I'm trying to get a big bouncy bike up and running for the summer, at first I fancied the look of a 7/8" downhill/freeride bike but realised I can probably do most of the same stuff on a more all mountainy build. Basically I'm just wondering what good bikes there are that can take the hits but can still pedal back to the top

Orange 5 AM or the Alpine 160
Plus the new Mondraker Dune

Santa cruz nomad.Climbs better than my old orange sub 5 and descends briliantly.

Enduro SL 🙂

Nicolai Helius AM.

Basically I'm just wondering what good bikes there are that can take the hits but can still pedal back to the top

That will have more to do with the rider, as any bike can do that if your keen enough.

Just get an Orange Alpine, then you can look down at 80% of people on STW 😉

Or for half the money and all the capability…

…the mighty Spesh Pitch

'pends on your budget if you're looking s/h get a cannondale prophet – if you can find one get an old mx spec…

Or for half the money and all the capability…

…the mighty Spesh Pitch

This is a great choice if you're on a budget. But, as ever, it really depends on how much you have to spend. While the Pitch frame is excellent, the build kit is mostly just OK – more of a fantastic starting point for slow upgrades than a totally sorted final bike.

ORANGE ALPINE?

1st bike I have seen with a rear maxle?

What colour to choose though

Show us the colours!

Haven't got the hugest budget, I suppose I'll see how much I have spare around the time I'm buying! And I'll be buying second hand to get the best value. In terms of something like a pitch, will that be enough if I'm taking in down the dowhill courses? Thinking maybe something like a spesh enduro might be quite good, but would that be light enough (obviously depends on my willpower/fitness) to pedal around?

What other bikes do you have if any? Is this a single bike to do everything or a bit more specialist seeing as you have hardtail/other FS bike?

An Enduro will certainly be light enough to pedal. You could build one sub 30 pounds or go burlier with a coil shock for nearer 35 pounds, but that's still pedallable anyway.

If you have another more 'normal' bike, then I'd try and go a bit more specialist with this one – single chainring, big tyres, coil forks & shock – you know, that sort of thing and then book some uplift fun.

If budget is an issue then my vote is for the Pitch too.

For £1600 you really cannot go wrong. The only other bike I have experience of which comes close is the Marin Wolf Ridge, but it doesn't compete on cost grounds unless you get a deal on a 2009 bike.

Lots of people put a fox 36 on a pitch, or a 150 Revolation to slacken it A little and save some weight. Generally considered to have better geometry for dissending than the enduro sl. Probably a question of what's about in your size when the time comes.

Yeah, lets all name the bikes we have! 5 Spot with a coil shock.

@coogan what are we supposed to do, recommend the bikes we didn't buy with our own money?

Commie Meta6.

pmsl @ PJM : well said mate.
i demo'ed loads before buying into Nicolai.
and owned loads beforehand too 😀

orange alpine. they are amazing http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2010/alpine-160/ read the mag reviews at the bottom of the page. it just does it all.

if budget is an issue the mondraker prayer looks pretty good. the basic one has pretty good spec. never had a chance to ride one though. http://www.mondraker.com/10/eng/bikes/Prayer/70 we have one in at the moment and i recon its in budget at £1599.95 cant remember the size we have its probably a medium which is a 16 inch. any good?

Rickos – Premier Member

What other bikes do you have if any? Is this a single bike to do everything or a bit more specialist seeing as you have hardtail/other FS bike?

Pretty much a single bike to do everything apart from dedicated long cross country rides. Something to have a bit of fun on and not be worried it won't be capable on a downhill run, but still be able to pedal around the hills with mates!

The orange alpine looks ideal but I really don't have that kind of money unless I manage to pick up an absolute bargain second hand! Definately nothing over £1000, the more I have to spend will mean the longer I have to wait to get it!

You can get a good year old pitch comp for about £700, giving you a bit of change to swap the fork and wheels if you're that way inclined. All very achievable if you keep an eye out.

Lapierre Spicy ot Froggy

Uzzi VP can be build AM with a Fox 36 or FR /DH with a Totem or Boxxer.

Commencal meta 5, it's 2350 € very well spend. Or a Kona Dawg/cadabra.

buy my orange patriot 66 frame for £300 plus postage if you like? 16"/black hardly been used.

nomad

Plenty of good 6 inch travel bikes to be had for that sort of cash 2nd hand. I wouldn't go too mad with burliness if it's a do it all bike though.

Nomad, with a pushed Vanilla R Shock

i've got a nomad frame for sale if your interested.
it would definately meet your needs

pm'd you

My Large Enduro SL with mid-range kit (XT, Hope M4's, Roval Wheels) weighs 28lb

Why does it has to be a FS?

Budget: Pitch, prophet, meta.
Middle: Zesty , Spicy, lower spec orange 5, alu enduro, high spec meta
Big money: Helius, nomad, blur lt carbon, enduro carbon, alpine 160

Chumba XCL is your frame! 'Only' 5" travel but tough as old boots and very very stiff, can be run with 160mm forks and built up light if needs be.

I have a few ex demo frames too, and a blue one just like the one below 🙂

Reign or reign x!
I run a reign with pace 41 fighters, its excellent. Takes a lot of stick easily and you've got to really be going some to claim to over power the fork. I'm 15 stone too!
Saying that, i'd probably not recommend the fighter for freeride, but it's awesome for all mountain etc.
Pedals superb when seated, not so great standing, you need an orange for that.

Does a nomad really pedal better than a 5?

If you want bomb-proof and trouble-free, as well as something that climbs ok and descends like a mini dh bike, look for a second-hand Patriot or stretch to an Alpine 160. Everyone knows single pivots outlast multi-links for day-in day-out riding on rough terrain, even if multi-link owners will never admit it.

I swapped my patriot for the reign. I prefer the reign, but not much to choose between them

Budget: Pitch, prophet, meta.
Middle: Zesty , Spicy, lower spec orange 5, alu enduro, high spec meta
Big money: Helius, nomad, blur lt carbon, enduro carbon, alpine 160

It depends – I did a self build on my S-Works Enduro and it cost £2800 – definitely middle money not big

What about a stinky? I paid £1700 for a brand new delux. Lots of rhe recommendations above are going to cost £3K+++ to build.

It might be a bit heavy but you will get fit pretty quicky!

To be honest all these frames sound great but I really don't have the money! I'm still trying to decide really if one of these all mountain type bikes will be enough for what I want to do or if I should just go for something like a bighit which will be perfect for the downhills and I might still be able to pedal with a lot of effort! I mainly want this bike for having fun on downhill runs like cwmcarn but also thought it could be fun to have a bike for exploring the hills and trails around where I live! Is it possible just to stick two chainrings up front and have a widish ratio cassette for the hills?