Upgrade or buy a whole bike...

[Bender is CRAZY]

Hey Guys,

I have a dilema, i need a new bike! I'm looking at getting a P3 second hand for 1700 or upgrading my frame to a roast, my forks to DJ1,2 or 3, and some new cranks. Which should i go with. The onl problem with the P3 is that everyone says the front wheel will hit my foot and piss me off!

Toby

Specs:

Fork: Marzocchi EXR Comp
Rear: N/A

Tires: Kenda Kinetic K-877 / K-887 26 x 2.1
Spokes: Chung Nan black
Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite

Front: Shimano Acera
Rear: Shimano Deore
Shifters: Shimano Alivio SL 8 spd rapid fire

Front: Hayes HMX-1 mechanical 6”
Rear: Hayes HMX-1 mechanical 6”
Levers: Shimano Alivio

[/img]http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=1478

[nicklouse]

Hey Guys,

I have a dilema, i need a new bike! I'm looking at getting a P3 second hand for 1700 or upgrading my frame to a roast, my forks to DJ1,2 or 3, and some new cranks. Which should i go with. The onl problem with the P3 is that everyone says the front wheel will hit my foot and piss me off!

Toby

Specs:

Fork: Marzocchi EXR Comp
Rear: N/A

Tires: Kenda Kinetic K-877 / K-887 26 x 2.1
Spokes: Chung Nan black
Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite

Front: Shimano Acera
Rear: Shimano Deore
Shifters: Shimano Alivio SL 8 spd rapid fire

Front: Hayes HMX-1 mechanical 6”
Rear: Hayes HMX-1 mechanical 6”
Levers: Shimano Alivio

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=1478

forget the p3! keep your frame upgrade your forks. then save your cash and go ride and brake something and you still have the money to fix it!

[Bender is CRAZY]

The problem is i have to keep getting it fixed and the cranks are ont he way out cos they are stuffed. I've spent a lot of money fixing the bike and it is annoying!

[S.]

Front wheel hits your foot on a lot of bikes. My DMR does it, most of my mates' bikes do too, but it isn't a big problem. P.3s are pretty nice (and generally nicely specced), but if you're looking at paying that much for a 2nd hand hardtail then you have a LOT to choose from. You could get a 2004 one25 for about that, brand new (I think). I wouldn't bother keeping upgrading, I've done it with my hardtail and in the end it means that it's cost me about three times as much as it would have if I'd saved a little longer and bought the right stuff the first time round.

[nicklouse]

ok replace the crank set as well!

if you have just spent money fixing it shouldnt it be ok for a while?

learn how to fix it your self here is a good page for repairs


http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/index.shtml

[Turley]

Just set your cleat so your foot doesn't hit cause CLIP IN IS WHERE IT IS AT! :D

[Bender is CRAZY]

Thanks for the link, that should help. Peopel have said to steer clear of the P3 for the one reason; that it will knock my foot, are they just being picky or what?

[Commander Dilsnikk]

u could always buy my p.3 :D ... anyone who says that u won't like it coz of foot-hitting-wheel problems is being picky...as socket says... it will happen with most ht frames (just depends which foot u have forward and which way u turn the bars...if jumping that is)

Item: '02 Specialized P.3
Location: Melbourne
Item Condition: Very Good Condition (few scratches, very slightly bent front mech)
Reason for selling: Want to upgrade to a dually or a DC capable hardtail
Price and price conditions: $1.6K (just spent $300 on servicing, new sintered metallic brake pads, freshly bled lines)
Extra Info: Marzocchi Z.5s, Hayes 6" Comp Hydros, Truvativ Husslefelts on Truvativ ISIS Splined BB, Sun Singletracks running Specialized 2.3 tires, Deore Shifters and front mech, XT rear mech, new Azonic Dirt Jump saddle.

Pictures: Available on request (i'd have to dig them up and scan them)

[RaID]

i reckon upgrade the forks and cranks
at least you know what the bike has been through and what parts have slight problems
with s/h you cant be sure

i dont reckon that upgrading to a s/h P3 will change alot in the fixing department, you will have to fix every bike cause you do something stupid or you screw up braking something

[S.]

Thanks for the link, that should help. Peopel have said to steer clear of the P3 for the one reason; that it will knock my foot, are they just being picky or what?

Yes they are. Just learn to x-up the other way. It really isn't a big deal at all. The bikes that I have ridden where the front wheel hits my foot are:

- mine (DMR Trailstar)
- p3s
- P-X JF
- Norco 250 (01 and 02)
- dmr sidekick
- I think shmity's morphine does
and a few others I can't remember at the moment.

[oz-freerider]

maybe you just have big clown feet?

[S.]

Maybe.... I ride with the flat of my foot on the pedal, could be to do with that.

[oz-freerider]

as do i and my foot hhas only ever touched the front tire on your dmr and rhys and thats the only ones i can think of

[S.]

Mine hits on yours...

[Commander Dilsnikk]

yeah well mine hits on yours!!!
:lol:

[oz-freerider]

and i hit on all of of you i mean ummmm errrrr...... never mind

maybe you do have big clown feet?

[Commander Dilsnikk]

you know what they say...
big feet...

big shoes ;)

[lupine128]

upgrading to second hand isn't realy upgrading, it's sort of moving sideways maybe.
at the moment you know the history of the bike, and you know what is likely to break, and why. with a second hand machine, you won't have that to fall back on.
why upgrade the forks? if they aren't broken, ride them until they are, then get new ones. this lets you hang onto some money for longer.
as for the cranks, have a look around, and get a decent price on some racefaces. they are uber strong, and should be pretty long lasting. all of this lets you hang onto your money for the longest amount of time, and spend it as you need to on things that you need rather than things you want.