Thread: XC weight weenie buys 1st DH bike...some ???'s

Have been riding my 22lb stumpy hardtail for the past few years (XC mostly, but some DH which it obviously was lacking on) and want to do a little lift served now that I am near some decent mountains every weekend. Looking for a first DH bike - have done lots of research and have decided I need a bike with around 7" travel front and back in the 30-40lbs range. The options I have currently on the table are:

2003 SC Bullit/Boxxer full bike - some OEM components, some upgrades (nothing special in either department) $875

2002 SC Bullit/Boxxer frameset w/ all parts to build a bike except tires, brakes, shifters, and cables (not a problem as I have a hookup to get the rest at whsle) $600+wheels, etc...

2003 Kona Stinky/Marz Drop Off Triple full bike - mostly stock $650

All are in good shape. Budget is $600-1000 max. I could also get any Specialized at wholesale plus shipping, but nothing seems to fit the bill for under $1k for that deal to work.

Any of the above options better than the others? FYI I am 165lbs, new to DH (obviously), will only be using the bike for park, lift served, etc... not looking to go uphill a long ways on it (if I was I'd be much happier on my ht), oh and short, so any other suggestions have to have pretty low standover heights.

Looking for the same strategy as my stumpy - start off with a solid frame and half decent components and then upgrade as I break things until I have exactly what I want. Any advice would be welcome...(except get a bigger budget!) Anything else I'm missing? Thanks...

#1 looks like the best deal. nice that it is all built up. used DH bikes scare me. They can be worked. Check fork, bushings, shock. None are cheap to rebuild

Bullits are amazing. I love mine. So bomber, so versatile. The first one you have on your list seems like the best deal. I agree with mtlion re used DH bikes. Have someone who knows DH bikes to look it over.

Mine

Originally Posted by mntlion

#1 looks like the best deal. nice that it is all built up. used DH bikes scare me. They can be worked. Check fork, bushings, shock. None are cheap to rebuild

I second that.

IMHO it would really be worth getting a new DH bike over those that you listed, considering their age.

So, I paid a visit to the Specialized website. When taking into account the discount you would get, this bike would end up being not much more than your upper spending limit.

If it was me, I would make it happen.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34373

I would try to shy away from used DH bikes. And if you have to go used, the newer the better, IN GENERAL

I know wheelworld has some good deals now, but youd need to raise that price by anywhere from 3-500.

Not sure what size bike you're looking for but I'd sell this: http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122231 for $700 + shipping. The fork's practically brand new, and the frame hasn't been ridden in at least two years and is in great shape.

I'll vouch for Robo, I've seen that bike and played with it. It's in GREAT shape. Be a perfect bike for someone getting into DH. Shiver=soooo forgiving and easy to work on. Bullit=easy to ride, bullet proof (for the money...no pun intended)

snowful - for some reason I didn't see the FSR 1 version - I thought that the Big Hit started a bit higher in price. I'll have to give it a ride. The 30" standover height in the smallest size might be a bit of a problem with my midget legs - 28" inseam. I'm all torso. My balls hit the frame on my 15.5" stumpy... That might work with the hookup for price, tho. I have read good things about this bike - anyone with some time on an 07 or 08 Big Hit?

robo - I took a Medium bullit out for a spin (a 2008 one, granted) this week and had the same problem with standover height. The two I was looking at were Small frames (have not seen them in person as they are 2 hours away or so), but looking at the specs, it shows something like 2/10's of an inch difference in standover height between the a small and a medium. Could you measure the standover on yours when you get a chance? Maybe the older ones were a bit shorter (fingers crossed). When you size for a DH bike, should you have a little clearance when straddling it?

Thanks for the input all.

sizing for DH bikes really isn't done like that^^^. At least I never did.

Yeah, you want some clearance there for obvious reasons but I always looked at top tube length and wheelbase.

Back when I rode a Bullet, I used it for slalom (built it light) so I went for a medium even though I'm 6'2" and like my bikes to fit big.

I did end up racing that bike downhill and it just felt a little scary at speed (not as much stability as I'd like) but worked *quite* well. As a newb to the sport it gave me lots of confidence.

