Mountain Biking - Dirt jumping/ freeride

HI Im just starting in the freeride world of mountain biking. I've been doing dirt and trails for a couple years now but its time for a new bike. Im going to need a bike that can handle the dirt aswell as some freeriding. I was thinking of either the norco 125, kona stuff, or the specialized hard rock, any coments por experiences about these bikes would be appreciated. Also im about 5'4, what size of frame should i get 13", 15.5"? keep in mind i need it to have room for when i grow.

How old are you? IF you're 5'4 I suggest 18 and not 15.5 or 13. Im like 5" but I use a 20 inch cause Im leaving tons of space to grow, plus I don't want to go on a youth model which is quite small.

Personally I'd go with the Stuff (Have one) 15" or a 15.5 . The 125 is a good package, but I have heard the tubing is thin. But as a freeride/DJ bike The Stuff and the 125 are heads and heels above the hardrock. Once you get better with the Jumping and stuff, the stuff or the 125 will still be able to perform at the demands you want, the hardrock will hold you back.

How old are you? IF you're 5'4 I suggest 18 and not 15.5 or 13. Im like 5" but I use a 20 inch cause Im leaving tons of space to grow, plus I don't want to go on a youth model which is quite small.

Hooligan, we are talking dj/freeride bike, frames are smaller in general for stiffness and flick ability.

How old are you? IF you're 5'4 I suggest 18 and not 15.5 or 13. Im like 5" but I use a 20 inch cause Im leaving tons of space to grow, plus I don't want to go on a youth model which is quite small.

haha I am 6'5 and ride a 19" bike. The ht feels too big and the dually is just right with the sag...

Because of your age I would definately get something a bit bigger but because you want to dj and freeride keep is fairly small. It will allow some growth and not be to big to hinder your riding.

How old are you? IF you're 5'4 I suggest 18 and not 15.5 or 13. Im like 5" but I use a 20 inch cause Im leaving tons of space to grow, plus I don't want to go on a youth model which is quite small.


Quite possibly the dumbest thing I have EVER heard.

I'm 6' and ride a 15.5

I was at the bike shop yesterday and i was looking at the 04, Stuff. Damn it is hot.I am 5"10 and the 15.5 inch fit like a charm. Ive already started scraping my pennies together and hopefully by August ill have enough to buy it.

I drool when i think about it.

Getting into freeriding are we, mindbogger? :)

Getting into freeriding are we, mindbogger? :)


Ohh yea. I was at the CN tower a week ago hitting up the urban spots. Just felt good to do these kinds of drops, wheelies, manuals but realized that my frame can't take this much abuse so I started looking into other possibilities. At roughly 1200CAD, the Stuff isn't bad at all.

1200 is a little steep. You should be able to grab it for 1000ish. Also the frame hasn't changed in 4 years so I would consider buying a closeout if you can find it.

Also you might know this but the frames are different between the stuff and roast. The roast has re-enforced chainstays in case you are a big guy.

Either way killer bike. I just got ones of gfs to buy the scrap.

1200 is a little steep. You should be able to grab it for 1000ish. Also the frame hasn't changed in 4 years so I would consider buying a closeout if you can find it.

Also you might know this but the frames are different between the stuff and roast. The roast has re-enforced chainstays in case you are a big guy.

Either way killer bike. I just got ones of gfs to buy the scrap.

At 1200, you get mostly alivio but of course i shall not pay retail. The guy at the shop has already give me a price close to 1100 ;) I would go for the roast but the price is too steep. I think it was close to 1800 so thats out of my range.

I weigh around 140 so I am not that big of a guy but i am definetly not smooth. My landings need a lot of work. The Shred, Scrap and STuff all basically have the same components except for fork. The Stuff has the Drop Off which looks sick!

Thats one of the main reasons I am interested in the Stuff above all the others.

1200 is a little steep. You should be able to grab it for 1000ish. Also the frame hasn't changed in 4 years so I would consider buying a closeout if you can find it.

Also you might know this but the frames are different between the stuff and roast. The roast has re-enforced chainstays in case you are a big guy.

Either way killer bike. I just got ones of gfs to buy the scrap.

Must have changed that for the 2004 year. The stuff and roast frames seem to be identical in the construction for 2003.

Klein, that was the dumbest thing I've ever heard, becuase it is totally off-topic and you're just picking on me? It seems as though your life in the forums is to pick out people and diss them? What's your problem?

And anyways, I don't know much about the dirtjumping bikes. Smaller frames=stronger? Figures...

I also have a question. For djing, or dirtjumping, I've seen like dirt ramps and people going at the ramps at extreme speeds and catching huge air. Is that dirt jumping? And if it is, how would one EVER go fast enough? If your're going to catch like 5-10 meters air, usually how far is YOUR distance to the ramp b4 you jump, and do you know how fast you're approximately going?

