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AM/Light Freeride Bikes

11 posts & 9 voices | Started 1 year ago by Radioman | Latest reply from mildred

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Radioman - Member

I have been having thoughts about replacing my trusty SX trail sometime this year...(might have to wait a few months yet). I'm thinking of possibly even going a bit lighter maybe even streching to a frame with a "dreaded air rear shock".

The 2010 Giant Reign X frame with 6.7"(170mm travel)looks relatively very good value at about £1200(most frames seem to be near 2k now. It seems to build into a very light bike(about 30lbs!!).

Does anyone have experience of this. My worries after a quick look were...tapered head tube(will it take an adaptor for normal 1 1/8 forks?).
Tyre clearence hard to see if it can take "big tyres". What are the Fox DHX 5 Air rear shocks like?.

Otherwise the Reign X looks like a great bike. I guess it must be quite strong given all that swoopy hydroformed tubing..Would be interested to hear how it rides.

Posted 1 year ago #
Northwind - Member

Can't help with the rest, but yes, you can get an adaptor to fit a normal fork into a tapered headtube. You might not want to though, tapered forks are often available at silly prices because most people can't use then.

Also worth saying, the 2010 frame alone is £1150 but you can get a whole X2 build for £1350, or £1750 if it's got to be 2010. Giant's frame prices often don't make a lot of sense. I don't know if the frame changed for 2010 but it doesn't look much like it.

Posted 1 year ago #
timbercombe - Member

If you have pinkbike this guy; http://dh-pete.pinkbike.com/ has one and loves it!

Posted 1 year ago #
adstick - Member

You have an SX Trail? Don't bother switching, you already have a great bike!

Posted 1 year ago #
zangolin - Member

Had my 2010 Reign-X frame since about Sept last year.
FSA Crown race adaptor with 1 1/8 Lyriks no problem.
Have just swapped out the DHX Air 5 for a coil DHX 5 - Air was ok though did seemed to blow through most of it's travel on small bumps. I really use it as a downhill bike so coil seemed the better option + so far seems to be giving a smoother ride than the air. Saying all that plenty of people seem to get on well with the air so give it a try.
Was not a lightweight build so comes in at about 36 lbs - duel ply tyres, coil forks and shock.
Biggest tyres have been Minion 2.5" plenty of clearence at the back.

Posted 1 year ago #
grantway - Member

Light weight at 36lbs woow Best look at an Orange Alpine 160
Medium built bike comes in at 32lbs

Posted 1 year ago #
heihei - Member

Tim - come and join Dave and I in the Slopestyle club! One going for sale on Pinkbike recently.

Posted 1 year ago #
zangolin - Member

grantway - Member
Light weight at 36lbs woow Best look at an Orange Alpine 160
Medium built bike comes in at 32lbs

Did you not read my post? My setup is most definately not a lightweight build!

Air all round, single ply tyres, plus lighter bars, pedals, cranks etc, etc - you could easily get to around 30 lbs.

Posted 1 year ago #
lyons - Member

Nice looking bike... Ive just built up a mongoose Khyber which i should hopefull get to test out on sunday... Should be a fun bike, and just riding it around the street it accelerates nicely, and still feels like it could take some abuse....

Posted 1 year ago #
Radioman - Member

Thanks for info guys...yes im tempted.
My 2005 SX trail is about 34lbs in light FR guise with TI 5th coil shock so sometimes a little heavy on very long climbs(as always it depends on what the others are riding aswell as my own fitness!!).

The Reign X has good geometry seems strong and looks great. If the air shock is reliable..i would have a 30lb am machine! My current 2005 SX is the most fun bike i've ever had so i'm doing lot of research before switching..

I think the Reign X looks the closest thing to a replacement/upgrade.

Posted 1 year ago #
mildred - Member

I can't speak for the Giant, but I've had plenty of Fox Dhx air shocks.

I can't fault Dhx air shock in general, though they don't suit all suspension designs. Some folk moan about them blowing through or wallowing in the middle part of the stroke; I've never experienced this, though fitting a float air can seems to solve this for some people (i.e. reducing the air can volume to exagerate the ramping up). Its worth considering that Giant will likely have specified a particular shock tune to match the bike.

If you've only ever ridden on coil shocks, air shocks do feel different, but not particularly better or worse. In my opinion the suspension design and geometry stability, and the efficiency of the damping have a greater effect on the bike than what spring suspends it. I believe this is what seperates the Cane Creek double barrel shock from the rest - its damping circuit controls the action of the spring better than other makes (apparently). Having said that, the Dhx air, when set up correctly, feels fine. I've done the mega for the last 3 years on mine and it never felt ragged or that it couldn't cope.

Posted 1 year ago #