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Mountain Bike Help Please!!!!!

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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
I am relatively new to the sport and I need a good bike to ride Killington or any mountain like it. I was wondering what would be the best bike to use. Any extra advice would be great, thanks. Oh, and i am looking to buy a good bike not a low level shit bike.
Apr 4 2010 8:13PM
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B.Pol
Posts: 1750 - Karma: 59
Are you doing downhill or Xcountry?
Apr 4 2010 8:14PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Downhill
Apr 4 2010 8:16PM
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cclan
Posts: 742 - Karma: 19
these days, you cant really go wrong with any of the big name brands top of the line bikes.
kona bikes
specialized bikes
iron horse bikes
norco bikes
rocky mountain bikes
trek bikes


they all have goodies in the like you're looking for.


Apr 4 2010 8:18PM
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ChrisSkisChronic
Posts: 1128 - Karma: 230
Give us as much info as possible. Things like: what sort of trails you ride, your budget, height, weight, previous bikes etc
Apr 4 2010 8:19PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
More information dude, there's a massive amount of options out there.

What will you be riding - DH tracks, freeride lines, etc?
Do you prefer a bigger, stable bike, or a smaller, more chuckable bike?
Single or triple crown forks?
Any suspension preference?
Price range?
How long before you upgrade?
Height/ weight.


Also, I've never ridden Killington, so I could help more if you could post a rough idea of what the terrain is like.
Apr 4 2010 8:20PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
I am 6'2 and weigh 160lbs. I am pretty much going to be doing free-ride lines but i really don't know because i am fairly new. My price range is 2500 and below. I do not know what single or triple crown forks are so i can't say anything about that. I would like a full suspension bike. And i like them lighter.
Apr 4 2010 8:24PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 675
if it's strictly down hill you will for sure want a triple crown. The glory is a sick bike, trek makes good downhill bikes.

I ride a flat line pro, love it.

Really depends on how much you are willing to drop. You have a lot of choices.
Apr 4 2010 8:24PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
transition bottlerocket.

best price/performance ratio available imo.
Apr 4 2010 8:25PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 675
Well if you like lighter you can still use a single crown for down hill but don't do anything too gnarly with less travel you can bottom out.

Geometry, and parts all affect weight. Normally lighter parts are more money.
Apr 4 2010 8:25PM
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ReetsAdeets
Posts: 1531 - Karma: 611
Look on Craigslist and Pinkbike. I would look for a nicer bike that is a few years old, but still in good shape. Look at how the fork seals are, and the componentry. Some bikes that might be good are: Norco A-Line, Kona Stinky, Specialized Demo, Specialized Bighit, Iron Horse Sunday, 7point, ect. Anything with decent components that has been well maintained. A higher quality bike that is older but well maintained is 1000x better than a cheaper bike that is new.
Apr 4 2010 8:26PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Shit i sound like a noob when it comes to biking
Apr 4 2010 8:26PM
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turtles
Posts: 410 - Karma: 30
get a used bike off of www.pinkbike.com or some other website, you will save a ton of money and can decide whether you really enjoy the sport enough to drop 5k on a new ride.

on the other hand i am selling a 2009 intense socom with dhx 5, boxxer world cup, avid codes, and deemaxes for $2,000... you know just saying because you can buy it if you want =)
Apr 4 2010 8:28PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Thanks for the help so far and what size would i need, a large?

^^^^^^^^^ i have no idea what half that stuff is.
Apr 4 2010 8:31PM
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ReetsAdeets
Posts: 1531 - Karma: 611
Damn....nice ride.
Apr 4 2010 8:33PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
i meant transition blindside up a couple posts my bad

but... heres the deal.

you probably want at least 8" of travel.

for your rear shock you want a dhx 5.0, thats the only real option here, for forks, marzocchi, fox and rockshox all make good forks.

the rockshox boxxer is a good dh fork, you can get the team for fairly cheap, theyre fairly light, and pretty durable.

marzocchi stuff tends to be a bit, tougher and heavier, and definitely doesnt ride as nice.

fox is basically the best of the best, but theyre shits expensive.

for frames, kona is total balls, transition is good, giant is good, intense is very good (but i dont think you want to pay that much) specialized is alright, new trek stuff is pretty decent. iron horse doesnt make downhill bike anymore.

khs actually has a very good frame, they seem like a bit of an off brand, but theyre frame is identical to my diamondback, that i raced before i got hurt which was a phenomonal bike.
Apr 4 2010 8:33PM
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Cam-ron.
Posts: 427 - Karma: 54

SANTA CRUZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

other than that id say transition

Apr 4 2010 8:37PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Are there any specific models that you guys would recommend?
Apr 4 2010 8:42PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Quite a lot of this.

