Freeriding a VT2

[stinkytodamax]

Hi Everyone

Just looking for a bit of advice. I'm thinking of buying a Giant VT2 as a second bike for a bit of hardcore trail riding action. Does anyone know how these VT's hold up from a bit of jumping and DH work. I will be putting a shorter stem, a set of DH bars and some 2.5 tyres on it.

Anyones experiences would be good to hear about.

[cam-o]

Not sure about how they'd hold up but I've ridden a few VT2s and found the geometry wasn't really suited to freeride/jumps etc. They're a cracker of an XC rig but I think you'd be better off on something like an AC/Stinky/Cherry Bomb etc for freeride. Also i suspect they'd be a little prone to crackage if you pushed them hard, but have no evidence to back that up.

[stinkytodamax]

Yeah thanks for the reply.

It's just confirming my thoughts especially about the frame.
I currently have a Kona Stinky and it has been an excellent bike for doing stupid stuff and not breaking. I was just looking for something lighter and easier to ride uphill. I ride mainly at Mt Majura in Canberra and the hike to the top of the mountain is not that much fun.

It's either get a lighter bike or get fitter and the first option seems easier.

[Fkahb]

You can do it - I have

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=65199&highlight=Freeriding+VT

[cam-o]

Nobody doubts you can, but would you buy one specifically for that purpose?

What about a Coiler? I assume they are lighter than Stinkies? Or if you've got the bucks, Turner 5 spots rule around Majura. I ride a Cherry bomb there and it's great. Bit lighter than a stinky but not as plush. DJ JediJunglesnow is selling a Cherry Bomb frame.

[stinkytodamax]

Yeah the dollars are an issue for me. The VT2 that i'm being offered is at a pretty good price. Perhaps spending some money on the stinky for a lighter build would be the way to go.

Thanks for help guys.

I'd like to talk a bit more about the VT's I'll reply to you guys later. ( Have to goto a boring meeting now)

Cheers

[Fkahb]

I freeride, jump, light DH my VT with a short stem, DH bars, 2.35 rear High Roller and 2.5 minion up front. With the short stem the geometry changes quite a bit from the stock one. I still have the Minute 1 forks at 5in travel, but would love some 6in up front to match the 5.75 rear travel.

I still run standard wheels and they have held up OK, but if they fail I'll upgrade to a heavy duty wheelset.

[stinkytodamax]

That's good to hear. Your setup sounds like what I am proposing. I have a 50mm stem, 2.5 Azonic bars and a spare set of 2.5 White tigers. I am no Bender or anything and Majura Pines is not to extreme in the places where I would be riding. I hope the geometry and feel does change with a shorter setup.

If you have any pics please feel free to send them to me. I'd like to know what it looks like in the flesh and fully set up. powerhousepooley@hotmail.com

I just talked to the owner of the VT. He is letting me set up the bike and take it for the weekend.

[Fkahb]

Sorry - I don't have any pix - but seeing as you are taking it for a ride, swap the stem and bars over to make sure you like the feel of is as you will have it set up. The stem and bars make for quite a different ride. Also play around the seat height. A lot of VTs are used for XC and long trail rides with high seats, long stems and flat bars and work well for this, but try for your setup if you can. Also play with the air in the rearshock, a bit less air for FR and DH beign more sag than XC.

Hunt around on the MTBR link under the Giant forum and search for pix for VTs.

Keep in mind it is not VP Free or Bullet, it is a strongly built longer travel variable terrain bike.

[the F.H.B]

Hey ive been riding my vt 2 on some of the sydney dh runs on and off over the last few months and its great. but... if your a kind of heavy rider (like me) you should look at a longer travel, stiffer fork!
my poor bike looks pretty second hand now but is still going strong :D , sadly the fork is another matter, i snapped off the blue rebound adjuster at oxford falls then a mate did the same on his a couple of weeks ago. Also they flex alot when your hard on the brakes!
but overall great bikes! :)

[stinkytodamax]

Thanks guys

I am pretty heavy at 86kgs so i'm not to easy on the equipment sometimes. I have searched mtbr and haven't found someone with a similar setup. When i get the bike this weekend I will be installing the parts I mentioned above and taking to the local dh run iin Goulburn NSW so i should get some idea there how the geometry stacks up, it will also give me an opportunity to have a pedal around the xc loop.

