What DH bike up to 2K?

hadman
hadman Posts: 4
edited September 2009 in MTB buying advice
Hi! I'm Harry and I've been a keen XC rider for about 4 years now. Recently I have become hooked by downhill though and am looking for a bike! I want to pay about £1600 - £2000, Evans have a Commencal Supreme DH for just over £2k. Do you guys have any advice on which bike to choose?

Cheers =]
Harry.

Comments

  • BullFreerider
    BullFreerider Posts: 152
    yeh the commencal is good- the Norco Atomik is good value
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    Do you want DH specific? For most UK DH tracks a good "all mountain" bike will be a good choice and will allow you to pedal up as well. You can pick up a Trek Remedy 8 (2009) for 2k now.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/guilliano/
  • GHill
    GHill Posts: 2,402
    For racing or fun?

    Does any of that budget have to go on protection and clothes?
  • hadman
    hadman Posts: 4
    Hi,

    yeah just for fun and I have a separate budget for protective gear.

    Thanks guys, I will also check out the atomic.
  • Th3 Firestarter
    Th3 Firestarter Posts: 395
    There was a review of some entry level FR/DH bikes in MBUK the other month, and the commencal didn't really cut it. Specialized bit hit 3 won the test, superb bike for the money.
    Th3+Firestarter.png
    My bike
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    MArin Wolf ridge, it'll get you to the top of the hill without an uplift as well :D
  • jeffers696
    jeffers696 Posts: 328
    Im in the same boat as hard man, the Rocky mountain Flatline 3 is 2.3K, dont know much about it but it looks like a beast!
    Specailized Enduro 08 - Beast
    OnOne 456
  • Sir HC
    Sir HC Posts: 20,148
    Do you really want a pure dh bike, or do you think you would be better off with a 6-7 travel bike?

    I use my Reign for dh riding, its been all over the UK and france. Coped well everywhere, you can also pedal it up some hills, so trail centres are doable.
    Intense Socom
    Inbred
  • Steve_F
    Steve_F Posts: 682
    I'm in a very simalar position and was going to post looking for recommendations. The ones I've spotted at the moment that took my fancy are:

    Iron Horse Sunday (got an IH for trail centre use that's been used up to now for DH but want something specific) - would be my first choice if IH didn't get in trouble and warranties/parts are a bit dodgy
    Scott Gambler - rode one in France, decent bike but poor tyres and brakes let it down
    Norco A-Line - no experience of this reviews would be great
    Norco Atomik - as above
    Various Konas - none in the range at the right price that excited me
    Trek Session 88 - way over budget but after riding one the budget might go up!
    Giant Glory - heavy bike but meant to be strong and fast once moving
    There was also an Orange around that budget but I can't remember which one.
    Specialized Big Hit 3 - gets a lot of praise, won the MBUK group test
    Diamondback XTS Moto - looked worth a look from the same group test

    Big problem is finding somewhere to look at any of these bikes in the flesh and test riding them is even more difficult unless you hire.

    Any reviews of the above or bikes the should have been listed would be great!!
    Current steed is a '07 Carrera Banshee X
    + cheap road/commuting bike
  • borderboy
    borderboy Posts: 161
    my one son has the big hit 3 which he races and loves it
    also you know all the bits such as bearings etc are easy to get when you need to replace them. This bike as said in previous replys got great reviews in the mbuk test
    My other son has the commencal mini dh which is also a great bike the only thing that the review said was poor with it was the marzocchi 55r bombers which we got changed as the failed twice on us in as many weeks. but is very fast.
    If it was between the two I would choose the big hit 3 for peice of mind and as yet bullit proof build better spec and easier to service/clean.
    Its all up hill down here
  • Steve_F
    Steve_F Posts: 682
    They also use big hits at fort bill as hire bikes. That says how good they are!
    Current steed is a '07 Carrera Banshee X
    + cheap road/commuting bike
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Steve_F wrote:
    They also use big hits at fort bill as hire bikes. That says how good they are!

    Well... They use Hardrocks as their XC hire fleet at offbeat, doesn't mean they're ace ;)
    Uncompromising extremist
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    I used to have an A-Line, Very robust, took tonnes and tonnes of abuse and never really went wrong. the Pooative Chainset and Juicy5's being the week points. Bloody good jumper! It was an '07. the '08 on Park Edition was a lot better spec for a little more money.

    You might be able to find an "last years model" one of them for 2G. Hell the DH buying season is April/May it's all over bar the shouting after that.

    Got a Cove Shocker now, cost twice as much and is/was dripping with tricked out kit. It's better, but nowhere near twice as good.
    Shocker Enduro
  • carb
    carb Posts: 6
    [
    Well... They use Hardrocks as their XC hire fleet at offbeat, doesn't mean they're ace ;)[/quote]

    Whats wrong with the hardrock?
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Nothing, they're just not ace.
    Uncompromising extremist

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