Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Downhill bike help

profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251

Its time to upgrade my 2005 POS Kona Stinky

I've had my POS for 4 years and the damn thing breaks every other time i go riding, its time to treat myself to a nice ass bike, I do a lot of technical downhill riding and some freeriding, i've narrowed my search down to any of the following that are 2007 and newer, giant glory, iron horse sunday, commencal supreme, and a demo 8 or 9, does anybody own one of these babies and if so please tell me how they ride, also please recomment other rides

thank you

Oct 25 2009 8:08PM
0 0
profile picture
jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
Demo 9's, to my knowledge, are not made anymore. Sunday's and new Demo 8's both have quite low bottom bracket's, so depending on your style of riding, that could hinder you. I don't know much about the glory's or the commy supremes but I have yet to hear bad things.

If you want some real advice, since I'm sure most people on NS can't help you with this, check out http://bb.nsmb.com. It's a forum like NS, but dedicated to mountain biking. And I can guaruntee you that the bikes you have listed have been ridden by someone on the nsmb boards, so they can give you some pretty good first hand experience.
Oct 25 2009 8:16PM
0 0
profile picture
brandon_
Posts: 807 - Karma: 15
The demo is a sick bike deffinitly consider into it, ironhorse i heard they where out of buisness or got bought out?     commencial is deffinitly sickest i love the commencial i think its super flowy bike.  giant glory is dope aswell but seems super dh orientated.       If you doing the huge shit ild go demo it can stand up on those huge drops super techy dh courses too.    the commencial is also a super good fr/dh mix bike.    All these choice seem sick nomater what way you go you would be pumped, and it will be worth it.     i would also look at the devinchi wilson i got a wilson for dh and i love it so much. super good on the tech courses.   this sentence makes no sence im aware im just tired. ahaah
Oct 25 2009 8:17PM
0 0
profile picture
prosnurfer
Posts: 1842 - Karma: 83
banshee scream man. shits so dope. get good tires i got maxis mobsters super tack and shits so grippy they hold on all roots.
Oct 25 2009 8:19PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
i dont go on nsmb much anymore, and pinkbike forums arn't that great, as for the bike part im looking for a fairly high bottom bracket
Oct 25 2009 8:20PM
0 0
profile picture
jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
You have got to be kidding about iron horses being sportcheck brand. Do you know who Sam Hill is? He dominated the Downhill World Cup circuit last season on an Ironhorse Sunday. Untill Ironhorse lost the rights to use the D-link suspension (this season the Sunday's were no longer in production because of this) they were the benchmark for downhill bikes.
Oct 25 2009 8:21PM
0 0
profile picture
jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
Lol Scream's are heavy as fuck and not very good. Have you seen the new Banshee line of bikes? Some of the best on the market right now.
Oct 25 2009 8:23PM
0 0
profile picture
RJ_Res
Posts: 628 - Karma: 292
I wouldn't go with the the Iron Horse, seeing as they won't be able to give you a warranty if you ran into any problems with it [They ran into problems and no longer exist as a company(This was a little while ago, it may have changed by now, but I haven't heard other wise)] All your other choices are very good and legit though, it would probably be best if you could get into your local shop/ find a friend who has one and test them out for yourself and choose the one you like best.
Oct 25 2009 8:24PM
0 0
profile picture
kstanz
Posts: 3058 - Karma: 477
i would go with the giant glory or the demo
Oct 25 2009 8:26PM
0 0
profile picture
k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
k.
Oct 25 2009 8:29PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251

im gonna buy it used so i dont really care about warranty, warranty is a joke anyways in the bike industry, it costs you 2/3 of the full price to replace a frame

Oct 25 2009 8:30PM
0 0
profile picture
FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
rocky mountain is garbage, Specialized makes garbage downhill bikes too. Sunday WC is a good bike.
Oct 25 2009 8:32PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
im not a fan of rocky mountains or banshees
Oct 25 2009 8:35PM
0 0
profile picture
k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
the previously mentioned Sam Hill rides a Demo 8 now, i would say Specialized is far from garbage, especially for a kid who won't be riding in World Cup events.
Oct 25 2009 8:37PM
0 0
profile picture
Klutch
Posts: 241 - Karma: 18

Good choices, I'll give you my 2 cents, I'm a downhill racer so that is wheremy backround and knowledge come from.

The demo's are excellent bikes! They have a mid height bb, which I believe is also adjustable via rear shock mount. Good bike for everything all around, a bit long for really tight technical stuff.

Glory, again amazing bike, but they are heavy, I mean 13.5 pounds for frame and shock alone, they're very stable bikes, and the suspension is top notch, but they are cumbersome, not what you want in a technical course.

