bullit proof

[Pat...]

My green level betty fh1 has some small cracks on the shockmount in the main frame. I want to replace it with a sc bullit. i was thinking of getting a rumble, but It is really hard to dh on those. I wouldn't do a lot of dirt jumps. I am going to put most of my old parts on it. I am going to put my dj2 fork on it (5"). My rear wheel is a mavic ex 525 with an xt hub. My front wheel is an xc rim w/ a dt polished hugi hub. I have hayes 6" rotors w/ champagne levers and calipers. I have crappy sugino or something cranks that are bent. I want to get hussefelt. I am going to do all around. Should I get a triple or double ring? I could get a mrp lrp for dual or the truvative triple setup like the vp-free. Eventuallly, I will get a beefier front wheel with a 20mm. Would it be okay to evtually put a dc fork when racing and fr and a sc when dj, trail riding and stuff. Would that take long to switch the fork out.

[TamaSKA]

I'd pick the Marz Z1 FR I with the 5-6" travel ,and it would be okay for almost everything. Bullit is not the best for dh if you want to race imo.


btw you can also go with two forks, 4 example with a boxxer, and a 5" DJ

switch them is about a 10minute job

[Pat...]

A level betty is not the best for dh, but, I didn't place last at firestone.

[Kornphlake]

I think your plan might work, but only if you can find the rare freeride version of the bullit in rootbeer color.

Honestly it sounds like you really need to get a new bike, frame and components. I'd suggest something like a specialized bighit or an iron horse kucho mocho or whatever they're called. They'll come in at just under $2000 complete and you won't have to worry about upgrading the front wheel, replacing your bent cranks, and buying a chainguide. Sell the spare parts you have that are still in good condition to offset the cost or keep them around until you have the money to buy a good 5" travel frame and build up a trail bike.

[Pat...]

But i am going to dhr and fr and some dj and trails.

[Pat...]

I will use my current front wheel with my dj II on the bullit, and I will get a beefy 20 mm front wheel and a 20mm dc 7" fork for fr and dh. Probably a d321 w/ a ????? hub. which: triple or double ring? I could do the vpfree triple setup.

[Kornphlake]

what makes you think you couldn't dh, fr, dj and trail something like a bighit? I just threw those out as ideas because they are bikes that have about as much travel as a bullit and can be bought new for less than $2000. You could probabally find something from kona that would fit in the same price range but might excell in trail and dirtjumping but would be less capable as a downhill rig.

On the other hand a bullit is a pretty good freeride bike, not but not a real great downhill or DJ bike and just barely squeaks by as a good trail bike if you keep a 5" fork on it. You're going to be compromising either way, which is why I suggest buying a complete DH bike and using the spare parts you have to build up a second bike that's more capable of trail riding and jumping. Do what you want though, plenty of guys had bullits they'd swap forks on back when that was the cool thing to do.

If your only quesiton is about how many rings I'd say go double ring, you'll need the bashring a lot more than you'll need a big chanring.

[Pat...]

DOesn't the vp free have 3 rings and a bash guard?

[Pat...]

DO you think a double ring hussefelt with a mrp lrp w/ e13 bashguard would be good. Is my ex525 w/xt hub rear wheel strong enough for dh?

[Bldr_DH]

My Balfa 2Step DH is for sale -- 7". I can sell complete or part it out. -- it's in your pricerange for sure. Awesome condition. PM me if you're interested. I have pics of everything.

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116902&highlight=parts+blowout

[dexterq20]

...an iron horse kucho mocho or whatever they're called.
I just had an idea... Iron Horse should make a bike called the Mucho Koochie!

[OGRipper]

DOesn't the vp free have 3 rings and a bash guard?

The vp-free is a frame, it has whatever # of rings and bashguards you want to put on it. It's pretty common for people to run a double with a bashguard in place of the third ring. There is only one company I know (Heim/Montara Designs) that has a triple ring AND bashguard set up.

Not entirely clear why you brought up the vp-free but just so you know, you can't use your XT rear wheel on a free, you would need a 150x12mm thru axle hub.

