Light Freeride Bike What to Buy?

[shan75]

Looking at a new ride but need one quite soon. I am a recent XC convert so all help is appreciated. I am considering a Giant AC1, K2 Tirade 6.0 and maybe a Kona Stinky or Norco A-Line.

I want something fairly versatile, that pedals well enough to do 3 hr loops but I can through of a 6-8ft drop now and then. I am also toying with the idea of a bit of Learner grade downhill next year.

I have $4000 to spend so other suggestions woul;d be also helpful.

Thanks :lol:

[nicklouse]

any bike with stable platform tecnology in the rear and the fork!

[shan75]

I know the giant does in both, THe K2 doesn't at either end Foix Vanilla RC and 03 sherman breakout, the norco doesn't either but I am not sure about th Kona.

[nicklouse]

i like mine but its not really free ride light but the eta helps alot and the rear has stable platform tec.

see link in sig

[mute]

those z150's look very plush

[nicklouse]

very nice indeed. dont like the air assist makes them to progressive. give me normal preload adjust any day.

[Cruz]

Shan75, pick up one of those Cannondale Geminis for sale here on Farkin, you can make it light or heavy, able to do d/h with triples, or use the 1.5 forks etc etc. Great value for under $4000.

[Rik]

Don't get a K2, apparently the Aus distributer has given up on it so there'll be bugger all aftermarket support.

[Squidly Didly]

Shan75, pick up one of those Cannondale Geminis for sale here on Farkin, you can make it light or heavy, able to do d/h with triples, or use the 1.5 forks etc etc. Great value for under $4000.

Definantly a good idea. I get mine down to 27.5ibs with 2" tyres. Not bad for upto 7 inches. If ya want you could put slicks on and get it under 25ibs, but.... NAH

[125PHIL]

i dunno if u wanna do like 3 hour loops then hit some drop offs, im thinking the most versitle bike i have seen is like the GT ruckas I-drive..if i were u id seroisly consider that as an option..
cheers

[Gutty]

Buy my bike dammit !!

2 sets of linkage plates giving you from 5-7.5" travel. It peddles really well in the lower travel setting even with a softer spring to account for the leverage ratio change. With the Avy shock you'll barely even bottom off a 6ft drop(unless you are huuuge) and when you wanna go DHing throw the 24" wheel on the back to slacken it out a bit and away you go.
Cost over $7,500 and all just 2 rides old........
See my sig for full details.

Blatant SPAM ^^ :D

[shmity]

Im with phil on this one, the GT is a great bike for 'light freeride' and heavy trail riding. Well speced and the right price too.
For 'light freeriding' as you call it, id steer well clear of the A-line, thats nothing but a beefcake beast.

[sxereturn]

Get the Norco 6.

[shan75]

Thanks for all the advice I will now check out also the Norco six and the GT Ruckus. Did I also mention I I am 6'4" and weigh 210lbs. I suppose that will also play a prt on the durability of the machine.

[nicklouse]

Thanks for all the advice I will now check out also the Norco six and the GT Ruckus. Did I also mention I I am 6'4" and weigh 210lbs. I suppose that will also play a prt on the durability of the machine.

NO you did not in that case one thing you should do before you buy any bike is find out if there is a spring available for the shock that suits your weight i had to wait 2 months before the right one camin from the states.

if the bike has an air shock check that it can take the air pressure!

so your an average sized farker!!

[udi]

Shan I believe the AC1 is more around the 4500 mark, right? Skip the Tirade, K2 are below rare around this country. AC frames crack, Giant frames crack.... If I weighd 200 pounds, I wouldn't risk trying big drops on an AC. Get something a little tuffer.

You might find the GT's are really overpriced for what they are, unless I was looking at a very overpriced store or something. Looked like nice bikes, kinda pricey.

This years A-line looks nice, but 8x8, single ring up front, and a very hefty rig all up... isnt going to amaze you or your legs in 3 hour loops.

Stinky is $3000, deelux is somewhere between 4000-4500. The deelux looks like a real neat bike. They aren't exactly light, but lighter than the A-line.

I'll throw in a word for the 04 Specialized bighits. They have decent specs for the dollar, and it's a tried-and-true design. The Manitou SPV adjustable shocks this year should help on the long pedal journeys. And as the name suggests, the bikes can take the big hits.

Bighit comp is $3700
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=6746
Expert is $4400
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=6740

They are definately worth a look.

jus my noobie opinion
-udi

[Velophile]

Thanks for all the advice I will now check out also the Norco six and the GT Ruckus. Did I also mention I I am 6'4" and weigh 210lbs. I suppose that will also play a prt on the durability of the machine.

