DJ's and hardtails

This doesn't doesn't deserve it's own thread, but just wanted to say: I sacked up and took the hardtail to I Street tonight. Hit lefty 1, 2 and 3 and survived :D It wasn't really that scary or much different, just faster and less fork to save your ass. I even cased one jump and survived. Cool.

p.s. my mech brakes suck ass. I had to bail after lefty 2 cuz some kid was standing on the berm double, and I couldn't even get the bike stopped before running off the trail and mowing down some large shrubberies. Time to swap out for the hydros for sure.

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Originally Posted by Particle

p.s. my mech brakes suck ass. I had to bail after lefty 2 cuz some kid was standing on the berm double, and I couldn't even get the bike stopped before running off the trail and mowing down some large shrubberies. Time to swap out for the hydros for sure.

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Nah. Just take the time to set them up. (or make sure you have good ones) I've got hayes mechs on my dj bike and I've got no problem stopping between a set of 5 ft doubles.

Enjoy your new found pump efficiency though.

Nice. Way to sack up and on 4/20, how appropriate.


I am kind of feeling the same about mechanical discs. I had hydro on my Specialist, but my new Norco has mechanical and the response is not nearly the same. But I kind of like the no stopping power, it reminds me of my bmx style back in the day. Makes you kind of have to commit or else your fucked. Progression is the key, so do what ever you need to work that. To each his own.

just curious what mech you guys are running...

avids + good levers (paul) + 8" rotors = $$$

I have a bb7 on the front of my bike and a v-brake on the back. Work fine for me... Although the way most of the jumps are built here, if I need to bail I can ride to the side of them instead of having to stop.

Cable compression is definitely a big factor with mechanicals. Get a good compression-free jacket. I think the one I'm running is from Delta Aztec. Makes a world of difference.

I can't tell you much about mech vs hydro, but I do know that it takes way less work to jump the ht compared to the full squish. Cool that you got out on it yesterday. What about the step-up? You hit that? That's where you'll really notice the difference as you start clearing it with ease.

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Originally Posted by trainnvain

Cable compression is definitely a big factor with mechanicals. Get a good compression-free jacket. I think the one I'm running is from Delta Aztec. Makes a world of difference.

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Ooh.....that reminds me. I put 5mm shifter housing on my brake cables. It compresses less than true brake housing and and doesn't put pressure on your cables when doing barspins x-ups etc.

Nothing beats a good hydro for maching down trails but I got sick of having to bleed my front brake every time I messed with my fork or stem since I've got the front cable running through the steerer tube...... After screwing around with them enough I've gotten them to work pretty well. There's no modulation or anything, they are pretty stabby but their strong enough for fufanus and screwing around on dirtjumps. I also send my dh bike on tumbling missions without me attached more than any other bike so fixing cables is better than splitting hydro lines....

just my 0.02

Not sure what my mechs are, some crappy low-end Hayes. They came on the bike; and sure for the most part they will slow me down, but they just don't stop like what I'm used to. I've already got Hayes Mags to put on my DH bike, and then I'm going to take the old Hayes Comp hydros and throw them on the dirt jumper. Just gotta get some new shifters to work with them...there are stome stupid integrated brake/shifters on there now.

The bike has pretty low-level components but I really am enjoying that frame; it just feels super comfortable and is a blast to ride (Iron Horse Yakuza).

CS, I didn't hit the step up yet; I could hit lefties OK but my flow just hasn't come back yet, not sure what's up. I didn't want to hit the gully from the pansy side start, gotta get it from the top of the run (pride thing). Next time.

P.S. fondig I definitely agree with you, that's why I haven't changed the brakes yet; who really cares if you can stop or not in DJ's? But last night it would have come in handy.

6" avid mechanicals should be all you need... I rarely see people DJing with 8"ers or Hyrdos.

Well the mechs have been working out OK lately. Not so horrible. But I'm still gonna replace them w/ hydros :D

Anyway just wanted to post an update after getting comfy with this bike at I Street. I can't express how stoked I am to have found a burly hardtail and be riding one. It's such a cool thing - so fast through the trannys, just hauls butt. So flickable and fun. I'm as happy with this bike as any piece of gear I've ever owned - including $3k mountain bikes, Rossi Squads, and lots of other toys cuz I'm a gear slut ;) Pretty cool to have that kind of performance and enjoyment out of a budget MTB (about $500 new).

I am a one-bike-guy, and I currently ride a 575. Marshal has been trying to sell me on an Azonic Steelhead for a while, and I am just about convinced with this report.