Raiyn

I don't remember when the Hardrock stopped coming in steel.
It IS a fun ride
I still have a couple of mods planned for it - new wheelset being high on the list as is a rigid fork.

randy z

I have a Raleigh M50 that's two years old and it's been a great bike, virtually trouble-free. I'm not a small rider (6'5" 260lbs) and the M50 handles my size perfectly. Components aren't top of the line, but they function without a hitch, and for the price I think you get an excellent value with Raleigh.

By the way, Raleigh and Diamondback are owned by the same company, so they each have bikes that are essentially comparable to each other with different paint and decals.

jallen

Thanks Randy Z I was thinking that was the case... They DO look pretty much the same, except for the paintjob of course.

What is your style of riding, Randy Z? Do you ride rough off road stuff?

I do, and I have trouble with my specialized hardrock.. and I DO take care of it..


An aside.. My shipment of my new Time Z pedals came out.. I think I have a problem.. I think I got two left pedals.. *sob sob*

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...591#post687591

jallen

That's cool...

I know this thread has mutated back and forth to be related to Raleigh/Diamondback and to my plans for my rides and such...


So hope you will bear with my question I have..

I'm not sure why anyone would want to go back to a rigid fork on a MTB? I mean, I used to have a all rigid steel specialized hardrock 93 and I remember it being rough... yet such a sweet ride.

Despite that, this is my first experience with suspension of any kind (RST Gaia 3) and I am really amazed atthe difference, I really like it. And it's a cheap cheap suspension compared to others. So I imagine my enjoyment will only increase with quality.

So.. why back to rigid?

Just curious, and learning. Thanks

jeff williams

Kinda depends on how nice the frame has been built- HQ chromoly frames are tensile, with a chromo fork this increased. If I'm tearing down a road and see a pothole I adjust my cadence to hit the lip on the downstroke- give it a hard push- the bike lifts a little up- I'm over.

I've gone chromo stem and seatpost to increase the effect. with no suspension you are able to maximise the power into the cranks- no bobbing. It is a flex, tensile- one push back, not the bob-bob loss of energy flex.

Also I'm into some high speed cornering and there is something to be said for having a fixed axle in relation to the frame and planting it where you want it.

I don't think this is explored in Alu, but chromoly racing bikes are a blast, and it is not super hard to land small jumps on ridged, just hard to do all day, and downhillin' makes your arms numb.

https://www.bikeforums.net/mountain-biking/70134-old-school-mtb-pics-got-nice-one-i-do.html

I went more for a reduced design, also to achieve 22 lbs to make the bike agile. You only need one chainring ya know.

This bike MAY get gusseted, then run suspension. It's fine as is really.
Just need a real dually chain tensioner. Next purchase..Hehe.

Hey...BMX don't run no stinkin' suspension- those guys catch some BIG air.

jallen

No kidding there.. I just watched chain reaction 2.. a dvd with a lot of jumping, down hill and stuff.. had a lot of BMX. I am amazed with the skills they all have. Wow

Good post about chromo.

Raiyn

Four reasons

1. The fork that's on it has 45mm (yes 45mm) of travel. Putting a new suspension fork of 80+ mm of travel will screw the handling of the bike.
2. The bike never goes off road anymore so suspension is kind of pointless
3. A rigid fork will shave at least 3 lbs off the front end
4. The carbon bar plus the grips will take care of any road vibration

jallen

ahh yeah I see now. Cool.

Raiyn

Kinda figured you would

Evo

Upgrading your Hardrock is a good idea and seems suited to your needs, I like what Raiyn done to his HardRock, and I'll show you some picture's of my GT Aggressor I suppose it is of similar spec to your stock HR, I bought the GT as a re-entry to mtn. biking after a 7 year period off.

I really enjoyed upgrading and I tried to fit as much of it as possible and do any repairs, hands on and all that, so when the book come's (or check out parktools website its good) learn how to do your gears its not to hard but it sure is satifying if you can do it.
Be careful choose wisely I'm sure you will as your going about it the right way already. But a few points if you are going to upgrade your bike try to think ahead for example; One of the first things I broke on my bike was the rear wheel, so I decided to buy a new handbuilt wheel set and stupidly I got non-disc hubs because I thought I would not want or need disc brake's in the near future. Then I got a fork with 100mm travel because it was in stock had a discount and suited my bike although I did want the 125 travel one, now I can afford a new frame and the frame I want is suited to a 125mm fork which is going to take me another 6 months to save for it, then its disc only so I'll also need new wheels and brake's. This is what happens when you pickle your brain you do things you regret...
I'll send you some picture's of my GT with all its upgrade's, I have turn'd it into a aggresive XC, light freeride bike, it should be a good indication of what you can do to your HR. But be warn'd you can end up spending serious money as it can be addictive like drugs! With the money I spent I could of bought a Kona Coiler or something similar (although it would of taken a year and half to get it). Still the changes made to my GT have made a huge difference in its strength and feel, and has made me want to ride my bike further, faster and better :x heh?

Marc

jallen

Cool post Evo.. Yeah, I'm at the point where I'm trying to make a big picture "road map". I notice the expenses are akin to a drug addiction, that's for sure. Ohhh I'm jonseying out for my Time ATAC Z pedals! oohh I need a better grade of forks.. This degreaser has the best yadda yadda.

I sure hope the expenses start settling down even if just a tad after I've gotten all the tools... Tools are expensive!

