[pathfinder]

So Iron Horse's Hollowpoint RL Expert has popped to the top of my list to replace my HT. I'm definitely a cross-country rider and like the 4 or so inches of travel the RL has. I've ridden a SC superlight just up and down the road and really liked it, but the price, OUCH! The only other bike I'm seriously considering buying is a Giant NRS 2, mainly because the price ($1560) and it's available locally even though I'm not sure it's exactly the bike I want (small town, no MTB selection) . However, I wouldn't mind mailordering an RL as I think it is more the bike I want, i.e. more travel and plushness. So any RL owners think your bike is the greatest? Just Okay? Not so great? Keeping in mind, primary use for me will be XC.

Thanks for any info

Brent

 

[Speedub.Nate]

Brent, I haven't even seen an RL series in any of the stores -- just the standard Hollowpoints -- but my understanding is you'll be getting a conventional Hollowpoint frame, with the same linkage and travel options (3.75" & 4.5"), with the addition of titanium hardware and a more racer-oriented build, including an 80mm fork and... well, everything else you see on the spec sheet.

But what I'm trying to say is don't limit yourself to the handful of reviews of the RL series bikes. The info from standard Hollowpoint owners will apply to your bike as well.

 

[pathfinder]

I agree with you and have read and re-read as many reviews as I could of the standard hollowpoint series. I guess I was hoping someone might reply with "yeah, great xc bike, much lighter than the 32 lb weight of the 5" travel expert" or something to that effect. I keep close track of my ride times and judging by these times I spend 75% of my ride time climbing and a 30-32lb bike is not for me . The Iron Horse website says the RL is a "XC race" bike, but I'm skeptical about how much lighter the RL is than the standard expert. I have found an RL Expert model online for $1700 and am really excited to buy it, I just don't want it to arrive and find out it is just the wrong bike for me. Thanks for the reply .

Brent

 

[XCDAWG]

I agree with you and have read and re-read as many reviews as I could of the standard hollowpoint series. I guess I was hoping someone might reply with "yeah, great xc bike, much lighter than the 32 lb weight of the 5" travel expert" or something to that effect. I keep close track of my ride times and judging by these times I spend 75% of my ride time climbing and a 30-32lb bike is not for me . The Iron Horse website says the RL is a "XC race" bike, but I'm skeptical about how much lighter the RL is than the standard expert. I have found an RL Expert model online for $1700 and am really excited to buy it, I just don't want it to arrive and find out it is just the wrong bike for me. Thanks for the reply .

Brent

Brent,
Did you buy a bike yet? I just ordered an '04 Hollowpoint RL Expert. Got it online at bicyclebuys for $1389. If you haven't already ordered one you might want to check there and save some money. They also have the '04 Hollowpoint Expert for the same price. Looks like the main differences are the wheelset and shock/fork. I went with the RL to save some weight, since I mainly crosscountry and wanted to save weight. Does anyone have any info...pros or cons to equipment on each?

 

[pathfinder]

XCDAWG That's an amazing price for that bike, I never did buy one, it just seemed too much money to spend without getting more info about the bike. Hope you enjoy your ride, it does look like a really good deal. Have fun

Pathfinder

 

[Vecsus]

I too was a bit concerned about the weight on my HP expert (size large) but from the little riding I've done on it so far, it does not feel that heavy when you ride it. I had been riding an older jamis dakar with a plain fox float rear shock (no spv, propedal, ava, or other fancy stuff). the dakar weighed in around 28-29 lbs (size medium - 19", which was why I changed frames...it was too small for me). With the bits and pieces I changed out on the new HP, it has an unscietifically computed weight of around 31 pounds. But with the much-better rear shock, I don't get the bobbing that the dakar had. Weight is certainly a factor when it comes to XC riding but certainly not the sole factor in determining which bike will work out best in the long-run (or long-ride as the case may be).

And if I were to lose my beer-gut then this would all be a non-issue.

 

[Speedub.Nate]

with the much-better rear shock, I don't get the bobbing that the dakar had.

Hey, what say we give credit where credit is due? That's 95% the dw-link in action, and only about 5% of the under-utilized SPV function of the rear shock.

I'm got similar zero-bob, smooth pedaling performance out of my low-tech air-damped Cane Creek AD-12 on my Hollowpoint, and that's got everything to do with Dave Weagle's einsteinian suspension creation.

 

[Vecsus]

Hey, what say we give credit where credit is due? That's 95% the dw-link in action, and only about 5% of the under-utilized SPV function of the rear shock.
.

You are, of course, correct. But I have only just recently been able to wrap my mind around the science of the SPV system. As a recent HP owner, I have not yet begun to tackle the physics of the DW design. Let my poor brain recuperate.

 

[Speedub.Nate]

You are, of course, correct. But I have only just recently been able to wrap my mind around the science of the SPV system. As a recent HP owner, I have not yet begun to tackle the physics of the DW design. Let my poor brain recuperate.

It's really easy to simplify the dw-linkage operation as such: Prop your bike against a wall. Place a chair in front of it. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage. Take a seat, and sipping from your cold glass, focus your vision on those 4 pivot points, squinting your eyes until they become just 4 dots floating in space. Now... aw, hell, put the drink down and let's go for a ride! I hardly understand the damn thing, either!