mtb ?

[natty dread]

I'm in the process of buying a mtb (haven't had one in 10 years) and I'm already cornfused by all the models/specs/components out there. Any suggestions on a good, solid full suspension bike for pnw singletrack (no extreme jumping or crazy DH stuff) or a website with some good advice on this? tanks.

[altachic]

Yeah Natty Dread!! This is great news...I love my bike. I'd say something full suspension w/ disc brakes and all that fun stuff, blah, blah, blah...
Edit: I have a Giant DS1

[Theodore]

Just check out the stuff on Specialized, Trek, GT's websites. I have a Santa Cruz and love it, but they are a little pricey-er. What pricce range are you looking at? Check out http://www.mtbreview.com Hope it helps.

Ted

[CS]

How much you looking to spend?

Go with a dually.

Specialized are always solid. As are Trek, Kona, Gary Fisher.

[Telephil]

www.konaworld.com

Nothing else you need to know.

Even more specific.

Dawg Primo, there you go.

[natty dread]

Prolly 2-3K, maybe slightly more, I want a bike I can keep as my skills develop.
Thanks you guys, keep the suggestions coming. I like to hear about good first-hand experiences with specific bikes from the maggots.

[CS]

Just get this and be happy the rest of your days.

http://www2.santacruzmtb.com/picker2..._trr_trr47.jpg

Edit: seriously, in that price range, check out SantaCruz. Kick-ass bikes made by a solid company. Plus, you get to pick your color.

Go to: http://www.santacruzmtb.com/home.asp

[Viva]

Natty, check out Rivercity Bikes- absolutely first-rate help there.

Also, you may want to visit the Dork at US Outdoor as she used to work at a pretty good bike shop in Seattle. I got a used Surly single speed mtb last summer. Very nice!

[natty dread]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CS
Just get this and be happy the rest of your days.

Which model of SC is that one?

[CS]

It's the VP free. Somthing like 8 or 9 inches of travel. Ok, kind of too much, but it's just so damn sexy.
Check out the Heckler. It's got 5" and is a solid bike. I've got the Bullit (7") and love it.

[DaveTV]

Not that we want to promote Primedia..
But you'll be familiar with the interface anyways..

[altachic]

I like your style CS! Natty-Take his advice, he rips on a bike...mmmm, yeah!

[snow_slider]

If you don't want to buy a used bike (used propably a bad idea when considering full suspension), and you don't want to spend more than a grand or so, I'd recommend a hardtail. Toy'll get WAY more bang for the buck in that price range. If you don't mind spending more than a grand, then FS is the way to go.

While this is totally subjective, you'll probably want:
- at least 3-4 inches of suspension in back
- at least 100-120 mm of suspension in front
- disc brakes (much better for wet weather riding)
- at least Deore level components (anything under that level won't hold up to hard riding in wet or muddy conditions)
- total bike weight of 30 pounds or less (anything more will feel like a boat anchor on those long fireroad climbs)
- air shock in back is nice and light, but coil/oil provides MUCH better ride

PNW riding needs a bit slacker steering geometry than the twisty trails on the East coast require. Kona is a great company to look at and I believe Telephil already mentioned the Dawg series, which is a good one.

Santa Cruz also makes some great frames and the bikes can be built up with fairly custom spec (you can add any fork to create the geometry you want and you can choose from several component groups).

Giant also makes some good bikes. Both the VT series and the AC series are worthy of consideration. The AC series will be a bit heavier, but offer coil/oil rear suspension to the VT's Aair shocks.

I don't know much about current Specialized bikes, so I can't comment.

I'd hold off on GT. They were bought out by Pacific and I'm waiting to see where all the cards fall before recommending them to anyone. The iDrives are great bikes, but I'm concerned about the availablity of parts for them.

[hev]

it sounds like you want what I consider a "trail bike". good for all around riding, and equivalent to skiing a "mid-fat"

IMO a good all around trail bike has

4-5" front and rear
disk brakes
possible rear lock out
triple chainring.
strong parts
probably weighs around 30lbs

a bike like this will be good on long rides, but also able to take some lift serviced/shuttling punishment. I tend to like my stuff to be bit stronger than light, but it depends on what you expect to do.

my opinions...

specialized, santa cruz and kona rock. they tend to build their bikes on the heavy strong side, but they offer some great light weight models. the specialized epic is supposed to be a killer all around bike, but is a little light for my taste. I also like Giants but don't like GT or trek much.

maverick makes the utlimate light trail bike. they have a 5" bike that weighs under 25 with thier fork on it. alot of people drool over this bike, but I wouldn't ride. waay to light.

