Another full sus DH/FR thread zzz(Yes I know, my appologies)

JonniOne

Okay, So I've search and read everyone elses thread and researching the options and I have sort of decided but still want to hear your advice specific to my situation.

So I bought a Rockhopper 2010 SL as an entry to mountain biking, went to Aston Hill and loved it. So researched a bit on downhilling and upgrading my bike and soon found out that I'll probably destroy my bike doing what Im doing.

So I've decided that before I break the bike, I should sell it and get a bike that is more suitable. Now for the main question, whatbike.com?

My Needs: Downhill, slalom, freeride, the occasional rare XC

Budget: £1500 region +/- £x00

What I have looked at: FSR BigHittingBike, Trek Remedy, Scott Voltage FR, Marin Mount.

Can anyone else recommend what is the better option or better bikes for this price range?

Many thanks in advance,
Jonni

supra-man

If i were you I d start off with a more do it all bike... and totaly forget the big hit...
I guess you met popstar and the others on sunday ride.

trek remedy is good choice, a giant reign or reign x zero, specialized sx trail ... the thing a big hit, tried one many times you cant do any thing with it except an uplift... around london.... not much uplifts

, a remedy , reign, sx trail or even specialized enduro, you can still ride fairly long distances, single track xc , but be as fast as bigger bikes, once you got the skills, and with a dual ring pedal up hill.

then you can beef them up with coil shocks longer travel forks ect...
and the bikes limits will probably be a lot further than you think, needing you to get your skills up to speed.

so commencal meta 6 or mini DH or even furious
specialized sx trail ( old 05/06 enduro wil be good to start with and cheaper)
giant reign x
trek remedy
lapierre froggy ( not sure its in your price)
scott ransom
orange patriot

kona coiler

mrfmilo

supra-man wrote:

If i were you I d start off with a more do it all bike... and totaly forget the big hit...
I guess you met popstar and the others on sunday ride.

trek remedy is good choice, a giant reign or reign x zero, specialized sx trail ... the thing a big hit, tried one many times you cant do any thing with it except an uplift... around london.... not much uplifts

, a remedy , reign, sx trail or even specialized enduro, you can still ride fairly long distances, single track xc , but be as fast as bigger bikes, once you got the skills, and with a dual ring pedal up hill.

then you can beef them up with coil shocks longer travel forks ect...
and the bikes limits will probably be a lot further than you think, needing you to get your skills up to speed.

so commencal meta 6 or mini DH or even furious
specialized sx trail ( old 05/06 enduro wil be good to start with and cheaper)
giant reign x
trek remedy
lapierre froggy ( not sure its in your price)
scott ransom
orange patriot

kona coiler

+1

popstar

JonniOne, as far as you enthusiastic now ... I wouldn't rush into new bike just now. Having had a Rockhopper myself, and ridden it around on many trails and downhills including black graded ones ... you would be surprised at what your Rockhopper would take. Of course mental jumps and drops off are a bit too much for the frame, but can you really nail them yourself yet? I did many silly things on my bike and wouldn't rush into DH FR style so soon, the best bet would be to get skills course first then change bike platform, and in that I and some other riders could join you.
I am sorry to be patronising but hope I am wrong.

Soon the new model line up would come, so its gonna be even better deals on bikes too! I would definately try to get Marin Wolfridge 09 for the stuff you plan to do, only if you could get the right size. Trek Remedy are expensive, but E-bay can have some cracking deals. I bought my brand new Zesty for unbelievable price! There are some stunning deals on Wolfridges around in medium sizes too.

JonniOne

Thanks for everyone's responses.
My main concern wasn't really about what the bike is used for, I was mainly worried that I would damage the bike and unable to sell it to make my money back from it. I got the bike for pretty cheap so thought I wouldn't make any loss from it if I sold it quickly.

My impression from reading my old thread before was that my bike wouldn't be able to sustain that type of riding. Although I didn't mention I was starting out so maybe I gave the impression that I was going to do mad drops (which I ain't).

@popstar - I really appreciate anyone that takes the time to give me advice that is why I ask come here to ask. I have little knowledge on mtb ,thats why I seek advice from people with much greater experience such as yourselves.

Thanks again guys

popstar

Wahhh, to be honest ... Rockhoppers are strong enough not to fall apart from usuall XC riding including some natural jumps and drops, many happy owners would say that too. Depreciation wise, bikes are not cars ... Rockhoppers do keep their price, so surely you would be allright. In fact, if I could afford to keep my Rockhopper I most probably would, such a nice frame.

supra-man

I confirm I ve seen popstar go down some pretty nasty things on the rockhopper... like going down roots on black descent blanced on front wheel only... luck or talent???

the fact is as he says work your way up, plus if you go for a heavy bike... needs power and endurance to move it...

and I agree with popstar marin is a good bike for trails, but check out the sx trail if you really want to go in to dh and fr . marin is not what you need.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... i-08-31366

It depends if you spend alot more time on aston hill downhills ect.

jairaj

I ride at Aston hill a bit so know the area a little bit. The Red Run is used as the XC decent and your bike is fine for this course. The DH3 or Black runs should be fine(ish) with the bike you have if you are rolling all the obstacles.

Riding the trails this way essentially turns the runs into a really bumpy XC run. The bike will cope with it but things may wear out or get damaged a bit quicker than normal but you won't snap your bike in two or anything like that.

But if you are riding the courses as intended ie taking on the jumps, drops etc or doing some of the other courses with the jumps etc the bike will start to fall apart very quickly.

popstar

XC bike perfectly deals 2-3feet jumps/drops so I pressume it's ok. You may risk to getting -Overbiked* though, so be carefull ! I am being ridiculed by many these days. :roll: he-he.