Hello everyone, it's been a long time since i last posted on this board ( i've been over roadbikereview) anyway, i want to get back into Mtb'ing. Living here in jersey, is it worth buying a Dual Suspension bike, or should i stick with a hardtail. I like to do single speed, some jumping around, I got a about 1K to spend????
HardTail or Dualie
1 - 20 of 51 Posts
Couple of thoughts...
I personally like hardtails. I have a dually that I ride but always seem to reach for my geared hardtail, or more often, my ss. I ride XC style without too many large drops. I hit Mahlon, Hartshorne, Chimmney, Clayton, Allamuchy (easy side), Ringwood all on a regular basis. I can't comment on Skyline Drive, Kittatiny or Tourne.
If you go with a hardtail and like to SS consider an EBB hardtail like the Zion 853 because you would get the best of both worlds. I'm not sure on the quality of the Zion (it is sold exclusively through JensonUSA) but other frame builders are making EBB's that will keep you in good standing with your LBS. Unless you're doing your own wrenching.
Another option would be to get a regular Hardtail and get a third wheel built using a White Industry Eccentric Rear Hub. I am not an expert on the eccentric but I have their regular SS hub (disc) and it is buttery smooth- as well as their freewheels.
If you go with a dually and miss SS'ing I do have a very used Bianchi DISS that I have been too lazy to sell in the classifieds.
One frame builder that I hold in high regard is Spot- but consider me very biased!
I personally like hardtails. I have a dually that I ride but always seem to reach for my geared hardtail, or more often, my ss. I ride XC style without too many large drops. I hit Mahlon, Hartshorne, Chimmney, Clayton, Allamuchy (easy side), Ringwood all on a regular basis. I can't comment on Skyline Drive, Kittatiny or Tourne.
If you go with a hardtail and like to SS consider an EBB hardtail like the Zion 853 because you would get the best of both worlds. I'm not sure on the quality of the Zion (it is sold exclusively through JensonUSA) but other frame builders are making EBB's that will keep you in good standing with your LBS. Unless you're doing your own wrenching.
Another option would be to get a regular Hardtail and get a third wheel built using a White Industry Eccentric Rear Hub. I am not an expert on the eccentric but I have their regular SS hub (disc) and it is buttery smooth- as well as their freewheels.
If you go with a dually and miss SS'ing I do have a very used Bianchi DISS that I have been too lazy to sell in the classifieds.
One frame builder that I hold in high regard is Spot- but consider me very biased!
Attachments
Darn!!!!!
I apologize fellas. i made a typo, I put single speed, I met to put single track....
Sorry about that, the question still stands, Hardtail of Dualie, I like to do single track, I do like jumps, but it doesn't seem like the parks here in NJ, have such drops that I need a Dual S, ( please correct me if i'm wrong though!).
I apologize fellas. i made a typo, I put single speed, I met to put single track....
Sorry about that, the question still stands, Hardtail of Dualie, I like to do single track, I do like jumps, but it doesn't seem like the parks here in NJ, have such drops that I need a Dual S, ( please correct me if i'm wrong though!).
Jersey's got a variety
What I'm saying is you can get the proper Hardtail (meaning, nothing super duper light weight) and ride just about any trails, do jumps, etc. And the same with FS. You can get the proper FS bike and ride all the same trails. Jersey has plenty a really smooth trails, and plenty of ridiculously rocky and technical. Once or twice I might've been on a trail and thought, "man, I wish I had my FS" or "I wish my bike was a few pounds lighter" (the klein weighs 22 lbs, versus the Burner at around 26 or 27, noticeable to me on a long climb or portaging), but I'll ride any of the bikes on any of the trails and still love it.
Initially you mentioned you've got a grand to spend, which can somewhat define what kind of bike you should get. Personally, I think it would be a real compromise to get a $1000 Full Suspension bike, but that's me. I think the parts alone would be somewhat of a letdown after a bit, and probably the suspension wouldn't be near as dialed as something pricier. On the other hand, I think with a $1000, you can get a pretty fine hardtail.
