Dazza

Next summer ill be looking for a new bike, I already have an XC bike, and a roadie, so im looking basically for a bike to go a bit mad on

Recently ive been doing increasingly mad drops to flat (3 foot and higher) and on my alu SE3 HT i dont think its good for the bike at all. So im looking dual suspension, nice and strong.

Basically these are the specs im looking for if possible

Lockout front and rear (hate sus on climbs)
As light as possible (im used to an old 40lbs behemoth dually so i could deal with that weight if i had to)
Around 5" of travel front and rear (you think thats enough)
Pretty strong
Hydro discs, as im used to em now. Brilliant
Decent spec, im used to Deore/XT

I had my eye on a few
Specialized Bighit Expert (i know i know no lockout)
Specialized Enduro Expert (prolly best bet)
Kona Stinky Dee-lux
Trek Liquid 30 (my fave, MAGIC shock and forks, perfect methinks)
Im totally NOT restricted to those models or companies so fire away.

Ill be willing to spend around £2000~$3300 and i weigh 150lbs.

What do you guys recommend?

P.S LOL side note, i weighed my bikes today, and my old Cuda, weighs 40lbs, and my new Giant weighs 27! Makes a huge difference.

Maelstrom 

I don't like the Trek. Felt really odd.

In reality all of the bikes feel VERY different when you get on them. My pic for you would be the Enduro. I would also try the Kona coiler (5 inches instead of the freeride 7inches you have up there). The travel is more within your range of need it seems.

KleinMp99

For you, I wouldent recommend going over 5" front and rear. A bighit expert is definately overkill. An enduro would work.

stinkyonions

you might want to take a look at the current iron horse models. i think there is a slick deal, sgs export which comes in around $1500 usd. i think you might be only to get works which offer travel reduction than a full lockout for freeride and bashing forks. i could be completely wrong though. i know the marzocchi z1 goes to about 80mm??. another option would be contacting ben @ unrealcycles.com. i am talking with him about getting a new rig and he is beyond helpful and will help spec out a bike within your budget and he has plenty of experience. they also ship internationally.

dirtbikedude

GET THE KONA

If your wallet can spare the change, I would say get the Kona Stinky (Primo & De-lux, same except for components), swap out the rear shock for a Curnutt, 5th Element, or a Romic. This way you will not need a lock out.

Swap the fork out for a Z150, if you learn to "spin" the cranks, a fs rig will out climb any ht unless on an extreamly hard packed road with no bumps. You just need to learn to use the squish to your advantage.

Lastly, put an put an MRP LRP chian guide on to save your chain rings from those nasty little incounters with rocks and fallen trees but you will still have a granny to climb with and a big ring for the descents.

Maelstrom 

Z1 has a lockout to 20mm but there is no reduction in travel kit. It is 5inches.

stinkyonions

maelstrom,

thanks for the info. is that across the board on all the z1's?? i think i am leaning towards selling my new dj ii when it gets in and buying a qr z1 or the such. i was dumb when i ordered the dj ii and didn't know the z1 had the eta travel adjustment stuff. only sucks that i can't return it since it was through our team sponsorship. oh well. it's just a debate between paying more for a 20mm or a qr for about the same.

sparticus

DID you look at the cannondale jekyl that seems to be a light freeride bike.

Maelstrom 

No the z1 dropoff 2 doesn't have any eta. It also has the dj damping so it is not fantastic for trail riding only for single hits. Z1 fr (all three) have eta and HSCV damping. This allows for excellent response in rapid bumps (stutter bumps, rock gardens etc) and allow you to lock the bike down so it has 20mm of travel. I find I never use ETA but some riders love it.

For me in either case I would never buy QR...I love the high end damping but qr20 on a single crown is required for my size.

Cheers

Dannihilator

Actually an eta system can be installed on a drop off2.

As for they Jekyll, I'd stay away from it.

Maelstrom 

Yep..it just doesn't come stock...you can also take the eta out of any fork it is installed in too

stinkyonions

hmmm. would it be possible to buy a separate eta unit? it's just hard debating between the fork AND frame right now since i have never gotten into freeride/urban/dj etc.. although i am really leaning towards the imperial. i figured the dj ii would at least be a good fork to start from and figure out what i want to do and keep it around maybe for another bike or the such. not that i need anymore.

