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Mountain Bike Quesiton

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steezerampage
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 214
I am looking for a new mountain bike for this summer. I like to ride trails and take some mild jumps and drops but I will also be logging about 50 miles a week or so riding to work and back. I would like to get a full suspension bike if possible. Price range I am not really sure of but for right now lets say keep in under $1000 Anyone got any suggestions.
Jan 12 2007 4:42PM
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PagesHouse
Posts: 6024 - Karma: 104
kona
Jan 12 2007 4:44PM
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n-o
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 41
hmm define mild jumps and drops
cause if you buy and xc bike and getinto freeride youll rape it, so maybe a 5 inch travel bike
Jan 12 2007 4:55PM
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n-o
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 41
or maybe a 6 inch air travel
Jan 12 2007 4:55PM
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gnustreetfool
Posts: 2595 - Karma: 51
look into iorn horse they have some nice bikes for cheep
Jan 12 2007 5:08PM
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ZavierV
Posts: 5077 - Karma: 100
Bro, you DO NOT want a fully to comute to work on . I repeat DO NOT want a fully. You waste so much energy and it takes longer and you'll just want to kill yourself. Buy twoo seperate bikes one for comuting and one for sending it.
Jan 12 2007 5:15PM
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BurkeSter
Posts: 963 - Karma: 10
look into KHS they have some dual suspension bikes for pretty cheap and now they have eleminate most pedal and brake bob so it the back suspension doesn't affect your biking too much. I would suggest not getting an iron horse because the cheaper models tend to fall apart and you get it repaired and does the same. The iron horse bikes that sam hill rides is nothing like the cheap ones the sell at like sports check
Jan 12 2007 5:18PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
He said under $1,000, so that's out of the question.  Air is for pussies anyway.
Jan 12 2007 5:46PM
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Elijah.
Posts: 9322 - Karma: 76
Well, if your not going to be doing any 10+ drops, then hardtails usually work fine, and their better for just roadbiking.
Jan 12 2007 6:01PM
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eLevate
Posts: 2489 - Karma: 49
^you can take drops on a hardtail. ive seen 20+ footers hucked with one, you just have to be smoother.
And, for whoever said you cant commute on a softtail, flat out not true. manitou does a nice job with swinger/spv technology, as do other companies, which almost eliminates pedal bob. You are, howeve, correct, ti does suck a bit of energy out of your pedal, but if hes looking to spend 1k, and wants a decent freeride setup, two bikes is pretty much out.
Jan 12 2007 6:05PM
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EastCoastPride
Posts: 11654 - Karma: 4,989
santa cruz, just get VPP and your commute problems are solved!
Jan 12 2007 7:42PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
www.pinkbike.com   buy used and you'll get twice the bike for your price.
Jan 12 2007 7:52PM
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bkjumpr
Posts: 173 - Karma: 10
a new full suspension bike under $1000 is shit. better off with a hardtail with better components
Jan 12 2007 8:46PM
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siversex
Posts: 1254 - Karma: 16
yes.
Jan 12 2007 8:50PM
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steevner
Posts: 4502 - Karma: 47
get a specialized p.2 really solid this year, i've ridden it
Jan 12 2007 9:12PM
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ilovehoodcrunk
Posts: 34 - Karma: 10
i do thirty foot kickers on my hardtail...just as you said, gotta be smooth
Jan 12 2007 9:21PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
claimer....
Jan 12 2007 9:31PM
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Eazy_Eags
Posts: 2227 - Karma: 14
Fuck everyday I regret buying a BMX bike
Jan 12 2007 9:38PM
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steevner
Posts: 4502 - Karma: 47
don't. they're fun as hell. I'm buyin one this summer
Jan 12 2007 9:50PM
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Eazy_Eags
Posts: 2227 - Karma: 14
I would muchhhh rather have a mountain bike. There are so many sick trails near my house.
Jan 12 2007 9:55PM
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chapz
Posts: 10182 - Karma: 66
word, i love the buy and sell on that site. they have some sick stuff
Jan 12 2007 11:55PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
if you have 1000 to buy a bike, FS rigs are out of the question. spend the money on a burly hardtail. i have a MC rumble, with a JRT, and its SOOO versatile. street, DH, FR. agressive XC is also a blast, cause the geometry is very agile, its a super fun bike to tear up gnarly singletrack.


but yes, DO NOT GET A FS. hardtails make you a better rider anyway. if you want, pick up a MC rumble from greenfish sports. they are 250 for the frame. theres someone right now sellin a super t and some other shit. buildin your own rig is not a bad idea, and if you do it right, you can get a dank ass setup for cheap as fuck.

frame: Mountain Cycle Rumble 250
Fork: 03 super T, maybe a Z150, 200
Wheels: Azonic Eliminators, ebay um with tires and rotors, 200 (keep an eye out, lots of packages like that)
Rest of the build, SRAM rear derailleur and shifters, a crankset, WELLGO pedals, some brakes. if your crafty, not too hard to get the rest of the build for 350-450. right at your pricepoint, and you got a fuckin DANK bike that can ride all sorts of shit.
Jan 13 2007 1:28AM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10
Definitely get a Hardtail over a FS bike. For $1000 I think you should be able to get a bike equipped with Shimano Deore componentry or SRAM X5. I built a bike for someone with Deore front to back for about $500. Now if they only had a decent frame, then it would've been worth it.