Have you ridden FS before? I got my first full suspension back in 1994, and have only ridden FS up till maybe 2 years ago. Now I've got a Turner Burner, Dekerf Softail (maybe an inch of travel) and a retro Klein attitude with a Manitou 1 on it. Honestly, I pretty much ride all the same trails with all the bikes, and pick a bike based on my mood rather than terrain.Ruben C said:I apologize fellas. i made a typo, I put single speed, I met to put single track....
Sorry about that, the question still stands, Hardtail of Dualie, I like to do single track, I do like jumps, but it doesn't seem like the parks here in NJ, have such drops that I need a Dual S, ( please correct me if i'm wrong though!).
What I'm saying is you can get the proper Hardtail (meaning, nothing super duper light weight) and ride just about any trails, do jumps, etc. And the same with FS. You can get the proper FS bike and ride all the same trails. Jersey has plenty a really smooth trails, and plenty of ridiculously rocky and technical. Once or twice I might've been on a trail and thought, "man, I wish I had my FS" or "I wish my bike was a few pounds lighter" (the klein weighs 22 lbs, versus the Burner at around 26 or 27, noticeable to me on a long climb or portaging), but I'll ride any of the bikes on any of the trails and still love it.
Initially you mentioned you've got a grand to spend, which can somewhat define what kind of bike you should get. Personally, I think it would be a real compromise to get a $1000 Full Suspension bike, but that's me. I think the parts alone would be somewhat of a letdown after a bit, and probably the suspension wouldn't be near as dialed as something pricier. On the other hand, I think with a $1000, you can get a pretty fine hardtail.
Joined
·
183 Posts
For a grand...
for a grand, i would go hardtail - you can get some real nice stuff with that amount of scratch. i got my FS for around $1600 - so you can see you would be putting up a lot more cash. i think any new toy would be great - but in that price range i would edge toward a quality hardtail versus a compromised FS.
for a grand, i would go hardtail - you can get some real nice stuff with that amount of scratch. i got my FS for around $1600 - so you can see you would be putting up a lot more cash. i think any new toy would be great - but in that price range i would edge toward a quality hardtail versus a compromised FS.
Well 1k is my range, If I feel that it is worth getting a Dual Suspension I will put more on the purchase of DS. But I wanted to ask all the wise people in here to see if the riding here in "New Jersey" lends itself for a certain type of bike.
Speaking of prices of good or decent DS bikes, I have a Dicks sporting goods close to me, they actually have some pretty good spec'd bike there. The only thing is that they are made by "the north face". I know all you guys have heard of them, but as a bike maker, like I said they have good specs, avid disk brakes, a mix of Deore and truvativ drivetrain, Rock shox forks. Does anyone know anything about these bikes or know someone who ownes one? The price on these bikes are around 1299.
P.S. these bikes are not on their website, they just show having really cheap department store bikes. This store used to be a store called Galyans and dicks took it over and kept their entire stock.
Speaking of prices of good or decent DS bikes, I have a Dicks sporting goods close to me, they actually have some pretty good spec'd bike there. The only thing is that they are made by "the north face". I know all you guys have heard of them, but as a bike maker, like I said they have good specs, avid disk brakes, a mix of Deore and truvativ drivetrain, Rock shox forks. Does anyone know anything about these bikes or know someone who ownes one? The price on these bikes are around 1299.
P.S. these bikes are not on their website, they just show having really cheap department store bikes. This store used to be a store called Galyans and dicks took it over and kept their entire stock.
I would save some extra money and get a full suspension bike but thats just me. It really depends on your riding style and where you like to ride. 1k is a lot of money to spend on a hardtail if you really want a full suspension bike; if you do this you might end up buying a FS later down the road. Just get the type of bike that you like and dont let price dictate (within reason) the type of bike you will purchase.
I like your thinking..... thanx that is good advice... my biggest flaw is that i have to convince myself a million times over in my head on a purchases. And i really shouldn't, this is something i enjoy doing, and it's just not a passing fad. In fact (although I love my Cannondale R1000 roadbike) I wish i would have spent a little more on a roadbike.PointBoy said:
Ruben,
If you are going to spend $1300 on a bike don't buy it from a sporting goods store.
