Full-sus HELP!
kernowaj
Posts: 198
OK I know I want to go full sus. I ride mainly XC (long distance) but am incorporating small jumps and drops now. Many people will think my budget isnt big enough but thats what I have to work with.
I have around £1000. I would consider second hand but probably not unless I could see the bike first, would prefer new.
I have been looking at the 2009 Specialised FSR XC Expert, Giant Trance X4 and Trek Fuel.
What do people think of these suggestions and can anyone add anything I havent mentioned. I do not want too much travel as I ride XC. Thanks
I have around £1000. I would consider second hand but probably not unless I could see the bike first, would prefer new.
I have been looking at the 2009 Specialised FSR XC Expert, Giant Trance X4 and Trek Fuel.
What do people think of these suggestions and can anyone add anything I havent mentioned. I do not want too much travel as I ride XC. Thanks
0
Comments
-
All your choices sound fine - XC bikes will hold up well to smoothly landed (small) drops etc.
Might want to add the Boardman FS bikes to your selection, then go and try them out.0 -
Supersonic = Chris Boardman or Halfords director?
Seems every post you recommend a boardman
0 -
Lol, why not, great value!0
-
Supersonic - would you recommend the Boardman FS Pro (£1299) to someone with £2k to spend? as the spec is very much the same as most bikes from the big brands at £2k.0
-
Yes. Possibly have lighter frames on some of the 2k bikes, but certainly worth considering.0
-
yeah good point but i'd guess the frame is already pretty light as the claimed weight is 27.4lbs and the kit doesn't look all that light, for example the cassette is a PG950 which is somewhat heavier than a PG980 and I've no idea what the hubs are so could easily be heavy lumps. Certainly looks ripe for some good 'upgrading' and 'lightening'0
-
Thanks for the positive input. I felt sure people would rip my selections to shreads!!
Will look into the Boardman now. Is that a halfords bike??0 -
The Boardman fs pro looks nice!
HELP. Which one???!?!?!?!!!0 -
Hey, macs, what might be an idea is to buy a boardman fs pro, then sell the frame and buy a new one, such as a specialized stumpy fsr. This is what i am hoping to do, but i will get an enduro fsr 08
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... gn=froogle
In that case it comes with forks, but if you were originally thinking of spending £2000, that would give roughly £1000 (if you sold the frame) to spend on a new frame, such as a santa cruz heckler or superlight, depending on your riding:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/san ... e-ec001143
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/san ... e-ec0011420 -
That sounds a bit complicated to me.
What about a Giant anthem X4?0 -
kernowaj wrote:That sounds a bit complicated to me.
What about a Giant anthem X4?
Less travel than the others you mention and a proper lightweight frame, so if you're looking to do more of those 'jumps and drops' it's probably not for you. But it's a great climber and a weapon on the singletrack 0 -
OK. So Ive been told HTs are ok to do jumps and drops on by a LBS, less travel for XC and now I need bigger travel for jumps and drops. Aaargh!
Im not talking about major jumps just sort of 2' max. height.
Do I really need more than 100mm travel when my main focus with my riding is distance and climbing?0 -
Purpose built jump bikes are often HTs because they don't compress into the lip of a jump, so can get a better launch, but they're also built tougher - with burlier frames and stronger wheels. The bikes you mentioned in your first post are all "trail" bikes, which are basically XCers but built to take a bit more abuse than an out and out XC bike like an Anthem. You're probably on the right lines there.0
-
You need to test some out. Pick 3 or 4 of the best specced/ones you like and try them. Or you will be here forever lol.
100-120mm xc/trail type bike, FS or HT sounds ideal.0 -
How much of a difference is 1" of travel going to make on climbs? Should I be looking for a lockout on the rear shock?0
-
Test them and see! Some are good pedallers.0
-
OK. So Ive been told HTs are ok to do jumps and drops on by a LBS, less travel for XC and now I need bigger travel for jumps and drops. Aaargh!
Im not talking about major jumps just sort of 2' max. height.
Do I really need more than 100mm travel when my main focus with my riding is distance and climbing?
Ok see im a little confused now.....i have done 3ft drop offs with my hard tail (saracen trace 1) and it seem ok, although the rear wheel is out of true......
I have missed out bigger jumps/drop offs for fear of ruining my bike, but would it survive?
im 6ft 16st (yes im a porker)
just curious cos if it can handle more I would like to try out the 'pump' technique I read about on the home page..... 8)Unlike my credit card im currently carrying a low level of interest- Peter Griffin
Saracen Trace 10 -
kernowaj wrote:How much of a difference is 1" of travel going to make on climbs? Should I be looking for a lockout on the rear shock?