If you want to be able to commute with your bike as well, consider getting a second wheelset with slicks on it.

Small things you should consider:

-Shifters (I prefer rapidfire over gripshift)
-Pedals (If you can scoop up clipless, they're pretty decent)
-Brakes (Good v-brakes are dope, I'd prefer them over mech. discs)
-Wheels (Mavic makes some of the best, check them out)
-Component groups (Lower end components tend to break quicker)

If you can get to know a bike shop guy, they can help you immensely.
Jan 13 2007 1:40AM
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MADSCRILLA
Posts: 89 - Karma: 10
If you live somewhere close to BC go to www.nsmb.com, sick used deals. Don't go for KHS, price and quality balance is really whack(in a bad way) I'd go for an iron horse mkIII or giant reign or even a santa cruz heckler if you can find any really good used deals.
Jan 13 2007 1:46AM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10
FS bikes suck for commuting...
Jan 13 2007 1:51AM
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siversex
Posts: 1254 - Karma: 16
CLAIMER!

but no, i vouch for him. the jump was easily 30ft.
Jan 13 2007 1:59AM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
I commute on my heckler all the time, and it has 2.5" tires, DHX coil, and a 36 VAN.  Just because it doesn't ride like a road bike doesn't mean you can't ride on a road on it.  You'll just get in a little better shape for the trails anyway, and I'd rather have a fun trail bike than one that's slightly faster on the road.
Jan 13 2007 10:12AM
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skiinscotland
Posts: 644 - Karma: 10
what? thats a DJ bike not a commuting bike which you could ride for 50 miles a week, you would have a spine left by week 2. go for a hard tail freeride bike, easy to jump on and they progress your riding quickly.
Jan 13 2007 10:23AM
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.Brink.
Posts: 1622 - Karma: 188
check out my signature, shoiuld fit yo' needs!
Jan 13 2007 10:29AM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10
oh not, not saying that it can't be done. Just saying that with a Hardtail and another set of wheels, it'd be a much better all-around bike.
Jan 13 2007 4:25PM
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samskisalot
Posts: 711 - Karma: 12
if its only 5 miles one way, it prolly doesnt really matter. allthough, at 5:30 in the morning every bit of energy counts.
Jan 13 2007 4:28PM
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n-o
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 41
true, thats why i gots me a stinky dee.
but if you are onlpy hitting small ( like 3 foot) drops, then you dont need 7 inches of oil and spring goodness
Jan 13 2007 4:28PM
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ArabianKnight
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 10
Full suspension would be a terrible mistake for waht you describe.  You want a hard tail dirt jumper.  Iron Horse, Kona, and specialized all sell the bike you are looking for.
Jan 13 2007 5:51PM
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cmeriptahoe
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 12
your gonna wanna kill yourself comuting on a fully and using it for what u describe. get a hardtail and put a nice fork on it and ur set.
Jan 13 2007 7:24PM
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J-Flow
Posts: 675 - Karma: 10
That's a horrible idea. Please do not rake your bike like this. From what I understand, you want a semi aggressive trail bike. Look for All Mountain series bikes. For $1000.00 you won't get a FS that is worth anything, unless you go used. If you do, for some reason, buy the MC rumble like the quote said, get a 4"-6"(tops) travel fork, like a RS pike (fully adjustable) or something along those lines. Commuting on a FS is a horrible idea (like ppl said before).
Jan 13 2007 7:50PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
have you ridden a rumble? first off, they are one of the best HT frames Ive ever ridden. only one i like more is the IH porter (which is way more of a DJ bike, not freeride). the new ones are fuckin dirty as hell with replacable drop outs. second, they are only 5 lbs. third, the headtube is VERY steep and tall, its not at all slacked out with the Jrt on it. i had a 4 inch fork on it, and it was way to twitchy for DJs or fast ridding. trust me, they ride MUCH MUCH better with slightly longer than normal forks. it is by no means raked out. havent measured it, but im not retarded, i wouldnt chopper out my bike. and also, the fork makes like NO difference in pedaling, you just gotta get your pedalstroke dialed. rear suspension will bob, but not the front. i ride XC all the time with it. its a blast.
Jan 13 2007 8:16PM
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J_Walk
Posts: 1076 - Karma: 28
Kona = gay... kind of like skiing (more like burton, although i actualy know nothing about them cuz i ski) in the bike making buisness, bigger companies spend less effort on their bikes cuz people will buy them anyways. I mostly forget why i dont like Kona. but pretty much i think the main reasons are.. the price compared to quality, I'm sory i dont realy remember and don't bring up any good points. If I remember the legit reasons I'll post, Maybe someone else feels the same way and will explain...
Jan 13 2007 8:22PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
konas are nice bikes and its a dope company. my favorite? far from, and i will agree, not the fanciest bikes, but they are cheap and solid. dont diss kona.
Jan 13 2007 8:24PM
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J_Walk
Posts: 1076 - Karma: 28
tru i don't think i should have said Kona=gay, I just would never buy one or recomend one.
Jan 13 2007 8:32PM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10
Considering that the componentry are all from a 3rd party, which frames do you guys like?

