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I've come to the conclusion that I enjoy riding DH on a 180mm bike because invariably I ride to the top of each run and a full 8 incher is bloomin' hard work.
Now comes the really tough bit. Which frame?
Thinking about a new Orange Patriot. I love my mates 08 one, it just feels great.
I live in Cardiff so generally ride Cwmcarn, Mtn Ash and Gethin and then an annual pilgrimage to the Alps.
Ignore budget for now.
I look forward to the opinions!
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2576
Not a massive fan of the canyons, but this one does look good...
And if you're on a budget.....this looks pretty good as well! For the price of a specialized camber :-0
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2577
A mate has a Trek Scratch and he has no trouble pedaling to the top of the hill on it.
Its pretty fast on the way down too!!
Patriot all the way!
But then you'll have the same bike as your mate.........
cheers for the feedback, I've checked out the Canyon's and the Scratch just not feeling the love. Amazing value on the Canyons though
ads678 - That could be a problem unless I whoop him everywhere then there's nowhere to hide!!
Morewood kalula pal
Maybe a bit of a wildcard, but maybe a Kona Coil Air (Supreme?), the one with the magic link. Complete bike comes with a 180-140mm Fox Talas, rear end has 200-120?mm travel, dependant on whether you're pedalling or hitting bumps or both (and the good way round)
Singletrack mag seemed to like it when it was 160mm forked. 2008 ish
A quick google search throws up some 2008/9 ones on CRC for £5-600, and 2010 for £800 from winstanleys? (not rly looked into them though)
Nukeproof Mega will take a 180. Climbs like a much smaller bike and decends like a much bigger bike.
If you consider one of these, factor in the price for a new shock as the RS Monarch is pap
New Patriot, yum.
Nukeproof Mega will take a 180. Climbs like a much smaller bike
Not with 180 forks it wouldn't, it would be stupidly slack.
Nicolai helius AFR or the new Patriot.
Had a muck about on a Liteville the other week. Serious bit of kit and light with it.
My list would include:
Litespeed, transition tr250 and blindside, spec. SX, trek scratch, giant faith, rocky mountain flatline, orange patriot, devince wilson, anciolotti FR bike, morewood kalula, turner RFX, helius AFR and NP Mega.
If budget isn't an issue then a session 9.9, 200 odd mm travel, but only weighs 36 lbs 🙂
Scott Genius LT is a wildcard but I've never seen a bad review, a mate has one and loves it.
IIRC the genious LT is not supposed to be ridden as a freeride/downhill bike?
Cant rmember what, but seem to think I read something somewhere (was something to do with scott) to say it was really a long travel xc/am bike and not a serious hucker/jumper
Could be wrong, and they could have updated it
My brother reckoned with a Blackspire lower roller that has an Etype mech mount on it, you could double ring a Scott Voltage FR. He has one but has keep it 34T ring so far despite taking it for a few (Short) XCish rides. He reckons the climbing traction is pants though, even seated, spits traction way too readily. He guesses its because its a freeride/slopestyle bike that wasa never meant to be climbed on
[url= http://www.nicolai.net/18-1-ION+ST.html ]Nicolai ION 20[/url] or [url= http://www.nicolai.net/157-1-ION+18.html ]ION 18[/url]
180 for days where you earn your descents/pedally tracks and 203mm for uplifts and the Alps.
[url= http://www.nicolai.net/21-1-Helius+AFR.html ]Helius AFR[/url] if you want to run a twin ring setup.
@Mintyjim - agree with ska-49 - the Transition TR250 would be ideal! I have a medium demo bike if you are in the surrey/sussex/hants area?
It can be set from 180 to 160mm rear too and you can adjust the rear axle position short/standard/long wheelbase.
the Blindside could also work and we are about to list some in our 2011 closeout sale!
give me a PM or check out www.tamedearth.com if i can help!
ant
Bullit with a travel adjust fork would work. It really needs the travel adjust fork though otherwise you wheelie everywhere. Saying that it still got me up snowdon so it can't be that bad at climbing.
YT Industries [url= http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/index.php?page=product&info=154&x9e4d9=pehl6vjpf2f42immpu4b5kj7nhi943f4 ]Noton[/url] is worth a look, it got a great write-up in Dirt a while back. Plus, the whole bike would cost about the same as the Patriot frame, and you could sell any bits you didn't want/need.
Some great feedback, thanks to all!
Aesthetically I just love the Patriot but the Morewood sounds great too, my Izumi was brilliant.
The German stuff is fantastic VFM but I'm not keen on the Canyons and YT is bit too yoof for me...Saying that the Noton looks very tempting!
Tamedearth - appreciate the offer but you're a bit far my lazy ass. But the TR250 is very cool, not so keen on the Blindside.
Thanks again
i think there were some decent frame-only offers on Scott Voltage FRs on t'interwebz. Coastal Crew seem to go alright on theirs!
I've had a quick shottie on one of them top end Canyon's and it felt very good. Chap who bought it was not expecting it to be as good as it is; he was half expecting to be stripping it for bits but has ended up using it in preference to some of his other more exotic options. For a 180mm travel bike it does pedal well... and on the dowonhalls it was certainly not causing him any problems.
a Last Herb? Dirt mag said it was good if that counts for anything
hmm, this is harder than I thought.
I can get a brand new Scott Voltage FR20 for £1650, chop the forks in for my Totem's and bosh, it's a cracker!
What does the massif reckon?
They look good, but if you're tall they may not suit you
based on nothing other than i like it i'd get one of these...
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I'm only 5'8" so I should be fine on the Voltage.
Creamegg - that is bloody lovely!
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Can't tell me my Canyon Torque isn't one stonkingly sexy bike!?
170mm front and rear, but the newer frames are 180. This comes in at 34lbs and I actually really like riding it just around the trails. Pedals and climbs just like a 34lb trail bike. Enjoys a real smacking when the going gets naughty though.
i have a new patriot which is Sh1t hot! 😛
but on the list would be for certain a CubeHanzz,trek Scratch or a Canyon as they spec really well loadsa choice and look the part..
Check out Bikeactive for some good deals on the Morewood Kalula, complete bike or frame and BOS fork for not much more than the price of some frames.
Patriot 2012 + Fox 40s + front mech...
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Not much I would change on this...
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Not mine by the way 🙁
no what you need is a lapierre froggy 180mm rear and 180 front ive got one for sale £1600
I can get a brand new Scott Voltage FR20 for £1650, chop the forks in for my Totem's and bosh, it's a cracker!
[url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/scott-voltage-fr20-tested.html ]pinkbikes review[/url]
my ride is pedaling up at least 1.5 hour seeking the singletrack entrance w/ nice downhill sessions and this is what I use most file:///F:/bikes%20and%20stuff/quiver/ASR%207/Imagem%20058.jpg
don't know how to attacht picture here
the bike is a yeti asr-7 w/ a fox talas 180 up front & ccdb air rear shock
use a dropper post, tune the suspension with no impatience, choose the right tires and you are ready to follow your fellows while pedaling and eat them on any downhill section