I currently ride an 01' trek fuel 98 that was pretty much an "ol school" race inspired, light xc full-suspension set up.....its a medium frame with old sid xc hydra air up front and fox float r in the rear, been a pretty good bike for me however i have been toying with getting a new bike but on a bit of a budget of about 1500 to 1800 bucks....I like riding fast, however I don't race, and I ride somewhat rough trails around where I live, this ol fuel is pretty good around here however I'm wearing out the front shock pretty quick and it just seems to bounce around up front when I'm going real fast....oh yeah, and I've got it weighin in right now around 24.5 lbs and I know thats pretty good for an old full suspension like it is....however I've been thinking about weather to go with a high end hardtail (ex. bikesdirect.com motobecane fly 9357) or trying to find a used full suspension like i have that has alil more travel up front even though its going to have to be used and I won't know how long it will hold up for me? since I like riding fast and all I kinda feel like I wouldnt' mind going to a high end hardtail thats new that also will weigh a couple pounds lighter than what I'm riding right now, even though it won't have a rear shock....what do you guys think about it???? any input would be greatly appreciated, just joined the forum today, thanks!!!!!

That's a lot of question marks.

He and Unigeezer could swap surplus puncuation.

Somebody give the new guy some constructive help here...D and I obviously are not getting it done

I thought you said you wanted a rigid, steel, single-speed 29er**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************? ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** **********************************************************************************************************************************???

Was that a question or a statement?!?


I must admit...I haven't even read the OP's post yet...I'll have to check it out.

OP...why not replace the fork with a light'ish trail bike fork with around 100-120mm of travel?

Your question about a high end hardtail from bikesdirect is a contradiction in terms.

I recommend you go to your LBS and see what they have in your price range. 2 bikes are always better than one. If you're not jumping all kinds of crazy gnar...check out a nice option from Specialized. You can buy a pretty smokin' HT for $1800.

Go ride a few and see if you'd actually enjoy riding a hardtail.

How in the hell were you able to post such a long sentence? If you like the bike you have and it's in pretty good shape just get a new fork and replace a few worn components to freshen it up.
Of course all this is moot if you dont like the bike any more.........

QUOTE=chelboed;10878997]OP...why not replace the fork with a light'ish trail bike fork with around 100-120mm of travel?

Your question about a high end hardtail from bikesdirect is a contradiction in terms.

I recommend you go to your LBS and see what they have in your price range. 2 bikes are always better than one. If you're not jumping all kinds of crazy gnar...check out a nice option from Specialized. You can buy a pretty smokin' HT for $1800.

Go ride a few and see if you'd actually enjoy riding a hardtail.[/QUOTE]

Definitely disagree with this. The hi-end BD bikes are indeed top-end in specs and weight. Even Ti bikes have great pricing and rave reviews. As long as it fits, the BD top end bikes will compare very favorably against something costing 2x, including top-of-line bikes.

I've seen in person the road bike Immortal Pro and the mtn bike Fantom DS trail, and they both are awesome bikes.

I have seen the quality of the frames from the inside out. I've never seen such thin tubes in ma'life. No wonder the ol' Raleigh drove itself completely through the ol' 'Becane. No joke man. Sure, the components are often top notch, but you paint a squirt'o'poo gold...you still don't wanna bite it to see if it's real.

It's an adequate bike, but I'd much rather start with a very nice, sturdy frame and take a step down on components. OP has already proven that the bike will outlast the fork, etc...


My 1998 Easton RAD Komodo has been built into at least 3 bikes. The frame keeps on kickin'...and I'm pretty hard on stuff.

i appreciate all the advice and I will say that now I have pretty much decided against the high end hardtail strickly because where I live I ride mainly very rocky and rooty single track, and I know if I went hardtail I would eventually hate that decision...however, I'm leaning more on just upgrading my current ride since I do like the frame and its light for its age, so If I wann upgrade forks, wheels, brakes and shifters what type of these do you guys recommend?? for instance I am looking at fox 100mm forks, probably some american classic wheelset (1400gr range) juicy's or xt/xtr hydro brakes, and prob some x9 + or xt + shifters, what do you guys think?

What's on the bike now? Does it match this? I assume you're talking about the F100. Great fork, you won't regret it. I like Avid's breaks a lot, but any hydro will be a nice improvement. Don't know anything about the wheels. And are the old shifters/derailleurs broken? Why are you going from XT/XTR to XT/X.9? I might also throw a riser bar on, but that's only because I like riser bars, and if you don't, that suggestion is null.