I used to be a daily rider commuting and sociable riding. After a few years out ive bin offered a big hit 2004 model vgc and well specced for a bargin price.
I would be going to bike park wales and gizzy at weekends foe fun blasts would this be a suitable bike im 6"4 and 20 stone its a large frame and has the 24" rear wheel was thinking to swap the front 26" to match or would this stuff the geo? It would be a fun/jump bike really so not much uphill slogging.
Not a bike I'd fancy to be honest, but if you're only doing uplifts and DH type stuff it might be ok. Wouldn't change the front wheel though, I'm pretty sure that would bugger the geo right up.
Im a big lad and used to riding tanks uphill I rode a 40lbs bmx for 5 years and threw that about.
I heard they were bomb proof and could take the odd knock. Its too good of a deal to pass up its less than 200 quid he wants as hes just bought a new glory and the wife wants his other bike gone asap.
Doubt you'd get much more bike for your money than that, though remember to factor in changing pivots, servicing shocks, fixing wheels, bleeding brakes, new gears etc if you don't know the history.
But you'd have to do that with any second hand bike, to be fair.
Where's Gizzy? Gisburn?
Yes gisburn im from blackpool and its not too far and my old riding buddies all go regular. Its vgc and hes servicing before I buy ie new bushes and seals and new fluids bleeds etc its kinda the childhood dream bike I wanted too.
as im not a weight weenie I just want pure reliability and bomb proof to be fair. It will slowly get upgraded or frame swap as and when but for 170 quid how can I refuse?
BETD used to do a 26" rear conversion kit for them, I had one (without the kit) liked it, you'll struggle to get anything as capable for that money
Id think it was a bargin at 300 to be honest as sin a few for 400-500 completed listings on the bay. Are they as reliable as they say? And are they ok at acceleration due to the 24" wheel?
My mate has one of those with the 24" back wheel and it's ok but I wouldn't want it myself. Feels way too tall and high especially on the front end. It's a fun bike though but way different from what I'm used to and I can't get used to it when I ride it!
And are they ok at acceleration due to the 24" wheel?
Not really, but thats more to with the weight than wheel size..
For the price just have it...
I thought they had 26" front wheels as standard anyway. 26" front wheel, 24" rear would work fine, seen lots with them like that. I wouldn't worry about changing the rear wheel TBH. Treat it as a cheap thrills machine till you kill it.
Is it a complete bike? It sounds cheap for a full bike but if the other bits are as old as the frame they'll likely not be up to much. If you end up having to replace them with bits to suit a big lad, that might sting a bit.
My mate has one and used it as his only FS bike for many years (04 model i think). Mostly dirty DH but he's pedaled it about all day on occasion. Strong, tough and plenty good enough. He loved the squirt out of corners aided by the wee back wheel. Front is 26" on his. As tom says, they stand tall at the front and look a bit odd compared to more recent designs but they will ride down and over anything.
He's a shortarse and the bike's a small so i didn't really fit on it when i had a blip (i'm about your height) but it was [i]really [/i]small and i can't see the large being [i]that [/i]big tbh. For comparison, his other small bikes i can ride no bother. Get a ride on it to see if it fits ok and if the wheels and suspension and brakes are good (as in good enough to support 20 stone travelling at speed 😉 ) then why not?
Please say it also has Shivers up front as well 🙂
For the cash, sounds like a great playbike that you won't worry if it gets nicked or you back the car over it.
Its got bombers triple clamps, hope m4 brakes, fox rear shock and some other bits and pieces, was his pride and joy, has some new up to date bits on it, but Imo think older bits were built burlier anyways (heavier yes). It is surprisingly good nick nothing major at all feels tight and right.
The last full susser I rode was a banshee x 2014 and I could fly on that!!! Surely the big hit is a better ride than the banshee?
Riding that round a trail centre will be horrible.
For an uplift / alps bike it would be alright
£170 is too cheap for any sort of decent bike - check it isn't stolen
I bought a Stinky (think it was a 2006) for an alps trip. To be fair it was great fun whilst out there, but I took it on one XC ride when I got home and vomited at the top of the first hill. I sold it the next day - it was such a dog to pedal anywhere. My advice would be to keep looking but it seems you're gonna buy this anyway.
That round Gisburn would be my worst nightmare, but you might love it. For £170 what do you have to lose, really.
I suspect the Banshee would be a better all rounder, with more modern geometry and kit.
you won't worry if it gets nicked or you back the car over it.
Might write his car off though. My old Big Hit was probably heavier than my Fiesta.
OP - At that price you may as well go for it and ebay it after if you don't like it.
If you make any money in the process you can split it with matey boy.
been, seen... not hard, is it?
I loved my old 2004 Big Hit. It was a better ride than the Tomac 204 Magnum that replaced it if anything.
Obviously though its a 10 year old DH bike so steep angles etc. The guy who bought by old one fitted Super Monsters to it and it coped fine!
If the will takes you, you can fit front mechs to them so set it up 2x9/10 for a pedal up.
Jesus OP- so your a big bloke why do you have to suffer and stutter around on a pig of an old bike?
I still remember the Bighit I borrowed back in 2004. Maybe its awesome on proper DH's but on trail riding it sucked. Well literally, all the energy out of you, like riding through bloody sand.
Why not pick up an old Enduro (sturdy but better to ride) or Stumpjumper FSR?
You want to get back into riding not think its a chore after all.
BTW- you tall bugger, I'm 6ft2/15.5 stone 😀
Hahha im a big lad with very broad shoulders, the fact of riding a heavy bike isnt an issue to me to be fair as I train and have allways rode heavy bikes so never experienced a "light".
Your heavy is my average lol. The lad genuine known him for yonks and its a simple I need cash quick with the wife breathing down his neck lol.