REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

which is better for me: dirtbag or blindside?

1415 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by mr.niles, Jun 26, 2009

mr.niles

Discussion Starter · Jun 19, 2009

So I’ve been thinking about this for a while but I keep going back and forth – dirtbag or blindside?? Blindside or…..dirtbag?? dirtbag….blindside……my wife thinks I am crazy…..

I’d be using it for bike park riding, but I’m not intending to do any racing. So, for terrain: rocks n’ roots, berms, jumps, drops, woodwork, steeps, fast open stuff, slow tight stuff. If anyone’s been to northstar, that is where the bike will be ridden in its intended purpose.

I’ve come to like certain characteristics in a bike and the way it feels. This has come from ownership of a bottlerocket and a v1 covert, both of which handle excellent to me. What do I like about them? They both feel low-slung and like to rip corners, it’s like I can get down “inside” these bikes while I’m riding aggressively. I like how they feel low to me. I also like how each is easy to boost the front end up and over stuff which makes the bike feel light and lively, making it fun to fly over stuff on the trail, or pick the bike up and change lines quickly. I’m 5’9” and I’m riding both as smalls. I have shorter legs and average length arms if that matters.

The bottlerocket is perfection for the days when I’m in the mood to do jump/berm/drop oriented trails, and it can take a little gnar here and there. But other days I’m in the mood to have fun on ugly terrain and gnar gnar mostly.

I know the riders here have lots of experience and opinions from riding all of the above on both bikes, so I look to all of you for your wisdom.

I weigh about 175-180 lbs with my gear on. I have at my disposal a rock shox boxxer team of the 2009 variety for a fork.

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

Karupshun

· #2 · Jun 19, 2009

I've had a dirtbag for a while now, and my roomate got a Blindside when they came out. Between the two, I would go for the Blindside.

I like my DB, but since you already have a BottleRocket, I think you'd find a lot of overlap between the two.

They both run 2.25" stroke shocks, but the DB runs a higher ratio helping it to soak up small bump a little easier, but the 6.75" of travel feels pretty short in some extended rough sections.

My roomate's Blindside is running a Roco air shock, and it functions great. I like the geo, and a medium frame fit's my 6'2" quite nicely. His Blindside is also built up a little lighter than my Dirtbag while we run a lot of the same parts.

Blindside medium
888 RC3
Roco Air
Revolution wheels/Minion DHF/DHR combo 2.5
x9 rd X7 shifter
RF ride cranks/Deity pedals
Sram 950 casette
Deity bar
Code brakes
Transition house Chainguide
CK 1.5r headset
No floating brake option (used it for a while, took it off)
42.7

Dirtbag
66 RC3
Fox DHX 5.0 /w 650lb spring
729/hope front/ 729 revolution hub rear Dual Minion DHR 2.5s
09 Saint shifter/Short Cage RD combo
Deity Vendetta cranks w34t deity ring/ DMR V12 pedals
Sram 990 cassette
Deity bar
Code brakes
Transition house chainguide
43.9lbs

his isn't much lighter, but consider he has a heavy wheelset, a 888 and nearly 2" more travel than mine is pretty sweet.

Also, I think the Dirtbag is getting phased out as is if I am not mistaken. Could be a good deal if you can find one at the right price. You're not likely to hurt those frames.

See less See more

Save

mr.niles

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 19, 2009

good advice....thanks....

Karupshun said:
.........I like my DB, but since you already have a BottleRocket, I think you'd find a lot of overlap between the two.

They both run 2.25" stroke shocks, but the DB runs a higher ratio helping it to soak up small bump a little easier, but the 6.75" of travel feels pretty short in some extended rough sections....

karupshun:
good advice. there would be more overlap, especially since i'm keeping the 'rocket. and one of the main reasons i am looking at getting a bigger bike is for the days i want to blast extended rough sections!
thanks brah.

Save

MikeyMT

· #4 · Jun 24, 2009

as an aside, you are runing a 650 lb spring on the DB. 2.5x650? How much do you weigh?

Save

NWfreeride

· #5 · Jun 24, 2009

mr.niles said:
They both feel low-slung and like to rip corners, it's like I can get down "inside" these bikes while I'm riding aggressively. I like how they feel low to me.

The blindside and dirtbag have very different feels to them. If you want a low, fast and stable bike for ripping corners and soaking up bumps, the blindside would be the choice.

Coming from a Yeti AS-X, the low BB, long wheelbase and short chainstays of the blindside made it feel a great deal faster and more capable over DH terrain.

I'd vote blindside without a doubt.

Save

joelsman

· #6 · Jun 25, 2009

the blindside will feel like a plush bottlerocket, I have owned a dirt bag, bottle rocket and still currently own a blindside. the dirt bag feels tall and short, I did have a med when a large would have been better. the blindside feels low and corners much better, and jumps great too. I recently sold my bottlerocket, but also had the blindside for the last year, and I could jump from one bike to the other easily, got me in trouble a time or two hitting rough stuff on the BR, thinking like I was on the BS.

Save

mr.niles

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 26, 2009

thanks for all the help, all!

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month