Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.jimbud
12-27-06, 08:42 AM
I'm just about to dive into a Winter mountain bike build and wanted to get some input from some forum member that have a lot more MB riding experience then me. I plan on using the bike for mostly XC and dirt trails that double as snowmobile trails in the winter here in Northern Minnesota. Not planning to ride any place too radical.
That said as the title states I'm trying to decide on a hardtail or FS frame. I want to keep the cost a round $1200.00 and all ready have a set disc wheels, cassette and new tires so thats out of the way. I'd like to keep the frame cost at a round $350.00 and have looked at new KHS XC 504 and AM1000 FS frames and new Giant XTC hardtail frames on ebay.
My main concern on building a FS (I've never ridden one out of a bike shop parking lot) would be how the rear suspension reacts to my 6'2" 220 lb. body weight. I don't want to have spend a extra $400.00 on a top of the line rear shock to counter act my body weight. I've ridden a Airborne Liberator hardtail for a couple years and don't have anything against a hardtail but just want to make the best choice for a frame. One more thing, bike weight is not a major concern. I don't need a 24 lb bike for the kind of riding I do. Any advice would be helpful, Thanks in advance!!!
That said as the title states I'm trying to decide on a hardtail or FS frame. I want to keep the cost a round $1200.00 and all ready have a set disc wheels, cassette and new tires so thats out of the way. I'd like to keep the frame cost at a round $350.00 and have looked at new KHS XC 504 and AM1000 FS frames and new Giant XTC hardtail frames on ebay.
My main concern on building a FS (I've never ridden one out of a bike shop parking lot) would be how the rear suspension reacts to my 6'2" 220 lb. body weight. I don't want to have spend a extra $400.00 on a top of the line rear shock to counter act my body weight. I've ridden a Airborne Liberator hardtail for a couple years and don't have anything against a hardtail but just want to make the best choice for a frame. One more thing, bike weight is not a major concern. I don't need a 24 lb bike for the kind of riding I do. Any advice would be helpful, Thanks in advance!!!