XC geek wants trail/freeride bike

[PJG]

I'm looking for a ~5-6" travel, somewhat inexpensive trail bike I can beat on so I don't have to ride my harsh sissy delicate xc race bike. I don't really no what to look for- Giant VT? Bullit? Any ideas? Have anything close to sell, or know of any?
Thanks- P

[Darkside]

Giant Reign, hands down the best bang for the buck and a great riding bike to boot. Reign 3 = $1600 Reign 2 = $2200.

[Beaver]

Rockey Mt. Slayer is a great all mountain bike. 5" front and rear. Next year it will have 6" f & r. It is called an all mountain bike but I freeride mine quite nicely.

You might also want to consider the Rockey Mt Switch.

www.bikes.com

[CS]

I'm looking for a ~5-6" travel, somewhat inexpensive trail bike I can beat on so I don't have to ride my harsh sissy delicate xc race bike. I don't really no what to look for- Giant VT? Bullit? Any ideas? Have anything close to sell, or know of any?
Thanks- P

There's only, I don't know, around 30 bikes to choose from with the info you've given us.

If you already have an xc bike, why go in between? Get at least 7" and have more fun.

ASX
Bullit
Transition Dirtbag

to name a few.

[Kabuki_259]

As a converted XC and Road Weenie I had the same dilemma that you face presently. I was going to build up a Heckler with Sub-par parts but then a salesman pointed me towards to the Kona Coiler. I was a bit suspect, not knowing anything about Kona's.

However the price was great, $1480 (10% off) for a 6"travel bike, and decent components, at least a lot better than I was going to put on a Heckler Frame at 1150$ (for the frame.) And they have several different versions of the Coiler depending on Cash, 2006 they came out with the Coilair, with the long travel air shock.

So far I have loved every minute of the Coiler (except for all the pinch flats, but now I have downhill tubes, problem solved), it’s just a Pig going uphill, so watching XC guys roll past me was not easy at first, but the fun I had coming down was so worth the peeing contest up the hill. It climbs well, it is just a little heavy, but it opened up my downhill ability and fun to a whole another level, just ask Fondigely, cause he gets smoked every time I ride with him.

[fondigley]

It climbs well, it is just a little heavy, but it opened up my downhill ability and fun to a whole another level, just ask Fondigely, cause he gets smoked every time I ride with him.

You were always fast, now you are fast down the hill too, which was a shocker to me, since I hadn't ridden with you in about 4 years prior to last month.

As for getting a fun trail bike, I would check the net for a used bike to get into the sport. That is what I did at first to break in to the sport of long travel. I think Ridemonkey, pinkbike, mtbr or ebay usually have good deals on a number of bikes. I found my first freeride bike on ebay, but because I got scammed before, I asked the guy if I could pick it up from him and pay him then. No problems were had, just had to drive 8 hours to spend a couple of grand on a bike, but has been worth it ever since. That is where my addiction to Tony's bikes came from, back in 2001, when I drove from WV to NJ one morning. Some people just don't like buying used, but for me that didn't matter much. I knew I was buying a bike to beat the shit out of.

Good luck, cause like CS said there are many to choose from.