Hey guys! As you may have noticed I am new to the forums and new to mountain biking. I'm looking into downhill biking and don't know where to start, or what to look for. I want to keep this as low as possible price wise (most definitely under $1000) but really want to get into it!

I hope you will all be able to help me make a decision about what to look for in a bike and maybe bike suggestions!

Thanks!

Edit: Maybe a $500 dollar ish setup that I could upgrade over time?

Have you done any mountain biking on real mountain bike trails before? Anything from the really easy ones to some harder ones? Any previous hobby biking at all? Just trying to get an idea of where you're starting from.

Downhill biking is for people that have been into cycling for 10+ years.

I've been cycling all my life and a single downhill ride scared the sh** out of me.

First. Downhill isn't about riding down the mountain, it's about surviving the trail. You would need about $1500 for a good downhill bike and any lower would risk your life.

Second. You don't have enough experience for Downhill. Just try to go 35mph down a flat road, it will scare you, now think about if your flying down a mountain at the same speed.


I would say get a Specialized Hardrock Sport $400, and do some easier mountain trials. You can get them at a lot of bike stores, I like the Hardrock as a beginner bike because it has good parts and a great frame.

And highly stress not to do Downhill until you have 5000 miles under your belt. YOU WILL DIE IF YOU JUMP INTO IT WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING

I just love it when people who haven't the faintest clue about downhilling try to pass on 'advice' to others.

Broike - - sounds like you've got bitten by the bug hard. I can relate; I wasn't mountain biking long before I quickly figured out that bombing down the mountain was what really tripped my trigger. (Of course, to be fair, I came from an off-road motorcycle racing background, so it was sorta ingrained already). You will find getting into downhill will carry a certain amount of 'pucker factor' - - but you can ease into it, learn and progress. And I guarantee if you keep at it, your skills WILL progress . . . much faster than if you were to spend "10+ years" grinding out laps on cross country trails.

To answer your questions: You will be hard-pressed to find anything even beginner-suitable for $500. If you do, it will be old, clapped out and in need of so much refurb that you'd have been better off spending the money for something better in the first place. Under $1K is more do-able. It will be used - - probably from a local craigslist ad - - but will be suitable. Keep your eye peeled for older Specialized BigHits, Iron Horse SGSs, Yakuzas or maybe even Sundays? (now that the bottom has dropped out on IH), Kona Stinkys or Stabs or even older Santa Cruz Bullits. As long as the shock and fork are sound, all are worthy of motating a beginning DHer down the mountain decently.

Examples in your area (don't ask):

https://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/2369278932.html

https://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/yrk/bik/2364473022.html

https://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/oak/bik/2355307654.html

this is a fact. the gods of downhill cycling are very jealous and selfish gods, and they only allow those who have paid the proper tribute and sacrifice of 10 years and 5,000 miles to ride downhill. if you attempt riding downhill without having done this, you will get to the end of the ride, possibly look at your friends and say "wow, that was kinda fun, i might want to try that again," and then just keel over dead, stricken down. i can't think of how many people i've seen just die riding downhill because of that. (well, i can't think of any because i've never seen anyone die riding downhill, but i'm sure there are plenty of foolish rubes who think they can just ride a bike downhill because they "like" it or "it's fun" without 10 years of experience and 5000 miles under their belt).

oh, my friend, who has ridden knolly and other downhill bikes, is currently downhilling on a santa cruz blur. yes, a santa cruz blur is his downhill bike.

^^^
rlmao

Thanks guys, I actually used to do some off road biking on a Norco force one years ago with my dad. I know I may not be the most experienced but the trails in my area aren't intense or anything, they're homegrown for the most part.

I'm only looking at this as a recreation, not competitively so i don't understand why I would need 10+ years experience? I'm not new to going fast, I do a lot of snowboarding and go pretty fast on trails if that matters. I know they're two different animals, but I'm just trying to say I may not be as poorly suited as some of you think I am.

I really appreciate the suggestions and will try to raise my price point. Are there any other tips/pointers/suggestions?

Some people are born for the road.

DH is for the nooblet as well as the vet.
Does knitting scare the sh** out of you?
$1500 won't begin to buy a "DH rig"...but a used $500 bike will let the OP survive the trail minus a few teeth.
35mph won't even dry my hair, Mary.
5000 miles of XC won't do anything for a DH'er...just do it, man!

Shredding the gnar is the most fun aspect of MTB...you either love it, or you survive it. I also have gigantic testi's that I use as punching bags when I get bored...

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPAPAPAPAP!

Thoughts on the Specialized Hardrock? Is the $100 difference between the Hardrock Sport Disc 29er and Hardrock Disc 29er justifiable? Anybody want to explain?