Go to a couple of local bike shops in your area and test ride bikes in your price range. They will help you find a bike that fits and should give you a free tune-ups for a year or so.
Check out the bike review on this board after you have gone to the bike shops.
If you are going to spend $1300 on a bike don't buy it from a sporting goods store.
Go to a couple of local bike shops in your area and test ride bikes in your price range. They will help you find a bike that fits and should give you a free tune-ups for a year or so.
Check out the bike review on this board after you have gone to the bike shops.
Joined
·
70 Posts
Some more thoughts
I think the advise of trying bikes is worthwhile up to a point since riding them at the bike shop will never tell you what happens when you try to clean a log or do a drop. My advise is only worth two cents at best so take it that way. It all depends on how you ride and how much you will grow on a bike. The frame is the heart of the bike. Many manufacturers offer bikes where the frame is the same and the models that are more expensive have better components. BTW MBA has a review on HTs and there is a GT in your price range that they like-if you believe the magazines.
For 4 years, starting in 1998 we rode Truths. There were no bikes to test at that time but I researched everything I could and came to that choice. It was a good one. In 2002 I bought my wife an Id that fit her better than the Truth. She loved it. I bought one and could not ride it no matter what I did. Finally after two years of trying and making no progress I decided on a new bike.
In the interim I built up a Stud Muffin (which is a 2001 Ellsworth Specialist that was made by Ventana out of Easton tubing and sold by Dreamride). The intent was to take it around town when a road bike would not do and improve my skills. Sometimes I would take it to the park to mess with logs. To get to the logs I had to climb and I started climbing stuff easily that I could not climb with the Id. The light finally went on.
I ride with people who are 20-30 years younger so climbing is most important. I will never be first but I need to make the climb. A HT was great but I needed to take off some edge. I bought a Fango frame and built it, never having rode one, but the frame was perfect for me. It is fairly light and has enough travel to take the sting out of some hits although I am not a big hit rider. The Marathon SL (105) keeps it real on the DHs.
I could go on but I hope the message is clear. Decide what you really want to do with the bike and how you can ride ride. The Id was overkill for this area while it was great in Moab. I ride here and the Fango is perfect. I can't wait to get to Waywayanda, a park that I could ride well with the Truth, could not ride at all with the Id.
If my ramblings make sense insofar as choosing a bike, then they are worth the two cents. I just have one more thought. MBs get dented, abused and used for things they probably should not be used for. I will never buy a $2000 frame again. Moots makes a soft tail for 3 times what the Fango cost. It weighs the same. On the other hand I would spend the money on a road frame simply because it will last forever-at least with me.
Bruce
I think the advise of trying bikes is worthwhile up to a point since riding them at the bike shop will never tell you what happens when you try to clean a log or do a drop. My advise is only worth two cents at best so take it that way. It all depends on how you ride and how much you will grow on a bike. The frame is the heart of the bike. Many manufacturers offer bikes where the frame is the same and the models that are more expensive have better components. BTW MBA has a review on HTs and there is a GT in your price range that they like-if you believe the magazines.
For 4 years, starting in 1998 we rode Truths. There were no bikes to test at that time but I researched everything I could and came to that choice. It was a good one. In 2002 I bought my wife an Id that fit her better than the Truth. She loved it. I bought one and could not ride it no matter what I did. Finally after two years of trying and making no progress I decided on a new bike.
In the interim I built up a Stud Muffin (which is a 2001 Ellsworth Specialist that was made by Ventana out of Easton tubing and sold by Dreamride). The intent was to take it around town when a road bike would not do and improve my skills. Sometimes I would take it to the park to mess with logs. To get to the logs I had to climb and I started climbing stuff easily that I could not climb with the Id. The light finally went on.
