From Hardtail to DH bike - Dilema

[peachy]

Hey guys and girls i hope we're all doing well.
I've got a bit of a problem but before i start to explain it, I'll give a bit of a background.
I rode DH on a hard tail (trek bruiser2 with jrt's) for 2 years, i was really confident with my riding and felt as though i was a pretty good rider. At the end of last year i sold the trek then i was off the bike for 5 months then i bought myself a Giant DH comp.
I've got the dh comp still, but I've sold the forks.

Well my problem is, I'm not so fond of dh riding anymore :shock: , but i really really want to get back into it. When i was riding on a hard tail, i had so much fun. The times I've ridden the dh comp, I've felt as though I'm really slow :roll: (maybe cuz i am :lol: ), it feels like the bike is really sluggy and when i hit jumps i was getting flung forward all the time.

I'm trail riding at the moment and find it lots of fun, but I've still got this urge to hurl myself down hills and drops. I want the rush and thrill of downhill back :(

So my questions to you wise people are:
1. When you converted from a hard tail to a dh bike, did you find you were going a lot slower?
2. Did you also find yourself getting flung forward a lot compared to a hard tail? If so, why does this happen?
3. I've sold the forks and at the moment I've got the option to either:
a.) Sell the bike, get a hard tail and continue trail riding
b.) Buy some cheap forks and give it another chance
4. I only rode the bike a handful of times, does it take a while for some people to get used to, and enjoy a full susser?

Any other stories on your hard tail to dual suspension transformation would be good to hear.

Thanks

[S.]

1. No, it just feels slower cos it's easier
2. Yeah, because either you're not used to jumping a dh bike, or the rebound on your rear shock is set too fast, or both
3. go for B
4. Yes

[Rik]

I'm a hardtail lover, and when I jumped on my 7" squishy bike, things felt very sluggish and awkward at first. I learnt to adapt to the suspension, take it in to account with my riding style, and after a bit of time on the bike, I learnt to love it.
I am still wanting a hardtail again, for the nimble and responsive feel they have, but you must remember not one bike can do everything well, you'll have to compromise in one way or another.
I vote buy a cheap set of DC forks, and get back on the DH bike and give it what it's worth. To sell the bike right now would lose you a shitload of money, as market value on the Giants is fairly low, so you might as well keep it and get some value out of the bike.

[bikeman_baldrik]

you will find you are actually faster, but it feels slower coz it is smoother.

I had a similar issue when i bought a HT after riding DH for a couple of years, i ended up getting rid of the DH bike coz i wasn't enjoying it, now i have loads of fun on a HT that i use for everything (although its cracked now, so i don't use it at all, but there is a new one on its way).

[RedPill]

Yeah it does take a bit of getting use to but if you keep it up youll have major improvements very soon. so dont give up just give it a bit more of a chance.

[wombat]

Discalimer: my time on duallies has been pretty limited, but i have noticed a few things.

I'm a hardtail fan, for two reasons:
1) they're cheap
2) I like the way they ride.

Point 2 basically means that I like the agility and responsivness of a good hardtail frame; every little input I give the backend makes it move, I'm not just activating suspension travel.
In short, I don't like the big, heavy mushy feeling of most duallies I've ridden.

However, there was one duallie I rode and fell in love with (and plan to take back from a certain adminator....). It was an M1 with boxxers, it was light, it was responsive and it made the rockgardens I used to brake check for feel like a paved road. I think most of this was to do with setup though; it was running a 5th el, and from what I could tell, the rebound was set pretty quick. If I was to ride more DH, I'd try and setup a bike like that, it seemed great for the rough stuff, but didn't feel like a big dough ball.


So, that doesn't really say much, so here's what I'm getting at:
keep with the DH bike if that's your thing, but play with settings. Try and ride as many different bikes as possible and see if you like them; if you do like them, try and figure out why, and see if you can get your rig to be better in that regard. I'm definately not a big bouncer fan as such, but they can be absolutely wicked weapons.

