A Reign will definitely get you to the top of most hills (including Stromlo) and getting back down will be a lot of fun. I have raced xc on my reign 1 and have just got back from Stromlo. The reign will handle some downhill but its strengths are in having the option of riding other types of terrain (All Mountain).
Riding the bike while not freeriding/dh!
- Thread starter Borizuka
- Start date
aidz44
Likes Dirt
i'd have to go against that, i ride mine DH, and it goes like a champ (for sale if you really want it). the HA is rather close to alot of other DH bikes that i've been looking at but just doesn't have the travel for hard core DH.
4dabush
Likes Dirt
I love my 2008 norco six 2.
Dunno the tracks you're used to, but Cairns has some good hills
... raise the seat, wind the forks down and plod to the top of most hills, then forks back up and seat down and have fun. I ride badly both xc and dh and its good for both here, really fun, does everything i want. Its never going to be a race bike, but doesn't sound like thats what you want anyway.
Looks like the Six has been dropped for 2010 too, so you might need to hunt around a bit. I'm 173cms and 80kgs...if that helps - so no whippet.
For general riding its really comfy. Bit of pedal bob in the big ring, but it all but disapears in the granny. And as i'm old its HEAPS better than my mates hardtails on the same tracks. i had a chance to ride a few mates different hardtail setups (and serious DH rigs) and the Six fatigues me heaps less...and when its too steep going up, i aint too proud to walk! Big drops/chutes need you way back over the back wheel, but i haven't found anything i can't follow outright DH bikes on, just got to be a bit more gentle; thats probably making me ride better.
good luck
Dunno the tracks you're used to, but Cairns has some good hills
... raise the seat, wind the forks down and plod to the top of most hills, then forks back up and seat down and have fun. I ride badly both xc and dh and its good for both here, really fun, does everything i want. Its never going to be a race bike, but doesn't sound like thats what you want anyway. Looks like the Six has been dropped for 2010 too, so you might need to hunt around a bit. I'm 173cms and 80kgs...if that helps - so no whippet.
For general riding its really comfy. Bit of pedal bob in the big ring, but it all but disapears in the granny. And as i'm old its HEAPS better than my mates hardtails on the same tracks. i had a chance to ride a few mates different hardtail setups (and serious DH rigs) and the Six fatigues me heaps less...and when its too steep going up, i aint too proud to walk! Big drops/chutes need you way back over the back wheel, but i haven't found anything i can't follow outright DH bikes on, just got to be a bit more gentle; thats probably making me ride better.
good luck
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Dante666
Likes Dirt
Think about getting something like an Empire 5, Bass or Intense Slopestyle, can have big forks, plenty of travel and they're designed to pedal well (kinda important in Slopestyle) and then get a travel adjustable fork like a fox 36, air shock with a blowoff valve nd lockout and your set. single chainring with a large range casette (sp?) will get you up almost any hill.
my $0.02
my $0.02
Downhill Domination
Captyvate Media
Amen to that my friend!
Tallman
Likes Dirt
Hell nah!
I've ridden down Stromlo before, then ridden along the firetrail and back up the sealed road to the top of the hill several times one day. Wasn't fun whilst riding up, but once I was there up the top again I was stoked! I was on my old Shore so whilst it is no DH bike as such, I still had 7" of travel, and 22kg of bike....
And so in conclusion, get a 6 or 7 inch travel bike me thinks, I loved it whilst I rode my Shore. Used to go out and do a local 9km XC loop too that had several mutha farker hills on it.
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hey guys. kinda new to the forums and just thought id add my bit. i ride an 09 specialized stumpjumper comp. this baby takes me everywhere. i ride in townsville and the stumpy climbs all the single track i can point it at and it takes hits like a champ on the mega rocky dh. best bag of pennies i ever spent.
cheers.
cheers.
as others have mentioned the ironhorse is a dh bike no matter what the iron horse website says, i was in the same position as you and thorght yeah freeride will be better for riding around. ummmm nope, id rather pedal a dh bike around all day then my freeride bike. the weight of a freeride bike aint fun.
if you are gonna be doing decent sized drops jumps, and proper freeriding then yes a freeride bike would be the best choice how ever if you ride stromlo and mainly use the bike for dh then i would go with a dh bike.
dh bikes can be very light compared to you beefy freeride riggs and the difference in push runs and pedaling really shows if you riding all day.
if you are gonna be doing decent sized drops jumps, and proper freeriding then yes a freeride bike would be the best choice how ever if you ride stromlo and mainly use the bike for dh then i would go with a dh bike.
dh bikes can be very light compared to you beefy freeride riggs and the difference in push runs and pedaling really shows if you riding all day.
