Mountain Biking - BMX type geometry

I've been a roadie for a short time and I want to break up riding a road bike with some MTBing. I'd probably do wanna be free riding and jumps mostly and some trail riding. Originating from a bmx background the bmx geometry of some MTBs apeal to me. However I want to get somthing that would be well suited to the riding I'll be doing. So would this be a bad geometry choice and if it isn't what are the pros and cons of said geometry.

This is what I'm talking about. Just in case that's not the actual name of this geometry style. (I'm not asking if this a good bike)
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2007/bikes/P_P2_Cromo_GL_White_Skulls.jpg

Thats a sick bike.

i have a P.2 its an awesome bike, i have never really ridden a bmx bike so i can't compare

i think you should do fine with this bike

it won't climb as well. it will probably climb like a bmx bike on steroids. what do you mean by wanabe free riding? not saying it wouldn't work, but i don't think the geometry is well suited for trail riding.

Thats a sick bike.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22159


i have a P.2 its an awesome bike, i have never really ridden a bmx bike so i can't compare

i think you should do fine with this bike

Awesome, it looks damn good too.


it won't climb as well. it will probably climb like a bmx bike on steroids. what do you mean by wanabe free riding? not saying it wouldn't work, but i don't think the geometry is well suited for trail riding.

BMX bike on steroids sounds good to me. What I mean by that is I might be jumping off of 8 foot or so drops (doesn't seem like a lot compared to the 20-30 feet serious guys do). What do you think the main reasons for this would be? Not being able to sit while doing the majority of the riding?

if your going on trails with decent sized drops, how about one of these?

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/shore_hardtail/

more expensive = more travel. the bigfoot would be great for doing the drops, but it has 120mm, so if you stop by the skate park after a ride, you should be fine. i have a friend who keeps jumping his 2006 Sasquatch more and more, and it has 140ish mm travel.

the P. series would be good, but if your always on trails, the travel is a little short, and the geo isnt the best. unless your going to be jumping a lot too, but the Bigfoot would be fine there too.

The biggest difference? It's going to steer very slowly in comparison to the road bikes you're riding, and it's not going to steer the same as the BMX bikes you rode before, either.

If you have the dough, and are into getting one of the P bikes, I'd suggest the P "all mountain" (gotta love marketing, eh?) over the others. More dough, but more versatile ride overall. A bit better spec, and a bit more dialed towards trail riding - not just park/dj stuff.

if your going on trails with decent sized drops, how about one of these?

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/shore_hardtail/

more expensive = more travel. the bigfoot would be great for doing the drops, but it has 120mm, so if you stop by the skate park after a ride, you should be fine. i have a friend who keeps jumping his 2006 Sasquatch more and more, and it has 140ish mm travel.

the P. series would be good, but if your always on trails, the travel is a little short, and the geo isnt the best. unless your going to be jumping a lot too, but the Bigfoot would be fine there too.

I Don't like Norco, but I might look for somthing with more travel.

Like I said I wasn't asking so much about the P series as I was asking about the overall type of bike. I probably will be jumping a lot.


The biggest difference? It's going to steer very slowly in comparison to the road bikes you're riding, and it's not going to steer the same as the BMX bikes you rode before, either.

If you have the dough, and are into getting one of the P bikes, I'd suggest the P "all mountain" (gotta love marketing, eh?) over the others. More dough, but more versatile ride overall. A bit better spec, and a bit more dialed towards trail riding - not just park/dj stuff.

Why would it steer slowly?

Thanks for the suggestion.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22159





Damn, should have bought that instead of my current bike :( only 200$ more too

Damn, should have bought that instead of my current bike :( only 200$ more too

Don't you hate it when stuff like that happens :cry:

it won't climb as well. it will probably climb like a bmx bike on steroids. what do you mean by wanabe free riding? not saying it wouldn't work, but i don't think the geometry is well suited for trail riding.

i trail ride with mine, but, climbing its terrible only because of the 34 tooth chainring and the 28 tooth rear cog being the biggest. if you change the cassette to a 12-32 it might not be so bad, just raise the seat and you should be able to climb all but the steepest hills.

I Don't like Norco, but I might look for somthing with more travel.

Like I said I wasn't asking so much about the P series as I was asking about the overall type of bike. I probably will be jumping a lot.



Why would it steer slowly?

