Mountain Biking - first pic of my new MTB

I feel like a first time parent posting this pic !

I am picking it up later today or tomorrow. Got this pic during my final test ride the other day.

Justen

Damn...this pic is so small. I had to scale it down for the max image size accepted by the forum but others have been able to attach much bigger photos. I'll try again later,

Justen

Whoa, nice reflectors!!!!!

No really, nice bike, from what I can see, and from Broadie's website!

Congrats!

L8R

Those reflectors are coming off !! The rest of the bike I love. It's pretty nice to ride.
The only thing I am not happy about is that they changed the disk brake rotors to 6" 'ers instead of the stock 8". I am not sure if the store did this or if Brodie just decided to change to the 6" rotors midway through production on the 2002's. I guess it won't make a big difference but the bigger ones look much cooler and stay cooler.

Otherwise, I like it and can't wait to start riding !

Justen

More than likely it was Broadie that made the change! I think the 6" will be fine. You can always switch up to the 8" by simply getting a new rotor (obviously) and a new adapter. The caliper is the same!

L8R

Is it okay to mix the size of the rotors ? i.e. 8" on the back and 6" on the front ? I had heard there was some advantage to doing this.

If the LBS will switch them at no cost, should I ask them to change to the 8" ?

Justen

Yes, ask! They can always say NO! Even for a slight upcharge, if it's not too much, say $25 usd! I don't really think you need the 8", but I understand where you're coming from. You want the best for your bike! And while your buying a new bike, why not! I'd ask! Doesn't hurt!

There is no problem mixing sizes, however, I would put the 8" on the front! Most of your stopping power comes from the front brake. Most newbies use more rear brake, but you get a lot more control and stop faster if you use more front! I usually do about 70/30 front/rear! I use my rear only when I'm going fast and need to change direction quickly, a quick grab of brake helps with the body english! Other than that, I use the front most of the time and more of it!

L8R

Hey,
Good to know re: 8" on the front.
And as you say, it doesn't hurt to ask. This LBS seems pretty willing to swap stuff out for me. Maybe they would go for the 8" rotor change on the front.

In all honesty, I know that I probably don't need the 8" rotors or some of the other stuff but this is my first big bike purchase and I guess I just want to get the best deal possible.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions,

Justen

Hey,

I just talked to the LBS. They told me that they would upgrade the front rotor to 8" at no charge at all.
Like you, they suggested that there is really no point in putting an 8" on the back.

Justen

hey who's dissing the reflectors? Leave them on! It's like a rite of passage when they go flying off on the trail! I just smashed my last pedal reflector to bits last weekend.

The reflectors look so ...uh....uncool :-)
I smashed the ones on my other bike after a car ran a stop sign and collided with me. Maybe taking them off now would save me the hassle of another accident.

Justen

well you can't be "uncool" on a mt. bike. it's just not happening. :D
Of all the uncool things to do I put a kick stand on my bike.

I have been debating over the kickstand thing. Do I get one or not. I could probably get the bike store to throw one on free of charge now but do I really need it ?

I have another bike which I am going to be using for locking up and crap so I don't need to be standing it anywhere except in our apartment where the hallway is really narrow and people will keep knocking it over as they come in. We don't have much wall space to lean anything against.

Justen

I bought a display stand to keep my bike upright at work, it was $15 at my LBS. Kickstands suck.

Okay..what do you guys think about this think with the disk brakes.

I have 6" disk rotors on the bike now. The LBS said they will upgrade the front one free of charge to 8".
Should I just have them upgrade both to 8" ?
Like I know I probably don't need 8" rotors but isn't it going to look stupid with different sized disks on or will I actually look like I know what I'm doing ? :-)

Justen

isn't it going to look stupid with different sized disks on or will I actually look like I know what I'm doing ?

No, it won't look stupid. Since most of your stopping power comes from the front brake, it makes sense to have a bigger disc on the front. Take a look at the brakes on most of the hi-performance motorcycles out there. On the front wheel they will have TWO very large disc brake rotors and on the rear wheel you will see ONE much smaller disc. Nice bike, by the way. Congrats.

Originally posted by Justen
Okay..what do you guys think about this think with the disk brakes.

I have 6" disk rotors on the bike now. The LBS said they will upgrade the front one free of charge to 8".
Should I just have them upgrade both to 8" ?
Like I know I probably don't need 8" rotors but isn't it going to look stupid with different sized disks on or will I actually look like I know what I'm doing ? :-)

Justen

For free? Take the deal. :)

Ditto to Mael! If it's free, it's all good! If there is a charge, skip the 8" on the rear, but go for the front!

Kickstands, not just uncool, but dangerous if you do any serious off road riding.

Plus they add stupid weight!