I would stay away from the ironhorse, they no longer produce the sunday, so if anything breaks or goes wrong, it will be extremely hard to replace, absolutely amazing bikes however. T

he Commencal is a great example of a bike to do it all, adjustable geometry out the ying yang, light, flickable everything you want, great pedallig to. If you were to get one i would suggest looking into the latest generation models (2008 +) as they have a bit more travel (bumped to 8 inches) and will be a bitmore forgiving.

Now I'm not sure if you're open to oher ideas, I personaly ride a Devinci Wilson, great bike, lots of adjustability, has that light feel but still gves confidence when you feel in need of a plow bike!

Other then that, maybe look into some of the vpp platforms, like the intense socom or the santa cruz driver 8.

Pm if you'd like to talk further.

Oct 25 2009 8:37PM
0 0
profile picture
FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
out of what you listed, the sunday and commencal are great race bikes. a friend of mine who is very into racing (races expert) has the sunday world cup and liked it, but it wasn't perfect, the shock isn't custom tuned for the frame so he had to play around with it a lot.

the giant glory is a good bike too, one of the shop guys at my work (races elite DH and expert XC) had one and liked it, but he traded it in for a Trek Session 88 which he absolutely loves.

If you have the money look into a trek session 88, I've heard nothing but great stuff about it from people who've ridden them, Trek put a lot of time and effort into that bike and it shows.

Click for larger image
Oct 25 2009 8:39PM
0 0
profile picture
FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
Sam Hill could ride almost anything and be fast. The new Demo 8 he was on last season is not even close to the same bike specialized made in 2007
Oct 25 2009 8:41PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
im planning on racing next season and im 5 9 135 lbs if that helps, i dont really like trek for some reason
Oct 25 2009 8:42PM
0 0
profile picture
Klutch
Posts: 241 - Karma: 18
Be careful with the session 88 listed above, Unless you can buy a brand new one, don't get it. The first ones were made of aluminum cans, an many broke and snapped, supposedly they solved the problem forthsi years run of bikes but we've yet to find out.
Oct 25 2009 8:42PM
0 0
profile picture
k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
ok but the OP said he wanted 2007 and newer. so he could get a newer demo 8 and then it would be pretty hard to hate on his bike.
Oct 25 2009 8:43PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
ive snaped a fram already so i dont want any of that weak shit, and what was the best year for the demo series? im still leaning torwards the glory
Oct 25 2009 8:49PM
0 0
profile picture
FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
Where did you hear this?
Oct 25 2009 8:50PM
0 0
profile picture
k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
loads of people on pinkbike who got an 88 have been complaining about dings and dents and snaps.
Oct 25 2009 8:52PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
i've seen that to, i dont want an 88 so please stop talking about it
Oct 25 2009 8:53PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
im trying to spend under 2500$ to
Oct 25 2009 8:56PM
0 0
profile picture
Dr.NS
Posts: 640 - Karma: 19
yes, because iron horse went out of business and was sold

and for consumer level racing, a iron horse sunday WC will outdo a Spec demo 8 or 7 ANYday, and the reason is because someone like sam hill can't be used as a measuring point

he has full SRAM blackbox everything, all top of the line custom tuned

and besides, your component spec matters just as much as your frame. i own a sunday wc 08 with a completely different spec than sam hills, but i can safely say its an amazing bike, but still, this isnt stock car racing. it doesnt matter if you all bitch and argue saying "THE CANE CREEK DB IS THE BEST EVER", or that "Demo's beat EVERYTHING", sam hill could still kick the shit out of half the bikers out there on a 04 atomik with cross country wheels and avid mech brakes. its about the rider, not the bike.

and half the people here don't know shit anyones, its really funny, like the kid who said ironhorse is sportchecks brand


and to op, my best advice is  if you want a good bike for not 14582098340$, do NOT buy new, but someones used custom build

search buy sell on pinkbike, try to look for guys who are shop mechanics and what not and have some knowledge for what theyre doing

this way you can hopefully find the best all around bicycle, and not just a 3000 frame with 200$ brakes, etc.

hopefully this all helps, and if you need to, you can just post your bike possibilities in here
Oct 25 2009 9:00PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
^ yeah fuck retail, i've been chillin on pinkbike the last few hours
Oct 25 2009 9:05PM
0 0
profile picture
ChrisSkisChronic
Posts: 1128 - Karma: 230
I absolutly love my Chumba F5. Definetely the smoothest, most supple bike I have ever had the pleasure of riding. It absolutly devours rocks. I just love the way it feels and handles.  You should also look at the Devinci Wilson and Cove Shocker.
Oct 25 2009 9:07PM
0 0
profile picture
jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
A few more bike tips.

