Help Required For A Newbie

Hi guys
i am a sort of newbie to mountain biking having previously giving it up due to work, college etc. I have just bought a 2012 lapierre x controll 110. The guy i bought it from bought it new in 2012 intending to use it, use it twice around the local park and left it in the garage and not been used since.
Now the rear shock on the bike is lapierres own shock and im looking to upgrade it to a fox float etc. How do i measure the shock. Do i measure it without any pressure in it from the centre of the mounting point to the centre of the other mojnting point or can i measure it with pressure in it.
Also when looking to upgrade the front forks to air shocks what sort of air shocks are rhe better ones to go for.
Also if anybody has this bike what do they think to it when handling on the trails etc as a few people have told me that lapierre are the lowest of the low in mtb bikes and the bike i have isnt worth anything.
All help appreciated
Josh
i am a sort of newbie to mountain biking having previously giving it up due to work, college etc. I have just bought a 2012 lapierre x controll 110. The guy i bought it from bought it new in 2012 intending to use it, use it twice around the local park and left it in the garage and not been used since.
Now the rear shock on the bike is lapierres own shock and im looking to upgrade it to a fox float etc. How do i measure the shock. Do i measure it without any pressure in it from the centre of the mounting point to the centre of the other mojnting point or can i measure it with pressure in it.
Also when looking to upgrade the front forks to air shocks what sort of air shocks are rhe better ones to go for.
Also if anybody has this bike what do they think to it when handling on the trails etc as a few people have told me that lapierre are the lowest of the low in mtb bikes and the bike i have isnt worth anything.
All help appreciated
Josh
0
Posts
Then think of upgrading what doesn't work for you.
Nothing really wrong with the spec, not great, but ok, and if you replace the fork and shock at maybe £500, you might have bought the wrong bike.
ps I would ignore what 'people' say. Most are idiots anyway.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools
retired 9.6kg Carrera Kraken
The Carrera Hardtail combined thread - come on all you Carrera's!
The Sons Scott Genius RC20 build
2008 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp.
2013 Trek 1.2
1982 Holdsworth Elan.
a friend of mine has this bike. he upgraded the forks after a while as they weren't the best. but he rides everything on it.
as said above, ride it first then look at upgrading it. it's not the best bike out there, but it's far from the worst either. I think a lot of people these days get hung up on names and badges and not actually enjoying riding their bike!
retired 9.6kg Carrera Kraken
The Carrera Hardtail combined thread - come on all you Carrera's!
The Sons Scott Genius RC20 build
2008 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp.
2013 Trek 1.2
1982 Holdsworth Elan.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools
Yh i can see why,