Boxxers are your best bet fork wise.
Transition is one of my all time favourite rides. A blindside would be a perfect bike for you and the terrain.

Or, for a burlier bike, try and pick up last season's Iron Horse Sunday, I know there's loads of them for sale here in the UK, so I assume it must be the save over there.
Apr 4 2010 8:45PM
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Skittle.
Posts: 2537 - Karma: 718
i have a flatline that i got for $2000 almost brand new, thats a great bike for freeride and downhill.  A bit heavy but still great
Apr 4 2010 8:48PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
I am looking at the Specialized Demo. I have looked at them before and it was kinda the bike i had in mind. Is this a good choice?
Apr 4 2010 8:49PM
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Skittle.
Posts: 2537 - Karma: 718

what demo is it?

Apr 4 2010 8:52PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
That i was unsure of, any advice?
Apr 4 2010 8:56PM
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ReetsAdeets
Posts: 1531 - Karma: 611
I forgot this-I have a Blindside, and it is the best DH bike I've ridden. I got mine for a killer deal totally tricked out, and if you can find one for a good deal, definitely pounce on it.
Apr 4 2010 9:08PM
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UNREAL
Posts: 3989 - Karma: 23
Trek Sessions are unreal... and rockshox/truvativ/sram components groups are the shiieettt
basically it
Apr 4 2010 9:23PM
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ChrisSkisChronic
Posts: 1128 - Karma: 230
I definitely wouldn't put a beginner DH rider on a Session. It would be dented to hell within 3 rides  
Apr 4 2010 9:41PM
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stickerman
Posts: 2043 - Karma: 147
Khs lucky 7 are the best for what u want to do.
Apr 4 2010 10:35PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
maybe rent a few bikes at killy or something, see what you like

saying you want a dh bike is like saying you want powder skis, it's a category of biking but there're tons and tons of options
Apr 4 2010 10:51PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
This.

And a Session is a bit much for a beginner, both price and handle-ability wise. The group set is very nice, but you've got to be on point on it'll own you.

A Blindside would be a really nice bike. Lightweight and nimble, but not too twitchy at high speeds, and plenty rider feedback aswell.
Apr 5 2010 5:03AM
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Boggs
Posts: 1039 - Karma: 208
ignore this. KHS=korean hunk of shit
Apr 5 2010 5:07AM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
Alright thanks for your help everyone, any extra advice is always good.
Apr 5 2010 9:11AM
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WikiWiki
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 426
little brother just bought the Foes 2.1 dh mono frameset- now he just needs a shitload of parts- aay too much money
Apr 5 2010 10:01AM
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A_Zuck
Posts: 565 - Karma: 57

YETI!!!!!!!! get the 303 RDH!!

the best donwhilling bike in my opinion... http://www.yeticycles.com/#/bikes/303RDH/1/

either that or the more basic mountain bike the 575 http://www.yeticycles.com/#/bikes/575/1/

if those dont suit you just look at different bikes theyre all made really well. all the world cup riders and whatnot are using them like Jared Graves.

Apr 5 2010 10:12AM
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UNREAL
Posts: 3989 - Karma: 23
You are correct... I shouldve said a scratch. The lower models are pretty affordable and are still amazing...
And btw they do not dent as easily as many think
Dare I say just go for a stinky? Dont get me wrong konas pretty brutal but stinkys are cheappp and will get the job done for your first years of DH.
Apr 5 2010 10:43AM
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stickerman
Posts: 2043 - Karma: 147

i have ridden mine for 3 years and have had no problems at all.  the only KHS bikes that are "korean hunk of shit" are the dj 50's and 100's

Apr 5 2010 11:19AM
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