Wanting to get into DH riding

[17 Jnr]

Hi everyone.

I'm wanting to get into DH riding and would like to know a bit about what i need to look for in a bike. I'm 90kgs and 6' 4" tall so i'd like some advice on type of bike and size etc.

Budget is about $3,000 give or take.

Looking forward to reading your suggestions and feedback.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Tonylslav.]

Get a norco.
haha

i pmed you bud.

 

[17 Jnr]

I'm looking for a full suspension bike.

A few of these look ok:

Intense M3
Giant Glory DH1
Norco Atomik
Cannondale Perp1 or 2
IronHorse sunday elite/world cup
Scott Gambler DH20 (i can get one of these new for about $4,000 but it is more than i want to spend)

Any help would be great thanks as i know very little about DH bikes and what to look for.

Cheers

 

[mic9754]

IronHorse sunday elite/world cup are a lot more than 3,000

 

[allan_key]

Hi everyone.

I'm wanting to get into DH riding and would like to know a bit about what i need to look for in a bike. I'm 90kgs and 6' 4" tall so i'd like some advice on type of bike and size etc.

Budget is about $3,000 give or take.

Looking forward to reading your suggestions and feedback.

Cheers

Steve

Hey Steve,

First note great to see you trying to get into to DownHill,

With a bugget of about $3000.00 your options are fairly large.

Desiding upon what brand bike, what model and what size frame. You have a number of opions in this area, We will start by brand and model.

For this head to the DownHill section here on Farkin. :http://www.farkin.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12 there are plenty of people asking and comparing on what bike is best etc etc, if your having trouble also use Search. You will find almost every single brand and model have been compared before.

Also if you have friends who already ride DownHill ask to have a ride of there rigs to get an idea of what you might like to buy.

Once you have found your brand and model you need a size, You local bike shop is a great place to start, ring round and find if they have the bike your after in stock so you can get a feel of what size will suit you best.

The Size will also depends on your style of riding and what your comfortable with, I'm 6 foot and ride a small frame but thats just me i like it that way, you will probly find a Medium or Large frame will suit you tho.

Have a cruise through the complete DownHill bikes in the For sale section here : http://www.farkin.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=104

There is nothing wrong with a second hand bike and you can find some ripper deals.

When shopping second hand find out what size the previous owner is so you can get a good idea how it will compare to you.


If possible ask someone who has the bike your looking for to get a feel of how it will suit you plenty of people are willing to help you out so dont feel afriad to ask.

Suggestions for what bikes may suit you:
(links underneath are just a few from the for sale section that you might want to look at)

Norco: Team dh, Atomik, Six
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=160256
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=160575

Kona: Stinky, Stab


Iornhorse: Sunday (have to look second hand)

Giant: Glory Dh0
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=161470
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=156788

Morewood: Izumu
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=161454

Santa Cruz: Vp free, V10


Specialized: Bighit, Demo 8 or 9, Sx trail
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=159725
http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=160265


Hope this makes it a bit easyer for you and have answered your question

Cheers, Michael

 

[Jzx90]

Based on your height I would say you will definately need to look for a Large size in downhill bikes. I bought my intense in a medium and i'm 6'2" however i prefer a smaller frame.

If you are willing to look at second hand bikes you will have a much larger range to choose from and it's not a bad option as long as you check over them thoroughly.

From what I have ridden I would highly recommend checking out Santa Cruz V10 if you can find any along with Giant Glory DH0 as the giant is really highly specc'd for the money.

Hope this was helpful

Cheers
Jamie

 

[17 Jnr]

Thanks a lot allan_key and Jzx90 for your imput.

I will take your advice michael and have a ride on a few of my mates bikes even if they are not the right size etc. You never know i might like a smaller bike but from my limited riding experience i think a larger bike for my size will suit me but i could be pleasantly surprised.

There are soooooo many bike brands out there that seem to be good but mostly it does come back to a select few like the V10 and Giant glory DH0 and Intense M3's etc so i will try to find a good 2nd hand one.

