[STREETFIGHTER50]

Getting back into it. What's the difference with a DH bike & a FR bike? I see that these bikes have a lot of travel cmpared to the XC & AM bikes. I'm interested in a lot of jumping & trail riding. Would a FR bike still be good for climbing though? Still haven't decided on which bike quite yet. I'm lookin at a few Iron Horses at the moment with $1000 to spend.

 

[AaronD]

thats a pretty small budget for what your looking for to be honest.

 

[dogonfr]

DH, high speed decending with obsticals, docks, roots drops.

FR, hucking extream cliff playing.

AM, XC type climbing with a mild mix of DH for going back down on.

XC, tecnical climbing tight switch backs riding trails for 3+ hours.

:band:

 

[fred.r]

Getting back into it. What's the difference with a DH bike & a FR bike? I see that these bikes have a lot of travel cmpared to the XC & AM bikes. I'm interested in a lot of jumping & trail riding. Would a FR bike still be good for climbing though? Still haven't decided on which bike quite yet. I'm lookin at a few Iron Horses at the moment with $1000 to spend.

If all you want to do is DJ and trails, I'd say get a hardtail with a pike. Get like a STP or Chameleon.

http://www.santacruzmtb.com/chameleon/
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?model=11275

 

[Tracerboy]

DH: low BB for cornering....fast confident decents and can take on any trail going down. tons of travel to plow through anything at top speed. can't pedal up hill worth a dam usually.

FR: depends on what kind of FR bike you get.....an 8in huck bike will do well decending and going off of anything. a lighter but strong one will do well on the skinnies, decend well and take on anything while being able to climb in the granny ring. there are many different "FR" bikes.

AM: goes up and down very well....has a mixture of light weight plus more travel...5 or 6inches. i guess a lighter FR bike or a gnarlier XC bike...made to go anywhere and do anything pretty well. a perfect bike for someone who just wants to do everything.....without going insane.

XC: endurance riding.....low travel. climbing well but decending with much less confidence on the real trails....

 

[STREETFIGHTER50]

Thanks for all the info yall. Guess I'll keep lookin at the AM bikes

 

[Techfreak]

If you are only going to have one, go AM for sure. With a budget of $1000, stick with a hardtail, unless you want to do gobs of research before finding a lucky deal on a used FS. With a budget of $1600, a few FS bikes become worth considering (Kona Dawgs and Coilers come to mind). Up that to $2500, then really good FS bikes come into play. Sky's the limit from there, really.

Generally speaking, a HT is going to allow for much more versatility in a single bike. If it was me, I'd look to get something like a Banshee Scirocco, SC Chamelion, or a Sinister Ridge - each with a Pike. You'd have to get a good deal on the frame since both the Banshee and the Sinister retail at around $700. (and good deals are to be found).

I started in exactly your position and it took me forever to find the right bike. I went from thinking $1500 would get me what I want to the realisation that I would have to spend WAY more thatn that. In the end I got EXACTLY what I was after (Sinister Splinter MX) and now I could not be happier with my decision.