legit

I'm looking to get a new bike, I want a hardtail that I can take off 5 foot drops or so. My budget is around $1500 but feel free to suggest more expensive bikes if you want.

crazyotte

How big are you?

legit

190 pounds
5' 10"

Also, After doing some more research, there is a significant lack of options it seems.

Can anyone suggest a high quality full suspension bike thats all mountain (want to ride uphill but take 5 foot drops) that under $1500?

legit

my inseam is about 33 inches, so I'm not sure where that would put me. I would guess a 16.5" is that right?

jten9

There are actually a fair amount of hardtail choices, Google long travel hardtail.

I might suggest the Kona Steely, On-One 456, Ragley Blue Pig. If going hardtail, steel is nice.

Zephyr11

Where's Ed? He should be able to offer some good advice.

The Komodo linked above is a cool bike, and that's a great price for it that would leave you money to replace the POS fork and brakes. I have a Domain on mine and it rides like a completely different bike. It would probably be happiest with a 140, but the Domain was $75 and I couldn't not buy it, plus it descends beautifully now. The only thing left that I'm dying to replace are the brakes, but I don't have the money for that right now. To be fair, I'm not a hucker, and bought the bike because I wanted a hardtail but not one that would ride like a *****ty version of my Yeti, and also because I wanted something that I could play around with and not be sad if I broke components off. However, I haven't taken it off more than about a foot and a half to flat, so I can't speak for its durability for five foot drops. Chelboed probably can though.

https://www.brodiebikes.com/2011/onli...nce_frames.php
Brodie BigShot frames are being blown out if you don't mind looking for parts and building.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...le-Products-US
Good deal on a Kona Five-O.

Lots of other stuff too, a lot of which is available from smaller manufacturers, but most of it is available as frame only. There are also some geared DJs that might be a possibility, though I don't like them for trail riding so much (sold a geared Norco One25 because it was too big for me to jump and it sucked as a trail bike).

legit

thanks for the other suggestions. I don't mind looking for parts, and I'd love to build up my own bike, problem is I'm not really an expert on parts. I know what parts are needed, just not what is good/bad.

anyone know of any online tools that would help me put together a build?

also, I'm liking the ragley blue pig mk2, if I bought the frame for $500 would it be possible to make a decent build with only another $750 for parts?

LesterOfPuppets

OP says hardtail, post#3 says full suspension. I'm confused.

legit

Sorry, I was having second thoughts. Still sticking with the hardtail, now that others have made more suggestions.

legit

I think I'll probably just go with a Kona steely. Seems like it is getting good reviews for the price point and it can handle what I want to do.

Like I said I have about a 33 inch inseam and am 5' 10"; I was thinking the 16" model sounded about right, does everyone else agree? or am I off my rocker (I'm really no expert on sizing so I could easily be wrong).

ed 

The Steely is kool, but rocking a Tora on 5' drops will only last so long. You may wanna look into a beefier fork when that one breaks.

Many of the best AM/FRHT frames are being d/c'd.


2010 Jamis Komodo II is decent. Komodo I is an uninspiring build for the $1500 budget that the OP has. 2011 Komodo is sorta bleh. If I were going 2011...I'd go frame only and build it up.
2010 and prior Kona Five-O is a beautiful machine. Wheelworld still has frames...dunno what size. May be able to ebay a complete, or OEM somewhere else.
Brodie Bigshot, Brute etc...are some ****** frames.
OEM Transition Vagrant (good luck finding)
Transition Trans Am will probably handle the OP's requirements if he's somewhat skilled and not a hack.
Older Fisher Bigguns bikes are the schwizzle. GED, Mullet, Opie.
Rocky Mountain Flow is a noice choice depending on the year. I think there was one particular one in 2008 that was designed around a 4" travel fork but had a 66.5' HA. Super slacker fun...but shorter travel for techy riding.

As far as anything that's being produced complete in 2011...
Brodie series - https://www.brodiebikes.com/2011/bikes/hardass.php
Transition's TransAm I mentioned, but the Bank and TOP will probably be too small in the seat tube arena: https://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes.cfm
RockyMountain Reaper series is kinda like the Komodo I...but you could get a better fork and have a decent ride: https://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_101+...ATID=59&Y=2011
SantaCruz Chameleon is a beautiful beast...and props to my boyeee Roskopp for transitioning from skateboarding to the next phase in our lives: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/chameleon/
Norco BC Trail series is something to drool over: https://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/bc-trail/
Banshee Amp is schweeeeeeeeet...but again, more of a DJ with a short ST.
Sinister Ridge is probably out of the OP's price range, but thuper thweeeeeeeeeet!!
On One 456 is a great frame on the cheap.
Dan may have a word or two to say about the DMR lineup.