The advice has been great and very useful in helping me form an opinion of the VT and hopefully this weekend will give me a clearer picture.

[Fkahb]

Let us know what you think - meanwhile have a look at this 4x VT
www.tarallanesracing.com/bikezone_vt2_2003.htm

[stinkytodamax]

Now that's more like it. Very aggressive look, just what I was hoping for. The frame looks a little smaller than your average, but that is the direction that I want to take it.

I'll let you know how I go.

[scj]

I have a VT2 and a Stinky. The VT2 is capable of doing jumps, but if you are used to riding a Stinky it will not feel very nice doing it.

The VT will probably need a heavier spring in the front, it flexes heaps and will start creaking. Lotsa pivots in the rear.

Unless I am doing a very xc ride, I just use the Stinky. My Stinky is a 2004 model with pro-pedal which helps greatly.

[stinkytodamax]

I ride an 04 as well. I'm just a lazy fat bastard who like things the easy way.
Thanks for the advice on the forks I'll make sure i pay attention to that when I have a ride. We should hook up and go for a ride one day.

The giant is very attractive because it can xc much easier than the kona and i'm trying to get a few more km's up on the bikes. I'm getting sick of the tread mill and riding is so much more fun.

To many pivots is a foreseeable problem. How do you go looking after it.

[scj]

Maybe it's my super-human strength that allows me to ride Stinky around? (you'd think that was funny if you could see me!)

I was definately not saying that the VT was a bad bike, BTW. I think it is great. I just try not to jump it too much. I love it for xc - very comfy, quite light, pedals well.

The way I look after the pivots - I don't do jumps on it :) My other concern is that a VT is quite a light bike, considering. I wonder about how long the frame will last with too much rough treatment.

[cam-o]

Maybe it's my super-human strength that allows me to ride Stinky around? (you'd think that was funny if you could see me!)


I know you and I think it's a cack!

[gaunty]

I have a VT2 setup with short stem, Titec Knock scoper adjustable seat post(this requirement depends on frame size and clearance past rear shock), Mavic d3.1 rims and Hutchinson Octypus 2.3 tires. Originally started XC / Enduro only (with lighter tyres) but have recently gotten into "lite freeride" doing small 3" drops, and two weekends downhilling at MT Buller. Also at 86kg and becoming too lazy to pedal, I just enjoy the variable terrain.

I thought I was doing OK on the DH, until I rode my Bro's Kona Stab, but your Stinky would fit that mould.

With the seat down, front forks maxed up, and more sag in the back, the geometry is OK, although the bottom bracket rides high meaning a XC seat position can be a little scary on steep decents.

I have had a few issues with creaking, a properly fitted seat post helped, but yes the rear pivots do flex and creak after a while, to the point I am probably overconscious of it.

Overall, being able to run Abom at Buller agreesively, and turnaround the next day with a few adjustments, and bash out 30ks, is a pretty good compromise.

[kona_ona]

if you like your stinky and want sum more pedal power how about looking at a coiler, that will take sum shit and has 3 chain rings etc and 6" front and back

[stinkytodamax]

Sorry to take so long to get back guys and thanks for the input.

Kona ona: good point about the coiler, I'm just looking for something a bit different,Not that their is anything wrong with Kona. I own two konas at the moment.

Scj: Sorry perhaps my comments were not expressed well enough. I don't doubt the bikes status as awesome because they look the goods and the amount of them getting around is an endorsement in itself.

Gaunty: The versitility is one of the features that most attracts me to the bike and the fact that you are of similar weight and feel comfortable at Buller is good. Also nice to hear about the geometery of the bike. I'm pretty used to a slack angle (My stinky is as slack as the manufactuers will allow). I've heard that the seat post can be a problem but one that seems easily solved. Compromise is a good word for the bike, a nice balance and feel that can take a couple of hits.

Cheers guys

[Fkahb]

So Stinkytodamax, how did the VT go? Your thoughts now?

[stinkytodamax]

Bloody good bike. I didn't get to much time on it which sucked. The DH run in my home town has become badly washed out and keeping upright was a job in itself. So we gave that a miss for abit of street stuff. This gave me the opportunity to try some drops and jumps. The bike felt really good, not as solid as the stinky but still reasonably solid.
I couldn't believe the weight difference between the two bikes and the way the VT can climb.

