I need help choosing a DH mountain bike!

http://www.intensecycles.com/

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corsair used to make one with two shocks, then they changed their design.

Jun 11 2010 12:39AM

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cbeebzthasteeze

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http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45709&eid=4346&menuItemId=9250

Sorry for no embed, button doesn't work. Anyway, it's a Specialized Demo 8 II. Has 8" of travel, full suspension, and looks sexy as hell. The Demo 8 II is $5500, but the Demo 8 I is only $3700. I don't know that much about bikes, someone on here could tell you more I'm sure, this is just my $0.02.

Jun 11 2010 2:44PM

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s.erickson

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Ridiculous

Intense 951 with SRAM factory build kit. Best DH bike out there with the best deal ever made. It might be a little out of your range but it is for sure worth it. That is hands down the best bang for your buck out there.

Jun 11 2010 3:00PM

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ya thanks i know lots about bikes cause i build them for my work but i just wanted to know if there was more out there that i didn't know of. but thanks for the link. +K

Jun 11 2010 3:09PM

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@th1337

what about the Rocky Mtn Flatline?

Jun 11 2010 3:46PM

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UNREAL

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FFFUUUU-
but seriously i do not lie when i say that trek's are really sick, "sex on wheels" as someone said before. mines built up not super weight weenie and sits at 38 pounds. and do not dent very easily as long as your not a hack

Jun 11 2010 5:10PM

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that looks so sick man congrats on building that up.

Jun 12 2010 10:46AM

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@th1337

$3,999 on Jenson USA
If I had teh money I'd snatch it up like an idaho potato.

Jun 12 2010 4:37PM

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@th1337

*smash it like an idaho potato

Jun 12 2010 4:38PM

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ya thats a good deal but shipping would easily be a couple hundred.

Jun 13 2010 10:22PM

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-PonyThug-

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Pro

please look at the specialized

2010 SX TRAIL II

ftw!!!

Jun 13 2010 10:58PM

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@th1337

keep an eye on chainlove.com then. they've had a lot of sick DH/Freeride bikes lately and for ridonkulously cheap.

Jun 14 2010 1:25AM

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Legion

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not really a DH bike by any means.

Jun 14 2010 10:22PM

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FUUUCK

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You guys really need to stop shouting out random freeride bikes...

Anyway out of the bikes I've tried I would definitely recomend the turner DHR. The I rode the model before they had DW-Link and I've heard nothing but good things about the newer frame.

Next would be the Session 88. The frame is really light and well thought out, the ABP makes a noticeable difference in your braking, and no other bike has it.

Jun 14 2010 10:35PM

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Don't go with the Yeti DH bikes... They're sick and awesome and everything, but the rail takes SO much maintenance. You'll spend more time cleaning and greasing your bike than riding it, and it'll go to shit if you don't maintain it.

If you want to have a really awesome, quality bike, take a look at Santa Cruz's offerings- the Driver 8 and V10 are both really sick. I've ridden a well built V10 and it was the best DH bike I've ever ridden.

Spesh Demos are really nice too, some people love them, some people, not as much. Haven't ridden one, but my friend has one and he loves it.

Giant Glorys are fantastic- I love the way they ride, but they aren't the most stable bike in the air.

Devinci Wilsons are known to be good as well, but I can't speak from experience.

Commencal Supreme DH - Commencal makes sexy bikes that seem to work well for the Athertons, and I haven't ever heard a single bad thing about them. Plus, they have the deal with BTI where you can choose your own part spec - down to the chain, tires, bars, colors, grips, and everything. It's the whole shebang, and the price comes out reasonable. You can build it under $5000 depending how you choose parts. Here's the link: http://bti-usa.com/public/build_a_bike/1?build=AABB1B1B-3859-4E12-A8AB-8B6194D847FC

As for your fork, go for either a Fox 40 or Rockshox Boxxer Team (minimum, don't get the Race. WC is nice, but since its air, it's higher maintenance, and changes with altitude and temperature). Don't bother with Marzocchi, their suspension is millenia behind Fox and RS.

Drivetrain spec, I'm more a fan of SRAM, but go for whatever you like better. Shimano and SRAM make equally good parts- I'd go with SRAM X.9 derailleur and shifter, with a Shimano cassette and chain.

Since you have $5000, I'd buy a frameset and build it up yourself, unless you find a build you really like to begin with.

Jun 14 2010 11:07PM

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thats sweet man thanks for the advice ++K

Jun 15 2010 12:33AM

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Rafe

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I would steer clear of a single pivot downhill bike. like kona, transition, among others. I'm not bashing on Transition I think they're sick as fuck but long travel single pivot designs are not the greatest.

If you have loads of money definitely check out a Specialized Demo 7 or 8. I have a demo 7 with a totem solo air and it absolutely slays. I'm sure an 8 would be faster because it's lower and longer which will make it feel much more stable. That being said. There will be a new Demo 8 next year which will mean plenty of people will be looking to sell the current rendition at sick prices but also means you won't have the next hot shit bike. Take it how you will.

The Trek Session is a sick bike as well. If the shop I worked at was a trek dealer I'm sure that is the bike I would ride.

As other people have said the Intense 951 is a really slick design. Intense bikes are made in California by hand and have something about them that screams fast.

I don't know what bike you are coming off of or what the trails are like where you live but I find my big bike limiting. It's super fun to haul ass and cruise right over rocks and rail corners on a big soft bike but the newer 6-7 inch all mountain bikes are extremely capable. Check out bikes like the new Trek Scratch I think it's called and the Specialized Enduro as well as the intense Slopestyle 2

Jun 15 2010 1:04AM

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This does make sense what he is saying.