Maelstrom 

Buying an Imperial...holy crap nice bike...that puppy needs a dc...screw the eta

Anyways, yes it can be bought aftermarket. So if you bought the z1dropoff 2 (the cheap one) you could buy and install later

stinkyonions

ehhehe. yea. i want to build up my urban/trails/dh do anything hardtail since my super old crusty schwinn mtb isn't quite as fun now. it seems to be the best frame for doing anything. however, i am still looking at the cove stiffee fr, balfa minuteman, and banshee morphine (heavy). i already went over on parts, so might as well blow it all! i'm trying to find some built up in the area to test out first before i splurge on the frame since i already ordered the parts.

Dazza

wow just saw the Cannondale Gemini 3000! God thats a choice bike!



Do you think the Enduro/Coiler types are strong enough, i mean i do 3feet now, which is nothing, but in time itll get increasingly bigger, dont mean bender type stuff, but say 10-15 feet or so max.

Dazza

Ok just saw the price That bike would look so much better if it were dirtied up a bit.

There is literally too much to choose from.

I had my eye on the Trek Liquid 30 a while ago, due to the TALAS RLC's and RL, they are my dream forks/shox, but now the 04 models come with the Manitou Minute forks, which i dont know, i doubt they'd be as adjustable as the TALAS systems. I read the top model has the TALAS but thats 2400, and apparently they've been beefed up this year, more freeriding style.

Dazza

Even nicer, those forks are sexy.

Dannihilator

Afraid to tell you this dazza, the Evil Imperial can take more abuse than either a Liquid or a Gemini.

Maelstrom 

Damn those are three great bikes...that would be a tough decision. In the same category would be the .243. You have a tough decision ahead of you. To have a budget for THAT kind of ht....

hitek420

I'd buy a coiler or a stinky like dbd suggested if you think you'll want to do bigger drops.

Dazza

Ah but its a hardtail, i have a hardtail already, and im the market for a decent squishy.

sh0rty

Do you know if the Drop-Off Comp can be upgraded to have ETA?

The only thing holding me back from purchasing a Kona Coiler is the fact the fork, Z.1 Drop-Off Comp, has no ETA...I was thinking of doing an Upgrade to Z.1 Drop-Off 1 to get ETA if I got it. If the Comp can be upgraded, it would not be worth doing this, I could wait to upgrade the fork till I can afford something realy good.

I know, the Coiler Dee-Lux has better spec, with a better fork (Z.1 FR w ETA), but is a rip-off in canada for $1300cad more than the coiler!!

What ever bike I get will be my only bike. ETA (or some other front lockout) is important as I hope to be using whatever bike I get in the "Test of Metal" race next year (www.testofmetal.com), so climbing (for very extented periods of time) is as important as getting my heavy a55 down the gnarly downhills in one piece!

Any help on this topic would be appreciated. :-)

sh0rty

Maelstrom 

I would think you could add it but I would ask Marzocchi first. I wish I could pull it out of mine. I really don't like it...

Keep in mind it is MUCH better speced and the Z1 fr is a full 400$ more than the dropoff and has much better damping. (that and the colour is better )

Test of metal...tough race. 76km of living hell ...I agree for a race like that lockout is required for sure. Why not ask the shop (I assume you are in squamish so I will name Tantalus) if you can pay 300 or 400 more and get the fork upgraded. The z1 fr is a signifigant jump in quality compared to the z1 dropoff. I know that Tantalus and other shops are usually willing to deal

Jim311

I love the Gemini. I've ridden one several times and it's a sweet bike. It's also indestructable. If Cedric Gracia rode his in the Red Bull Rampage I think it will be plenty for a few little stair drops

They also make it in a light freeride version which weighs less and pedals better. I say you get that one.

I've also seen the Orange Sub 5 that's a sweet bike. Never ridden one, but I've heard very good things about it.

shimano_cranker

dude i have the solution for you. get a cannondale jekyll. any model will do. but if you want specific, lets look at the 500. XT, fox float L (lockout), manitou black (i think u could get lockout for this), very strong, 5.1 inches of travel on the rear and 120mm on the front. pretty sure u can get hydros.....dude this is your bike.