I'd say coming from an XC background a medium would fit you if you are between 5'5" and 6'-something...depending on how you like bikes to fit.

The "for obvious reasons" is what I am most concerned about. Generally I prefer a smaller bike and I sized down on my stumpy for weight and flickability in techy terrain. But I could see the benefit of a larger platform for DH. But we're not talkin' just splittin' the boys when I straddled the medium 2008 Bullit (at a 29.7" standover) ... I couldn't get my feet near flat on the floor. The Big Hit is 30"+.

I'm 5'8" but with a 28" inseam (I'm all torso). I'm not looking to end up on AFV with a hilarious yet-painfully-sterilizing crotch shot. I will be using clipless (yes I'm aware of the debate, but I just don't see me going back when that's what I am most used to on road and trail) so hopefully that would keep that from happening? It doesn't look like anyone makes a bike that would have a standover I would fit over - am I wrong?

That's not going to be easy to find.

For reference, the standover on my Syren is 27.5", and it's the lowest top tube I've ever seen on a FR bike. I can't think of anything else comparably low.

why not get a 6/6 or 5/5 type AM bike instead of a DH bike?

coming from a hardtail, that will feel like a DH bike, and then you can also take it on other local XC rides you like to do?
maybe?

anyway, its just a thought

Damn more people not big enough for the Bullit, I know someone who has a med, wants a small, I myself have a large and am looking for a medium.

Snowful what Spec_ed bike can you buy for a grand discounted?

Originally Posted by SuperChief

what Spec_ed bike can you buy for a grand discounted?

I organize ski trips (it's on another thread here somewhere) and as part of a group I have taken the manager of my old local ski/bike shop to Portillo, Cham, etc... at a hugely discounted rate. Consequently, anything I want ski or bike related is at wholesale plus shipping or sometimes prodeal, depending on what it is. The way he still talks about those trips I'm pretty sure it's a deal for life.

Anyway...so what's the consensus? Does it matter that the standover height is too tall if the rest of the bike fits me? Does using clipless assure me I can still have kids in a few years? Will Big Bird ever prove Snufalufagus is real? Will my server stop kicking me out every @!!&^%!^!-ing time I try to respond to this thread?!? (we're sorry, but AT&T is having trouble doing their f-ing job today and hopes to have this resolved shortly... please be patient while we try to diagnose the problem... [/rant]

I haven't owned a bike in a while that I really have standover on.... fwiw.

check out the transition bottlerocket, 5.5" of travel, 27.5 standover height
transitionbikes.com
used one right here on TGR with a solid build: http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122329

Originally Posted by BCR

I will be using clipless (yes I'm aware of the debate, but I just don't see me going back when that's what I am most used to on road and trail) so hopefully that would keep that from happening?

I think you'll have to revisit this one once you find a bike. I thought this at one point, but now can't imagine riding clipless on many rides. You would be amazed at the traction you can get from platform pedals and the shoes designed to grip. You don't get the upstroke, but you don't slide off, and you can get back on your bike (or off your bike) in some nasty situations.

Good luck in your search. If you can get wholesale on Spec, I would say save a little more money and get something quality. I know what I do to my bikes and I'm a chick...I would be nervous about buying a 5+ yr old DH bike without knowing the previous owner.

So the bullit I have has a 29.5" standover. I'm too new to bikes to really have an opinion on the standover thing, but the thing really is in bomber condition.

Sooo...speaking of wholesale, any hooks ups for the mags out there?

Only if you spend 540,000 of your own frequent flier miles to get cheap trips with friends (and friends of friends) off the ground to Portillo, Hakuba/Niseko, NZ, Whistler, SLC, etc... Then you get paid back tenfold in legal advice, bikes and skis at cost, plumbing, and preferred plus rating on your life ins from those you take!

That SX trail is purdy sweet.

I've been riding the Bullit for a year with the kids resting on the toptube, standing flat footed. I put a taller fork on it this spring now I have to drag the kids off to the side of the top tube. I figure I'll ride it for another year and find a new frame to match the fork.