Mountain Biking - Trials or DH Bike?

I can't decide.

I've been in the mood for yet another bike for a long time. However, I've been torn between getting a trials bike and a DH bike. I'd obviously get more use out of a trials bike, and it has that "wow" factor to it when you get good. Unfortunately, however, it's been a really steep learning curve for me. Having a DH bike seems like it would be somewhat easier to learn and fun no matter what, but there aren't many places to DH where I live.

What says you, MTB forum? I have time to decide, since it will be a while before I have money to buy a bike. Obviously, things could change significantly in that time, but I'd like to see what you guys say. I'm not leaning in any particular direction ATM.



And as a side, note, I'd be building the bike up.

EDIT- Also, a trials bike is WAY cheaper.

Bmx

Sounds like you'd benefit from a different discipline. If you really want to do one of those two, I'd get a dirt jumper and do some urban assault (me and a friend have been counting down the days till the trails open with concrete drops around the local parks, flat landings, unfortunately)

recumbent

Sounds like you'd benefit from a different discipline. If you really want to do one of those two, I'd get a dirt jumper and do some urban assault (me and a friend have been counting down the days till the trails open with concrete drops around the local parks, flat landings, unfortunately)

I have a DJ bike already. :o



Also, I'd be awesome at trials with a recumbent. Same thing with a TT bike for DH'ing.

Get a big, slack bike like an SX Trail or Rune - burly enough to handle lift days at Snowshoe, 26West, and the huckster drops in your area, but retaining the ability to climb to the hidden gems of the Pisgah backcountry. (not many folks to impress out there, though)

Don't get a DH bike unless you plan on hitting shuttles/resorts a lot...if you don't it'll just be a big waste of money. I think gastro's suggestion is the way to go (but I wouldn't call the SX Trail a big bike! ;) )...something slack and plush with a granny ring.

And can't you just use your DJ bike to get your trials fix?

You should probably buy a downhill bike if you want to ride downhill.

You should probably buy a trials bike if you want to ride trials.

Seriously, dude. Do you always do this every time you need to make a decision? They're two completely different things.
Hey guys...wiping my ass. Charmin Ultra or Quilted Northern?

trials.

it will help you become a better rider

Get a big, slack bike like an SX Trail or Rune - burly enough to handle lift days at Snowshoe, 26West, and the huckster drops in your area, but retaining the ability to climb to the hidden gems of the Pisgah backcountry. (not many folks to impress out there, though)

I was gonna suggest the same thing but BMX seemed more fun

Profail, a long'ish travel FR type bike would serve you well. Think Bullit,Coiler, or the new rig that Scrub has built up. You get a lot of multi use miles out of a rig like that. I know that Gastro's SX Trail has seen Pisgah trails,Snowshoe,the North Shore and Whistler. You might even look at a 4X rig.You're gonna be real limited with a dedicated DH rig.

You should probably buy a downhill bike if you want to ride downhill.

You should probably buy a trials bike if you want to ride trials.

Seriously, dude. Do you always do this every time you need to make a decision? They're two completely different things.
Hey guys...wiping my ass. Charmin Ultra or Quilted Northern?

Wow man, it's a bike forum, for discussing things. I sure hope everybody remembers your inability to help the next time you ask some dumb question like what the difference between two shimano spd pedals are. Hmmm, can't find that information on shimanos website, can we?

If people try and say a ~6/7" FR bike cant DH they are pretty fecking stupid, any bike can DH, just not as well as a DH bike.

I am also jumping on the "Dont get a dedicated DH bike" bandwagon.
Its what i shouldve done.....bought a Reign X.

recumbent

Downhill recumbent FTW!

I wouldn't call the SX Trail a big bike!

Yeah, that wasn't the best choice of words. I was trying to avoid the marketing catch phrases like "trail bike," "big mountain bike," "light freeride bike," etc. I guess "mini DH bike" would work.

i wouldn't go for a strict DH bike. as you said, there aren't a heck of a lot of places to do that sort of thing 'round where you live. bikes other than strict "DHers" can do DH riding - maybe not to the same extent.

