Iron horse SGS DH Pro or New Craftworks?

[atomik_mulisha]

Gday, i'm looking into getting a new bike, iv got an 03 norco atomik at the moment, and sure its good for a bit of everything, but i wan't a dh bike and eventually a hardtail aswell. Anyway, im tossing up between an Iron horse sgs dh pro or one of the new single pivot craftworks dh bikes. The SGS retail for $4800, and the Crafty for 5700, but i can get a deal on it, and maybe knock a good 500 off.
Most of u probably know whats on the ironhorse, its all around good stuff with a sick frame. the crafty will carry 888r forks and a swinger 6 way, which i am told is pretty much a fifth element without the titamium spring, whereas the 4 way swinger on the SGS doesn't have the fifth element technology. Is this true? Or does it just lack 2 adjustements? I'm sure the 888 is a nice fork, but i'm just thinking the fork with its 35mm stanchions and all mite be overkill and be alittle heavy, they would have to beat boxxer races which come on the IH performance wise though im sure.
Frame wise i would have to say i like the SGS alot as it has most certainly been preoven whereas this is a completly new design from craftworks. Any opinions would be great. Should i post some pics? Thanks. josh.

[jungle]

do you have any pics of the ironhorse sgs dh pro
apparently they are available now

do you know who sells them also

as i was looking at getting one
but can't find out any specs
or photos

IMO i would go the ironhorse
it's a grand cheaper for starters
think of what you could use a grand for

and like you said the craftworks design
still has to be proven

just my opinion

cheers

[atomik_mulisha]

Ok, heres the Ironhorse:
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/pbpic125720.jpg

And The craftworks frame. Ignore the parts, except shock,:
http://www.craftworkscycles.com/images/dhr/s1_side_medium_2002.jpg

As i said, i can get good 500 - 600$ off the crafty, so around $5150ish. i'm leaning more towards the ironhorse more though, but anyones opinion would be good?

[horsey]

For pictures at specs of the Iron Horse range, check this thread:

http://www.farkin.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6447

Iron Horse have 3 DH bikes this year:
SGS World Cup $7479
SGS Team $5899
SGS Pro $4799

You can get them from Raw NRG in Thredbo. They will be available around mid-December.

[Turley]

Any idea howmuch a sgs DH frame woudl set you back?

[atomik_mulisha]

Sorry, no idea about frame only, but i'm guessing they would only sell the world cup frame.

[kalem]

Any idea howmuch a sgs DH frame woudl set you back?

check out http://www.spoken.com.au/ for pics and rrp prices. :D

[Turley]

spoken has the complete bike prices.. not frames.

[atomik_mulisha]

Anyone have any ideas? at all? Any other suggestions? giant dh comp possibly? Although i think they come with sherman sliders next year. I'm not sure what other nice dh bikes are around for about 5K, although i can always stretch the budjet people. ideas? Come on, this is my first thread, keep it alive. :)

[stinkybastard]

Definatly buying new, ive got a 03 santa cruz bullit that has about 30 hours riding on it for around $5000 (negotiable). Check the complete bike for sale section if interested. Its only a chain device away fro being a pretty decent dh machine.

[Ghost]

If you're not too keen on the Sherman's, your LBS will gladly switch them out for Boxxer's (or whatever else takes your fancy) when they build it up.

You'd be very happy on a Giant DH Comp. :P

[bryn]

both nice bikes..hard choice mate. i'll like craftys cause their aussie though.

[Rik]

If you're not too keen on the Sherman's, your LBS will gladly switch them out for Boxxer's (or whatever else takes your fancy) when they build it up.

They will? That's pretty darn good service... I know most shops wouldn't want to be stuck with an expensive fork they may or may not sell in the next 5 years.

[atomik_mulisha]

If you're not too keen on the Sherman's, your LBS will gladly switch them out for Boxxer's (or whatever else takes your fancy) when they build it up.

They will? That's pretty darn good service... I know most shops wouldn't want to be stuck with an expensive fork they may or may not sell in the next 5 years.

Yeh i doubt that they would swap them over for me. The scene down here is only small so they may have a hard time getting rid of them.

My local bike shop deals in craftworks, and i really want to buy a bike from him, because i know and ride with the owner and he always gives me good deals and service. I have no doubt he would give me atleast 10% off the new craftworks, maybe more since he his buying one himself, so craftworks may do him a deal. But i would have to say i would prefer the ironhorse, it would also be alittle cheaper. i just feel a little guilty because i know he loses alot of business because he can't afford to deal in the bigger brands.

but all that aside whats your opinion on the best bike people? is the 6 way swinger really that much better than the 4 way? Any comments on how the boxxer races perform?

[Ghost]

If you're not too keen on the Sherman's, your LBS will gladly switch them out for Boxxer's (or whatever else takes your fancy) when they build it up.

They will? That's pretty darn good service... I know most shops wouldn't want to be stuck with an expensive fork they may or may not sell in the next 5 years.