Thanks for the suggestion.
the p.all mountain has a much less agressive geometry, it would definatly be more geared towards trail riding. just like the P.2 is not the best for trail riding and climbing the P all mountain won't be good for freeriding and dirt jumping

the p.all mountain has a much less agressive geometry, it would definatly be more geared towards trail riding. just like the P.2 is not the best for trail riding and climbing the P all mountain won't be good for freeriding and dirt jumping

Which is actually what I'll probably be doing more of.

well the P. bikes are very nice. the forks are stiff so you can do the drops (i mean you can hit 10 foot jumps and they dont bottom out, even rough landings) the P. all moutain has 130mm travel, so thats too much. the P. 2 is a great choice

Pete, you officially have no influence on what i think/say, not that you ever did. i actually thought you used to be a nice guy. i guess i was wrong (look, i can admit im wrong too! :eek:)

edit: i just realized something, im 9 years older than you (and i can do math..)

ok, ive seen it done, so its plausible that they wont, and on drops, absorb as much as possible, or figure out how much the forks/bike can take, that way you have a chance of avoiding bottoming out.

happy?

Why would it steer slowly?

Thanks for the suggestion.


Well look at the headtube angle. As I say, in comparison to whatever road bikes you're used to riding lately, the steering will most likely feel slower. This isn't meant as a bad thing at all, just something you'll have to get used to again. (my two bikes have a 67.5 and 69 degree head angles, so don't be thinking i'm down on slack bikes.)

As for trail riding vs. dj/free/whatever, look at the geometry numbers for the two frames. They aren't that much different. I'm suggesting the AM version because it appears IMO to be a much better "all-rounder" bike than the other P bikes.

Best bet? Test ride everything within your budget to get a feel for what you like, then buy whatever best matches that.

ok, ive seen it done, so its plausible that they wont, and on drops, absorb as much as possible, or figure out how much the forks/bike can take, that way you have a chance of avoiding bottoming out.

happy?

So the fork sucked it all up? It had nothing to do with the rider skill, eh? :rolleyes:

So the fork sucked it all up? It had nothing to do with the rider skill, eh? :rolleyes:

PLAUSIBLE

not being mean, just pointing it out

Well look at the headtube angle. As I say, in comparison to whatever road bikes you're used to riding lately, the steering will most likely feel slower. This isn't meant as a bad thing at all, just something you'll have to get used to again. (my two bikes have a 67.5 and 69 degree head angles, so don't be thinking i'm down on slack bikes.)

As for trail riding vs. dj/free/whatever, look at the geometry numbers for the two frames. They aren't that much different. I'm suggesting the AM version because it appears IMO to be a much better "all-rounder" bike than the other P bikes.

Best bet? Test ride everything within your budget to get a feel for what you like, then buy whatever best matches that.

Ok, I understand.

Well all-rounders are notorious for not being very good at the numerous things they're designed to do. So personally I'd rather have one bike good for what the majority of my riding style is and then suck it up for the other parts.

Awesome, thanks for all the help bro!


Pete, you officially have no influence on what i think/say, not that you ever did. i actually thought you used to be a nice guy. i guess i was wrong (look, i can admit im wrong too! :eek:)

edit: i just realized something, im 9 years older than you (and i can do math..)

Just so you know you, you sound like an idiot and what does being 9 years older have anything to do with how much you know about cycling or wether or not he's a good guy? However since age is such a big deal to you I'm 16 (and I can type)

Ok, I understand.

Well all-rounders are notorious for not being very good at the numerous things they're designed to do. So personally I'd rather have one bike good for what the majority of my riding style is and then suck it up for the other parts.

Awesome, thanks for all the help bro!

Gotcha. Then get whatever fits the budget/you sizewise, and go have some fun with the thing.

Gotcha. Then get whatever fits the budget/you sizewise, and go have some fun with the thing.

Sounds like a plan :D

the p.2 is just like the giant stp-2 but the stpis cheaper, lighter and has a better warrantty (why i bought it)
the bmx style geometry is great for jumping and cruising aswel, just dont do anyhtign to hectic and make sure you always got a landing cause theres only front shocks >.<

the p.2 is just like the giant stp-2 but the stpis cheaper, lighter and has a better warrantty (why i bought it)
the bmx style geometry is great for jumping and cruising aswel, just dont do anyhtign to hectic and make sure you always got a landing cause theres only front shocks >.<


Right..............

Did you take a look at the transition Trail or Park ? I think it would fits your needs really well... just my opinion