Full suspension for racing

irvs

Evening everyone. In a couple of months I'm planning on getting a full suspension bike (or getting a frame and building one to an awesome spec) but I'm stuck on what to go for.
I started XC racing (Irish championship) and now I know I need a Light weight bike as currently I use a heavy giant hard tail.
Thing is I wanna give downhill a go at some stage so I would like a carbon full suspension bike that can handle everything thrown at it but yet be light enough for XC racing.
What would everyone suggest there's just soooo many brands and versions out there???

Thanks Neil

cooldad

The miracle bike you want doesn't exist.

irvs

LOL I know, but what's a good brand/model to go for? I've noticed most of the top riders at the XC races are riding carbon full suspension specialised bike.

delcol

something like a scott spark it's light enough to do xc racing on, and will tackle some pretty big terrain.

one of mates has one and i could not believe my eyes what he rode on that bike,, some of whistlers big name trails. (khybers ) and he's done the bc bike race on it, and that takes in some very technical singletrack...

bennett_346

Either you get one that is far enough one way to be comfortable on that side of riding and it's crap on the other, or you get a comprimise and it's crap at both.

irvs

Would an "all mountain" spec bike be better, good at going up and down???
Though what is a good "all mountain bike" if you had a choice of one what would you buy???

Thanks Neil.

Twelly

Irvs wrote:

currently I use a heavy giant hard tail.

Do you use a Giant hardtail?


or a giant hardtail?

irvs

Holy hell that's a GIANT bike lol you think that would be light enough for racing?

njee20

As said, there is no bike that will do both well.

Lightweight XC bikes like the Spark, Epic, Top Fuel etc will handle a lot more than people think, but they'll be no good for proper DH racing. A longer travel bike will do neither very well. DH racing requires such a specific bike that I'd exclude that from your thoughts on what you want to do, or get a bike that excels at that, and accept it'll be a bit of a dog elsewhere.

Twelly

What's your budget?

Two bikes maybe?...

irvs

Well I'll never b awesome at down hill but I wanna give it a good go, il never be able to hit masi e jumps etc. I don't really have a budget as I was thinking of getting a frame and building it to an awesome spec.

Thanks Neil.

Twelly

Well if you have no budget buy this for the DH and this to build up for the XC.

Sorted.

cooldad

As you are looking at opposite ends of the spectrum, go back to my first post.

irvs

Very true cool dad! Looksike I'll just stick to a good XC bike and stay away from massive jumps. What would be an awesome carbon full suspension frame to get for XC racing then???

Thanks loads neil

Twelly

EDIT: my bad was looking at hardtails. Ignore this.

irvs

Still can't beat a good hard tail as a training bike, it's just time to get competitive.

Neil

njee20

Can you not be competitive on a hardtail? :?

You want to tell Nino Schurter and Julien Absalon, they both do rather well!

Try a few, buy the one you like.

I've got one of these, and like it very much. I'd also look at these, these and these as a starting point.

mrmonkfinger

Hmm, I googled "awesome carbon full suspension frame xc race" and got this thread.

And a link to a SC blur carbon xc review.

So I'll go with SC blur carbon xc.

irvs

NJee20 cheers for the ideas all of them look great with sweet specs.

Thanks loads everyone for the info and ideas I'm sure I'll soon be back asking "which of these bikes do I buy" lol

Thanks Neil

rockmonkeysc

Karpiel Apocalypse would be awesome for both.