[TahoeBC]

I really dig the way my HDR is set up and riding now, but it is now primarily a backup bike now.

The HD3 is definitely a step up though, I'm cleaning stuff up and downhill I've never ridden and consistently cleaning stuff that I'd only make once in awhile. I'm hearing the same thing from friends that are riding the HD3 also.

I would not call it more downhill oriented, although I can charge harder on it, I find for cross country it's just as good, did 65 miles and 8K of climbing on it last Sunday on the Tahoe Rim trail, been doing that ride for 9 years now and the HD3 was the best bike yet for doing it.

Latest incarnation of my HDR, 2016 fox stuff and a wide 650b front end, 160 travel all around.
Photo from last night

 

[bridgestone14]

Interesting write up. Glad to hear the HD3 handles the long days so well.

 

[phat_tony]

Agree. Hd3 is amazing up, down and on long pedally rides. Better pedalling than HDR was in 130mm mode. I was really worried, before I rode it, that it was too much bike for long days but it was perfect for BC bike race (lot of 4+ hour days). Honestly I have fun on the bike no matter how tame or rough.

Having said that, HDR is a great bike and its a lot of money for the better ride of the hd3 but if the $ aren't a problem the hd3 won't disappoint.

 

[dubinjs]

I want the new HD3 so bad. Love my HDR, but wanting more travel and more rear clearance.
What did putting the 160 up front do to the ride and geometry?


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[TahoeBC]

I want the new HD3 so bad. Love my HDR, but wanting more travel and more rear clearance.
What did putting the 160 up front do to the ride and geometry?

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If this is directed to me, I've only run my HDR in 160 mode front and back, with a 26" in the rear there are zero tire clearance issues.

 

[doismellbacon]

I want the new HD3 so bad. Love my HDR, but wanting more travel and more rear clearance.
What did putting the 160 up front do to the ride and geometry?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I went from an HDR 650b to the HD3... With the same 150mm Pike on both, the HD3 is actually a touch steeper, and as you'd expect is a little quicker steering and a little more razor sharp in fast and techy rock gardens, etc. The bb is noticeably lower too, which is always a trade-off but I like the lower more carve-y feel....just can't pedal with no regard to technique through some rocky spots like I could on the HDR. So, for me, with the same 150mm the HD3 didn't produce any instant "Holy Crap this thing descends way better" feeling. I've got the air shaft to convert my Pike to 160 which should relax the handling a bit and make it feel more like the HDR did with 150.

The bigger "Aha" was in climbing, pedaling through rock gardens, and just overall efficiency and pedaling performance... you feel the extra travel in back when you need it, but somehow it feels snappier and more efficient everywhere despite the extra cush.

I think with a 160 fork you'll get more obvious gains in both DH chunkability and in climbing/pedaling response vs your HDR.

 

[crconsulting]

Since I'm waiting for my knee surgery and can't ride

I decided to do some "wrenching"

Got an EVOL air can kit for the shock and a PMS 388 colored sticker kit from Silk Graphics for fork and shock.

 

[Eld]

Nice!

Skickat från min E6553 via Tapatalk

 

[fat_boy]

Since I'm waiting for my knee surgery and can't ride

I decided to do some "wrenching"

Got an EVOL air can kit for the shock and a PMS 388 colored sticker kit from Silk Graphics for fork and shock.

Please post your thoughts on the shock upgrade after you get a few rides in. I would like to hear your review as i am looking to upgrade the shock on my hdr.

 

[marcoton21]

I had the original HD (not HDR) and after a short stint on a YT Capra, I got the HD3.

Though the HD3 is not really slacker than the HD it is more roomy in the front and lower, which makes it way more planted on the trail. All without loosing the particular feel of being playful and easy to pedal around on longer rides. Overall: very similar in character yet a bit better in nearly all areas.

 

[Gabrielus]

I had the original HD (not HDR) and after a short stint on a YT Capra, I got the HD3.

Though the HD3 is not really slacker than the HD it is more roomy in the front and lower, which makes it way more planted on the trail. All without loosing the particular feel of being playful and easy to pedal around on longer rides. Overall: very similar in character yet a bit better in nearly all areas.

Funny, when I tried the HD3 it definitely felt slacker and I didn't like the added wheelbase compared to my HD650. Not saying it was bad, but to each his own. I'm not looking for a gravity oriented ride out of my HD and not a hucker. More of say, a SC-5010 vs Bronson. Geometry is always a compromise. A lot of it comes down to how you set your bikes up and what you are looking for out of that setup. It's also going to be difficult to compare a 26" wheeled bike with an old RP23 to a 27.5 with a CC Inline or FOX EVOL.

 

[marcoton21]

By numbers, the HD3 is .4 degrees slacker in the headtube than the HD. Fell free to notice it, I don't. Well, to me the HD3 is far from being gravity oriented, that would be the breed of Capra/Nomad/Rune ofr ex. or at least the "modern" very long enduro race bikes like Reign/Dune/....

The HD3 is none of that. Just a wonderful trail bike with an outstanding rear end due to the new DW link and has very fun handling. To me it is an update to the HD bringing the very bike to the present day. That in itself is a difficult thing to do. Most manufaturers rather do a completely different bike for a new generation.

 

[chrisingrassia]

Is it just me, or does the HDR have the longest chainstays of any bike out there? I can't even find a true dedicated 650b rig that has longer chainstays than the HDR.

 

[crconsulting]

You're probably comparing it to todays (2016's) geometry trends of longish top tubes, steep seat tube angles, and shorter chainstays. But it never was a "shortish" stays type of ride.

If you look at the 2014 SC Bronson for example, the HDR actually has shorter stays.

Apples to oranges.

 

[chrisingrassia]

You're probably comparing it to todays (2016's) geometry trends of longish top tubes, steep seat tube angles, and shorter chainstays. But it never was a "shortish" stays type of ride.

If you look at the 2014 SC Bronson for example, the HDR actually has shorter stays.

Apples to oranges.

I've been struggling with rear tire clearance of Conti 2.1 Trail King. If the tire picks up a rock, it scratches the *hit out of the swingarm. So I started comparing the chainstays of the HDR to those of true 650b rigs out there, and the HDR's are still longest. How are these other dedicated bikes able to fit 650b tires w/clearance?

 

[straw]

Blinged up my HDR

I've been wanting to try the oval chainring from Absolute Black as I have read such great reviews about it. At the same time I was also interested in the new pedals that James Wilson over at Pedalling Inovations designed.

Well I just got back from 2 weeks riding the wet coastal trails of Hornby Island BC and both get a big thumbs up:thumbsup: James pedals with the larger platform felt really solid underfoot and really let you lay down the power. Those and the extra traction from Blacks elliptical chainring helped me climb hills that had given me grief before.

Cheers
Straw

 

[ibismojo09]

My hdr 26 with my new carbon wheels.

 

[fuenstock]

Sweet!
I still love those 26" wheels, so much fun!

 

[bridgestone14]

Are those light bike rims?

 

[chrisingrassia]

Are those light bike rims?

those are LB stickers for sure, would assume the wheels are LB also