Suggestions On A Good Mountain Bike
 

I have been meaning to pick up a good bike ever since I moved to Vancouver. However I am pretty out of the loop when it comes to what is good and what is bad these days.

I'm basically looking for a good bike I can boot around Stanley Park on as well as take every once in a blue moon out to more aggressive trails around Vancouver and possibly Whistler. I'm 6"0, 200+ pounds so I need something that can accomodate a larger guy.

Anyways I'm not looking for an el cheepo bike but I don't want to spend $5k either. Can someone point me in the right direction on what bike would be suitable for me and or a good store in Vancouver that I could pick up a nice bike from.

Thanks in advance,
DH

Cannondale

=)

Specialized is the only way to go!!!!!
Trust me!!! Most reliable and best price wise!!
Come down and see me I can hook you up with a good deal!!
My buddy works in a shop they cary all kinds of different ones
but for what you and I would use em for Specialized is the way to go

i spent about $1500 on a bike a couple of months ago. good shocks, front and back and hydralic disc brakes. very happy

I heard from a friend that owns one of these that they are very good.

DH

mine's a 'giant'

Hehe that is a suprise :winkwink:

DH

I really don't like Specialized, but that's my opinion. The recommendation on Cannondales is pretty good, but they use A LOT of in house components and some people are picky about that. Almost everything is their brand.

I used to to race on the amateur circuit until about two years ago (when I was still in shape). How much do you want to spend? You can get a nice bike for $500-600 that has the same frame as some of the higher end models, and you can upgrade the parts on it if you need to.

I'd stick to a cro-mo frame at your size, aluminum flexes a lot and isn't nearly as stiff. Titanium is probably more than you want to spend.

Check out http://www.mtbreview.com and read up a lot on some of the bikes on there. In the sub-$1000 market you'll get a much better deal on a hard-tail (front suspension only) than you will on a full-suspension. You can find full-suspensions for that price, but the component set will suck.

What type of riding do you want to do and what's your price range? I can make some good recommendations.

Cannondale on the OPTIMO frame. Is one of the Best Bikes I have come across? I am 220 and 5 10 this bike is supported by Double butted alloy, is Super light weight and has a perfectly made Hourglass-shaped seat.


http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/inno...optimo_mtn.jpg :thumbsup

hey DH
u know that store burrard st / pacific on the corner down the hill right before the bridge on burrard ?
Check that place out :thumbsup

I live a 5 min walk from that place, I think I might drop by today. :)

DH

KONA.

i have a ficher mt tam, kicks ass

something titanium
rock shox judys

hydraulic breaks
shimano gears

Mark, I have a Kona Roast sitting here 2 doors away from you.

Someone owed me money and gave me the bike in lieu. It retails for $1600 and I will sell for $875. It has been hardly used at all as my friend works for Kona and it came straight out of their head office as they had it as a demo when the model came out (its a 2002).


SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
USA $1299.00
CANADA $1799.00
UK £1100.00
EUROPE ?1499.00


The Roast is our most advanced dirt jumping Kona with a collection of parts and accessories that place it above other bikes
within the dirt-jumping kingdom. Roast is for when flying through the air and scaring the socks off yourself as an everyday after school treat?
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
Frame sizes
Frame tubing
Fork
Headset
Crankarms
Chainring
B/B
Pedals
Chain
Freewheel
F/D
R/D
Shifters
Handlebar
Stem
Grips
Brake
Brake Lever
Front hub
Rear hub
Spokes
Tires
Rims
Saddle
Seatpost
Seat clamp
Color
Weight
13"(XS), 15"(S), 15.5"(M), 17"(L), 17.5"(XL)
Kona Clump 7005 Aluminum
Marzocchi Bomber Dirt Jumper 3 100mm
TH-877 Big Nut
TruVativ Hussefelt DH
Ring of Fire/32/22
TruVativ ISIS Drive Hussefelt
Kona Jackshit
Shimano CN-HG53
Shimano Deore (11-32 9 speed)
Shimano Deore
Shimano Deore LX
Shimano Deore
Kona DH Primo
Kona DH Primo
Kona Jackshit
Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 XC
Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 XC
Shimano HB-M475 disc
Shimano FH-M475 disc
Stainless 14G
Nokian NBX 26 X 2.3
Sun Ditch Witch
Kona DJ
IRD Quad 2
Kona QR
Black
35.0 lbs

My fiance used to race with NORBA and he's a bike nut. He loves Cannondale. I just bought him a bike to knock around on (not to race). It's a Cannondale Jekyll. I think it was about $1600 when all was said and done.

