Mountain Biking - Looking for a new Frame

Been out of the loop for a while...

In 1996 I bought a Performance M-107 FS w/Rock Shock Judy SL
I have @ 5000 miles on the bike, mixed dirt/road (had to get to the dirt) Well last week I cracked the frame The crack is thru the Top Tube to seat post weld, T6061. Not repariable...
The Performance warantee is 100% satisfaction, if you have the receipt... guess what? can't find it...
Long story short... Looking for a replacement frame, what are the big guys (225lbs) riding?
I have seen the Weyless FR-67 Frame for under $400, price is no big deal, need it to handle the weight.

Does anyone have experience with the FR-67?
Can anyone recommend a great frame?
I would also like to upgrade to disc
There are so many manufacturers, I am having a hard time making a decision.

Any Advice will be appriciated.

Thanks in advance
Jay

Are you going to swap over the parts from an almost 10 year old bike?

If so, find a $100 aluminum hardtail on ebay. If you want to upgrade to a 6" Freeride bike with discs, forget swapping parts and buy a new complete bike.

The list is long as to what I would recommend. Tell us more about what you intend to do with it and what is a more realistic budget.

Realistic budget: $1000
Riding style: Moderate to hard, all dirt, don't like being hit by cars anymore...
Mostly single track, need suspension due to earlier back injury, ride till you puke, or can't breath, then do it again...
Replaced all rings last year, not used up yet. Would like to use some components if possible, may need to toss in a few buck and just go totaly new....

Thats why I asked you... I guess I could move my new compnents to the wifes bike and buy me a new one.... Good excuess....

Like I said.. way to many mfr's out there, and I have been happy with my old war horse. I can do all of the research, but I think the mfr's influence some of the on-line stuff, so I am looking for owner experience.

$1,000 is borderline for a decent full suspension bike. And that's a XC oriented bike. If you want more of a Freeride bike, $1,000 will get you a decent USED bike.

Specialized, Iron Horse, and Jamis are all making decent Full squish bikes in the $1,000 to $1,200 range. Another brand/bike is the K2 Lithium. I think MSRP is about $1,200 and it's a decent bike for the money.

Not a big fan of Cannondale Jekyll's, but you can usually find a decent used one for about a grand.

The Haro Extreme line-up is a decent bike at a great price.

I'm more of a Horst 4-bar suspension design fan than a single pivot. But a rocker link design with the pivot on the chainstay (like a Kona) is my 2nd favorite.

I try to avoid 4-bars with the rear pivot on the seat stay. Causes brake jack at the worst possible time.

Single pivots are so-so, the benefit is they are predictable and less maintenance.

So basically you say, out with the old, and in with a new FreeRide...?
I had never even heard of freeride till I started looking for a frame.
OKay, I'll up the antie to what I paid the first time@ $1500.
I'll research the ones you mentioned, and learn some new terminology.
Thanks for the info. I feel like a newbie again. I never expected the war horse to fail.
I just keep putting new rings and pads on it... Looking for the same quality...

Thanks again.

If you need a small bike: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27948&item=7124731250&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Great bike: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58081&item=7125216895&rd=1

That's just a few!

I almost bought one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27948&item=7124687133&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

I may bid on this myself. Only 1 bid and for what you get the price is right.

I convinced a good friend of mine to look into the Specialized Enduro line-up for about what you described as your riding style.

Definately worth a looksey.

Thanks, I am 6' and 225#. I read the post about heavy riders, and I have some concerns. If I am going to fork out 1500 to 2000 I want to be sure that I get what I need, so I am not forced to perform upgrades due to breakage.

try the Kona Coiler. you can probably find a 2004 one left over and it might be in your price range

You keep upping the ante. For $2,000 you can get a KILLER bike. Unfortunately you keep adding more and more possibilities to what I would recommend.

What's your inseam measurement. IOW, do you have short legs or long legs or average. Overall height isn't the critical factor when sizing bikes. It's important, but leg length is critical.

My recommendations, spend more on a good frame and fork. Good suspension is critical. Since you are a clydesdale and over 200 lbs, I'd recommend a fork with a 20 mm through axle. You'll thank me later.

Forget about lightweight! You are looking for a full squish bike with 4 to 6" of suspension travel front and rear, hydraulic disc brakes and some decent wheels.

Where do you live?

oops just kidding. i thought you wanted a freeride bike. for a full sus XC bike, i would recommend a Stumpjumper FSR, Enduro or the Epic

oops just kidding. i thought you wanted a freeride bike. for a full sus XC bike, i would recommend a Stumpjumper FSR, Enduro or the Epic


Actually the COILER would be a good recommendation.

If you live in CA, there is a closeout deal at WheelWorld shops. Go to www.wheelworld.com for details, but their Kona bikes are not available online, you must go to the shop.

I live in texas, used to live in Penn, might return to Penn soon... Texas is flat.
Flat fast single track...
Inseam 32" 2K absolute max man.... Can't go above that...

With a 32" inseam you are borderline Medium/Large. Probably more inclined towards the Large. However, you may prefer a smaller size frame. I do.

For Freeriding, you may want to stick with a Medium. It'll help you get back towards the back of the bike and help get/keep the front end up.

If you had a 34" you'd be a Large definitely.

If you live in Tx, why do you want a FR bike? Methinks a 5" travel Trail bike would work best. Again, look into the Specialized Enduro. GREAT all around bike.

Here is a great example of what I would recommend: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27947&item=7124382633&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Actually the COILER would be a good recommendation.

If you live in CA, there is a closeout deal at WheelWorld shops. Go to www.wheelworld.com for details, but their Kona bikes are not available online, you must go to the shop.

The Coiler is REALLY cumbersome for any trailriding... it was more of a trailbike for '04 but this year its a fair bit heavier and longer travel. I think the fork alone weighs around 8lbs.

Umm...aren't you in aussieland?

What about the Kona Dawg series or the Coiler series. I'm a big guy, 6'4 225, and I rode the Dawg. It felt strong but I didn't like FS, just didn't feel right to me. A lot of guys are taking freeride bikes and turning them into XC bikes. Not full XC but freeride/xc, strong frame that you aren't going to break and can take some drops.

Umm...aren't you in aussieland?

Not yet... tomorrow :)

my mate has a specialised hardrock sport, and belive me it is an incredibly strong frame for the price, u are very good off gettin that, its very high quality eveything, evern the paint job, 3 layers of the stuff

wow....

Too bad you didnt get the deal on the 67 complete. Thing came with a z150, hydros, the whole deal....$900. That was a STEAL....but damn they went fast, only out for about a month.

I missed out on one of those also... :(
I just had to get this computer built up so soon, didn't I... anyway :P

I'd say get an Enduro.. Nice bikes, they can probably handle whatever you throw at them.
Am I wrong in saying that a XC-oriented frame now will be stronger than one from 10 years ago?

You very could possibly be wrong....especially since most 10 year old XC bikes were steel, and werent paper thin...

DjRider04
The bike was purchased in 1997, 8 years old, and is T6061 polished no paint.
I found the receipt... so I will wait and see just what Performance Bikes will do.
The bike is XT equiped, and was $1500. Depends on what the shop will do.
I might just get a new set of compnents and buy a frame.. some assembly required