Not a great deal, the slightly slacker angles will probably make more difference, but that'll be a matter of preference. I have loads of mates who ride all day on 5" trail bikes - they're a long way from being a big heavy DH rig, they're just not quite XC whippets.0 -
It is all about landing smooth - you can do massive jumps if it is a nice transition, but you don't want to crash.
However landing to flat, you don't want to go much above 2ft on an xc bike.
If you wanna go big, you need a tougher bike, be it HT or FS.0 -
If you wanna go big, you need a tougher bike, be it HT or FS.
ah crud.......well on the plus side I can convince the wife I need a FS......hmmm...... :idea:Unlike my credit card im currently carrying a low level of interest- Peter Griffin
Saracen Trace 10 -
Hi everyone. My first time on here. I am in a similar position. I used to own a cheap Halfords own make HT then a few months ago got a Giant Yukon FX3 quite cheap from Pauls cycles. I have upgraded the brakes to hydrolic but I find it very heavy on normal tracks and a real slog up hills. plus the front forks are a bit weedy and this makes me quite nervous about small jumps. I met some guys a few weeks ago who used to own Full suss bikes but have now gone bacl to lightweight HT XC bikes and having much more fun on them. Question is do I buy a better, lighter HT or stick to the full suss bikes like Anthem X3 or Trance X5 both currently around the £800 mark. Any advice welcome. Cheers.0
-
It depends on what type of riding you do.....if its XC with small jumps not above 2ft (as what SS says above) then a light weight HT would do you fine.
Bigger jumps/drops/downhill runs prob better with a strong FSUnlike my credit card im currently carrying a low level of interest- Peter Griffin
Saracen Trace 10 -
paulus666 wrote:Hi everyone. My first time on here. I am in a similar position. I used to own a cheap Halfords own make HT then a few months ago got a Giant Yukon FX3 quite cheap from Pauls cycles. I have upgraded the brakes to hydrolic but I find it very heavy on normal tracks and a real slog up hills. plus the front forks are a bit weedy and this makes me quite nervous about small jumps. I met some guys a few weeks ago who used to own Full suss bikes but have now gone bacl to lightweight HT XC bikes and having much more fun on them. Question is do I buy a better, lighter HT or stick to the full suss bikes like Anthem X3 or Trance X5 both currently around the £800 mark. Any advice welcome. Cheers.
You're in danger of starting the endless FS vs HT debate there mate and there's no right or wrong answer. I personally prefer riding my Anthem to my HT, but that's just me. Remember that at £800 you'll get a better specced HT than you will FS.0 -
cheers for the prompt reply mate. I am a bit of a beginner still who just enjoys getting out and riding a few miles as much off road as possible at weekends. I never jump anything more than anout a foot high (just logs etc) and the riding is mostly trails in woods with a few roots, small rocks, mud and leaves etc. I got the full suss FX3 mainly cos it was cheap - but I guess eveything comes at a cost. I looked at the Boardman HT in Halfords for £849 and the new Fury 09 which with the 10 % online discount and collect in store works out at £476.99 plus £20 of Halfords vouchers. This bike has got a great review in a magazine i just bought.0
-
saracen fan wrote:It depends on what type of riding you do.....if its XC with small jumps not above 2ft (as what SS says above) then a light weight HT would do you fine.
Bigger jumps/drops/downhill runs prob better with a strong FS
Tell that to Danny Mac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
Most jump bikes are hardtails0 -
paulus666 wrote:I looked at the Boardman HT in Halfords for £849 and the new Fury 09 which with the 10 % online discount and collect in store works out at £476.99 plus £20 of Halfords vouchers. This bike has got a great review in a magazine i just bought.
Both great bikes for the money. The Boardman FS is really well rated too. Read this forum for a while and you'll see there's people passionately on both sides of the fence when it comes to HT vs FS. The best you can do is try as many bikes as you can and make your own mind up - reviews can only tell you so much. Good luck! 0 -
Thanks guys. Advice much appreciated.0
-
If you do XC , wouldn't the Anthem line be a better bet than the Trance?
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b4s1p2274
Saves you some money to upgrade your other gear too at £831!!!
Failing that, the Trance X4 is 9 quid over budget here:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b4s1p22720 -
So which is the most XC orientated FS bike out of the ones I have mentioned.
Specialised FSR XC Expert
Giant Trance X4
Trek Fuel 6.5 or 7
CBoardman FS Pro
I will try to ride a few asap!0
