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Big Mama; Longer Term Ride Reports

3293 Views 44 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Davidcopperfield, Jul 8, 2009

D_Man

Discussion Starter · Jun 24, 2009

Thinking of pulling the trigger on a Big Mama, and just curious to hear some longer term evaluations now that people have had them and have been riding them for a while. I've read many of the initial reactions from when the bike first came out. So how are you feeling about your Big Mama now that you've put her through her paces?

Seems like a lot of them are going to $1250 online these days. Is Salsa about to come out with a new color or something, and so clearing out remaining stock?

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shiggy

· #2 · Jun 24, 2009

D_Man said:
Thinking of pulling the trigger on a Big Mama, and just curious to hear some longer term evaluations now that people have had them and have been riding them for a while. I've read many of the initial reactions from when the bike first came out. So how are you feeling about your Big Mama now that you've put her through her paces?

Seems like a lot of them are going to $1250 online these days. Is Salsa about to come out with a new color or something, and so clearing out remaining stock?

I love my Mama. No complaints. Does what I ask and more. Get one.

Guitar Ted

· #3 · Jun 24, 2009

Mine is solid. No quibbles about it at all. I agree with Shiggy- get it!

mgersib

· #4 · Jun 24, 2009 (Edited)

4

Guitar Ted said:
Mine is solid. No quibbles about it at all. I agree with Shiggy- get it!

I've been on my Big Mama since November of 2008 and am still as stoked on it today as the day I got it. I've been racing it this season in enduro and 12/24 hour races with excellent results, despite the aging engine. ;-)

It's efficient, plush and has awesome lateral stiffness. I don't ever worry about its durability when I take it into the backcountry, which is important for a bike that I regularly take into battle for 24 hours at a time. Here's a good example of that durability -- despite the flogging I've inflicted on the frame, the suspension pivots have all remained tight and creak-free throughout. I've only needed to lube the damper eyelets, which is a Fox-manufactured piece. That's the only service the frame has required in seven months (including riding over the winter)!

It gets my unequivocal thumbs-up. It's a frame I intend to keep and keep riding for a long, long time. I smile a big toothy grin whenever I ride it.

Good luck!
MG

Photo credits:
MG_LPS_MitchKline_sm.jpg - photo credit: M. Kline - www.mitchkline.com
MG01_TNelson.jpg - photo credit: T. Nelson
BigMama_Amasa.jpg and SalsaBar-Stem001.jpg - photo credit: M. Gersib

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shiggy

· #5 · Jun 24, 2009

3

My Big Mama admiring the views on yesterday's ride

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Duzitall

· #6 · Jun 25, 2009

Wow, those shots are Shigga-edelic. The back drop and the drop bars go very well together :thumbsup:

What kinda weight y'all got them Mama's built too?

mgersib

· #7 · Jun 25, 2009

Duzitall said:
Wow, those shots are Shigga-edelic. The back drop and the drop bars go very well together :thumbsup:

What kinda weight y'all got them Mama's built too?

I'm in the 26lb range now with the new ProMoto Ti stem and carbon bar... It rides a lot lighter and I have no complaints. I'm able to stay with guys in cat 1 xc races on it, no problem. If I get dropped, it aint the bike... put it that way. ;-)

Flyer

· #8 · Jun 25, 2009

Great pictures- I never get tired of mountain or Moab pics. How much does a medium or large frame weigh?

shiggy

· #9 · Jun 26, 2009

Duzitall said:
Wow, those shots are Shigga-edelic. The back drop and the drop bars go very well together :thumbsup:

What kinda weight y'all got them Mama's built too?

I refuse to weigh my complete bikes. Compared to the "usual" bar and crank setups my preferred components add 2-3 pounds.

donalson

· #10 · Jun 26, 2009

shiggy said:
I refuse to weigh my complete bikes. Compared to the "usual" bar and crank setups my preferred components add 2-3 pounds.

plus the height-right

longhaultrucker

· #11 · Jun 26, 2009

Excellent thread :thumbsup: I surely lust after owning one...

RookieBeotch

· #12 · Jun 26, 2009

That color sure looks a lot better in these pictures, the pic on the Salsa website doesn't do it justice apparently.

shiggy

· #13 · Jun 26, 2009

RookieBeotch said:
That color sure looks a lot better in these pictures, the pic on the Salsa website doesn't do it justice apparently.

