[Got_Issues?]

I suppose this question gets old but the 06 line up means different answers than before.Ive got a budget of about $1600 max, Im looking for a trail bike with at least 125mm travel front and rear. IT MUST HAVE A GOOD PEDALING PLATFORM! Id use it for casual mountain cross, Super D racing and strenous cross country riding. Does this bike even exist in my price range? Theirs so many brands i get lost trying to research, so far kona shows a mildly promising line up, the giant reign just a tad out of budget, specialized not enough travel...

 

[SSINGA]

Maybe an Ironhorse Mark III??

 

[el_chupo_]

I dont know if they offer more than the three listed on the website, but I called a local dealer and the cheapest (mkIII comp) was 2200. Maybe a Jamis Dakar XLT would work for you.


Matt

 

[Got_Issues?]

Cant stand the mkIII. Owning one brands you as a newb, unfortunately. I checked out the dakar though. Thats a pretty sweet package for the price. Does it have a good platform though? Ive also heard that the swing arm bearings tend to go bad.

 

[SSINGA]

Cant stand the mkIII. Owning one brands you as a newb, unfortunately. I checked out the dakar though. Thats a pretty sweet package for the price. Does it have a good platform though? Ive also heard that the swing arm bearings tend to go bad.

WTF are you talking about?? Owning a MkIII makes you a newb. I've never heard anything so ignorant before.

 

[DaFireMedic]

Cant stand the mkIII. Owning one brands you as a newb, unfortunately. .

Theres no such thing as a bike that "brands" someone as a newb. I've seen people out on the trails having fun on Walmart bikes. I say good for them, they are out there at least.

 

[el_chupo_]

Ill admit it, Im a newbie. Just started riding. I have a Jamis. Yet, I dont understand how owning a MKIII makes you a newbie. Please explain to me.

On a side not, I just looked at randall scott bike company
http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl;jsessio...OlQzNp65In0__?sc=19&category=394&it=A&id=6863
and they had the comp for 1399. It says retail is 1999, so I decided I will only be going to the shop I mentioned earlier to test ride, and will deffinately not purchase there.

Matt

 

[todd_freeride]

WTF are you talking about?? Owning a MkIII makes you a newb. I've never heard anything so ignorant before.

dude ...you are a newb

 

[DtEW]

Cant stand the mkIII. Owning one brands you as a newb, unfortunately.

Wow, you definitely Got_Issues.

 

[Otter]

Check out used....

Be sure to check for some used bikes......you'll be able to find several great bikes that are in very good shape right in your price range. I'm willing to bet that if you take 1-2 weeks and keep checking the classifieds as well as Ebay (be more careful there) you'll be amazed at what you'll come up with!

 

[Got_Issues?]

Holy smokes, was it something i said? Okay, so the mkIII slam was a brash comment. However it seems a lot of people just bash iron horse, and at the local clubs iron horse gets no respect. I get the rub that its better to invest in something else. Howerver, ive never even riden one, so i am nieve. Its in my price range, If you own one, what do YOU think about it?

 

[namaSSte]

Holy smokes, was it something i said? Okay, so the mkIII slam was a brash comment. However it seems a lot of people just bash iron horse, and at the local clubs iron horse gets no respect. I get the rub that its better to invest in something else. Howerver, ive never even riden one, so i am nieve. Its in my price range, If you own one, what do YOU think about it?

dude, stay with my lead here.....inhale deeply, hold and let the breath swirl throughout, exhale and relaxxxxx. this [email protected] about newbdom and bike brands is ridiculous. I like riding more boutique bikes but it doesn't mean squat if you cant ride them. if anything, I would be more inclined to mock someone on a decked out Turner 5 Spot that couldn't ride than I would someone on a Huffy who was throwin skillz. Its all about what you can do on the rig your on. Buy the best you can within your budget (again, an argument for buying used - at least a frame and shock). Dont sweat the rest of the stuff, you go out and pull some nosedive 3's on a Walmart special and all the critics will shut up quickly. Its no different than when one of the tri guys (or worse, a mountain biker!) goes out and drops a couple of roadies on a club ride. make it about the skillz, not the ride and you'll own it.

 

[[email protected]]

Holy smokes, was it something i said? Okay, so the mkIII slam was a brash comment. However it seems a lot of people just bash iron horse, and at the local clubs iron horse gets no respect. I get the rub that its better to invest in something else. Howerver, ive never even riden one, so i am nieve. Its in my price range, If you own one, what do YOU think about it?

I think what some of the other posters should have said is that a couple of seasons ago Iron Horse didn't get much respect. In reality they had good value bikes, but less than stellar market image. However, starting in '05 with the new DW Link bikes Iron Horse has made a huge leap in suspension performance. At this point I like the DW suspension system is one of the better systems being produced and a fair bit better than that VPP that gets all the marketing hype these days.

With that being said the MkIII might be a good bike for your riding needs. The two things to consider: 1. The MkIII is a bit heavier than most 5" bikes, but that weight is added durability. 2. The headangle is a bit steep for 4X racing.