SpecializedHRS

hey i was wondering if my bike a 04 Hardrock Sport get any damage if i tried a 6 footer. It currently has a RST Gila T4 on it, but i am going to get a M Drop off or DJ3 fork. would the fork hold up? would it bottom out? any suggestions,tips,or anything helpful is appreciated!

-Ben


P.S- I WILL NOT attempt it with my RST fork. ( just clearing that up.)

forum*rider

The fork would hold up, it's the frame I would be a bit worried about. I think the hardrock was designed as a heavy(er) duty XC bike, if I were you and I was planning to do alot of jumps/drops/etc. I would go for a P. series bike which is designed for jumps/urban.

hooligan

I m not sure he wants a new bike. Take it on 1-2 foot drops. Then 3-4. If you feel anything's getting loose, thats the weak link. Keep on testing it on 3-4 until your sure your components are upgraded right and your frame will take it. Ask your lbs about it. Make a tranny. Makes things better.

MadMan2k

What's wrong with doing it on the RST?
Mine (05 model) only has problems with the cranks getting loosened, and the chain jumping to another gear, when I jump or drop a bit too high.

Maelstrom 

RST are notoriously weak.

Raiyn

They're weaker than Manipoo's

SpecializedHRS

well i don't weigh that much.........im 15 and 5'1. i weigh 110. i still don't want a new frame from one drop....

hooligan

As I said, take it on 3-4 foot drops and see how it handles. See if you can muster the courage as well, for I can't.

seely

You really have it backwards here, though on a 6 footer I would be worried about both, and make sure my life insurance is up to date.

SpecializedHRS

i want to do it. if i nail it and land it, i get sponsered. so maybe its not worth it.......
i'd only do it for the sponsership.

notfred

I wonder if anyone over the age of 16 has ever asked, "will this model frame break on a certain height drop?"

MadMan2k

If the frame breaks (which I doubt it will), just get a better bike when you get out of the hospital...
If a crank snaps... ow. Get better cranks when you get out. lol
If the fork bottoms out, it'll just not work quite as well after. They're not so great anyway, I know...

I wouldn't want to do 6 foot drops anyway, at least to flat..

rios

Im confused, is it a 6 foot gap or drop?

enduro

You shouldn't just spontaneously go for a 6-foot drop. Work your way up, making sure you're comfortable with how you and the bike will respond. You can get hurt pretty badly if you don't know what you're doing. If you practice and learn how to handle the bike well, you won't be breaking stuff as often. I've done 5-foot stair drops onto cement on a crappy $7 rigid bike I bought at a police auction and I didn't break anything, but I landed them just right. However, I took the same bike on a really rocky, technical downhill, went faster than I should have, and severely bent the rear wheel. This sport is way more about technique than equipment. Sure, good equipment is more fun to ride with, but don't look at your bike as a limiting factor.

Just a few thoughts.

Maelstrom 

Nope...we know better...at some point, some where, with some abuse...a 6 ft drop could possibly maybe kill ANY FRAME...haha

jeff_a

Why would you get sponsored just by nailing/landing a six foot drop?

jallen

frame can probably take it, its a good frame, but everything else will probably break.

I am six foot two inches, and 215 lean pounds. I wouldnt do it if I were you.

JohnnyTheFox

Sponsered? Sounds like a nice way of saying theres a wager on this one

SpecializedHRS

nevermind. its not worth it. i tryed it on a 4 foot and it just held up. the bike is only 2 months old too.....nevermind. thank god i came here first before i tried it. thanks everyone.

jallen

Glad you saw the light, and it's not the operating room light.

cryogenic

That's not the kind of light I'd ever be interested in seeing... for any reason.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Well, Im 13 and a half stone and i have a hardrock with the same fork as yours, ive done 3 ft drops and te bikes rode away easy, your half my weight, i say try it, make your you bike is running nice though, and everythings tightened up.

Gd luck if you decide to try it

hooligan

Great! Someone here listens (specializedhrs) to what the advice should be! Not what it's "supposed to be". *cough*cr*cough*yo!*cough*genic evolution*cough cough*.

100prcnt Marine

do what you can to soften the ride: bigger tires may do cause my wifes 04 hardrock came with 2.0 tires try 2.4s, a bigger fork the 04 hard rock takes a 130mm fork easily, i tried it on my wifes bike which didnt effect the geometry hardly unlike my 03 hardrock that i eventually got use to, but u could tell the difference.

that may help.

also i saw a marzocchi dirtjumper 3 on ebay for $159

tire suggestion is the kenda kenetics e

jallen

or win the Darwin Award