I've heard that specialized have occasionally had problems with their frame welds for example. Cannondale, their frames are superbly built. Rocky Mountain, not well known but their geometries and frame building are also great.
Jan 13 2007 8:34PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
ive ridden TONS of hardtails, heres my breakdown:

Giant STP: not a fan, not particularly stiff, wierd, twitchy geometry. very light, but almost too much for its own good.

Specalized P2: sick. the old ones were good, the new onese are insane. amazing bike. a bit heavy, but super burly.

Mt Cycle Rumble: one of my favs, great all around bikes, the build quality is rediculous too, ive never seen such good welds. 250 is a STEAL for it.

Iron Horse Porter: i dont think they make it anymore, but god damn, these things fuckin rip. the second i got on i could rip up jump lines twice as good. the geometry is soooo good. its a lil more slacked out than youd normally find in a bike like this, and it is sooo smooth. also incredibly burly frame.

Kona jump frames: meh, ok. nothin wrong with them, but at the same time, nothing that would make me go buy one.

cannondale Chase: really fun bikes, very similar to the STP, but better geometry. i would kinda say giant and cdale built the same bike, but cdale hit the nail on the head, while giant missed a bit and hit thier thumb.

GTs: suck. all the GT hardtail jump bikes ive ridden have been stupidly overbuilt and heavy, and they just feel akward. dont buy one.

theres prolly more, but those are alot of the popular ht frames.
Jan 13 2007 8:43PM
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J-Flow
Posts: 675 - Karma: 10
I've ridden a rumble on multiple occations. The bike is not made for a large fork. It is steep, cause its ment to be twitchy. Why would you ever want a large fork for DJ's? To be flowy, you need to be able to pump. Large fork + pumping = N/A. Also, why would you put an h-core freeride fork on your AM bike? Might as well put some cement in your tube.

verdict: FR forks can stick to FR, AM forks can stick to AM. Since he seems to want an AM fork / possibly a DJ fork, go pike.

Oh wait, he wants a complete.... Lemme respond to your other post hang on...
Jan 13 2007 9:13PM
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J-Flow
Posts: 675 - Karma: 10
Great post, let me add to it a bit. *not full reviews, just additions to the previous post*

Giant STP - designed by Jeff Lenosky, former trials rider, this bike is different from all others IMO. He has made the bike a little steeper, more sensitive, which I like.

Specialized P2: Unfortunatly, I have never taken this bike for a trail ride, but have ridden a P1, 2, and 3 all for DJ's, street, and a P1, 3 for skatepark. This isnt exactly what you plan to ride, but: This bike is not a trail bike, at all. Not what you want

Mt. Cycle Rumble: I like the frame, but i have only ridden a small, so the cockpit was small. Great frame, but my friend who owns one cracked his first one, but bought a second one he liked it so much. You probably cant build a bike for $1000, so other bikes are a better option

Iron horse porter: Never ridden one, listen to the other guy, check out www.mtbr.com

Kona jumo frames (scrap, stuff, cowan, shred) - I dont like the geo at all, i find they ride like shit. Not a bad option for you though, they are built for DJ's mainly, but can take abuse of trail rides well. I personally HATE these bikes, but thats just my opinion

Cannondale chase: never ridden one. www.mtbr.com

GT's - teh sux

I can add more bikes if you want. PM me if so.
Jan 13 2007 9:25PM
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J_Walk
Posts: 1076 - Karma: 28
HAHA good job! You really did your reseach, and know your stuff. I don't think "teh noobs" have anything on you now.
Jan 13 2007 9:29PM
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steezerampage
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 214
Thanks for all the help guys. I have got a lot more good advice than I thought I would when I made this thread. Heres a bit of an udate on what I am thinking after reading all of the info. Most people are telling me to get a hardtail, which I am considering if I can find a really sick one for a good price. If were looking at hardtails I was wondering If I could still get a sick bike for like $700-800. I would also rather buy a complete bike. I still think a fully is in the running but an xc fully will a small amount of travel. Most people said not to get one with a lot of travel and I knew that from the start. Also I am 6 foot, what size bike would be best?
Jan 14 2007 11:50AM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10
if you're 6', you'll want to look at a frame that's about 19"-20" in size. That's only a rough estimate though as there are several other measurements to take into consideration. Go to a legit bike shop and make sure they measure your height, inseam, and length of your forearm. These measurements are needed to determine things like top tube and stem length, crankarm length, and other such specifics.
Jan 14 2007 3:09PM
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Spitzer
Posts: 534 - Karma: 10
Check out these bikes:

-Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc
-Trek 6500
-Kona Caldera

They should be in your price range and they should provide you with a place to start.
Jan 14 2007 3:30PM
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