choosing a new freeride/urban bike
 

Hi all,
I'm about to sell my old bikes, and first I would like some people's advice concerning should I buy hardtail or full suspension for URBAN/Freeride/ City freestyling... but I still don't want to spend more then 2200-2300 canadian dollars, that are about 1700$ USD.
Now because I don't want to spend alot, I thought my best choise would be a very good hardtail (with 130mm or more).

these are the bikes I thought about:

-Specialized P.3 http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=6770

-Norco 2004 Manik http://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/manik.htm

-Norco 2004 Torrent http://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/torrent.htm

-Norco 2004 Rampage http://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/rampage.htm

-Rocky mountain FLOW/FLOW24 http://www.rocky-mountain.com/bikes/...low/index.aspx

-HAro Escape 8.3 http://www.harobikes.com/2004/escape83/


and generally, will a triple clamp hardtail have too much weight on the front for Freeride and freestyle/urban?


Thanks

None of the above, get an Evil Imperial or a Kona hardtail. A triple clamp on a hardtail is way too much fork for it.

You have your budget; a pretty good one at that which should should give you a lot of choices.

If you ask this forum for opinions, you're likely to get overwhelmed since everyone has their favorite brands.

Nice to see some kick-ass Canadian bikes on your list. Here are some more:

- .243 Racing cro-mo (frame only)
- Balfa Minuteman cro-mo
- Brodie Holeshot
- Cove Stiffee SL
- DeVinci Hucker

But no matter what anyone of us says though, test riding as many as you can is probably your best bet since what is great for one person may suck for another.

You're bound to get better components with a hardtail for the money. Then next year, you can always get a new frame (like a full sus.) and sell your old one.

Of the ones listed the p3 would be my only choice.

The torrent is sweet but overpriced (saint gruppo).

Triple clamp is fine. I don't notice the diff between my 5pound sc and my 7 pound dc except I can go bigger on the dc :)

.243 is a great kickass bike. My cousin is building one up. However it is really short for tonnes of standover height to protect the dangly bits. But a great bike :)

I second the notion for the Evil Imperial, but if you're set on the above bikes, I'd go with Norco personally. The Torrent looks SWEET!

well, I'll get my bike from Canada, so I'm probably better off with canadian brand...

Anyway I forgot to mention:
-I don't want to buy a frame and build (too $$. not worth it for my opinion)

and what about the Norco 2004 Rampage? they don't have triple clamp..
But will a triple clamp fork realy affect the abilities of the bike (and me...) is it MUCH heavier, for example, the Marzocchi Z1 Drop-off triple clamp 155 mm compared to the Marzocchi 6" travel DJ 2 QR20. whats the weight difference?

Also, anyone have had any expirience with the rocky mountain FLOW? I can't seem to find no1 that knows those bikes..

thanks again.

Ok...the Rampage is good and no you don't need a dc. the dc is a bit heavier, the steering isn't as good and the dropoff is crap. It is a worse fork than the jrT. Also it is a 5inch dj - there is no 6 inch version of the fork. If you are just starting jumping the usefullness of the dc drops greatly. If you are a bigger rider who goes big than a dc is a must (imo)

The flow is a sweet bike but overpriced. As it is from RM. It is great to ride. For a comparible bike try the Kona Hoss series (a canadian company). The geometry is perfect for jumping and/or technical terrain (think north shore). Essentially all the bikes you are looking at are comparible in geometry and design it is parts/spec/money that will make the difference.

There's more reasons than dollar savings to get a Canadian bike... Canadian bikes rock!!!

As Maelstrom hinted at, it's nice to have a bike that has been designed in your "backyard", and tested under the same conditions you'll be riding.

Oops, I did forget to mention Kona on my list of kick-ass Canadian bikes...sorry. :o

Yea I'll third the Evil

I am going to agree with the EVIL. Great rig.

I also Like the DaBomb Molotov or Sputnik. I have ridden both and they both had a nice ride.
The only N. American importer is in CAN. so you should not have a prob with that. You can check 'em out here DaBomb

One warning about evil. I was able to test ride one and man is it sweet but the geometry is pretty extreme and may not be suited to all riders ;)...definately find one to test.

And I forgot Evil is sort of canadian. It is manufactured in Quebec. :)

Also if you wait a few months you should be able to get the Evil's little brother, that is chromo and is more of a traditional geometry setup, but I still say go with the Evil Imperial.

Ok I filtered my options to these:

-Rocky Mountain FLOW http://www.rocky-mountain.com/bikes/...low/flow.aspx#
-Devinci Hucker http://www.devinci.com/english/freeridebikes2004.html
-Norco Rampage http://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/rampage.htm


If you all can just say which one of these (only these!) you would pick, and why, then i'll make up my mind...

Thanks again.

gah! no one said check out unreal cycles yet. i just bought a bunch of my parts from ben there and he is EXTREMELY knowledgable about everything he sells. he also sells the evil that everyone else is raving about. i just finished building up my urban bike which is a 2002 planet x jack flash rad on a fox vanilla 125r brought down to 100mm. i would totally give me a call and see what he can do with your budget. his prices are almost as good as what i get through my cycling club. he is just about the only online vendor i buy from these days.

here are a few more bikes/frames that you might want to check out though.

orange hitman - a uk based company that everything seems to love and the bike is a killer build for the price.

planet x bikes - they only sell frames, but i couldn't be any happier with my jack flash rad. i rode the new ridgeback and that frame owns too.

endless bikes - they make a VERY sweet steel urban frame that is 24" specific in the rear, but the geometry on the thing makes it rip at just about anything you throw at it.

If you can get the flow for 1800 cdn then I would say the flow (it is a sexy bike). If it breaks $2000 go for the rampage.

When they are able to get them in stock and be able to keep them in stock, practically you have a 6-7 month wait for an Endless Lifetime.

true that. but i know marshall just said on ridemonkey i think they have 3 frames right now at endless that people haven't put deposits on. i totally forgot about the turnaround time on an endless. at least you will never need to replace it.

No way. That bike is going to be yours so you should go test ride them.

The LBS might not let you take it dirtjumping but take it out for 20 minutes for that "parking lot test ride" and see if it's comfortable for you: do basic wheelies, bunnyhops, go up and down curbs, etc.

Your decision may also depend on whether a particular style/size is available at your LBS, the service of your local LBS, and remember to ask about the manufacturer's warranty/replacement policies.

try a cove sanchez.. they're light and only about $400 can

fem - this thread is from 3 years ago ;)...

.243 - stop bringing back old threads please.

Hey no worries, just pointing out you are trying to talk to someone who doesn't even exist here anymore :D