[peachy]

1. No, it just feels slower cos it's easier

I'm not so sure about that. I found myself braking at everything, I'd see a rock garden and I'd be braking all the way through it.
Maybe because i had ridden a hard tail, then took almost half a year off the bike and got a dual.
Do you think its the combination of not riding for a while than getting on a bike I'm fully not comfortable with.
At the moment my confidence is at an all time low with bikes, I'm not prepared to jump things that I'd usually jump.

At the moment I've pretty much been off the bike seriously for about a year - Any tips on how to get back into it.
My problem also is that i don't really have anyone i can ride with, I'm not confident with riding with really good guys because I'm self conscious. Are there any sort of groups that do regular DH shuttles?

[Kreaky]

I think your problem is because you haven't been riding much lately, so keep the bike, but get a cheap hardtail, or borrow a friends spare one(Highly unlikely!!! But anyways) Go and get you confidence back. Once you have all you confidence back, and you have the money, get some D.C's and slap them on the D.H. Comp. Spend a bit of money and get a bike shop to set it up to your weight (unless you know how to do it) and take it for a ride. When i first jumped on my bullit, the first few runs felt really slow but i realized i was flying coz i was keeping up with guys the usally beat me by a minutes. Just stick with it, after a while you will be flying on it, and you love it................


.............unless your a hardtail lover, just like there is a little bit left in me!!!!

[peachy]

Also - My budget on forks are about $1000, My options are:
Boxxer Race
Boxxer Teams
So far those are the only forks i can get for below $1000 new. Any other suggestions or offers on forks would be great

[peachy]

I think your problem is because you haven't been riding much lately, so keep the bike, but get a cheap hardtail, or borrow a friends spare one(Highly unlikely!!! But anyways)

Hehehe, I've got a mates kona roast at the moment, I've been trail riding that. I'm more confident on the bike, but when it comes to jumps drops etc i cream my pants

[toodles]

Dude buy some Boxxer Races 2nd hand (usually about $400 - $550) and chuck a Mojo kit in them. Under $1000 all up and they work damn well.

[bazza]

well going from a kona stinky to a norco dh team i had the problems with getting flung on jumps. i just found find nice easy jumps and just practice on them. like the processes. but yeah. after that its just getting used to it. as people found out when i tried to do the douglas jump and i landed on my ass.........but yeah. just keep riding. try to rail corners and pedal more. and concentrate on picking lines. i dont know. just get out and ride with mates more.

[cuz81]

well mate i went from a mx bike to a stinky then to my dh comp.loved all of them and never felt like you do.i say just persevere(spelling)with it and buy some new forks and go out again.like the others said if you are breaking into rock gardens who cares.as long as your having fun doing it its all good.eventually you'll one day realise you forgot to break into the same rock garden and will have gone way faster.i think it all comes down to practise and just learning to trust the bike.its made for it after all.and you'll eventually be flying down the hill.but if i was you try not to worry about who's watching you and how fast your going.just do it for fun and you'll probably surprise yourself about the speed.
good luck

[kalem]

You just need to get out and ride it a lot. push yourself to go faster, get off the brakes. That's what i love about riding a DH bike, nearly every time i go riding i push myself a bit further and the bike rewards me by feeling even better.

[LTR]

Maybe just buy some cheapish forks (DNM USD's 2nd hand) just to give it a 2nd chance. If that doesnt work, you wont loose much money on them when you decide to sell.
-Alex

[ride_hard199]

as people found out when i tried to do the Douglas jump and i landed on my ass.........but yeah.

one of more funny days at DH i have had :lol:
" fuck my ass " thats wat you said wasnt bazza :o

i went from a ht with 5 inch forks to a ironhorse sgs team and well i felt real slow but people that i rode with said that i was going lots faster .... i have only just started to trust the rear suspension to do its thing sort of .....
but im getting lazy now and just plow most things :oops:

just keep riding the DH comp ... you will get there and when you do you will love it 8)

[bazza]

as people found out when i tried to do the Douglas jump and i landed on my ass.........but yeah.

one of more funny days at DH i have had :lol:
" fuck my ass " thats wat you said wasnt bazza :o



that was one of the most painful crashes of my life. nearly as bad as my case to belly flop onto rocks.

