ripper122

Okay I am looking at two different bikes both are close to the same price. I am wondering what to get I rode them both and the Heckler felt more compact not as far of a distance inbetween the seat and bars felt really tight. I liked them both alot and am wondering what you think thanks.

ed 

Heckler

Quick_Torch C5

I have an 06 Heckler, the top tube length is compact, you could get a longer stem (110 mm) like I did if it feels too tight. The compact tube is part of the reason it handles great through switchbacks though. I can't say enough about the travel (5.5 ") as it soaks up everything on my trails (Fox DHX 5.0). It's not the lightest bike though, a couple of my buddies have Cannondale Rushes (one is carbon fiber), and they smoke me up rocks and rooted climbs. A great bike all around though, and I recommend it

ripper122

They guy at the bike store said the Giant was a much better bike I was leary when he said that but yet I am a newb to this sport and know practically nothing. He made a point about peddle bounce on the heckler was alot worse then the Giant he also made a point about the Giant's rear suspension is a true 4 point suspension I believe that's what it is called im not sure. But the Heckler looks like it does but is not. I am not sure what all that ment and if was true or not but I am wondering what you think ? Thanks-Tommy

motoman2100

I would like to say the giant meastro suspension system does ridebetter then the vpp. I would go wit the giant.

mtnbiker66

I'm not sure what all that meant.......

The Heckler is a single pivot bike not a VPP.

DirtPedalerB

Giant is probably better, I've test ridden one of them they seem stretched and have alot of standover. the stock stem is long you could swap that for a shorter one no problem.. nice black color too.

scrublover

how abusive do you want to be with the bike? i'd trust a heckler to take more of a beating than the trance-x line.

similar prices, but similar parts spec? geometry and sizing?

G-Monkey

I had a heckler for 2 years and just recently bought a trance x2.
over all I like the trance better.

ed 

liar

ripper122

Any more import would be great!!

Blue_Biker

giant has a far superior suspension, but the x isnt nearly as good as the old 4 inch bike. go trance...better bike.

ed 

liar

mtnbiker66

Why is it better?

ed 

Because single pivot bikes suck.

Blue_Biker

just google search "maestro", and you will see why its better....

Blue_Biker

or just click this....

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...aestro_new/14/

ed 

Yeah...funny how Giant says the Maestro design is better than others. You'd think they would publicly admit that they are inferior. (seriously, dude??)


I heard that the best design was the Equilink. I think I read it on Felt's website.

Blue_Biker

i use to sell giant and specialized. if you will look at the new 09 model specialized fsr stumpy, they look a hell of a lot like the old 05 trances...suspension set up speaking. thats because they are trying to get as close to the maestro as they can. i have riden many FS bikes...if i had the money to spend on one....i'd have the trance in a heartbeat.

ca7erham

No worries, they dogged on me just as much when I joined

mtnbiker66

That answer is weak sauce. If I google FSR I'll see why Specialized is the cats PJs....and SCs VPP and so on. I like a nice simple single pivot design but someone's gonna jump up and yell brake jack. If you're a smooth rider not prone to panic braking brake jack is minimal. So what really holds water is something like "I've spent a lot of time on Xbike and Ybike and I like the design of Xbike for what I ride becuse". Kinda like G-Monkey who seems to have trail experience with both bike in question here.


Oh...chelboed, blue single pivot bikes suck hard!

mcoine

The giant is technically a single pivot..

Cyclist30907654

I used to think that FSR was the best, but then I remembered that Specialized sucks.

motoman2100

Giant is not single pivot, you have two rockers that rock the swingarm around a "virtual" pivot point. A single pivot is a solid swingarm that pivots around 1 point on the frame typically down by the bottom bracket.

Blue_Biker

^^^^^exactly

OP...see if you can demo each one, on the same trail...then buy the one you like the best!