bascially i have the opportunity to purchase an Ellsworth Isis for 400 dollars. Ive looked over the frame and its got fox shock, did take note on which one. However the frame is in excellent condition, i thought it was new, except for alittle dirt on the rear swing arm.

what im riding now is a specialized enduro pro hardtail. awesome bike and alot of fun on the single track trails, its got a 2002 marcocchi dirt jumper fork, hayens hydraulic disk brakes, xtr parts and custom built wheel set.

i picked up this for 625 awhile back and i didnt know if you guys thought it would be worth the money to upgrade. i do XC and single track stuff, but im getting more involved with freestyle and slalom junk.

ive read the reviews but they seemed to have changed the design on the ellsworth, is this because of design failure? or is it some other reason?

im hoping to swap over everything on the new frame if it works out. however will i have problem with the threading on the bottom bracket? to me everything else seems to swapable.

thanks and please lmk

-paul

Why would you consider this an "upgrade"?



Do you mean freeride? (it's def. not a "slolam bike" but could possibly serve as such if set up right, I guess)


Bike designs change dang near yearly to fulfill the marketing hype.



I think it's prob. a cool bike, but I steer clear of suspension bikes that are that old. (just me)

thanks! yeah i just dont know about the history and what is preceived as a good buy

Not sure...tell ya the truth, I've not done research on Ellsworth b/c they are kind of an "untouchable" for me. I'm more of a blue collar MTB'er. There is a guy around here who has 2 of them and they seem to rAWK pretty hard.

If you are looking into Freeride and Slalom...the Eastern Slash 5" has been blowing out cheap lately...Jenson had some great deals for a while. It has an Ellsworth swingarm.


Anyone?

wow i see how i dont really dont know anything the bike and its orgin, any other positions who have owned one? is old full suspension bikes a problem because of design or abuse in your opinion?
and how much do the eastern and ellsworth differ in geometry?

Are you really concentrating on freeriding / slolam or do you really need an "all rounder"?

Slalom you mean.

I'd keep the specialized enduro pro hardtail for another year while saving up, then get a shorter travel bike, like a transition double.

I'm never wrong

+1 on the Double

*drools*

This calls to me for some reason. Very yummy

Drools until you see:



(you can blink now, Joe)






The Double can be built as a geared bike too...it's pictured here as a singlespeed.

one of the perks is that it would be bday present, so its not really my money. i just have to say this is what i want. however im riding it and yes i need a all rounder but im building trails this summer with a couple of buddys, and its mostly a DH course (on a mountain) with burms and jumps so i thought this would be a cool way of "up grading" for cheap. but like i said im the one thats got to ride it and thats why im asking opinions of what it is worth to others that would be in the same situation.

thanks

-paul

I can blink (took a while,) but need to change my undees... I still like the eastern though, its just something about it. Its nice as a SS, gears... bah

any other opinions?

Mine is all that's relevant