...anyways, read up a bit. decide what kind of riding your gonna do and most importantly buy it from a bike shop you know and trust. make sure they fit the bike well, and give you free tunes for at least a year. save some budget for after you buy it, cus your gonna want new pedals, shoes, and tires quick, and garunteed you break something.

[AK G-Dog]

I have an older Santa Cruz Heckler and LOVE IT! Best bike I have ever ridden. Rock solid bike from a rock soild company.

I did a ton of research prior to buying mine and it all pointed towards Santa Cruz. Several of the mags and websites have said they are the best bang for the buck.

Check 'em out you will not be dissapointed.

[cab9]

The santa cruz bikes are sick, and can handle punishment. I think a bike thats a bit more bang for your buck is a Norco. I am not too sure if they are available in the States but head up to Vancouver and take advantage of your dollar. Take a look at their site www.norco.com and check out the vps shore series, built super strong.
Another cool but small company is Transition Bikes out of Seattle, good guys with a great product, their site is www.transitionbikes.com but it is down right now.

[DB]

I've got one of these http://www.rivercitybicycles.com/pro...roducts_id=277 but with uprated brakes and Fox forks, fantastic handling, front and back shock lockout and just a shade heavier than bikes that are twice the price.

Here's this years model ....
http://bikesourceonline.com/site/ite...2343&Catalog=1

Another option (also own an older non-quad version), great do it all bike.
http://www.bikemagic.com/news/articl...N=3577&SP=&V=1

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by CS
It's the VP free. Somthing like 8 or 9 inches of travel. Ok, kind of too much, but it's just so damn sexy.
Check out the Heckler. It's got 5" and is a solid bike. I've got the Bullit (7") and love it.

mmmm...nine inches....of travel! i do like the looks of the new vpp.

another bullit rider here. i love mine.
http://forums13.consumerreview.com/c...zF.49@.efc61aa

[Big E]

I'm with hev, sounds like the all-purpose sorta ride is what you're looking for. I bought a Rocky Mountain Edge about 2 years ago, been pretty happy with it (other than the fact that I suck at adjusting the shifting mechanism, but that's not the bike's fault), haven't had any durability issues despite bailing numerous times.

From what I've read, people either love or hate RM bikes, but it felt like the best compromise between a bike that could take some big hits and still not leaving sucking gas on a more cross-country type ride.

Also kinda cool that their bikes are handmade in BC and are signed by all the various welders and wheel builders that put it together.

[365wp]

I love my Dean.

[schuss]

for a more XC focus, the FSR's rip. My dad has one (rides 10-12 miles every day in the summer, spring and fall) and absolutely loves every part of it. I've taken it out a few times and its sweet, extremely nimble.

[board]

If you haven't ridden in 10 years I say you start with a hardtail 1st it will make you a better rider. If you have to go full suspension and can spend 3k, then it's a no brainer get a santa cruz blur.

[shmerham]

I've got a Specialized Stumpy FSR. I f-ing love it on the northeast twisties. It sucks on stepdowns though. So, it might not be a good pnw bike.

My friend has a Jamix XLT 2. It's a sweet ride, but still kinda ne-ish.

RM's are designed and built in BC; so you know they're gonna ride well where you are. A lot of people tout the durability of their frames. I think your size is a key to the framemaker. I'm only 145 and I've never broken a frame before; so I don't forsee having a foreign built specialized being a problem.

This is very subjective but fox shox rox. They're so nice.

Do plenty of research on tires. That's probably gonna be the first new thing you want. There's a decent chance you may just want to trash what's on the bike.

[natty dread]

Once again, thanks for all the info! I appreciate you guys taking the time. I'm with hev, generally I prefer my gear to be burly, even if it means it's a bit heavier.
Anyone have an opinion on rear suspensions? I've read about Fox and 5th Element and specialized's "brain"--are there others that lock out/don't bob on the climbs?

[board]

once again no brainer...get the Blur with the 5th element best set up going !