UBUvelo

is this worth the serious slash in price?

plus an extra 15% off the already 40%+ ...

https://www.rscycle.com/2009-Iron-Hor...19&category=55

sale ends in a few days

still, 37+ pounds...

still, it SEEMS like a good deal. better than getting a DB Recoil, right?

what's the latest BF opinions on this (first hand, especially).

born2bahick

It"s worth the money IMO, You looking for a six inch bike? You sound like the weight is a problem?

UBUvelo

well, i want to fly with gravity, but not like a maniac...more like all-day down...AND up...would it be a chore on the ascents?

born2bahick

Uhm for me it would, but I live with lightweight XC bikes in Kansas, Maybe the Gravity set could come in and give a few pointers

dminor 

Hey, what do I know? My trailbike is 7"/6½", weighs 40# and is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Looks like a short-travel almost-Bullit-clone. Should do fine for the price.

bikinfool

Probably comes down to warranty since Iron Horse is bankrupt and only RS Cycle (owner of RS Cycle is son in law to Iron Horse chief IIRC) continues to hawk the brand...but if you're willing to take the risk why not?

UBUvelo

seems RS has a warranty....so that's good (it seems).

it's a tough call because i'd like to buy from an LBS, but money money money is a big part of the equation. at the same time, have never bought a bike ONLINE, so there's plenty of peril there. nonetheless, performance and price is the juggling act. and why i am also looking into 'Bikes Direct' and their Motobecane Fantom (trail and comp)

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...trail_ds08.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...mcomp_ds08.htm

they ARE lighter than the IHorse...

anything else out there that beats these in the price-and-performance ratio?

happy to at least getting to shop again for something new...my wife just got a new car and...said i could get a new bike

helmut

I think you're comparing apples and... 6" downhill bikes. The Motobecanes are trail bikes, whereas the IH is a downhill gravity bike. The weight is not a comparable factor because the bikes are made for completely different purposes. It's like comparing a Jeep Wrangler with no roof and doors to a military Humvee. Sure, the Wrangler is lighter, but will it stop a landmine? I don't think so.

Sorta forgot where I was going with this...

UBUvelo

no, that's ok...

thanks for helping...i mean i understand the difference in a DH bike and a trail/xc...but i figured the 'all-mountain' might mean it is more or less a LESS 'DH" bike (not as bombproof) but still more like a trail bike on steroids (but of course heavier)....

destroying my hardtail every weekend it seems and it really is time to find something to take the brunt of things....(and not my wallet). of course, i need to figure out the applications. i don't plan to do pure DH...but i don't want to tiptoe around every corner.

so the IH Sachem is really more or less a DH monster? not really an all-mountain, all-day rider? that's why the weight concerned me...

appreciate the info from all.

dminor 

You really need to not give 'advice' when you don't know what you are talking about. That is not a 6" 'downhill bike.' That's an oxymoron. It is a 6" rough-play bike. Iron Horse has made many in that genre and I'm confident that this one, while not being a stellar performer, would be up to the task.

No, it's not a 'DH monster.' It's a rough-use play bike. On the other hand, it's not going to be an all-day trailbike like a Yeti 575 or a Specialized Enduro. But you're not looking at paying those prices either; so you have to decide if the price tag is worth the payoff.

And stay away from those damn Motobecanes. I don't care if BD is a BF advertiser or not. There are plenty of other choices out there.

UBUvelo

well, further research (and the damn WEIGHT of the IH) sort of turned me off from making a rash decision....

https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=522966


anyways, dminor,, i still am interested in the Motobecanes, but...what's the problem with the Fantom Trail or Comp?

UBUvelo

ok...i answered myself with a handful of permutated searches.....

https://huntergatherernyc.com/2008/05...rectcom-avoid/

aside from that flame war thread at the MTBR site between RScott and others (and the respect i lost for RS rep for the tone of his posts), i wonder about their pro-build/free-delivery....

all in all, i'm just about to say forget all this and just save a few extra more bucks and hit the LBS and see what kind of deal i can find...