What freeride bike for me!

[OH64]

We'll i have come out of riding retirement :P. Used to ride DH, but now I don't care for racing and thus am after peoples help on what freeride bike would suit me.

I haven't even looked at a bike catalogue for years so am at a loss as where to begin. I've statred to read review's, test riden a few bikes but am still at a loss as to what to get.

I'm a featherweight weighing in at 70kg's, 6ft. Want to get into fairly decent sized drops. Will be buying second hand. Have $2000-$2500 to spend. After somethig with a reasonable cabin size. Think it was one of the norcos I rode and I really didn't like the cramped space.

[ScottD]

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=49672 with the spare change upgrade the forks and brakes

[tim_69]

hey im selling my bike right now awsome freeride bike with a fair sweet spec on it and you would save 1 grand! check it out http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=50190

[NoFearNick7]

Ironhorse Yakuza, Giant Faith, Kona Stinky, Specialized Big Hit Pro..... just some off the top of my head.

[stinky_boy_64]

kona stinky or iron horse yakuza are good choices mate:cool:

[Da Extreme Free Rider]

Hey l good bike for you would probaly be a second hand iron horse yakuza or a second hand demo 8.
James
We'll i have come out of riding retirement :P. Used to ride DH, but now I don't care for racing and thus am after peoples help on what freeride bike would suit me.

I haven't even looked at a bike catalogue for years so am at a loss as where to begin. I've statred to read review's, test riden a few bikes but am still at a loss as to what to get.

I'm a featherweight weighing in at 70kg's, 6ft. Want to get into fairly decent sized drops. Will be buying second hand. Have $2000-$2500 to spend. After somethig with a reasonable cabin size. Think it was one of the norcos I rode and I really didn't like the cramped space.

[anti-flag]

i reccomend the yakuza range...something like the aniki or ojiki....

[OH64]

Thanks alot for the help fellas. Time to go test ride a few you mentioned then make a decion. :)

[Feeto]

norco six, kona stinky, iron horse yakuza, giant faith 2...

all great bikes

[THE YETI]

I would advise the kona stinky. I have previously owned one of these and they are really good for dj'ing and just all round freeriding. GREAT bike!! for a freerider, probably wouldn't advise alot of DH abuse for something like this
Cheers The Yeti

[minime61289]

Hey there are a large number of freeride bikes out there and I think it mostly comes down to 1) the one that feels the best and 2) has the components you want. Start with your frame because that will determine the brand of bike or range. Some suggestions: iron horse, kona stinky, spec. big hit or even something like a trek session 77 or a devinci ollie (those last two may be hard to get).

[little man]

i wouldn't recomend a yakuza for freeriding. ! the forks on the aniki are shit. i have owned and broken them within 8 months!. 2 apparantly the kumicho is weak around the swingarm. 3 the ojiki looks ok. but thats what i think about lats years models of the yakuza's. but the 06 models look abit stronger and better specs. but more expensive. how about the 7point3, 7point5, 7point7 or the 7point9http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/bikes/index.asp?ID=4

[nickd]

The banshee range is great - Morphine/Wraith/Scream

http://www.bansheebikes.com
http://www.dirtworks.com.au

[little man]

The banshee range is great - Morphine/Wraith/Scream

but if he gets one new it will be way out of his price range i think.
or he might find a cheap second hand one.

[Donkey-boy]

A good one would be like the kona stinky range or something like that.

[nickd]

but if he gets one new it will be way out of his price range i think.
or he might find a cheap second hand one.

Incorrect, Wraith brand new costs 3200, but bike shops usually sell it for 2700 -> A second hand one would be alot cheaper, the morphine is definitely within the price range if you get your LBS to strip a Giant STP 0 and put the parts on a Banshee Morphine frame, It ends up costing 2000, how do I know this? Kerry at http://www.phantomcycles.com.au gave me a quote on it when I was looking at buying one.

Your best bet would be the wraith or the morphine.

Good luck!

[Rewind]

05 Kona Skinky (doesn't have the linkage problem that the 06 model has) would be a very decent bike. My mate has one and is definetly happy with it.

Holds up to everything thrown at it, mostly freeride with the odd down hill run...

Otherwise a 2003 Norco Atomik is another decent freeride bike. I have one of these and definetly don't have any complaints with it... Few kilos lighter than the stinky as well.