Klein, that was the dumbest thing I've ever heard, becuase it is totally off-topic and you're just picking on me? It seems as though your life in the forums is to pick out people and diss them? What's your problem?

And anyways, I don't know much about the dirtjumping bikes. Smaller frames=stronger? Figures...

I also have a question. For djing, or dirtjumping, I've seen like dirt ramps and people going at the ramps at extreme speeds and catching huge air. Is that dirt jumping? And if it is, how would one EVER go fast enough? If your're going to catch like 5-10 meters air, usually how far is YOUR distance to the ramp b4 you jump, and do you know how fast you're approximately going?



Klein is right. For freeriding and dirt jumping you WANT the frame to be a bit small. I'm about 6 foot and if I were going to buy a dirt jumper or urban bike, I'd want a 17 inch frame or smaller, and I'm 6 foot. It makes the bike easier to manuever. Watch some dirt jumping videos. Those guys aren't usually going very fast, the jumps are usually really steep. You don't go one set speed. If you want to clear a gap or a set of doubles or something, you have to adjust your speed accordingly.

Must have changed that for the 2004 year. The stuff and roast frames seem to be identical in the construction for 2003.

They are still different. If you read the tech manual it even says it. Forged Chainstay Yolks (on the Roast and Cowan frames). If you get 2 side by side it is hard to see but still different.

At 1200, you get mostly alivio but of course i shall not pay retail. The guy at the shop has already give me a price close to 1100 ;) I would go for the roast but the price is too steep. I think it was close to 1800 so thats out of my range.

I weigh around 140 so I am not that big of a guy but i am definetly not smooth. My landings need a lot of work. The Shred, Scrap and STuff all basically have the same components except for fork. The Stuff has the Drop Off which looks sick!

Thats one of the main reasons I am interested in the Stuff above all the others.

Yeah kona is a bit backwards (for the best imo) and offer crappy drive train but strong frame. It kind of sucks but works for how I like my bikes. And yes the dropoff is better and worth the money to get the stuff instead of the scrap....

I've been thinking about the Stuff. Seems like a damn good deal for 900 bones, and fairly unbreakable. I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have a full squishy for the type of riding I'd be doing on it, though.

They are still different. If you read the tech manual it even says it. Forged Chainstay Yolks (on the Roast and Cowan frames). If you get 2 side by side it is hard to see but still different.

True.

Yeah kona is a bit backwards (for the best imo) and offer crappy drive train but strong frame. It kind of sucks but works for how I like my bikes. And yes the dropoff is better and worth the money to get the stuff instead of the scrap....

I could care less about drive train. I care mostly about strength and whether it can take some abuse.

I've been thinking about the Stuff. Seems like a damn good deal for 900 bones, and fairly unbreakable. I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have a full squishy for the type of riding I'd be doing on it, though.

What type of riding are you thinking about?

Some dirt jumping, some urban.

I could care less about drive train. I care mostly about strength and whether it can take some abuse.

I agree, that was my point. In fact I even prefer the 8spd drivetrain. Seems more consistent.

Jim, I didnt post that because I was trying to get the point across that a smaller frame would be good for jumping, I was simply stating that hooligans suggestion of an 18" frame is..... absurd. He then says that he is 5" (maybe meaning 5' tall or 5'5" or something, who knows) and that he rides a 20" frame. Maybe CCM or whatever the thing is has some kind of weird ways of measuring bikes, because I know I would never put a kid that small on a 20" bike. The reason that I "pick on you" is that you act like a fool, and post like your 13 year old self. Then when I read the crap that you post and say what everybody else would want to say, you try acting all mature. >>?<<



And anyways, I don't know much about the dirtjumping bikes. Smaller frames=stronger? Figures... I also have a question. For djing, or dirtjumping, I've seen like dirt ramps and people going at the ramps at extreme speeds and catching huge air. Is that dirt jumping? And if it is, how would one EVER go fast enough? If your're going to catch like 5-10 meters air, usually how far is YOUR distance to the ramp b4 you jump, and do you know how fast you're approximately going?

See, your doing it again. The point isnt that smaller frames are stronger, its that THE SMALLER FRAMES ARE THE SIZE THAT FIT THE KID, NOT A 20" THAT IS MEANT FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS 6'5". Alright, and as for the "dirt ramps and people going at ramps at extreme speeds" part... and "catching 30 feet of air"......what the hell are you talking about????????

(Thats a rhetorical question)

Thanx guys ya im 13 so i want room to grow. i figure i will go wit the 15 inch frame thanx again.