dirtbikedude

I was wondering if any one has riddin a Brodie 8-Ball frame. I am interested in getting one but have not been able to find any one here in So. Cal. that has one I can try out. I e-mailed Brodie and waiting a reply. I am looking for input on how the bike rides, pros and cons. I am addressing the Canadian riders because the company is in Canada but if any one else has any input about the 8-Ball I would appriciate your input also.
Slainte

Maelstrom 

Not personally but I will ask...I know a few riders of the ball.

dirtbikedude

Thanks Mael. , appriciate it. There are so many diff. manufactures out there that it is hard to pick just one. Some friends of ours have a place at the base of Whistler and if time permits my wife and I are going to head up there. I might have to wait 'till then to try out some diff. bikes.
Slainte

Maelstrom 

To be honest that may be your best bet. We have around 15 lbs shops with very high end bikes to low intermediate. You will seriously be able to find any style to suit you. Some bikes to consider for freeride dh styling at full suspension

1 - rm7 - rocky mountain. This is a standard fairly lightweight and really popular. I don't enjoy the look but hey I don't ride one

2 - Kona Stinky - Another popular choice.Reasonable pricing until you get up a few models. Well worth looking at. I haven't had a problem with warranty but while Kona has a huge fan base there are some people who DESPISE kona.

3 - Kona Bear / BEar DeeLux - New frame this year with a short cockpit. This is suppost to be an incredible all round bike. Good for uphill, thank to the cockpit size, great control and dh. Also handles drops well. I am considering this frame for myself.

4 - rocky mountain slayer - the 'original' freeride. The geometry is closer to a xc style but it is as tough as any freeride

5 - Santa Cruz - they make a bunch but the two most popular right now are the v10 (virtual pivot) and bullit

6 - Orange Bikes - they have two dualies. One for freeriding and one for dh only. They are both awesome to look at. There is a shop up here that specializes in odd frames and european frames. Very high end but WOW. It is Light and damn strong.

I could go on and should probably mention Norco but can't narrow down a choice. They have a huge selection of worthwhile bikes with different geometries for different situations.

Best of luck and enjoy your decision.

dirtbikedude

I have access to all those modlels. I am just lookin' for some thing different. I was looking at the Canfield frame last night, the only prob. with is that their bikes are built to order I no one around here has one. Of the list you mentioned my choices are between the Kona StabPrimo and the Santa Cruz VPP. The others don't feel quite right.
Slainte

Maelstrom 

Have you had a chance to sit on an orange? Just curious because it is a sweat feeling bike. If you do come up here give Katmandu a look. They carry three of the 'odd' bikes. Azonic, Orange and Ellsworth. The only reason I call them odd is because of the rareness.

Have you thought of Cove bikes at all. Kind of ugly but north shore tough. Anyways It really comes down to feel. OF the above so far I love the feeling of the slayer and the bear. The only reasoning for me is I do far more freeriding than I do dh. I like the xc feel of both but I also like the toughness.

dirtbikedude

All 3 of those frames are readily available down here. Azonic's main office/whearhouse is right down the street from us. Most shops 'round here carry Orange and Elsworth. I have not checked out Cove for my self but I do more dh then fr. The only reason I started doing any serious drops is because some of the dh courses out here are incorperating them in the runs. There are ways around them but not as fast.
Slainte

Maelstrom 

...Cove makes a dh frame as well. The g-spot is a freeride and they hav one for dh. But either way it is splitting hairs.

I always find it funny how regional bikes really are. Cove are the dream bikes in ontario but everyone rides them here. I didn't realize there was that big a diff north and south.

As for the courses. I have noticed that dh tracks are going with more drops. Makes things a little scetchy at times.

I also did havea chance to speak with a friend about brodie. he loves the bike. Not bad climber fun on the downhill. He also mentioned he would highly consider the santa cruz. I think that has more to do with the fact that this is his only bike and needs to 'get around' too than how good it is though.

It really is a hot looking bike.

dirtbikedude

I have a race this weekend so I am hoping to find some one with an 8-Ball that will let me give it a go. I heard back from the guys at Brodie and the price is resonable, loest of all the frames I am looking at. Thanks for all the info M.
Slainte

Maelstrom 

How much was the frame? I am looking at gettign a dually for next year.

Freerider

where i live just about everyone rides brodie bikes. since its one of the only good brands that you can actually buy here. i dont know if this address will help but its worth a try i guess. here:

www.pinnacle-sports.com

its a shop where i live that is a major disributor of brodie bikes.

dirtbikedude

Stright from Brodie the frame will run 1200USD. The guy that e-mailed me seemd excited about the fact that I was interested in their frames. I talked with my buddy at my LBS and he is going to match (well atleast get very close) the price on a Kona StabPrimo. Know I am not sure which one to get. I love my Konas and the company is great to deal with. Yet I have herd good things about Brodie also. What to do, what to do? If I get a chance to ride a Brodie this weekend it will help out with the decision. Thanks for the site FR, I have looked at their site before. I get alot of my parts through shops North of the border.
Slainte