Mountain Biking - Buying 1st real bike (sry for repetitive questions)

I have saved up about $1000 for a MTB/Hybrid. I have been looking for a full suspension but could consider a hard tail if I get persuaded that way. Been looking for a while and still have a big concern though...

My concern is which bikes come with components that will support my stature. I am big :) 6'4" and around 275 lbs. I have a few bikes in mind but am afraid the components may not support my weight.

I few bikes I have looked at include Trek Fuel 70, Specialized FSR XC, GT i-Drive 3.0, and the Kona Kikapu. Any other recommendations would be great too...

Thanks in advance for looking past my noob-ish post and helping out...

:beer:

biggest consideration for weight is wheelset. make you sure you get some strong rims with thick spokes built proper

The fuel will not be very good. It flexes a lot in the rear and is SOFT. Even at its stiffest it is very soft and will sag. We are about the same weight and personally I could not ride the fuel :)

Forget the GT. Big riders and I Drives don't mix. I know several people who've destroyed the little dog bone link that makes an I-Drive work.

May I recommend a more FR oriented bike? You're big (like me) and FR bikes for us are like XC bikes.

Read : http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58652

Also, consider a bike like the KONA HOSS! It's a XC bike designed for Clydesdales (we riders over 200 lbs)

L8R

The Kikapu is an awesome bike for the money and will hold up to big riders if you are really bent on full suspension!

:(

The above link doesn't work for me. Says I do not have access to it.

Sorry for being a n00b again but what is FR? I am still learning the abbreviations...

Yes, as someone above mentioned consider the Kona Hoss.

FR = free ride. Free ride bikes are designed for abuse on big drops, jumps, etc., but can be good for aggressive cross country for riders such as yourself looking for something durable.

FR = free ride. Free ride bikes are designed for abuse on big drops, jumps, etc., but can be good for aggressive cross country for riders such as yourself looking for something durable.

Don't forget they weigh a sh*tload. Most around 40lbs.

Yeah, but put that in perspective. If you weight 160 lbs and have a 24 lb bike, the bike is 15% of rider weight. If you use that same percentage at 275 lbs, you "theoretically" should ride a 41.25 lb bike.

I know, I know that is merely a mathematical computation to theorize a rhetorical question.

But, I've broken my share of lightweight crap and would rather get stronger pushing a 40 lb full squish FR bike than a 25 lb lightweigh XC hardtail that I'll destroy in 3 rides!

L8R

I'm in the same position as n00b and looking for my first real off-road bike. I have been looking at the one of the Giants and the Haros - both sub $1,000. I took your advice and looked at the Kona but no rear suspension, which begs the question - under what conditions do you need full suspension? So how about the Haro and Giant bikes?

Thanks

full suspension is pretty much essential for downhill, less so for free ride, so if you're planning on 5riding mostly cross country, then I would go for a hardtail (no rear suspension) as you will get a better groupset, brakes etc. for the same money. Dont think that hardtails wont take jumps, they will if you get a good frame, but big jumps will be far less comfortable on a hardtail. Try to look for a 'hardcore hardtail', if your max is $1000, then you should be looking at a pretty nice bike e.g Kona Hoss, Muddyfox Molotov, or the Norco Sasquatch (not as good transmission as the other two, but made up for by strong frame)

Good luck and enjoy!

And you can get a suspension seatpost to take lots of the sting out of a trail

Ok. I have the bike narrowed down to a Kona Kikapu (04/05) and a 04 Cannondale Jekyll 400. I know both are "good" bikes but is there anything I be concerned about between them?

The kicker on the Jekyll is, Its only an option if I can find on at a bike store in size XL... So also if anyone knows that there LBS has one could you let me know please.

Careful of the Cannondale if you are a bigger dude!

Why is that?

Question here -- anyone notice any problems with the cables running under the frame on the Specialized Rockhoppers?