The color changes a lot with the lighting.

vkalia

· #14 · Jun 26, 2009

Anyone compared the Big Mama to the Niners? I was thinking of getting a Niner or Turner, but this sounds real good as well (and a fair bit cheaper to boot). Since most of my riding is XC/trail, should be ok for me.

V.

shiggy

· #15 · Jun 26, 2009

vkalia said:
Anyone compared the Big Mama to the Niners? I was thinking of getting a Niner or Turner, but this sounds real good as well (and a fair bit cheaper to boot). Since most of my riding is XC/trail, should be ok for me.

V.

I rode the Big Mama, JET9 and RIP9 when I was considering fullies. Liked them all and could be happy on any of them. The B Mama just seemed to fit my riding style a little better. In feel it was half way between the 2 Niners. More supple than the JET, tighter than the RIP. And I preferred the trail feedback I got from the Salsa. Now That I have the Big Mama I have no regrets.

Flyer

· #16 · Jun 26, 2009

The Niner RIP9's suspension is really nice- very deep in travel feel yet efficient and small-bump compliance is perfect. I opted to go with the Sultan recently, mostly because I like the DWL Link better than all but Niner's CVA...I remain torn between those two. This my second DW Link bike. I like the Horst as well and like my Racer-X 29er a lot. However, at the end of the day, nothing works as well for me as the CVA and DW Link designs. I'll get a chance to ride a Big Mama soon but I am pretty impressed by the Sultan. It feels a bit firmer than the RIP9 but I just got the sag set right (had it set too firm) so we will see tomorrow. It will see a 4K climb and a 4K fast and rough descent on the other side.

The Big Mama looks good and is cheaper but it was really down to the RIP and the Sultan for me. If I ever sell the Racer-X, I'll look at the Big Mama as a contender, along with a couple of others. I like the RIP9 so much that I may end up with it too but the thought of two similar bikes- have not come to terms with that yet.

When I ride the Big Mama, I'll truly be able to compare them all. The frame weights of the Sultan and Big Mama are pretty close. I think the RIP is a bit heavier. I'm sure someone knows them offhand.

vkalia said:
Anyone compared the Big Mama to the Niners? I was thinking of getting a Niner or Turner, but this sounds real good as well (and a fair bit cheaper to boot). Since most of my riding is XC/trail, should be ok for me.

V.

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vkalia

· #17 · Jun 26, 2009

Thanks for the comments, Shiggy & Flyer - I dont really NEED a full-sus for most of my riding, so saving $1k would definitely be nice.... the RIP9 remains the most suitable in terms of what I need in all except price. Oh well, I have some time to decide anyway... going to be looking for season-end sales.

V.

Flyer

· #18 · Jun 26, 2009

Keep in mind that there are still a few Titus Racer-Xs around- cheap. I bought one almost on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. It only has 3" off travel and is a really stiff bike. That shaped downtube and big pivots make it laterally stiff- front and back. They are sized big (Small= most other brands' Mediums and so on). There are a few left at backcountryoutlet and at jensonusa as well, I'm sure. I love that bike- the geometry is good and fast without being too twitchy and the frame is well built and stiff. I'm probably going to PUSH the shock soon but a couple of other riders I personally know are also equally impressed and use it as their primary bike. It is priced around $850-$1200, depending on size and site. It is as close to a Hardtail as I will get. Normal retails is aroudn $1,900. Just another idea you can look into........

vkalia

· #19 · Jun 26, 2009

Well, if I get a full-sus, I'd like something that can handle rough XC/trail - almost (but not quite) AM as well, if need be - simply to have a bike with different capabilities from my hardtail. That would let me try some different trails, etc.

I'm hoping to get a RIP9 on clearance - although I'd be very tempted by a Big Mama for <$1k on clearance/demo somewhere.

V.

Flyer

· #20 · Jun 26, 2009

Will be hard to find a new RIP on clearance. There are a few like me who have upgraded so you will see some 2008s in good shape but the new ones will not be on clearance. You said you can wait so maybe around Nov will be a good time in case some shops have excess inventory. You can get a Big Mama around $1K if you know a shop but if not, wait for the winter too.

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