I bought an 05 kona scrap and put deore derailers, a juicy seven up front, a rockshox pike up front with a new front wheel (not sure what but it was $150). I got the xl frame. At the time I wanted something I could jump, a little downhill and xc with (all purpose). The xl had a slightly less aggressive tubing (so I figured it would pedal easier on xc). I am 6 foot 1 and 165 pounds.

Now, I want something purely for urban freeride, dirt jump and a little northshore style riding (rough and no xc). I realised I stoped doing the xc and commute thing (from boredom, and myfriend bought a big hit and everything since has been really aggresive). I also have an upgraded faith 2 so true downhill is covered. Sometimes its nice to agressively ride a hard tail (easier for technical stuff and teaching smooth landings, as well as finess).

Should I get a new frame, another juicy seven, and new shifters, or should I sell this and buy a complete new bike?

I await your guidance.

this is a hard one. if i were you i would chop up the scrap and sell it.

Take the parts off and put them on a Cowan, btw you'll appreciate a smaller frame for aggressive stuff. I'm 6'1 as well and am on a 15.5" cowan.



For a referance.

That looks similar to mine (just because of the pike and frame). I love the pike, but wish I had an 05 shereman flick or firefly. I was thinking about getting a cowan frame. I want a ninie speed in the back (8 right now), what would it take to get mine to a nine speed?

THe problem with that is that it's hard to find a frame that will swap *everything* over. YOu may need a new front deraileur, seatpost and bottom bracket. Just be sure you account for all the little extras you'll probably need with a new frame.
Bike looks good though. I'd practice my drops and stuff on that frame now if you decide to go the new frame route.

The cowan will be able to do a full on swap.

Yeah, that would be cool...if that's the frame he wants. My problem when frame shopping was, making sure it had a short enough headtube to fit my fork. THen of course I'd find a frame I really liked and needed an internal headset. More $$. It just eliminates alot of frames when you want to swap as much as possible. Even just the new cables. It all adds up.

But its fun to get a new bike as well.

what are your opinions of the azonic steel head and mountain cycle rumble and cowan. I want performance first (strength and geometry), looks second and weight third. what are some other sub $500 frames in the hardtail dirt jump/freeride category.

I jsut posted a few pics of my Mountain Cycle rumble inthis forum if you want to check it out. I love it so far but I haven't ridden it alot yet. It has a fairly tall headtube so it raises the front end a little more than some other bikes. Other than that it is a sweet frame.

come on here, I know that there are more of you just dying to comment on these frames.......just dying.

Cowan rides pretty nicely. I have the stock Cowan and used to use it as a DJ/FR bike and it worked quite nicely. Now its strictly DJ and urban, FR is left to the new full-suspension

So my opinion is on the Cowan frame.

Check out the Banshee Morphine or Rocky Mountain Flow frames.
https://www.bikes.com/bikes/2006/flow/flow-dj.aspx
https://www.bansheebikes.com/pages/ultimate.htm

If you're interested, I've got a list of bikes on my own forums.
https://fpsgclan.7.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=11
It's like the freeride hardtails thread we had on this forums, but mine is for 2006

I got to say, I like the look of the 05 cowan. But I hate the 06, I dont care what people say. Anyone heard of someone breaking a cowan? What shifters should I go up to (have one bellow deore now). Also, should I upgrade my derailers or leave them (have deore front and rear but will put a guide on the front when I do the upgrade / newbike. HELP ME CUSTOMIZE MY BIKE!