what full sus bike for 16stone 6'5" fat dad?

fat dad

I'm looking for a new bike after my 08 Enduro Expert was nicked last year.

Previous bikes: Trek 970zx, Klein Attitude Comp, Cannondale f600 lefty, Cannondale Jekyll 800 lefty, Cannondale Rush 5 lefty (I really liked lefties) then the Enduro. All nicked!

My mate said that the Enduro (XL size) was the first bike that looked big enough for me. Seemed OK going uphill, (which frankly I was never going to win anyway). Though I am no freerider, I liked the motorbike feel and the way it soaked up pretty much anything on a downhill. I also liked the sense that, possibly, the designers had anticipated a larger than average bloke sitting on it. I even liked the greyness of the frame - Lapierre spicies look nice but frankly they won't relieve a forty-something father of two of his money with those paint jobs.

So... what next? The new Enduro is expensive, and I don't fancy the two speed chainset. Stumpie FSR Elite seems to be quite close, but would like to fit a bigger rear tyre. I'm even wondering about a 29er, but the compromise seems to be reduced sus travel. And all of them use components basically designed for people 30% lighter than me.

Thoughts?

cat_with_no_tail

Oi! 16st is not that heavy :oops:

Your height is going to be your main problem and even that's not a massive issue.

If you're going to be giving it some stick, your main thing will be to find something with strong wheels.

I'm a similar weight and have never had any problms with frames or suspension, but some of the lighter weight XC wheels can be put out of true pretty easily by me bouncing along on them. The All mountain type bikes you seem to be looking at should all be plenty strong enough to take what you can throw at them, so it's just the size you need to get right.

Obvious advice would be to find a few bikes you like the look, spec and price of, then try as many as you can.

What sort of budget are you looking at?

bails87

Gary Fisher do some 29er full sussers that might be worth looking at. Big AND bouncy

bannedbiker

Giant Reign (yes I'm biased cuz i ride one!) Ride real well, come well spec'd and dont look too silly as a large frame.

Like Cat with no tail said, find some you like the look of and go play!

passout

Yes, I don't think your weight is a big issue either unless you go for something really lightweight & XC. Most 130mm plus bikes are burly enough. Your height is a different issue. I'd find the effective top tube length of your old bike on-line and then search out similar dimensions from viable options. Obviously you'd be better testing it too.

For a tough & good value MTB the Commencal Meta range is worth a look but I can't advise on the XL sizes. I ride a Meta 55 and it's fantastic on the downs and OK on the climbs.

fat dad

thanks for all the advice so far.

Thinking of spending about £2K

bannedbiker

Just had a quick look around, you can get a 09 Reign 0 for about £2150.
If I'm honest i prefer my 06 one, but they're still awesome bikes. Well worth getting a test ride if nothing else!

Rob-Is-On-Fire

I've just bought a Lapierre Spicy 316. Initially i had a few funny feelings about the paintwork too. But as soon as i saw one in the flesh... WOW... they look amazing... the pictures on the web do them no justice at all.

JamesBrckmn

Specialized pitch? or 09 enduro, as the forks on the 2010 ones are rubbish. Or get a 2010 one and new forks, like talas.

The Spiderman

If you liked the Enduro but are put off by the price,the Specialized Pitch would seem to be your ideal choice.

Seems to me its bascially similar to the older Enduro without the unreliable in house shock and forks and a great price tag.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/pitch-comp-2010-mountain-bike-ec020327?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Stealthy pain job too.....

BTW My mate is 6ft6 and a similar weight and loves his 2006 Enduro.His other bike is an On One Scandal 29er.

GHill

I'm about the same height and weight and ride a Trek Fuel Ex 8, no worries about the strength of any of the parts.

My previous Specialized bikes felt a bit roomier, almost too big (XL) in some cases.

Reduced travel on a 29 er isn't quite the issue you might think, the bigger wheels absorb more than you'd think. Take a look at the Gary Fisher rumblefish.

hyperman

i'm a healthy 17.5 stone and trying many different full sussers i settled on the commencal meta 5.5.2 in a large frame size, it was the only bike i tried that didn't seem to be like riding a sponge because of my weight, the pitch pro was terrible, real wallowy and just didn't feel strong enough, the spicy wasn't too bad but like you i didn't like the colour schemes, i knew as soon as i sat on the meta that it was the bike for me.

fat dad

Thanks for all the advice. I feel shorter and thinner already. Sounds like I have some bikes to try out. Fitness regime for Majorca in the Spring begins today!

ride_whenever

Genius perhaps?