Trails and DH, at least in my opinion, seem to be pretty distant disciplines. I don't think you can really get a bike that fits easily in between the two. lol, go for a SC Chameleon and a couple forks you can swap out, depending on the riding for that day.

But if push comes to shove, and things have to be black or white, i say go for the trials bike. more "versatile." Still, you have time to think 'bout it. figure out what you want to do.

yeah, i plan on using my new XC build for down hill as well...the occasional trip to a ski mountain. it should be sweet.

i would still get a trials bike and ACTUALLY learn a couple moves with it. think about how much better your handling skills would be on a mtb. at least i think it would help anyway. you could dazzle your friends with "trials" type moves on mtb rides.

:D

mx

dh bike - 3000 to 7000$ for a quality one
trials bike - depending on setup I have seen them for around 1000$ to 2000$

So I ask the question how much money you got?

What ever happened to the DJ bike? Warrantied or not?

What ever happened to the DJ bike? Warrantied or not?

Oh, it was just me jumping to conclusions. Everything is OK.



The reason that I'm hesitant about getting a trials-specific bike is because of how hard it is for me. So far I've gotten pivots, small side-hops, manuals and not much else. I don't want to buy a bike that I'll never learn how to use, but then again, perhaps I need Trials geometry to do trials.

Also, in retrospect I think a FR bike would be more versatile. I'm going to Snowshoe this summer. If I don't die, perhaps I'll be better equipped to make a decision.

@Maelstrom- Dependent on how motivated I am this year. I'd say $1,500 for a mod trials bike (what I'm looking at) is pretty top end. I see most of the mods being rolled out as complete bikes come with hydro magura calipers and a slew of other cool stuff in the sub-1k range. I can only assume a comparable bike can be built for a little more.



I'm well aware that trials and DH are totally different. However, they both interest me. Hell, everything interests me. I have a road bike, a DJ bike, and a FS trail bike but I still want a fixie, a Ti roadie, a DH bike, a trials bike, a track bike, multiple BMX bikes (one for each discipline), an AM bike, a TT bike, and a million other ones.


Throughout my whole life, I will never stop buying bikes. I just have to decide what order I want them in. :rolleyes:

Edit- As a side, note, I don't think it's possible to go wrong with a new bike.

The reason that I'm hesitant about getting a trials-specific bike is because of how hard it is for me. So far I've gotten pivots, small side-hops, manuals and not much else. I don't want to buy a bike that I'll never learn how to use, but then again, perhaps I need Trials geometry to do trials.

If you were to buy a trials-specific (ie. modified, like a classic Monty ) bike, be prepared to spend a gazillion hours on it, there is no substitute.

For trials, the realistic approach would be to build more skills on the XC bike, then start considering the full-on trials rig.

If you were to buy a trials-specific (ie. modified, like a classic Monty ) bike, be prepared to spend a gazillion hours on it, there is no substitute.

For trials, the realistic approach would be to build more skills on the XC bike, then start considering the full-on trials rig.

Of course, but I'm note even sure if I can achieve anything. I've spent the last two weeks trying to get back-wheel hops with the aid of every how-to video on the internet with no luck.

Perhaps this is normal though....


I'm also torn between stock and modified.... If I decide to go trials.

My serious post:

Build up a 6-7" all mountain bike and build it more to the aggressive side of things.

The new Coilairs are sweet they do what they are said to supposed to do with the magic link.

Cyclocross. But use it for downhill and tirals.

Actually a kid told me the other day he thought 'cross bikes were really cool, and wanted to get one to do trials on because "that would be sweet dude." I gave him a very, very admonishing look.

In all seriousness I'd go for a burly all-mountain bike that you can climb with but still take to the lifts. I don't know anything about trials, but I imagine your dirt-jump bike would suffice for learning trials moves. Of course if you cut your downhill bike budget by 1000 dolars you can get a basic trials bike.