He loves it and it fits him well. He's 6' and about 180-185. He hasn't had any problems with it other than one ride with some hardcore downhillers at Snoqualmie Ridge. I think that was more of an operator problem than a bike problem though. Don't tell him I know the truth. :)

It's a really good bike and I'd recommend it to anyone.

SQ

Yo Eddy

I'm a huge fan of Diamond Back myself. My experience has been they're extremely reliable and well built. I thrash mine on trails and it's only now getting near it's last legs after 6 years.

Friends with cannondales tell me they're awesome too.

If I were you I'd have a very good look at that Kona for $875 tho, looks awesome for the asking price

Good luck riding whatever you end up buying :)

Kona!!!

incredible bikes

i bought this cheap one off a crackhead i used to work with. it gets me a better workout because its a lot heavier.

I hate these threads.

Opinions are like assholes.

Hmmnm I think I'm going to start a Ford v. Chevy thread.

Word! I've got Specialized bikes that are 7+ years old and they're still in great shape.

Specialized bikes SUCK.

Whatever you get and whenever you get it, hit me up, we'll go riding.
The North Shore won't be getting snow for a couple months still, but it'll be wet! Perfect for screaming downhill on a 12 inch wide single track trail...he he...

That reminds me...i need new shoes!

=)

Who else in the Vancity area MTN bikes?
Or Snowboards for that matter? We should do regular night trips up Cypress when the snow starts flying...

Yep... Cannondale Rocks. Me and my wife own them, and love every minute on them ;)

Very light, yet strong as hell. :thumbsup

Cannondale bikes suck ass.

to get a bike you like you gotta build it yourself.
allways get the most expensive parts..

I am down with that for sure man, I made weekly trips up to Whistler to snowboard last season. :)

DH

i just go bush riding but i put a pretty penny into my bike and i regret buying some cheep parts. Breakes are most important!

I would go for the Norco Fluid 3.0 or even the 1.0 if you want to spend some cash.

Im riding the 3.0 right now and its fucking sweet.

Norco bikes SUCK ass.

Are there any bikes that you like?

DH

Damn.. no pics in this thread :(

DH,

I'm going to buy a $2000 bike this week actually. Tried to get one yesterday but the shop wouldn't budge enough on price. :(

Anyway, if you're looking for a full suspension XC or all mountain bike, I'd suggest one of these:

Gary Fisher Sugar 2+
Trek Fuel 90
Specialized Epic (ditch the scareb fork, go with a fox)

Unfortunately you're looking at the wrong time, as the 2004 models are rolling in and the 2003 are either gone, or not in your frame size ! (my experience anyway).

Not sure if you're willing to throw down $1500+ on a bike, but good luck bro.

A lot of people I see are posting cannondale. I got on one a few days ago and I must say it was absolute SHIT. Cannondale knows bikes - ROAD Bikes, not mt, if you want MY opinion on it. But the only way to figure out what to get is to climb on one and ride it.

Granted, there is no way to tell how great a bike is until you hit a trail, but in my experience Cannondale falls flat and the 3 bikes mentioned above are the best.

If you are looking for a very special one, go for a Hotchilli Bike, they are may one of the best

Have to agree with High Quality - Cannondale make great road bikes but their MTB's suck ass. I've had two people I know crack their frames plus they use lots of proprietary parts. You can?t go wrong with the medium size companies like Kona, Rocky Mountain, Norco and of course Intense. For a big company, Specialized make some good value bikes like the Enduro. This is my latest ride -

http://www.craftworkscycles.com/content/frm/frm.asp



Dave.

$4200 Aussie for a bike with LX components? Get outta town! What is that $2100? blah. 8" hydraulics must be nice

If you like it tho, great :)

Hola

Giant Warp ds1

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/cn/030...=76&model=9817

Yummy. Fucking great bikes for the prices

:321GFY