If you're willing to fork out the cash, get an Evil Revolt frame. They are single pivot but bomb as fuck and everyone I know who rides one absolutely loves it. Also check out Orange 224's. Another really good single pivot downhill race bike.
Oct 25 2009 9:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251

orange is hella expensive

Oct 25 2009 9:09PM
0 0
profile picture
Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
commencal are really nice bikes. I have had one for a few years. I agree with the comment about 2008 and above, they also beefed up their head tubes ... as 2007 and bellow had some real issues. but a commencal  wont happen in your price range.
Oct 25 2009 9:12PM
0 0
profile picture
zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Demo 8 or 9!!! I've been out of riding for a couple years now, but if/when I do get another bike it will be a Demo. I've never owned one, but rode a Demo 9 a few times in Whistler and loved the shit out of it. Best bike I've ever riden.
Oct 25 2009 9:15PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
what are you riding right now?
Oct 25 2009 9:17PM
0 0
profile picture
dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
id say get a specialized, right now on pinkbike you can find a few demo 7's that are 2007+. and around 2500
Oct 25 2009 9:22PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
thanks man
Oct 25 2009 9:38PM
0 0
profile picture
zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Well, like I said I've been out of riding for a couple years. I sold my bike for cash one summer, and haven't gotten another one since. But I've had a Santa Cruz Bullit and a Specialized Big Hit Expert, they were both like 04 or 05 models.
Oct 25 2009 9:38PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
i see, i think i went to high school with you
Oct 25 2009 9:56PM
0 0
profile picture
Dr.NS
Posts: 640 - Karma: 19
go for a demo 8 over 7 imo

i just think 8 is the almighty number, after all, almost every great race bike is 8 inches (depending on the course i suppose)

but a demo 8, or a glory would be dope

revolts are sick too, but sooo expensive

Oct 25 2009 10:07PM
0 0
profile picture
@skiinmitch
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 78

Those frames dent like no other. I have been with a guy who was riding it and at the beginning of the day there were no dents and by the end of the day it was super dented.

and if u can get your hands on a sunday team go for it its a super legit bike.

Oct 25 2009 10:32PM
0 0
profile picture
Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
I have next to no experience, my roomate is into it, he had a glory, had tons of problems with it and ended up selling it after 2 months and $700 ontop of it (got it used in decent shape) and bought a scott scrambler (i think thats what its called again i dont really know much about it) and always talks about how much he loves it.  makes me really wanna get into dh 
Oct 25 2009 10:53PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
^ can you ask him what problems he had with it please?
Oct 25 2009 10:56PM
0 0
profile picture
MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
I'd go for the new Glory. Sessions are made out of recycled pop cans. I've never ridden a Commy. Sunday's are nice bikes but they have problems with play in the linkage, and a super low BB, which can either be a good or bad thing. I've heard nothing but good things from Glory owners, and I rode one a bit and it was sick.
Oct 25 2009 10:59PM
0 0
profile picture
skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,563
anyone whos trashing on other bikes are just retards. dont listen to them. youll be fine with whatever you choose, but a demo is def. an ill choice. the sunday is too clumsy in the air but destroys dh. anything will be a good upgrade from a stinky.
Oct 25 2009 11:01PM
0 0
profile picture
ReetsAdeets
Posts: 1531 - Karma: 611
You should look at the Transition Blindside. Its the nicest and best DH bike Ive ridden.

This is my baby. Click for larger image
Oct 25 2009 11:08PM
0 0
profile picture
MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
Solid point. It's damn near impossible to buy a bad bike these days. You'll be happy with whatever you choose most likely.
Oct 25 2009 11:10PM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
very true, but my last bike was such a piece of shit that i dont want to make a decision i'll regret
Oct 26 2009 1:18AM
0 0
profile picture
charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
yeah, transitions are ill
Oct 26 2009 1:26AM
0 0
profile picture
angus_k_
Posts: 438 - Karma: 24
The demo 8 is a fantastic bike, ive never ridden a bike that felt so good at whislter. So balanced in the air, and railed corners.

I can't speak much for other bikes, other than I would be wary of single pivot designs, as I don't think you get anything that performs very well for under $2500
Oct 26 2009 1:30AM
0 0
profile picture
Leafman
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 251
you can get some pretty good stuff from 2007 on pink bike for around 2500$
Oct 26 2009 2:17AM
0 0
profile picture
K2skipunk
Posts: 2837 - Karma: 111
I have a Giant Faith, and it's been nothing but good to me. Has taken a beating, and they stopped making them. Until this year, they are re-introducing them, I think I'm going to pick one up. I'm not telling you to get one, but just saying my opinion on giant, and theyre awesome.
Oct 26 2009 3:09AM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)