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Bjorn
Likes Dirt
I'm pretty happy with my Norco-X6 frame I picked up for cheap. I've built it up with a Fox Talas fork and a triple chainring.
The single pivot makes it a little harsh in the rear end, but I wanted the ease of maintenance of only two bearings. Trust me, when you shell out for 8 bearings for a Santa Cruz you'll know what I mean.
The forks are only 32 mm so they flex a bit under duress. A bigger front end with 36mm stauncions would be nicer with 160/170mm travel to soak things up.
That said, it makes a great, simple to maintain playbike, that can be ridden to the top of the hill and bombed back down.
I'll add my support to those who've recommended the Reign. A couple of friends have the Giant, which does everything the Haro does but is faster and comfier down hill. One of these guys took 8th in sport at the Yackandandah round of the VICDH series last weekend, so you can assume they are a capable bike.
The single pivot makes it a little harsh in the rear end, but I wanted the ease of maintenance of only two bearings. Trust me, when you shell out for 8 bearings for a Santa Cruz you'll know what I mean.
The forks are only 32 mm so they flex a bit under duress. A bigger front end with 36mm stauncions would be nicer with 160/170mm travel to soak things up.
That said, it makes a great, simple to maintain playbike, that can be ridden to the top of the hill and bombed back down.
I'll add my support to those who've recommended the Reign. A couple of friends have the Giant, which does everything the Haro does but is faster and comfier down hill. One of these guys took 8th in sport at the Yackandandah round of the VICDH series last weekend, so you can assume they are a capable bike.
Thanks for the tips guys.
I ended up getting a good deal on a Norco Fluid LT2 a few weeks ago.
So far I am pretty happy with it. It can handle most of the things i need it to. It can handle going up to the top of stromlo ok, and can handle going down, and jumps/drops. I even did 4 hours straight around Sparrow Hill.
I am sure the Reign will be very similar.
I ended up getting a good deal on a Norco Fluid LT2 a few weeks ago.
So far I am pretty happy with it. It can handle most of the things i need it to. It can handle going up to the top of stromlo ok, and can handle going down, and jumps/drops. I even did 4 hours straight around Sparrow Hill.
I am sure the Reign will be very similar.
GrantOner
Squid
Banshee Rune
The Fluid LT sounds like a good choice... If you feel like a change I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND a Banshee Rune...
I'm running Lyrick solo airs up front and dhx 5 air rear, no carbon parts all pretty heavy duty components and still under 15kg with pedals. Climbs like a dream and descends even better...
The Fluid LT sounds like a good choice... If you feel like a change I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND a Banshee Rune...
I'm running Lyrick solo airs up front and dhx 5 air rear, no carbon parts all pretty heavy duty components and still under 15kg with pedals. Climbs like a dream and descends even better...
Barrington
Likes Dirt
About a month ago I tried to ride from my house to some dirt tracks on a mongoose black diamond triple, ended up riding literally 20 km's on road up and down slopes to get there, took us about 2.5 hrs. This bike is meant to be good for pedalling, but i was still soooo screwed from the ride. Spent 2.5hrs riding to the destination, spent 15 mins at the destination then went home because I was so dead. I have one thing to say...never ever in my entire life will i do that again.
muvro
Likes Dirt
That's what I'm in the process of doing.
Made my Norco 6 a bit burlier for light FR, it's still very ridable on trails, but it is an effort on steeper hills. I'm in the process of building an XC bike for commuting, trail riding etc. Much easier and don't have to keep unbolting my wheels and changing them for commuting etc.
MrSafety
Likes Dirt
I've ridden my Sunday around as a XC bike. it's not fast, but it's not that bad either I even overtook a lycra sporting whippet up one of the bigger hills... If i were you I'd probably get a AM bike, they're pretty much what your looking for.
Edit: just relised this thread is more than a page long, oops
Edit: just relised this thread is more than a page long, oops
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