Mountain Biking - FS frame which?

Hi, taking recommandation for FS frame.

Trying to stay below 700$ new or used. My hardtail is killing me, super stiff. fetish obsession. My back and neck can't handle, getting too old. Anyhow, contemplating marin wolf ridge with 4,5,6 travel on ebay for 499$. But everyone keeps saying santa cruz. Is SC all that? LBS say go with blur 4x. I ride aggro xc.

What do you guys think?

I've always been a fan of Horst 4-bars. If you're anti-Specialized there are several companies who still pay to use the design.

That'd be my recommendo

thanks for the recommendo, reading up on Horst and TNT, really confusing. btw, how do people put the title of the post in bold?

The titles are bold until you read them.

As for TNT I really doubt you will find one of those in your price range for a couple years. Turner just came out with it this year (2006) so even used ones are still going to be pretty expensive.

Make sure you check out the heckler, preferably with an air shock for your riding style. You can also get by with a superlight. If you do not plan on racing either of those will be fine, if you want to race concentrate more on the superlight. I don't think the 4x is really what you are looking for, that is geared more for that specific type of riding. I would look at the blur xc or lt before the 4x but that's just me.

I was at an LBS and I discovered the KHS's have the Horst link. Not knowing too much about Full Suspensions, I wasn't too sure about it. Does it help as much as they say for keeping the rear tire planted? That is it's purpose correct? Aren't there other suspension designs that work as well?

The titles are bold until you read them.
I don't think the 4x is really what you are looking for, that is geared more for that specific type of riding.

thanks for insightful comment, so it would be more difficult to XC with 4x, heavier, etc? Bike Lover, i read that it is suppost to be better than a single pivot, but i don't know much more than that. I don't know now it compares to other current suspension. Can someone jump in?

thanks,

Single pivots tend to have more pedal bob unlike horst link don't have half as much.

But there are other 4-bar type rear suspensions out there. Is the Horst Link the best of those designs? is it an additional link to a four bar? Does it help with keeping the chain in place? Any tech articles we may be able to read up on the link?

Sorry if it seems like I'm thread jacking here. I ride similarly, agressive XC, also have a hard tail that may be retired because I could use more plushness, and just trying to find out about these new fangled FS bikes...;)

On another note, 6stitches, how do you like the Fetish? I recently saw a Seduction that was pretty cool. It has a titanium leaf spring connected between the rear triangle and the shock.

Sorry if it seems like I'm thread jacking here... On another note, 6stitches, how do you like the Fetish? I recently saw a Seduction that was pretty cool. It has a titanium leaf spring connected between the rear triangle and the shock.

Np on the thread jack... i like the fetish, i think it's a good frame, handmade in the USA, which is always good. But it's too burley, really beats me up. I can go on epic ride on my cannondale FS and i am fine, but not on the fetish. The seduction looks pretty cool, alittle worried about the flat chain stay though, i guess i wouldn't mind the frame if it wasn't so expensive. :P listing at 2k.

Yeah, I hear ya. Very trick though. I saw a scratched one on the site for less than a grand though. Still, I'm just starting to think about a new one so I'm not completely in the market yet...

The Blur 4x has a very low and rear-weighted geometry that isn't as good for going uphill. I think tou should look more at the Blur or Blur LT, but if you want to be anywhere near $700, Santa Cruz is out for you, except for maybe a used Superlight or Heckler. I suppose if the shop guy really thinks you might like the 4x it's worth test riding, but I don't really think of it as a good general purpose XC bike.

I'm afraid I'm not as familiar with some of the more cost-friendly rides like KHS, but I've heard some good comments about them and Iron Horse from a few of the riders on the forums. Try doing a search to get some more feedback.

Also, you may have already found www.mtbr.com (http://www.mtbr.com) (mountain bike reviews). Reviews on almost every mountain bike out there.

Single pivots tend to have more pedal bob unlike horst link don't have half as much.


Bob is really not a problem with single pivot bike since platform shocks are the norm. My last 2 bikes have been SP I ran a 5th air on one and I have a 5th coil on my current bike(Santa Cruz Bullit),when its set up right I have no issues with pedal bob. Brake jake is the big downfall of most SP bikes. I really drives some folks nuts, Ive' learned to deal with it by changing where and how I brake. Hope this helps some. As far a frames go the Heckler is a good choice but there are a lot of good 5" bikes these days.

Brake jake is the big downfall of most SP bikes. I really drives some folks nuts, Ive' learned to deal with it by changing where and how I brake. Hope this helps some. As far a frames go the Heckler is a good choice but there are a lot of good 5" bikes these days.

Thanks for feedback mtnbiker, um kinda noob here but what is brake jake? I seach but didn't find useful definition. And how exactly do you change ur braking to accomadate. and what are other good 5" frames out there?

thanks,

Brake jack is when the rear stiffens up under braking loads sometimes to the point of locking out the rear.I brake early and let the bike run through rough sections. Sometimes thats not possible but it works well most of the time.

Good point on the brake jack.

If I'm remember right, Horst link designs (rear pivot below the axle) are pretty much brake jack free. Other 4 bar linkages (with the rear pivot above the axle) tend to brake jack pretty hard, as I've found with my Kona, as do single pivots. Santa Cruz's VPP's are supposed to jack a little bit, whereas Giant claims their Maestro suspension is free of it...I'm skeptical since the Maestro is nearly identical to the VPP, but I haven't tried it in a situation that would bring it out.

Brake jack is annoying and can cut your performance on descents slightly, but I learned pretty quickly just to anticipate when I will need to brake.

Oh, another good 5" frame is the Kona Dawg. It's a four-bar linkage design. Mine (the "Primo" level) came back from it's 30 day tuneup last night, so I was spinning it around campus again. I missed it for the few days it was gone...

Used Titus Racer-X
I could be biased as it is the best frame I have ever riden. Climbs like a beast, and very stiff. Its like a hardtail with a little squish. Extremely well made. Very much an XC bike due to relatively low travel.