IM(biased)O, get an 18" Craftworks FRM125 with a 400mm seatpost. Upgrade components as necessary.

[Rik]

I'm somewhat looking for the same sort of thing, a bike that can be pedalled all day (including uphill) but will take the big drops.
A Jamis XLT 1 or 2 looks pretty good, as does the Stinky.
My heart is set on a Stinky, but my brain says Jamis, as the XLT will be more of an all-round bike, whereas the Stinky will kick ass on big stuff, but be a pig to ride otherwise.

[nicklouse]

I'm somewhat looking for the same sort of thing, a bike that can be pedalled all day (including uphill) but will take the big drops.
A Jamis XLT 1 or 2 looks pretty good, as does the Stinky.
My heart is set on a Stinky, but my brain says Jamis, as the XLT will be more of an all-round bike, whereas the Stinky will kick ass on big stuff, but be a pig to ride otherwise.
why a kona faux bar when there is good pedaling single pivots out there with spv.

see scott FR below can be built up to less than 14kg!

[Rik]

Scott = BLING BLING
:shock:

And why SPV when a 4 bar can do the same job
:p
Thus, the argument about shocks and linakges unforlds.

[nicklouse]

Scott = BLING BLING
:shock:

And why SPV when a 4 bar can do the same job
:p
Thus, the argument about shocks and linakges unforlds.

in the uk the 03 FR is being sold off at just over 1/2 price £1700 instead of £3000!!

[n2o spark]

anyone know how much the Scott FR frame retail for. i'm in love with them. they are so trendy. but the package costs something a smidge under 5000

[Gutty]

No offence Nick but the only 2 Scotts i have ever seen here were broken. More of a trail bike than a freerider IMO.

[schwing]

Can I suggest a Kona Dawg at this late stage>??. good buys around at the moment too .

[Rik]

DAWG's are sweet, more of an aggresive XC bike than a "freeride" bike, but all depends how you define that eveil F word.
Coilers are interesting too, the coiler is now what the Stinky was a few years ago, 5" front and rear.
I still reckon bang-for-buck a Jamis XLT will be a good thing to go for, 5"+5", lockout front and rear, makes for a versatile bike.

GET A STINKY BRO!!! tuffest there is and do any thing you want pretty much.

[Rik]

Can you ride a stinky for 3-4 hours without killing yourself? I don't mean as in sitting in the seat plodding along at 10km/h the whole time, I mean proper trail riding, going hard...

[finny_447]

You might find the GT's are really overpriced for what they are, unless I was looking at a very overpriced store or something. Looked like nice bikes, kinda pricey.

uDi i think you were looking at a over priced store GT's are great value for money and are quality bikes

[Avanti_Racing]

STINKY ALL THE WAY!! try get an 02 model if u can :lol:

[Adski]

If you have an old hardtail or xc bike kicking around, i'd say go with a heavier duty freeride bike like the stinky / AC / Ruckus.

If it's your only bike I'd push the 'all mountain' 5" bikes like the Jamis XLT / Giant VT. Lighter, nicer to pedal. People say Giant frames crack, i reckon their warranties would be pretty good, which means replacements, no?

;-)

Of course you *can* ride any bike for 4 hrs, and you'll be fitter if you crank a Stinky round the XC circuit... ha!

[kranked]

the kona stinky is pretty light for a freeride rig, and the bighits arnt to bad, norco's tend to be a bit heavy.

[shauno]

kona stinky :) but then again i geuss im saying that coz i got one, but i got 03 boxxer race on it and its so sweet 4 DH and dirt jumping, im only 13 and i can do 1footers over 10 foot doubles.. they r easy to keep stedy in the air.

[LEX]

The AC2 is better than the AC1 in my books. One of my friends just got an AC1 and it handles like a bitch but that could just be because im not used to the weight and travel. good luck with finding ur new bike

[Daver]

i reckon a Giant AC1

[S.]

kona stinky :) but then again i geuss im saying that coz i got one, but i got 03 boxxer race on it and its so sweet 4 DH and dirt jumping, im only 13 and i can do 1footers over 10 foot doubles.. they r easy to keep stedy in the air.

Dude, this thread had been dead for a couple of months before you posted... please don't gravedig :)

[Bullit_CN]

Looking for a light freeride bike??? I say go for the Hekler or if you want a real proven one...then get a Bullit...

[and1]

cove g-spot! i have one and its awesome!

[Cruz]

Ha bought an AC over a month ago, please bury this thread.

[kranked]

A LINE DUDE, FSR technology, nuff said

[kranked]

whoops, sorry, i think when people have got their answer they should delete their thread