What should i be looking for if i'm buying a second hand bike? I'm reading a lot about cracked frames etc. Where do they normally crack? I'm aware that each brand could be different.

In the scheme of things i know 3K is not a lot to spend on a bike especially when you can get bikes for around the 10K and above mark but i want to get something resonably good and if i love it as much as i think i will i can upgrade in a year or so.

Just don't want to get something that is not up to the task and end up hating it!!!!

Thanks again Boys.

Steve

Based on your height I would say you will definately need to look for a Large size in downhill bikes. I bought my intense in a medium and i'm 6'2" however i prefer a smaller frame.

If you are willing to look at second hand bikes you will have a much larger range to choose from and it's not a bad option as long as you check over them thoroughly.

From what I have ridden I would highly recommend checking out Santa Cruz V10 if you can find any along with Giant Glory DH0 as the giant is really highly specc'd for the money.

Hope this was helpful

Cheers
Jamie

 

[Bacca]

Steve, if I was starting over again and I knew then what I know now I'd be having a good look at a 2009 Norco Atomik. At $2750 you'll have some change to put towards some 5.10's and full face lid. Since the economy went to poo there is really nothing else around at this price with this spec unless you had a good search and found some '08 stock laying around somewhere.The 09 Atomik is basically last years Team DH frame. I ride the '08 Team DH and love it. I'm riding a M/L size frame and am 186cm and am around 100kg with gear and a back full of water and spares.

http://tbsm.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_15_18&products_id=833

You may read about some issues with Norco frames cracking at the top shock mount. This problem plagued the early models of this frame design and it has since been rectified with extra bracing around this area.

 

[17 Jnr]

Thanks Bacca. Yeah i saw those Norco Atomik's and thought they looked good value for money.

Another question, I can get a GT DHI Team for close to what i want to spend but there are good reviews and bad reviews. I'm thinking of getting one of them and replacing the forks with Fox 40's and the rear shock to a DHX 5.0 Coil over.

What are the thoughts on this idea guy's?

Thanks

Steve, if I was starting over again and I knew then what I know now I'd be having a good look at a 2009 Norco Atomik. At $2750 you'll have some change to put towards some 5.10's and full face lid. Since the economy went to poo there is really nothing else around at this price with this spec unless you had a good search and found some '08 stock laying around somewhere.The 09 Atomik is basically last years Team DH frame. I ride the '08 Team DH and love it. I'm riding a M/L size frame and am 186cm and am around 100kg with gear and a back full of water and spares.

http://tbsm.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_15_18&products_id=833

You may read about some issues with Norco frames cracking at the top shock mount. This problem plagued the early models of this frame design and it has since been rectified with extra bracing around this area.

 

[dhDRucer]

.

Your budget is great!

If you get a second hand bike you will be able to get something really nice.Just look aruond the for sale section.

 

[rhysdabeast]

yea great budget. you can get and awsome second hand bike for under that and still have enough for all the gear.

have a look at a giant dh 1 or 0
norco a line
speacilized big hit

 

[allan_key]

James,

Yes you will probly find that a larger frame will suit you but just keep a open mind i guess when it comes to size.

Cracks in frames, basicly check every weld, that saves any chance of you missing a crack. around the BB and the Shock mounts are two common places.

The Atomik is a pretty good idea i over looked the 08 and 09, brand new saves alot of trouble as your the first owner and know the full history of the bike.

Cheers Michael

 

[mace2109]

Sheez Allan, awesome replies!! absolutely N1

Bacca, your bike is sweet, I actually rode the 08 Atomik at my LBS, and it was plush, just didn't fit my all mountain spec, and it cost shitloads more (6 mths ago) than this 09 model you have linked to, for very similar specs....nice bike. Yeh I would seriously consider this so long as I felt comfortable on it. I reckon it depends on what is available to you at the time though. You may find a sweet little second hand hardly ridden bargain that you take a chance on, or you go new....either way, spend as much as you can afford, don't look back and think, aww if only I had spent $400 more I could have got this....