Secondhand Downhill bike advice needed.

Sparda

Hi, I am due to go buy a secondhand Santa Cruz Bullit tomorrow. Price is £700 all I know of the specs are...

Boxxer front forks.
Fifth Element shock with ti spring.
Avid Elixir brakes. (brand new apparently)
Thompson seat post.
Nukeproof bars.
Hope headset and stem.
Shimano groupset with a custom chain device.
Syncros wheel on a Hope front hub and Shimano rear hub.



The bike is coming from a cycle shop that's been around 20+ years but it's a long way from where I live so I know very little about them, would you say the bike is worth the money or a rip off? My research suggests the frame and at least the front forks are from '02.

warpcow

Looks (very) overpriced to me, but I suppose the shop have to take their cut. With some luck/knowledge you could probably put together something similar for at least a couple of hundred quid less. Compare it to what you could get from somewhere like the Pinkbike classifieds and you'll see quite a difference.

nicklouse

my thoughts.

the bullit never was a DH Frame.

Brakes shown are hayes.

no one Services the 5th shock any more.

ring Looks massive,

Sparda

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/listnew ... 6,30,31,47

This is the list on PB currently in my price range and not millions of miles from me, which would you suggest?

Sparda

nicklouse wrote:

Brakes shown are hayes.

Pictures are how the bike came into the shop, customer kept the Hayes brakes so they put on Avid ones.

Sparda

I can get this one for about £400 is that more worth it?

I copy + pasted this from the listing as I'm lazy lol.
This Kona Coiler is designed for downhill mountain biking and is an extremely durable bike. This fantastic bike has just gone through a full service, which cost £138, a new chain and cassette (Shimano) was put on the bike, a new back brake (Shimano Deore), and the hydrolic fluid has been replaced. Please look at the photos to see the receipt for this service (last picture).The bike has new high quality continental tyres and inner tubes, and has high quality Shimano wheels (in excellent condition). The suspension on this bike is fully operational and is of very high quality, the front suspension is Drop Off, and the back suspension is FOX. The pedals are VP-566, but may need replacing as they have slight ware to them; the crankarm is RaceFace.

rockmonkeysc

Frame is good (i like Bullits) but very old and it was never a DH frame. Forks are very flexy. Shock is just bad.
You can do a lot better for £700.

Coiler is very definitely not a downhill bike and just not a good bike. That fork is completely unsuitable for the frame, its far too long and will make the bike handle like a tank. The comments about high quality parts are just wrong.

Sparda

I'm slightly at a loss for what to do then. The research I did made it seem like the bike was still good despite the age. I'm very new to this sport so my knowledge is extremely limited although I do learn fast, unfortunately due to plans I have I need a bike today or tomorrow as it will be in use from Wednesday. I can spend more than the £700 on it but only up to a max of probably £900. Should I really not bother with the Bullit?

warpcow

Ok, what do you mean by downhill (or what exactly are you going to be riding on Wednesday)? Of the PB list, the only thing there that might remotely resemble a modern-ish DH bike is the Scott Voltage. They're proper fun little bikes and capable enough for most things, but what size do you need?

Sparda

At the moment I only really ride Chicksands, Aston Hill and Swinley Forest. Although I plan to do bigger stuff soon.

These are also in my price range just about.

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1493042/

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1574138/

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1642948/

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1490638/

Only problem is I hate the colour of the first one and I keep hearing the last one isn't very good.

Found using this search. http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/listnew ... 6,30,31,47

Sorry forgot to add, I am 6'1 so I need L or XL frames.

rockmonkeysc

Either of the Scotts would be best.
The Demo looks battered and Stinkys are dreadful things.
At least the Voltage has a reliable (but heavy and crude) fork and the frames are tough enough.
Don't rush in to spending nearly a grand just so you can ride on Wednesday, it's better to wait if the bike turns out to be a turd and find a good one.
Downhill bikes take more abuse than any other bike so check carefully for leaking suspension, compress both ends and make sure it returns at a controlled speed. Make sure brakes are powerful and sharp with no fluid leaks. Check for play in rear suspension by trying to wiggle the back end side to side while holding the front and lift the rear end by the saddle feeling for any play as the rear wheel leaves the ground. Make sure wheels spin freely with no grinding or rumbling noises and no sideways play.