Monty alp 219??

[Gronk]

I know technically this should probably go in the parts 'n' stuff section, but being trials specific and all, well y'know :D

Anyway I am seeing these for sale for what seem to be a pretty good price ($550 brand new) and I'm just wondering if they would be a worthy investment for a noob who is 6' tall and rides mtn bikes (as opposed to bmx). The main reason I ask is they seem kinda short, with a 949mm wheelbase.

There are more details here:
http://www.expressivebikes.com/products/219catalogue.jpg

I dunno if I can give much more relavent info about what I will be doing with it, i.e. urban or natural etc. It would be my first bike so I guess I'd be trying a bit of everything... if and when I get the skills to do so!

Thanks.

[gbowen444]

I am not really into Mods but they look OK for a starter bike for that price but you can probably get a more suitable bike if you go second hand. I say that because you are pretty tall and coming from an MTB background you might be better getting a stock.

Have you riden much? Do you have a hardtail. I would recommend ridding with some people on a regular bike first and trying some bikes before you make a decision.

Also if you post this quesiton up on http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=13 You will most liekly get more input that you will here.

[Gronk]

Thanks mate... I'm sure you guys get well sick of giving the same advice to us ignorant noobs over and over :)

I do have an STP and have been taking that down to the local school in the evenings to mess around on. The forks are set pretty firm so that makes things a little easier too. I was looking at Mods because some people say they are easier to learn on, they are cheap, and I was a bit afraid a stock would be too similar to the stp.

Unfortunately I don't know of anyone down my way (Wollongong) who rides trials, so it's difficult to gett to try any out... plus I'm SO new to the sport I would feel like a goof trying to do things in front of actual people :o

I would happily buy second hand, but they are few and far between, especially mods.

So it may even be too early to consider buying a trials specific bike, but I wanted to get an idea of what to look for.

[gbowen444]

I think there are one or two people who ride trials in Wollongong. I started riding trials on an STP which lasted me 3-4 months before I got sick of it and got a real trials bike. Put a longer stem on it and try and make it a bit lighter.

Just because a stock bike has 26" wheels doesn't mean it will feel like a normal MTB like an STP. The geometry is completely different and they feel like chalk and cheese.

Good luck with it though and perservere it is good fun.

[Gronk]

Persevere is right, I never swear as much as when I'm trying to do this stuff! hehe.

I have just been doing stuff like working on trackstands, bunny hops, side hops, rear wheel pivots... nothing fancy as I'm appauling at even this stuff.

I haven't changed the stp at all, mainly 'cuz I still use it for other stuff. So the stem is short and the front cog is 38t. But it's not like I would know the difference.

So how far did you progress on the stp before you moved on to a trials bike? Is it possible to learn back wheel hops etc on a 'normal' bike?

[jda]

I started on a 14" XC frame but it was set up for trials with a rigid fork and some truvative trials crank, V-brakes front and back, and longish stem. It was this bike that I first learnt back wheel hops and pedal ups. Once I got a trials specific frame everything became much easier and considering you can get a frame used by many pro riders (Echo Pure) for $395 new, its worth getting a trials specific frame.

The main problem with the STP is the disc on the rear and the longish suspension fork.

[gbowen444]

I got to the point where i was hopping on the rear and pedal kicking on the STP but it is pretty difficult to do this stuff on it compared with a trials specific frame (regardless of what jeff Lenosky can do on one).

Main problems is the rear brake does doesn't grip enough (STP2 cable disk) and the BB drop/high front end. Also Shimano hubs last about five minutes when you start pedal kicking.

[Gronk]

Hmm well brakes aren't a problem for me grip-wise, I got juicys on my stp, the trouble I have with them is I keep whacking the rear rotor on ledges from missed side hops.

So if cheap frames/bikes are available it sounds like it would be worth getting a trials specific bike pretty early on then. Being as unco as I am, I think I need all the help I can get in making things easier to learn. Trouble is you can never find the right one when you're actually looking :mad:

[Reptileman]

Look no further my friend, i am selling exactly what you are after!! Check out the mod for sale in the hardtails section.

[Gronk]

Ah thanks anyway reptileman, but I actually bought a nice and cheap rhino.