Mountain Biking - Freeride Frame/Complete

First off, Hey. This is my first post in a great looking forum.

Second: Alright. I've decided I want to get into Freeriding, instead of more XC. I am going to sell my current ride (Giant VT2) For approx $1000-$1200 (US) and it retails for around $2000. Do you think thats a decent price? Too exesive? Not enough? (Its not damaged an any severe way, just very minor scratches. Its only an '04) Any who, I'm looking into either bying a frame (Budget about $1200-$1350) Or else a Complete (Budget $3000, give or take a hundred). I would really like to build up my own bike, having all of the specs I want, and just to work with the bike and learn more about bikes ingeneral.
I have travelled to a (semi) decent mountain biking mountain (Schweitzer) and attempted the Norba downhill course. I fell in love with more agressive riding ever since.
I am apart of my local trail building organization (MOMBA) and we build small trails on one of our local "mountains" (only 3000 ft).
Back to the bikes.
I've looked into a few choices:
> The Banshee Scream (http://www.bansheebikes.com/bike-scream.html)
> The Banshee Chaparral (http://www.bansheebikes.com/bike-chaparral.html)
> The Kona Coiler Dee-lux (http://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=107&parentid=182)
> The Kona Stinky Dee- Lux (http://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=110&parentid=182)
> The Yeti AS-X (http://yeticycles.com/1_bikes/asx_work.html)
And those are just a few. I know I have left out a bunch, but there is really no reason to post them all, tehre are so many.
Thoughts are appreciated :)
max.

I don't know about resale.

3000ft...ummm thats freaking tonnes. Whistler isn't much more, and it is the most lift assisted in the world at this point I believe.

Wow you have a full range don't ya. First off lets get rid of a couple. How big do you plan to go and do you want a bike that pedals really well or would you sacrifice travel for some pedalling. I am always partial to

Transition Dirtbag - similar to the scream (maybe not THAT big a bike) but cheaper and Kyle at Transition kicks ass
Specialized Bighit - still a top notch bike
Norco vps - pick a size, any size depedning on your ride needs.

But really if you are doing 20ft + thats one range of bike while beneath that is another. So you the first question, how aggresive?

Heh. Another Idaho rider. All the riders I know in the area have since left, so I can't really help you find all the good new trails on the "mountain". There were a few guys that had some projects outside of the areas MAMBA's been working in.

I can tell you that you're going to spend a lot of time in the saddle climbing, especially if you head up to one of the higher points along the spine. The people I rode with all rode hardtails, but we were the minority. As far as handling characteristics go, I'd look for something with quick handling over stability at high speed, because the majority of the trails you're going to run into in the area are tight and twisty or rocky/skree.

if your just getting into more agressive riding the bighit would be a good choice, and the Norco A-line would be a really good choice, 3369$CDN(i think 2650$US) decline magazine just did a review of it and they say"if theres a trail or drop to be slaughtered the A-line should be on the top of your list" and "if you feel the urge to pull a no foot can can down a 20 foot drop, this bike will not stop you", this bike has lotsw of sweet componets on it,hayes HFX-9 hydraulic brakes, truvativ chainguide, hussefelt bar, stem and cranks as well as the bombproof alex supra-BH pro rimsand the kenda nevegals that where rated the number one tire of 2004 by Mountain bike action. adjustible 8-9inch rear travel witha fox DHX 3 and marzocchi 888Vf forks with 200mm of travel(8"), if you willing to pay the extra dollar then i would see if you could get a 888rc or a shiver DC. im going to buy one of these bikes in the spring:D if you looking to move to more agressive stuff this is your bike. again it depends what kind of bike you looking for, this would not be a good bike to do any long uphill rides(46pounds), so the question is what kind of riding do you plan on doing?

hmm, well im a xc rider so dont take my comment to heart but ide go with the banshee, it looks cool. I know pretty much nothing with freeride but thats what i can say :D

:) Thanks for the replies.

Yonderboy...do you live in Idaho? And if so, where about?

And, I most likely will not be doing any 20ft+ for awhile. Maybe 15 at most. I would like to be able to pedal it fairly well, but I understand that thats not entirely possible with a fr bike. I would not mind losing a few inches in order to be able to power it up a hill, since I don't live any where really close to a place with lifts, I'll be lugging it up my self.

Thanks for all the other choices, They all look great. So many bikes...Too bad I can't get them all!

I used to live in Moscow, but not anymore. The scene there was dead for a few years, but it started picking up again before I left. The trail crews got some new blood, I think. I heard about some promising new trails on the other side of Moscow Mountain, but they're not going to be done until summer, from what I heard.

Oh cool. Yeah, the "Cave Trail" was just completed, really cool. Pretty long, but worth the ride.
Nice to see another guy who knows where Moscow Idaho is. :)

I don't know about resale.

3000ft...ummm thats freaking tonnes. Whistler isn't much more, and it is the most lift assisted in the world at this point I believe.

Wow you have a full range don't ya. First off lets get rid of a couple. How big do you plan to go and do you want a bike that pedals really well or would you sacrifice travel for some pedalling. I am always partial to

Transition Dirtbag - similar to the scream (maybe not THAT big a bike) but cheaper and Kyle at Transition kicks ass
Specialized Bighit - still a top notch bike
Norco vps - pick a size, any size depedning on your ride needs.

But really if you are doing 20ft + thats one range of bike while beneath that is another. So you the first question, how aggresive?



i think youre thinking in meters... i thought whistler was around 8000 feet... unless youre meaning lift assisted riding.. in which case ill wrong and youre right

You are right :D

Hmm, will you have epicly long freeriding, can you put up with a hardtail? From your choices, it seems like you could put up with it.
Also, since you'll be lugging it uphill, I'm guessing it should be under 43 pounds?
Hmm, you're a flexible guy eh? I'll say a coiler dee-lux. 2700 complete, great warranty from what I heard. More pedal friendly than before.
You want easy to lug? Go with a hardtail.

Banshee Scream, Or maybe DOC. I know Konarider24 has a tendency to choose good stuff, and he wanted a DOc. I say scream. Set it up well. Yeah...drool, I can see it now.

Lol. Whats a DOC?

I test rode the Coiler Dee-Lux a few days ago...major drool. Its actually not that heavy. I like the fork on it too. (Marz 66)

DOC is an Evil hardtail frame http://evilbikes.com/doc/doc.htm