If you know you need a DH bike, go for it. There is no single crown you can find to replace a Fox 40, and there is no 7 inch frame that will ride like a V10, but there are a lot of good 7 inch freeride bikes out there.

Along with the Scratch and the Intense Slopestyle, look at the Specialized SX Trail, and the Giant Faith. All awesome bikes, most of which have 7 inches of travel, front and rear.

The Giant Faith has a really awesome build kit that comes out to $4000, and it's damn sexy if you get the raw frame with anodized turquoise components. It will be enough for all but the most gnarly downhills, but if you are content to sacrifice 1 inch of travel for an infinitely more versatile bike, take a good, close look at the Faith and the Scratch. I personally would go with the Faith, but the choice is yours.

Disregard if you're set on a proper DH bike.

Jun 15 2010 3:54AM

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http://bike.com/e-13-e-thirteen-srs-chain-guide-iscg-05-36-40t-black-chainguides?utm_source=ShopZilla&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=ShopZilla

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ya thanks i know what your talking about you see i have a KHS lucky 7 right now and i have seen people but double crowns on them and ride them like DH bikes with of course a couple other changes.

Jun 15 2010 10:17AM

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.Jibber20

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Switch out the truvativ crankset on your lucky 7 and replace with a single ring atlas fr crank, and buy a e13 srs chainguide. Replace your 26" Truvativ handlebar with 32" low rise atlas fr bar for better control and stability going downhill. Replace marzocci 66's with more race oriented Boxxer Team, and Maxxis high rollers for tires. It's cheaper and would turn your Lucky 7 into a pretty solid race machine

http://www.hucknroll.com/mountainbike/Race-Face-Atlas-FR-Crank-Single/RCF0103M.html?CMP_SKU=RCF0103&MER=0406&CMP_ID=SH_BZR011&mv_pc=r111&mr:referralID=bf34bf5f-78f9-11df-88f8-0026b95a1734

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB282A00-Race+Face+Atlas+Fr+Riser+Bar.aspx?SSAID=198698

http://www.ediscountbike.com/Forks-Shocks/Forks/Mountain-Suspension/RockShox-BoXXer-Team-p8654403-2-1.html

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TI308A05-Maxxis+High+Roller.aspx?SSAID=198698

$1728 total

Jun 15 2010 11:54PM

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Bukkakeskitrip

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Specialized demo
oorrrrrr
my all time favourite...Giant Glory

some others that are worth mentioning...
Scott Gambler
scott voltage
kona stinky deluxe
specialized big hit

Jun 16 2010 1:08AM

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Bukkakeskitrip

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this

or this

Jun 16 2010 1:09AM

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ChrisSkisChronic

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No, definitely no.

A friend of mine has a Cove Shocker. They're super well built and look prime. I have a Chumba F5 and I love it, it's decently flickable, but can plow when needed. It's also super smooth and supple. You can "float" over gnar easily with both of these bikes

Jun 16 2010 11:48AM

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hey i know this is a super long thread already and i thank ya for the suggestion but i have another question. i work at sprotchek and can get half price off good quality parts only the guys in the shop can special order in so if i were to buy a frame then buy all the components i need for it would it be cheaper then just flat out buying a bike? and would it be worth the time? im kinda looking in to it because then i can get what i want on the bike but im not sure if its just going to be way to expensive.

Jun 16 2010 2:11PM

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That depends what kind of a discount you're getting. Are you filling out a pro form? Or do you just get a standard 15% employee discount?

If you're buying at cost, i.e. you pay what the store would pay, then you're in business. You may even want to buy a frame from your store's catalogue, if there are any that interest you.

What I would do is go and buy a frame (I'd get a Driver8 or Giant Glory -- the glory frame is super cheap for how good it is because Giant sells so many) and build it up with the following part spec:

brakes - Avid Elixir CR, 203mm
bars - RaceFace Atlas FR (nurple purple)
cranks - RaceFace Atlas FR
Drivetrain - SRAM X.0 derailleur and shifter, Shimano chain, shimano DH cassette, 11-28, Raceface sprocket 36 teeth
Wheels - Transition Revolution or DeeTrax (depends on cash)
Fork - Fox 40 RC2
Stem - Hope integrated top clamp/stem for the 40
Seatpost - Thompson Elite
Grips - ODI Ruffians

I'd definitely go ahead and take that as an option, but it really depends how you go about it. Glorys tend to be cheap because Giant can move so many, but other bikes are going to be more. It really depends on the part spec you choose, but in general, building it yourself can cost less if you focus on the cost, or it can cost more if you focus on the part spec.

Jun 16 2010 2:58PM

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thanks ya i get everything half price so what the store buys it for. so if i were to buy atlas freeride cranks which i believe they are 300$?? i could get them for around 150-160$$

Jun 16 2010 3:21PM

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the-big-lepowski

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the glory's good. To all the others, I give a low flickabilty rating, pretty much what the op's after

Jun 16 2010 5:19PM

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If that is the case, buy a good frame and build it up yourself. You work in a shop, so if you personally don't know exactly what you need, someone else will.

It'll end up costing you less than buying an already spec'd bike, and you'll end up with your top choice in every component, no compromises. It'll even be whatever color scheme you want.

Jun 16 2010 9:18PM

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