[joelsman]

your plan is fine. bullits can handle daul crowns (7in) just fine, another option instead of 2 forks is the boxxer race? with u-turn, 130-170mm of travel, couldn't do x-ups though. also get two headset races if you plan on switching out forks often, much easier than removing it everytime. if possible get some better cranks, those tend to bend easily, holzfellers are much better. or better yet get some cranks with out board bearings.

[Red Bull]

Just buy complete...

[dhkid]

I think your plan might work, but only if you can find the rare freeride version of the bullit in rootbeer color.

:confused: :confused: :confused: rare freeride version?

[dexterq20]

:confused: :confused: :confused: rare freeride version?
http://www.cripplefight.com/smileys/signmuahaha.gif

Aw how cute, the little guy's confused!

[Pat...]

I have parts, so I don't need a complete. I brought up vp free because it has a triple ring and I thought it had a bashguard. What cranks have outboard bearings and what is the advantage? I am planning on buying a used bullit frame. If the paint is messed up or I don't like the color, How much is powdercoating? Will my rear wheel fit a bullit?

[Bicyclist]

You could just buy my bike...

[gmac]

One bike ---> two forks - perfect amature rig.

You can get a nice floating brake (eventually) for Dh and then you are only limited by ability.

Anyone check out the Bionic floater ?

[Pat...]

hucker, your bike looks really nice, but i want more travel. Have you heard of the 8" travel swingarm made by easton for the bullit? My friend said he would get me it.

[Kornphlake]

Are you really serious or are you trying to be funny. I honestly can't tell.

Your best bet if you want a chainguide is to go E13, if you have an E13 chainguide you best get an E13 bash guard to match. It sounds like you've made up your mind to get a bullit no matter what any of us might say. You can get 8" out of a bullit with the standard swingarm and an avalanche shock mounted directly to the frame rather than through the adjustable shuttle. I don't believe Easton makes an aftermarket swingarm, there was a company that does but the name has escaped me at the moment. Will your friend really buy you an aftermarket swingarm, why not just ask him to give you money right now and help you buy a better frame to begin with rather than trying to bolt on a bunch of stuff to an old frame that'll probabally crack within a year.

[Pat...]

THe bullit wouldn't crack! Or do you mean my level betty (that is cracked). On my level betty, there is a warranty. THey will give me a sugar frame that I will sell for a bullit.

[quickneonrt]

the company is tonic fabrications, they make a cromo rear triangle for the bullit w/ a qr or bolt through rear

http://www.tonicfab.com/badmofo.htm

[Kornphlake]

THe bullit wouldn't crack! Or do you mean my level betty (that is cracked). On my level betty, there is a warranty. THey will give me a sugar frame that I will sell for a bullit.
A used frame will crack! Especailly if you are modding it to have 8" travel. Aluminium frames have a finite fatigue life and you have absolutely no idea how close to that fatigue life a frame is until the headtube snaps off, it could be on your first ride if the previous owner has really pounded it or it could be after 3 years (which is about as long as I'd expect any DH/FR frame to last under it's intended use,) but why take that chance? If you can find a frame that is only a year old your chances are better, or if you know the person who owned it doesn't ride much or go very big, but honestly the odds of finding that frame are pretty slim. With prices of good entry level downhill bikes being sub $2000 I don't see any reason to take that risk. If you're set on a bullit at least get brand new frame for $1100, it's a lot cheaper than dental work.

[mtnbikej]

DOesn't the vp free have 3 rings and a bash guard?



Yeah.....and a $1700 price tag for frame only. :eviltongu :eviltongu

mtnbikej

[Pat...]

What if the rider had it setup for xc and the frame was an '02?

[Jayridesacove]

Don't bother with it.

[Pat...]

don't bother with what?

[Pat...]

I will probably just get the bullit at cambria for $1090.