I am going to test it again but this time in Canberra so a quick trip to the pines with the toiga white tigers on it (I ended up running the factory hutchinsons which were crap on dirt) and I'll see how it goes.

I feel the bike has great potential especially for the type of riding that I want to do.

[FR Drew]

Maybe it's my super-human strength that allows me to ride Stinky around? (you'd think that was funny if you could see me!)

I was definately not saying that the VT was a bad bike, BTW. I think it is great. I just try not to jump it too much. I love it for xc - very comfy, quite light, pedals well.


Hmm, must waste all that energy in the bedroom. :-)
(I know him and have seen him pedalling his stinky too)

Seriously, SCJ rode in last years Mont 24 on the stinky. He's no skin and bone whippet of a rider and hadn't done a huge stack of pre race training. (That's not to say that he's a lounge lizard lardbutt or anything, merely to say that you don't need to be Saul Britton to pedal a Sinky up a steep hill)

I've ridden SCJ's stinky (uphill) and have to say that I'm really impressed with how well it climbs.

[stinkytodamax]

Yes i do admit I'm lazy and looking for the easy way out. The stinky is fine for climbing because of the propedal rear shock. I'll stop complaining and just ride up the damn hill and when the 38 tooth ring can't take me any further I'll walk (Think top of the DH run).

The vt just gives me a few more options especially for fitness sake. I've never ridden for the benefit of my own health it has been quite the opposite. I enjoy being on a bike and the VT may give me some motivation to get out not only on the dirt but around the various lakes and while i'm in between these places I can hit some drops and what not. I like the concept of the bike, longer travel but still light.

I'll see you guys up there soon

Cheers

[scj]

Hiya StinkyToDaMax,

I rode xc at Sparrow Hill (just outside of Queanbeyan) on Sunday on the VT2. Since I am used to riding my Stinky it was sooooo easy to pedal the VT. It is fun to flick the VT around.
I ditched the factory tyres too - they sucked!

By the sound of your post your Stinky only has one front chainring. Maybe that's why mine seems wasier to ride around - I have 3 :)

[FR Drew]

Oh, cripes! Even the people I know with VT2's barely ever ride up to the top of the DH run. It just gets steeper and steeper and steeper.

Good training for the hills on the XC course at Kowen though.

[stinkytodamax]

Yeah Thanks for the invite on Sunday. I was staying at my folks place and they don't have an internet connection so I couldn't reply until I got back to work yesterday.

I run a 38 tooth ring with a aireal industries chain guide so pedaling is a unwanted hassle

FR Drew I never even make it 20% of the way on the stinky before I have to get off cough up my lungs and start walking. I've only ever witnessed one person did it on a santa cruz heckler or something like that with three rings at the front at a very slow pace. But most of that comes down to the fitness of the rider and I ant the fittest rider. I though a Vt might help a bit.

I hate walking that damn hill it's to steep it takes me like three and a half hours . I think it's time we installed a chair lift or got the key to the bottom gate.

[FR Drew]

Yikes! 38 tooth! I can't make it up to the top on my hardtail and that's in 22 on the front and 34 on the back.

No wonder!

You crazy??

[stinkytodamax]

I'm not crazy if I could make it even a quater of the way up that would be crazy.

I rely on trying to get a run up and keeping speed then I jump off the bike and start walking because I'm farked.

The inital climb from the hackett side is bad enough for me, but if work on my fitness I'm sure it will get easier. If you haven't guessed already I hate pedalling, any where, but I'll have to learn how to live with it.

Have you ever done shuttle runs at Mt Ainslie? Now that's how you make the most of an arvo except for all the dickhead heroin addicts leaving their needles behind.

[scj]

I've never done shuttle runs at Mt Ainslie, but I'd love to be shown!!

Are there good tracks there?

[stinkytodamax]

I haven't been there for a while because I think it's pretty illegal according to Nick at Mal Adjusted and their is a lot of road works being done at the mo.

I am only aware of two DH runs. The quarry run is very steep and fun for the top section but flattens out near the middle and bottom to simple fireroad.

The other run is much more interesting with a mix of tight stuff and fast rough stuff. I think Chris from the Wig and Pen clocked himself doing 45kph while I was behind him one day. Good fun.

I'll check out the trails in the next few weeks and tell you what they are like.