I dunno...there's more out there fo sho!

scrublover

You're going to get a better quality hardtail in the 1500 range than you will in the full suspension market. If you are willing to go used, you can find some sweeeeeet stuff for that price range.

I'll plug the TransAM frame. Tough. Not super light. Cheap. Fine a frame and build it up, or see if you can find a deal on a used one.

Grimlock

!8" will be much better. The 16" will be WAY too small.

ed 

Don't be so sure...some peep like smaller frames. I'm 6'1.5" and ride an 18.5" Komodo comfortably. My taste in frame fit leans away from XC and more toward DH.

Dannihilator

DMR has two offerings that would be suitable, but would have to be built from parts.

1: Trailstar which is 120-130mm of travel would be decent for light duty stuff
2: Exalt, can take either a 150mm single crown or 170mm dual crown fork.

Those would be an option if the OP is willing to build from scratch.

Otherwise you may want to search for used or the old faithful, Santa Cruz Chameleon which can be had for around $1500.
https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/chameleon/index.php

Or as Ed has mentioned there are plenty of other options.

Grimlock

I was only speaking about the Steely and not frames in general. For what and where the OP sounds like he'll be riding and how I know the Steely fits, he will probably be more comfortable on the 18".

Eternal caveat: This is the internet. You're much better off not listening to anyone here and trying the bike yourself.

ed 

word

legit

Ok, so at this point I have a few options.

First option: Buy a decent bike focusing on the frame, with the caveat that I will probably be upgrading components later. Go with the Kona Steely or maybe Rocky Mountain Reaper II (If I can find it in the states).

Second Option: Build a bike (I have no idea what a good component is from a bad one, but I could probably build it myself). Pay around $500 for a frame (Blue Pig, Chameleon, or other) buy a $700 fork (thinking Fox 32 Float 140 RLC Fit, good/bad?) And something like this: https://www.jensonusa.com/store/build...ize.aspx?bk=58. But modified to be a 1x9.

What are peoples thoughts on the options first, or second, and whats the best way to go with either? Like I said I'm not an expert on what a good component is from a bad one, which is why "that bike has weak components" means little to me, explain the why please.

ed 

Tough call. I myself, am a component snob, so I'd go with door #2. Yourself being new to it all...I'm more inclined to recommend you go to your local Kona and RMB dealer and test ride a Steely and Reaper. Go to a Jamis dealer and test ride a Komodo for kicks. See which one you think feels better. Get some more ideas beyond what you can read about on paper and on the .net

legit

Good point, I'll definitaly be stopping by some LBS's this week to do some research. I doubt they'll have any of those bikes (the hardtail all mountain market seems slim). But I can at least get some in person advice, get sized better, and possibly try some similar styles.

Just for kicks, is this even a decent build? https://www.jensonusa.com/store/build...ize.aspx?bk=58

Zephyr11

Don't too much before you have a frame and fork. Would suck to buy a bunch of stuff and then find out your seatpost doesn't fit, your front hub doesn't fit your fork, you need a reducer headset, your stem doesn't fit your steerer tube, etc.

legit

Yeah, I realize those parts are probably going to be changed around depending on what frame I choose. I'm just wondering if that selection of components are a good baseline to start with given that I know very little about what makes good parts good.

electrik

If you really want freeride HT you're probably going to have a pretty specific set of components. I would think an AM ride like the blue-pig might be able to handle continual 5' to flat if you were careful. Have you looked at a Cove stiffee? Invest in a really plush stem pad?

legit

I'm going to check a LBS tomorrow that sells kona but just for kicks, what if I went with a Kona Steely but replaced the fork with a Fox 32 Float RLC Fit 140? Would that be a decent bike for what I'm looking for?

dminor 

Identiti Mr. Hyde would be a great platform for the build you want. Gotta be careful, though - - know this burly guy from the Forums who built one, Halo Combats and all, and it formed its own gravitational field and sucked him and half the state of Montana into it. We never heard from him again . . . .