Yeh i doubt that they would swap them over for me. The scene down here is only small so they may have a hard time getting rid of them.

Hmm, in my experience most bike shops are willing to make changes when it comes to selling DH bikes due to the cost of 'em. As a consumer, you dictate the sale to a certain extent. They will do everything possible to make a sale, so don't go easy on them if they say it can't be done the first time. :P

If you have a mate who runs a store, I say go the Craftworks. You'll get it cheap and put yourself in a good spot for cheap service and future discounts. Moochy moochy!

[Rik]

In my experience, shops are somewhat reluctant to make changes to high-end bikes because of the relatively low margin made on them. Yes, they do cost a fair whack of cash, but unfortunately for the shops there isn't always much room to play around with component swaps.

[dave]

Off the topic a little, does anyone know the price of the Hollowpoint bikes. As they were not listed in the spoke(n). As for the bike choice, I have not seen or ridden the Crafty so I could not give a fair comment. But either way I am sure it will be a great bike. Make sure you post pics :)

[bighitter]

Any comments on how the boxxer races perform?

Nowhere near as nice as an 04 slider + would

[Ghost]

In my experience, shops are somewhat reluctant to make changes to high-end bikes because of the relatively low margin made on them. Yes, they do cost a fair whack of cash, but unfortunately for the shops there isn't always much room to play around with component swaps.

Well, I can only speak from the experience I and my mates have had. Stores are usually very willing when someone forks out $5000+ in my experience because they want those customers to come back time and time again. The riders who hand over a lot of money are the one's you want back in your store. :wink:

[ricky lee]

The Giant seem to have reduced their specs for 2004 and maintained their price.

[ricky lee]

The SGS Pro is a much better buy and has all the right angles to go fast.
They should be available in December ( cant wait for my World Cup) :( They will be well worth the wait.

[shmity]

The shipment of iron horse bikes has been delayed (at least the sgs, if not all), due to the specing of the boxxers on some models. With the sram/rockshox take over, for the 04 season all rockshox production is in taiwan, and the changeover is taking some time, so the new boxxers havn't shipped yet, or have only just shipped. So iron horse dont want to have their frames comming in in dribs and drabs (or they dont want to spend more money on shipping) so theyre waiting for the boxxers to be ready and ship everything at once.

[RaID]

boxxer races are nice but theyre nothing compared to 888 so id be nearly even tempted to go the single pivot crafty just for that reason

but i think you need a frame that you most comforatble most as the base foundation, not being a fan of lower single pivots like the bullit and crafty
id probably go the Ironhorse it has excellent components, and the future you could upgrade the Race to a team by changing the compresison cartridge,
but i would see if you can upgrade the fork for a little money to equal the price of the crafty to mayeb something else, i just dont hink the swinger in the back doesnt really match with the front

[Avanti_Racing]

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[Jordy]

The Giant seem to have reduced their specs for 2004 and maintained their price.

giants are like 500+ less now

and the sherman sliders are actually more expensive then boxxer races only thing ive noticed is they've got the lower end hayes brakes now but you could get a set of xt's and still not spend as much (i think ? )

[atomik_mulisha]

Gday people, iv just been to my lbs having abit of a chat about the new craftworks, and hes made me an offer that i can't really refuse. Plus since he is getting one himself, and it will be in around christmas time, i'll be able to not only have a look, but have a ride on the machine. He's also offered to sell that bike to me if i like it, which i'm sure i will, and order another for himself. Now i just need to sell my Atomik, and get a credit card for a few grand as soon as i turn 18, which is new years eve :wink:

Exact 8" travel front and rear, yumm.

[creepyjoe]

sweet tell us how it rides

[acrider]

Any more news on the new craftworks S1 ?

I am very interested to hear how it rides.

With the 5th/6th element shock, pedal bob when sprinting in a DH race should be eliminated ?

How would it compare to the Ironhorse under braking given the different linkage designs ?

I ask simply because I have narrowed my choice of a new DH frame to these 2 as well if I go new.

[atomik_mulisha]

Apparently, they won't be available until the start of january now, but thats only an extra week or 2. the swinger shock would obviously perform alot better than a standard vanilla rc, but i'm not sure it could eliminate pedal bob completely, i havn't had much experience with them. Because of the sgs has a 4 bar horst linkage, brake jack is pretty much non existant, the crafty on the other hand im sure would have some brake jack, but im not really concerned and don't think it will really be an issue. The setup is obviously similar to an orange 222 or gemini, bullit etc, and the majorityt of them u seen around have no floating rear brake. A 222 owner i know says he can't notice all that much differnce between the two, definately not $800 or so worth.

I got to have a look at a pair of 888r's the other day also, and man do they look the goods, and so light aswell, they are only 84 grams heavier than a jnr t. 35mm stanchions r the shit.

Oh yeh i heard that one of grant allens riding buddies has been the test pilot that has been trying to destroy the crafty to no avail. He's apparently really impressed with it.