If you need a place to hang your bike, go to a hardware store or Home Depot and buy a hook for .97 and hang your bike from the front tire, or get one of the folding racks for bikes, like $4.97 and mount it to a stud in your walls. Jim311 just bought one, check out his thread on homemade repair stands!

L8R

Originally posted by Brennan
No, it won't look stupid. Since most of your stopping power comes from the front brake, it makes sense to have a bigger disc on the front. Take a look at the brakes on most of the hi-performance motorcycles out there. On the front wheel they will have TWO very large disc brake rotors and on the rear wheel you will see ONE much smaller disc. Nice bike, by the way. Congrats.

Hi,

That is true, it does make more sense to have the bigger disk on the front. I picked up the bike today and the shop owner suggested that I try it with the 6" rotors for a couple of weeks and if I want to go to the 8" after that, they will exchange it for me free of charge.

Thank you for the comment on the bike. I really like it - looks great, rides great ! :-)

Justen

Even better, you get to try something out and then exchange it for free! Can't beat that! Sounds like you've found a pretty decent bike shop to deal with! Keep supporting them! Here's a tip: if you decide to swap out to the 8", bring them a pizza and some beer as a tip, and not Bud, get them some microbrews!

L8R

Oh yeah..did I ever luck out. I have already referred several of my friends there and I told the store manager that today. I will definetely continue to support them.

They also told me that I can try out the tires, the pedals, and the seat and they will exchange any of it if it isn't working for me.

One major problem I noticed after riding it for awhile that for some reason I didn't notice on the test rides is that it feels slightly cramped across the top, reach wise. I am hoping that they can switch over the stem so that it is further away from me. Otherwise, it seems okay.

Justen

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Ditto to Mael! If it's free, it's all good! If there is a charge, skip the 8" on the rear, but go for the front!

Kickstands, not just uncool, but dangerous if you do any serious off road riding.

Plus they add stupid weight!
L8R

Yep..I skipped the kickstand. They are a pain in the neck. I think I am going to switch over to the 8" brake but the manager me a few days to try the 6" ones. They actually aren't bad at all.
She told me that she did have 8" ones on her bike but switched back to the 6" ones because they were easier to control. The 8" ones were TOO powerful I guess ?

Anyway, I will check out Jims stuff. I might just put a couple of hooks into the studs and hang it. Right now, I have it right in the apartment and can't stop looking at it ! Proud new parent :-)

Justen

Heck, I'm 235lbs (on good days) and I'm running 6" discs front and rear and have yet to need more brake!

Congrats again!
L8R

Hi again A2,

Okay...that's helpful to know. I am 130 lbs now. I guess since it is free, why not take the bigger disk or is it possible that it could be too much ? I don't want to be flying over my handlebars !

Justen

Ahhhhhh.. somebody remembers my el-cheapo repair stand :D




I :love: it and it only cost me 5 bucks :p

Go for the 8 inchers if it's free! No reason not to!

Well, the woman at the shop may have a valid point. Although the 8" will provide more power, meaning they'll stop better, you've got to have the hand strength to be able to pull that much! As a 130 lb female, you may just be better off with the 6" rotors. Honestly, I can't help you. You're gonna have to decide. Try the 6" rotors, and then give the 8" ones a go! You might decide you like the "feel" of the 6 better. Bigger isn't always better!

Uh oh, I can hear the degenerate thoughts brewing already!

L8R

*snicker*

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Well, the woman at the shop may have a valid point. Although the 8" will provide more power, meaning they'll stop better, you've got to have the hand strength to be able to pull that much! As a 130 lb female, you may just be better off with the 6" rotors. Honestly, I can't help you. You're gonna have to decide. Try the 6" rotors, and then give the 8" ones a go! You might decide you like the "feel" of the 6 better. Bigger isn't always better!

Uh oh, I can hear the degenerate thoughts brewing already!

L8R

You're right, it is my decision to make. I guess I just don't want to make any mistakes with this bike. I have never spent this much money on a bike before. I am so proud of it. I had several people making very positive comments about it as I cycled home - that was pretty cool ! :-)

I am going out for a long ride tomorrow and made my decision after that. I didn't realize that it would take more strength to use the 8" ones. I thought they would actually be more sensitive.

And yes, I am sure there are a few degenerate thoughts going through a few minds here :-)

Justen

Originally posted by montlake_mtbkr
hey who's dissing the reflectors? Leave them on! It's like a rite of passage when they go flying off on the trail! I just smashed my last pedal reflector to bits last weekend.

That's exactly the reason I advocate removing them. No need for more trail-litter. That and once I had a reflector get turned sideways while riding causing it to lodge against my fork legs. I think you can imagine the carnage that ensued.