Is this a good deal?

[XtrPickels]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, fuckface.

You pain in the ass I wanted to use that line.Especially "fuckface"

[El Chupacabra]

This is awesome....so 2001.

Have long travel bikes improved in uphill-rideability that much in the past 5 years? (and by long travel I mean 5-6" trail/ freeride bikes, not 8"+ DH bikes)

Hmm. If so, I may have to go test ride some bikes. I've been riding mountain bikes since 1989, and my general thoughts on big-n-squishy bikes aren't that far off from SNPete's (though he does have some tact issues to work through). I've always thought that big travel = big weight & sloppy handling at slow speeds; i.e., uphill performance sucks.

My full-sus bike is a 4" travel Yeti XC bike, and though it works pretty well up & down, I actually prefer my HT Dean for most rides. I don't jump off anything big though, and I like climbing.

Anyway, that Heckler sounds pretty nice for the $ -- go check it out and make sure it's not thrashed. If you're not a bike gearhead, bring someone with you who is, to help go over the bike with you. Used bikes are pretty easy to check out in person -- you can tell the condition of pretty much everything from visual inspection, spinning the wheels by hand (bearings OK, wheels true, etc.), stuff like this.

[marshalolson]

el c, FWIW - i am for sure a hardtail afficianado (i heart fat chance, ibis, yeti bonti, etc.). that said i am about to drop $$$ on a 7" front / 6" rear setup for general trail use. go ride an intense 5.5 or something like that. it'll blow your doors off.

[Crinkle]

wow SNPete is an elitist ass. Don't you think most of us have spent our time growing up riding rigids and hardtails? We aren't all young wipper snappers. If they were so great, we'd still be on them, oh, but maybe we are just suckers for good marketing and dig dropping cashola on suspension bikes.
puh-lease, ride a bike with pro-pedal or get a rear lock out so you can have your precious hardtail on the ride up, i'll meet you up there, while i am lugging my 28 lb 5" trailbike. If you dig getting your ass pounded (as i am sure you do by the sassy-fancy pants attitude of your posts) keep on riding that hardtail and enjoy it big daddy, while i blast the downhills with precision and speed that can't be matched.

kisses
crinkle

[Speedfreak]

Actually the term was fuckin' wimp and it was in regards to one's bike skills, not choice of skis. I appreciate accurate quotes, not some paraphrase. No doubt you feel the same way. My choice of ski should not concern you, unless you are asking my opinion regarding an inpending purchase.

If you don't like Metrons then don't buy one. Agreed???

Wimp = pussy. Whatever, deal with it. I'd appreciate you shutting the fuck up too, but I'm dealing with it. And your choice of ski makes me inclined to ignore your opinion on any gear purchase. As far as this being an "odd and judgmental" place, it really isn't...unless you're a complete douchebag, because people here don't like douchebags. Hence, you are being flamed.

I have always felt that one's ability and skill is more impotant than the type of ski or brand or type of bike that a person uses.

Me too, but if Peter Forsberg showed up to a game in pink figure skates, people would laugh and call him a fairy too, so what's your point?

Edit for additions...

[flowtron]

Have long travel bikes improved in uphill-rideability that much in the past 5 years? (and by long travel I mean 5-6" trail/ freeride bikes, not 8"+ DH bikes)

My full-sus bike is a 4" travel Yeti XC bike, and though it works pretty well up & down, I actually prefer my HT Dean for most rides. I don't jump off anything big though, and I like climbing.

Actually, yes. With new suspension designs (VPP, DW, Maverick) and refinements of classic, proven designs (Horst Link, Ellsworth's ICT) and vast advancements in suspension technology (platform damping; reliable, adjustable travel forks) that improve the performance of the above mentioned designs as well as single pivot/walking beam designs (Kona and everything that looks like it) 5-6 travel bikes are the shit at the moment. The shop I work at pretty much specializes in boutique-y trail bikes/custom builds, we've built some impressive traill bikes this spring. Not nec. cheap, but siiiiick. I.E: Ellsworth Epiphany with Maverick DUC 32 fork, Sram XO, Magura Martas....a 6/5" bik that weighs in around 25/26 lbs. Those things are rockets, Ellsworth's ICT pedals amazingly well, it blows the doors off Specialized's Horst link bikes IMHO.
Are you on a Yeti Kokopelli or something? That bike was an ok start, but super flexy. Their 575 is a longer travel, stiffer, more refined version if that bike, that when paired with a Fox RP3 makes for a super fun ride. A fair number of people have that bike on this board.
So, yeah. The industry is finally getting things figured out. Its like a Golden Age of 5" trail bikes at the moment.

[marshalolson]

cummon now flow... outland ruled it w/ vpp back in the day

[flowtron]

cummon now flow... outland ruled it w/ vpp back in the day

I know ....I figured I wouldn't muddle it up with that. I sometimes have a problem with brevity.

We have 2 pieces of an Outland rear end lying on the floor of our nasty employee pisser....took me 4 months to even notice what they were, but I'm not touching them w/out some bleach.

I honestly don't even really like VPP, but to each their own.

[El Chupacabra]

Are you on a Yeti Kokopelli or something? That bike was an ok start, but super flexy. Their 575 is a longer travel, stiffer, more refined version if that bike, that when paired with a Fox RP3 makes for a super fun ride.

I have the Kokopelli with Yeti's "superlight" kit... strictly XC oriented. I took off the SID fork (way too flexy and maybe 1" of travel) and replaced it with a Manitou Minute 2, which really improved the suspension balance. I don't think it's noodly, but this is in comparison to some very old suspension designs (Pro Flex, AMP, etc.) -- I haven't tried any FS designs that were new in the past 2-3 years.

[El Chupacabra]

go ride an intense 5.5 or something like that. it'll blow your doors off.

I'll go shopping.... thanks marshal.

[marshalolson]

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/bik/156633273.html

yo elc- here is a cheap heckler you should look at. sweet bike at a good price.

[Greguar]

Tell ya what. You respect my riding style and I'll respect yours.

SNPete no one here gives a shit what you have to say, you're a closed minded gaping retard. Follow the above advice and post on epicski. FYI I raced xc on hard tails for 10 years, I am now on a 28 pound FS with adjustable travel from 4"-6" front and 4"-5 1/4" rear. I can ride longer and faster on that thing out here than any hardtail I have ridden. FYI Your 30-40 mile rides are for pussies....nothing to brag about......and those B3s are not powder skis, my B4s are good for nothing but tracked out resort days.

[Shepherd Wong]

Sounds like a good bike for what you describe. I think it's an ok deal but maybe you could try to talk him down a little on the price.

[bagtagley]

And budget for a new rear shock, or have the existing one Push'd.

[Rontele]

You have to love the maggots. SNPete has learned the cruel reality of our little corner of the interweb.

This thread is classic. "Epic" like SNPete's 30 miles rides.

edit: page top on SNPete's PWNDing

[homerjay]

SNPete: You never know who you're talking to here, but I can tell you for sure that some of the people you're insulting have done far more with bikes in their lives than you have, which is why nobody is really impressed with your accomplishments. People are even less impressed with your lack of tact.

Also, I used to feel the same way not 6 months ago re: hardtails, climbing, XC, etc.....until I bought my Flux.

[Crinkle]

I have seen the light

not that it matters you smoked on a hardtail, you are probably evil now with the FS set up.

[Particle]

This thread is classic. I think the guy is long gone