[ride_hard199]

as people found out when i tried to do the Douglas jump and i landed on my ass.........but yeah.

one of more funny days at DH i have had :lol:
" fuck my ass " thats wat you said wasnt bazza :o



that was one of the most painful crashes of my life. nearly as bad as my case to belly flop onto rocks.

i have seen you have many bad crashes ..... respect :)
but i still rate my over the bars to rocks with open face up there with yours :P

end of off topic :?

[zen_rider]

My problem also is that i don't really have anyone i can ride with, I'm not confident with riding with really good guys because I'm self conscious. Are there any sort of groups that do regular DH shuttles?

If you find any let me know pleeeeeeeeease.

I'm just hanging out for this Toowoomba MTB park to open. Don't get me wrong, I'm not lazy, I do heaps of pushing up, but there's nothing like shuttles.

I ride DH hardtail, so if ya wanna hook up let me know.

Do whatever you reckon is the most fun!!! Otherwise I am not qualified to comment as I've never given a full susser a decent workout. But they look fast! Fast equals fun :D

[DYJK]

you feel you are going slow now? imagine how fast you would be if you felt you were going fast! I would stay with the dually, because obviously you need more time to fully adjust to it! :) go and get the race and chuck the kit in them!

[peachy]

Hey guys, again thanks for all the replies.
I guess i've come to the conclusion that i'll buy some cheapo forks (thanks torpedo7) and start to ride again.
I'll take a lot of advice given, i'll start out with small small drops and jumps and try and get confident. After i overcome the bikes willingness to flick me forward i think i shall be set.
If anyone in brisbane wants to ride dh with me in 2 weeks time (after i've saved up enough for forks) than pm me. I'd be interested to meet some people and also learn some of your sick techniques.

Another thing i'm not really used to is the fact that i can't lower the seat soooo low like a hardtail. Did it take you guys a while to get used to sitting with a seat quite high?

Also another question. Torpedo sells boxxer races for $800, is it worth getting the teams for an extra $200 ($800 + $200 = $1000)???

[cheggy]

Mate, i just got off my hardtail of 7 years and onto a yeti as-x. At first, I had a little trouble and was getting forward off drops, but I think it was all to do with the weight and balance of the bike. You need to learn how to balane on it when going off things. Practice going off stuff like stairs and small drops to get it right and feel how much effort the giant needs to get the front up, as it will most likely be a lot more than the hardtail.

It does feal a little slower when going on flats, but when going down, its a lot quicker, especially when you don't have to brake for everything.

[scblack]

Peachy wrote:Also another question. Torpedo sells boxxer races for $800, is it worth getting the teams for an extra $200 ($800 + $200 = $1000)???

Well worth the extra $200, if thats all the cost difference - do it!

[Sugez]

Ok well well after the fact I am still gonna post. I had a nasty accident on my HT then while I was recovering my bike was stolen...end result a dually. The first ride I had on the Dualie I nearly went over the bars 5-6 times. This was due to a number of factors
1. I still had demons from the last crash
2. The shock was set up wrong...easily fixed by checking out the fox site to work out the optimum settings for me
3. A dually of any type I going to have a hellishly different feel/geo to it mine was no exception
4. I was out of riding practice.

SO my advice is to keep at it and when you come to that rock garden instead of breaking pump the bike and FLOW over it like a well oiled machine which it will do.

Nice one mate

[mike&nat]

i changed from a HT with 5inch of travel to a dual with 9 inches rear and 7 front and it made me feel slugish and its also is alot harder for me to manover and it made me alot less smooth

[Sparkman]

The DH comp should handle really well with the low CoG. Give it the time it needs to get you back into doing the things you used to do. I'm still getting used to my bike and I've had it for about 8 months now and raced it this season. I'm still buzzing from yesterdays ride because I've finally nailed all the stunts on my local track and now I'm putting them all together to make one sick run. I've never had that buzz riding XC trails.

As for the jumps: Maybe you're not used to the way the bike feels in the air. Get your confidence back doing safer jumps and then move on to bigger/harder stuff.

There are usually a bunch of guys doing shuttles out of The Gap bike shop on Sunday afternoons. Give them a call and they'll let you know what's happening.

You can also PM me if you're up for a Sunday arvo ride. I'm usually doing something then.