I've noticed I pretty much like tooling around on the bike as much as I do riding.. So I guess that's a good thing.

sarsparilla

Don't we all...

snakehunter

I find it funny that their $$$$$$ is over 1800, when i have put almost that amount into my 4300, I think they are a good beginner bikr, but aside from that are poopy.

jz19

My wife and I have a pair of 2003 M60 Raleighs and both have been problem free for XC use. They have good components for the money. If you do your research you will see that it is hard to beat Raleigh in the $300-500 price point. Raleigh and Diamonback make solid bikes but if you need to ride a brand, instead of a bike, you should look into Specialized, Kona, etc. In other words, if you are or want to become a bike snob look elsewhere.

Raiyn

Now that's just silly.

jallen

bike snob? Not I.. thats why I started this thread.. I am doing my research

I am looking beyond the 300-500 budget now, though.. I already have one of those.. A Specialized Hardrock 2004. I'm looking to add a high quality dual suspension to my collection.

Do you have any experience with those you can share? That is what I started this big thread about to begin with

Raiyn

You didn't look at my other bike?


All that effort and money and they like my hack bike better SHEESH

jeff williams

I ride a 14yr Tom Ritchey mtb, and yes I'm a bike snob. Having a good bike of any name does not make you a snob.

Snobbery is a pesonality\ judgement issue. If you don't have a HQ bike, then you have a O.K. bike, below that, a crummy bike.

Oh, I actually don't care WHAT you ride, just how well you do it. Raliegh, Diamondback make O.K. bikes.

I don't see them as leaders in the industry, or able to pick competent components for thier mid level bikes. There are companies willing to give more, design harder for your bucks if you can spend more.

Some of the advice given is from riders who have ridden many models brand over the years, and they advice is perhaps tailored for new bike riders- (buy a complete bike)
Really, a bike starts with a frame,
Bike snobs buy frames and assemble bikes.

Rarely is this suggested as it is expensive and requires time.

I'm sorry if the recommendations steered the poster away from these 2 brands, I don't believe anywhere they were talked about as lousy bikes...unfortunatly they fall into the economy class, like cheap $ 7000 cars, they are only ment to run so long, then the life span of the inferior alloys cause constant failure-
You do not drop $3000 dollars fixing that car, it's meant to bre crushed and recycled into a new one.

This can be avoided, HQ cycling equiptment can be upgraded, fixed and ridden for years if built with a consideration to purchaser as to any 'planned' obselecence.

I have a DiamondBack hanging on the wall- it served its purpose, I had a Nice old Raliegh too, got stolen.

Now having ridden both companies, I'd say yes the make a solid bike..A great bike..well maybe @ the top of the line- but then it really comes down to them matching the component groups of other companies and how competent the frame welding\ design is.

Of which they are not leaders, they are followers.

jallen

Raiyn yes I did look at your other bike, I really liked it, too... I just paid more attention to your hack bike, cause thats what I have now.. hehe

Jeff, no, you didn't give me the impression that these two companies were to be avoided... Not at all. I WAS wondering about leader/follower thing, and you confirmed this for me in your nice summary

I've pretty much decided that despite having a LBS that carries Raleigh/Diamondback, that my heart is really on Specialized or Kona's.

Does that make me a snob?

Maybe so... I did explore my options carefully trying to hold back my biases, not just make a knee jerk reaction like a lot of bike snobs do..

I will definately get a raleigh or diamondback for say my wife, if she expresses any interest eventually.. I hope she does

But for me, personally, I guess I *AM* a snob after all- I like high quality stuff, good enough doesn't do it for me. Its not that I wanna be the coolest Fred around, I'm the only biker I know locally, I bike alone.. I just like a SWEET ride.

Raiyn

I was teasing but you figured that out.

catatonic

I'm very impressed with their Talus (this year's top end Raleigh hardtail is the Lahar). The fork in the Talus may have to be swapped out for the jumps you do, and they don't accept dual-crown forks (on;y their higher end FS bikes do). But I found the bike was very good on control, as it's more of an XC bike than anyhting else. I don't do any air though, so you might be better off with their FS bikes.

I also own a Diamondback, but it was their bottom-end so I cant say much, however it has taken plenty of miles on with no problems whatsoever. My thoughts on their bikes are these bikes are fine so long as you use them as DB/Raleigh Inteded that model to be used for.

jallen

I am happy to hear all that, catatonic, especially since that is what my LBS carries. I have a place now I can point my friends and my wife toward when they inquiry about where to get a good bike and they plan to go to Walmart. What the LBS has is many times better what Walmart can ever hope to offer.

It's that, or travel one and half hours to St. Louis or buy mailorder/online, which is something that usually the casual get-feet-wet biker newbie won't do.

trailover

I've owned a Raliegh Inferno SX and ridden it hard. Still own it. Tough bikes, with your weight, the Raliegh wound't event dent. For $1,000 you could buy a better bike. Raliegh owns Diamondback. Something like Nissan and Infinity, Toyota and Lexus, Honda and Acura.

randy z

I do a combination of road and trail riding, the trails being mostly hardpack and fireroad type trails. I'm not an agressive rider by any means, but I love the versatility of the MTB and the Raleigh suits my purpose just fine.

blackshadow

Raleigh and DiamondBack are fine bikes for less than $1000. There are a number of models to choose from if you coose Raleigh! there are the M20, M30, M40,M50,M60,and the full suspension ones are great too. Each model differs on its components. Choose wisely. DiamondBack are nice and they also have a full suspension that i can recommend to you. Take the XSL Trail.n Freeride born identity and nice components are on the menu! But its more than a gran im sure! but its worth it!