I ride with people who are 20-30 years younger so climbing is most important. I will never be first but I need to make the climb. A HT was great but I needed to take off some edge. I bought a Fango frame and built it, never having rode one, but the frame was perfect for me. It is fairly light and has enough travel to take the sting out of some hits although I am not a big hit rider. The Marathon SL (105) keeps it real on the DHs.
I could go on but I hope the message is clear. Decide what you really want to do with the bike and how you can ride ride. The Id was overkill for this area while it was great in Moab. I ride here and the Fango is perfect. I can't wait to get to Waywayanda, a park that I could ride well with the Truth, could not ride at all with the Id.
If my ramblings make sense insofar as choosing a bike, then they are worth the two cents. I just have one more thought. MBs get dented, abused and used for things they probably should not be used for. I will never buy a $2000 frame again. Moots makes a soft tail for 3 times what the Fango cost. It weighs the same. On the other hand I would spend the money on a road frame simply because it will last forever-at least with me.
Bruce
Joined
·
70 Posts
If I could ride like you
I would not need gears eitherCapt_phun said:
Joined
·
70 Posts
Carbs and more carbs
Bruce
You have to have a metabolism like a shrew to eat that much and stay as lean as you are. It also helps to be young. I remember that day in the Tourne where you cleaned the rocky hill on the SS like it wasn't there. Stay well,Capt_phun said:You can ride like me. Just eat a lot of mashed potatoes and 1.5 pounds of pasta a day to keep the glycogen up
A: the road, B: gears, C: spinning.
Bruce
Ht,fs, Ss?
Forget all that nonsense. Real men ride a mountain unicycle! No gears, no suspension, no big honkin frame,... not to mention the weight and unreliability of those pesky chains! No, give me my uni with some low pressure in the tire for the really rough stuff. And heck, you can put together a pretty b**chn' rig for about $300. Plus, you wnat to talk about skill development? When you guys want to get serious, you'll give up that front training wheel you've been using!
Forget all that nonsense. Real men ride a mountain unicycle! No gears, no suspension, no big honkin frame,... not to mention the weight and unreliability of those pesky chains! No, give me my uni with some low pressure in the tire for the really rough stuff. And heck, you can put together a pretty b**chn' rig for about $300. Plus, you wnat to talk about skill development? When you guys want to get serious, you'll give up that front training wheel you've been using!
Joined
·
70 Posts
Skills
Bruce.
I am envious of the skills when I watch you Uni's ride the logs and rocks at the Tourne, but I think I will pass. The only really good thing for me is that I actually can ride faster than you guys. You may be the only ones.Capt_phun said:
Bruce.
Joined
·
22 Posts
new to posting
i think its hysterical how any post that makes it past 10 replies begins to go off on tangent, it is quite entertaining... im not being sarcastic, it really is.
i say be more flexible with your $1000 bucks, find a bike that has all the components you desire (minus seat, pedals, grips, and tires) and have that as your starting point of what you could spend... if hte bike is 1600, see if you can find a bike with a lower grade drivetrain for less (or just hold off a couple more months and save up some more cash), or the difference between disc and rim brakes, or to gear or not to gear... etc. there are too many variables to just make the decision in a snap...
but if i had another $1000 to burn on a bike and only a bike i would check out some marin, davinci (sp), and jamis hardtails.
I know its a new fun toy but its worthwhile to wait and make a educated decision.
i think its hysterical how any post that makes it past 10 replies begins to go off on tangent, it is quite entertaining... im not being sarcastic, it really is.
i say be more flexible with your $1000 bucks, find a bike that has all the components you desire (minus seat, pedals, grips, and tires) and have that as your starting point of what you could spend... if hte bike is 1600, see if you can find a bike with a lower grade drivetrain for less (or just hold off a couple more months and save up some more cash), or the difference between disc and rim brakes, or to gear or not to gear... etc. there are too many variables to just make the decision in a snap...
but if i had another $1000 to burn on a bike and only a bike i would check out some marin, davinci (sp), and jamis hardtails.
I know its a new fun toy but its worthwhile to wait and make a educated decision.
1 - 20 of 51 Posts
Join the discussion