[james_caswell]

bro,,, i wud go the knoa stinky

[smeek&tucka]

Hi i have a 2005 model Norco Atomik it comes out standard as a free ride/downhill bike. It handles very will even though it is such a hevey bike at around about 25kgs. STRONG!!!!

The specs are:

KEYFEATURES
Shore proven monocoque VPS frame with 6-7" travel • 150x12 rear overlocknut • CNC chainstay yoke • Fox DHX-3 Pro Pedal rear shock • Hussefelt dual crank with bashguard
UPSPECS
Marzocchi Drop-off triple clamp 170 mm travel with QR-20 axle • 150x12 sealed bearing rear hub • HFX-9 hydraulic brakes • Hussefelt freeride oversize bar and stem

[carpo_jnr]

hey,
i was recently at thredbo and rented the ironhorse ojiki, personally i thought it was a bit nose heavy but thats just my opinion, other than that they're pretty nice bikes, but it's very much based on personal preference what you buy.:cool:

[james_caswell]

Its funny after people have seen one picture of one incident where someone has bent the linkage its all of a sudden become a major design problem! Take it from me bro i own an 06 stinky delux which uses the same linkage system and i have neva experinced any problems relating towards the linkage design..

[beginner_giantDH]

just from what i have seen and herd i think kona's are the best way to go for a decent freeride bike. the only problem being weight but im pretty sure if u want to go for the bigger stuff ur gonna want the best build u can find. good luck with your freeride man. its awsome

[axman]

Yeah, the Kona Stinky 06 model has definately copped some bad press. Gotta say though, my wife has the 06 model, I've got a santacruz bullit, we both love freeriding, and I'm always trying to get my wife to swap bikes with me for the ride. I've never had a problem with the 06 Stinky, it rolls downhills sweet for a freeride rig, and jumps great, has a great balance whilst in the air. Am almost thinking of selling the bullit to get the 06 Stinky.

Cheers

axman

[DH_slave]

buy a 06 stinky and change the fork to 66rcx2s, you cant go wrong with that combination

[obi_one]

kona stinky or even save some money and pimp up a AC

[Pauly]

I bought an Iron Horse Yakuza Ex-rental from Raw NRG Thredbo for $1650 inc. P&H. They buy them new for $3550 in November then start selling them in March. It had a few scratches and the forks needed new oil but was in otherwise good condition. They probably wont have any left but it would be worth calling them to see.

[nico jacko]

just ignore this its for OH64:

34003
34004
34005
34006

thanx heaps ivan can't wait to see the finished product

[OH64]

everyone ignore :)

[DWNHLR01]

I just picked up an 05 Norco SHore for $2300...888s Fox DHX5.0...If you can find a second hand freeride bike with that good of a spec for 2300, your doing well

[shirtz]

I just picked up an 05 Norco SHore for $2300...888s Fox DHX5.0...If you can find a second hand freeride bike with that good of a spec for 2300, your doing well

is that new???? thats a crazy deal.

my current dream for awhile have been an SC bullet. im yet to find a bike so versitile (sp)!

[chris_mtb]

what is that thing i know its a giant but i have never seen it before

[nothing mad]

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=54961 thats a pretty sweet ride cheap too.:D . maby change the forks but if you buy that you will have a heap of $$ left for up grades.

[Valkyr]

I have heard heaps of good things about the Kona Stinky.

[berkyburger123]

Well, If you are 6 foot you'll probably want a large so, although I wish I could, I cannot reccomend my biek that is for sale.

However, I can reccomend a great bike at a freaky good deal perfect for hitting freeride specific trails or just finding drops to do in your locale. It could race DH very well if you wished (but apparently not) and comes at a killer price.

Enough of a blurb, buy this if you want:

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=55556

And with spare money get a better fork for whatever you wnat or soemthing, hell you'll have 800 to spare.

[Roly]

stinky's are great all-rounders, and a great benchmark to begin building it up in later years.

also check out the norco Freeride range and specialized bighits.


my 2c :)

[norco_maniac]

i reckon a vp free or a norco six would be a good bike, depending on how big you wanna go with it:)

[MATT_82]

yeah i have an 04 stinky with 02 super ts and a 05 vanilla rc and a guide etc and its working out great
yeah i would buy the stinky people pay them out because a few snapped but hey mines fine and im sketch as

Matt

[blackjack]

matt_82 thats because you weight nothing and you have done shit all on it yet. and i believe this guy is a pretty big fella. so he is going to be putting the bike through allot more stress than you.