand, but mint. Have to know what you are looking for and at, its a minefield.

The thinking with the Idrive for me was sort of a hardcore hartail (130 fork) but with a bit of give and pedals well - and short travel Idrives pedal amazingly.

teacherman

Sorry supersonic, dog just barfed what looked, and smelt, like liquid shite all over the living room. :twisted:

Hope a new rug isn't coming out of my bike budget

would you say that having a look if buying second hand was essential then?

While I've got you here what would I be lookng for in terms of worn bearings etc - how do you tell?

supersonic

I prefer to buy new, esp full sussers, but I knew the guy and as an ex mechanic was able to give it a good once over. just have to use common sense really - check the frame for cracks, or signs of bubbling paint, and check all bearings for play. Wheels often get battered too. And so on.

teacherman

Thanks.

As always - great advice 8)

supersonic

I might put a guide together one day for 2nd hand bikes ;-)