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Cheapest DW-Link Bike?

2596 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by shiggy, Jul 12, 2010

soccerdude

Discussion Starter · Jul 11, 2010

My poor old Haro Shift has seen better days and is nearly ready for retirement. I want to buy a new bike with a DW-Link suspension but am trying to keep my costs down. Can anyone help me find the cheapest, good quality, DW-Link bike? I'm looking for a complete bike and not just a frame. Not too worried about components as I can upgrade those as they wear out or fail.

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kapusta

· #2 · Jul 11, 2010

soccerdude said:
My poor old Haro Shift has seen better days and is nearly ready for retirement. I want to buy a new bike with a DW-Link suspension but am trying to keep my costs down. Can anyone help me find the cheapest, good quality, DW-Link bike? I'm looking for a complete bike and not just a frame. Not too worried about components as I can upgrade those as they wear out or fail.

No cheap current options that I know of. Ibis, Turner, Pivot, are the only ones I can think of, and NONE of those are anything close to cheap.

If you really want one, Randal Scott Cycles may still have some left over Iron Horse DW-Link bikes, but I would stay away from the MKIII. AWESOME ride, but way too many broken frame, and no replacements as far as I can tell. The 6 Point frames seem to be holding up well, if that is what you are looking for.

I have owned and ridden a lot of different bikes, and I really think the DW-Link on my `07 MKIII is a wonderful design. Unfortunately, its time is limited. It is on its 2nd rear triangle, and I think the new one now has the beginnings of another crack. In looking around at my options, I don't see being able to afford any of the new DW-Link offerings, but from what I hear (and the brief rides I have had on a trance and reign) the giants are pretty close, and much more affordable. I will likely look at one of those. I would also be interested in trying the new generation of VPP (Santa Cruz), though they are not cheap either

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ArmySlowRdr

· #3 · Jul 11, 2010

Mike---next time you come up talk to loco (John Bolin) manager of Sun Country Bikes in Temple. Or send him a PM on bikemojo.com/speak.

Must you have a DW-Link? I know a few that ride Haro Sonix with a Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) and they like it. I notice Sun and Ski chain has 2010 models with a mix of compnentry (LX, with XTR derailler) for about 1900$.
John may have something similar for even less.

This is the cheapest I've heard of recently--My stumpjumper was 2200+ way back in 2005 and now a similar bike is six or 700$ more.

Good luck--

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mtnbiker72

· #4 · Jul 11, 2010

soccerdude said:
My poor old Haro Shift has seen better days and is nearly ready for retirement. I want to buy a new bike with a DW-Link suspension but am trying to keep my costs down. Can anyone help me find the cheapest, good quality, DW-Link bike? I'm looking for a complete bike and not just a frame. Not too worried about components as I can upgrade those as they wear out or fail.

Now that Iron Horse has gone (and they were losing the DW-Link anyway) to a sporting goods store brand...high end is all that is left for DW-Link. There are several similar designs as the DW-Link that get very good reviews. Check out Giant Maestro, Haro Virtual Link, and Marin Quad Link bikes.

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soccerdude

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 11, 2010

Not hearing what I wanted to hear but oh-well. I'll tell you what I'm looking for and maybe someone has some good advice on what will work best within my budget. I'd like a lighter bike that climbs better than my single pivote Haro Shift and most importantly is more plush going down rocky or rooty sections. My old Haro has an X-Fusion coil shock and an old Judy J2 fork so I know nearly upgrading to anything new will be a huge improvement but my frame is messed up so I might as well buy a new bike altogether. My budget is $2000 and I cannot go over it. I ride mostly XC with light AM. Rooty, rocky, and sandy climbs and decents are the norm where I ride. I've read that DW-Link is the bet but it's obviously going to be out of my price range. I hear Titus makes nice bikes and I've seen a Racer X Custom for $1750 new but how does it compare to DW-Link bikes? Is there something better than a Titus for less than $2000?

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laurenlex

· #6 · Jul 12, 2010

Giant Trance X3, perhaps.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/trance.x3/3897/37062/

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shiggy

· #7 · Jul 12, 2010

soccerdude said:
Not hearing what I wanted to hear but oh-well. I'll tell you what I'm looking for and maybe someone has some good advice on what will work best within my budget. I'd like a lighter bike that climbs better than my single pivote Haro Shift and most importantly is more plush going down rocky or rooty sections. My old Haro has an X-Fusion coil shock and an old Judy J2 fork so I know nearly upgrading to anything new will be a huge improvement but my frame is messed up so I might as well buy a new bike altogether. My budget is $2000 and I cannot go over it. I ride mostly XC with light AM. Rooty, rocky, and sandy climbs and decents are the norm where I ride. I've read that DW-Link is the bet but it's obviously going to be out of my price range. I hear Titus makes nice bikes and I've seen a Racer X Custom for $1750 new but how does it compare to DW-Link bikes? Is there something better than a Titus for less than $2000?

DW Link is just one of many good suspension designs available, and you will find people that like and dislike each. You are better demoing a bunch of different bikes and brands to see which suit you.

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