Or you can be trendy like yours truly and build a singlespeed rigid 29er. I can't wait until mine's done :)

Cyclocross. But use it for downhill and tirals.

Actually a kid told me the other day he thought 'cross bikes were really cool, and wanted to get one to do trials on because "that would be sweet dude." I gave him a very, very admonishing look.


You should kick him.
Also, build a Carver-style rigid steel fixie to be mega-trendy.



On a serious note, a 6-7" rig sounds nice, but I don't know which how much travel. 6" sounds to little, but 7" sounds like a lot to climb with.....

6-7" big rig, with slack geometry.

Then setup your dj rig to work on the trialsin skills. No matter the bike for that sort of thing, practice, practice, practice.

You should kick him.
Also, build a Carver-style rigid steel fixie to be mega-trendy.



On a serious note, a 6-7" rig sounds nice, but I don't know which how much travel. 6" sounds to little, but 7" sounds like a lot to climb with.....

You gotta make a compromise somewhere.

On a serious note, a 6-7" rig sounds nice, but I don't know which how much travel. 6" sounds to little, but 7" sounds like a lot to climb with.....

It's one freakin' inch, I get around fine on a 7" bike. I't not gonna climb like an Epic or decend like a V10 but it a bike you can do a lot of things with.

I feel a big difference between 5" and 6", but when the numbers increase the margins become smaller as well....

Anyway, as far as AM/FR rigs go....

6"-
Trek Remedy 8. Costs a pretty penny. (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/mountain_full_suspension/remedy/remedy8/)

Kona Colair Deluxe (http://www.konaworld.com/08_coilairdeluxe_w.htm)

Specialized Enduro SL Comp (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=33445)

7"
Additionally, my LBS is selling a Trek Session 77 for a sick price, but it weighs 43 pounds.... (http://flythecyclery.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1035)



So, thoughts and suggestions?

http://www.dirty-pages.de/bilder/2007/10/yeti-7.thumbnail.jpg

Mmm, sexy. I only mention because I saw an AS-X the other day, and I believe that this is the bike that replaced it. Although I see more AS-X's around than Sevens...I'm not sure if that's because people liked the AS-X more, or if it's just because the Seven is new. Come to think of it...I'm not sure if I've ever seen a Seven. Not sure what's going on with that chainstay...but it still looks like a sweet ride. Anyway, it's not Yeti's downhill bike, as that honor goes to the crazy-expensive 303, but since you've moved on to 6-7 inch travel bikes (and because I lust after Yetis), I figured I'd mention it. A little expensive ($1900 for the frame), though you might be able to pick up cheap parts on Craigslist and eBay to offset the cost.

Giant Reign X frame.
RS Lyrik U-Turn/Fox 36.
6" rear, 8" front Juicy Sevens
Some beefy wheelset.
2x9 DT (Can you go 2x9 on a Reign X?).
Clipless pedals

Sounds baller. Thats the bike i should be riding, if i had the cash, sounds like sosmething you need too. Even if you were to go all out DH, i think that at your weight, size and whatnot, you dont really need craploads of travel.

Giant Reign X
Santa Cruz Bullit
Banshee Rune
Spec XT Trail
Trek Remedy
Santa Cruz Nomad
Ellsworth Moment
Turner RFX
Canfield Can Can
Yeti Seven

There are ton of 6-7" bikes out there that can be built at a decent weight, pedal up the hill, and be able to enjoy the decent. That's my suggestion.

Giant Reign X
Santa Cruz Bullit
Banshee Rune
Spec XT Trail
Trek Remedy
Santa Cruz Nomad
Ellsworth Moment
Turner RFX
Canfield Can Can
Yeti Seven

There are ton of 6-7" bikes out there that can be built at a decent weight, pedal up the hill, and be able to enjoy the decent. That's my suggestion.


Well said,but will he go for it?

Well said,but will he go for it?

*Lists Saved*

Intense 6.6

^^^^
Agreed. built one up at the old shop I worked at those pedal really good.

Cant believe i forgot the 6.6.......