[offdawalley]

yeah, i think that a new bullit would be the best, I think that a used one would be fine too, but you might run into some problems, but the bullit is a great, all around single pivot frame, and, I have some used husselfelts if you want them, for like 30 bucks, or something, let me know if you are interested, (they have the steel inserts, the ones without them are the one's with the bad rep.)

[Pat...]

DOes it come with rings?

[Zaskar Rider]

A bullit will fit the bill for what you're trying to do with it. Read: Everything. I've had mine built up in full DH spec, weighed in at 45 pounds and raced it. Since then I've gotten a VP-Free and I had no use for the Bullit but I also had no full squish trailbike. So what to do? I put fox air suspension on both ends, some reasonably light components and voila now I've got a perfect sub 30pound trail bike.

So go for it, but I wouldn't screw around with the 8" swingarm, you won't want it for a majority of the stuff it sounds like your'e gonna do with the bike. Just get the two forks, I'd get a 888 or boxxer and a fox float rlc for it. Oh and King headsets make swapping out the forks super easy.

[Pat...]

My friend said the 7" jr t's are really burly and RObby BOurdon rides it. Yeah, I think the swing arm would just make it heavier and more complicated. AT the most I will eventually do like 15' drops maybe.

[Pat...]

Eventually, I want to get a romic.

[Zaskar Rider]

I would suggest not getting a Jr. T. They've had spiking issues in the past, if you can find a used super T that'd be the way to go. My bullit was a 6x6 (oh yes, I have a 6" super t :D) and it rode real nice.

Oh and stay away from romic, get a fox DHX, 5th element, or something but not a romic. The guys I know who have had romics have had nothing but problems with them.

[Pat...]

I know people with romics that are really good. My friend's friend has one on his honda xr50. Whats wrong with the jr.t's?

[Zaskar Rider]

On super hard hits, big drops, and other things like that what will happen is the fork will compress really really fast because of all the force you're putting on it. The way the valving is inside of the Jr. T will cause it to hydrolock on occasion. This is not good, basically it will stop the fork midway through it's travel. The valving on the super t's, monster, and shiver DC all work different from the Jr. T and this problem does not exist on those forks.

Good luck with the romic if you get it, I was just telling you what I know about them from working in a shop for a wihle and seeing them come in messed up with few hours of riding on them.

[Pat...]

Thank you everyone one for all the help so far!

[Pat...]

On ebay i saw a few super t's for under $300. I will get a super t when i get some money. I was trying to find used small bullits and it's hard to find them.

[Kanter]

Why not just buy a 05 Big Hit. They are $1600 and can take just about any abuse. The build sheet is good too.

[quickneonrt]

or if you want a single pivot them check out the Gemini 900 good build specs and can be had for about $1600 also. 7" front and rear w/a sherman breakout plus. And it does not weigh alot either.

[Pat...]

WHats wrong with the bullit?

[quickneonrt]

nothing, they are great bikes but why buy used when you can get something new. On the average a used bullit will run about $1600 to build/buy. Also finding a small 7" travel for under $700 is near impossible. The 7" is from 2003 and up, bullits tend to hold their value. I know I have been looking for one for my girlfriend and I have come to the conclusion to just suck it up and buy a new one instead of paying $900 for a used frame. If you are on a budget we were just giving you some other options. Plus Specialized has a lifetime waranty and the gemini is close to the bullit in design but a little lighter. Buying a used fr/dh frame is risky, especially if it is more than 2-3 yrs old. I would not buy a used frame unless i could see it in person or had alot of detailed pictures. just my .02

[Pat...]

Besides the frame, all I need are cranks, Tires, and brake adapters(later 20mm front wheel, super t).

[Pat...]

Are marzocchi 20mm hubs good? The are not on their website.

[mtnbikej]

Are marzocchi 20mm hubs good? The are not on their website.


They are decent. Can't really go wrong at $40. The problem is there is no way to adjust them. I had one that develped some play in it. Just had to live with it.

mtnbikej

[Kanter]

They are decent. Can't really go wrong at $40. The problem is there is no way to adjust them. I had one that develped some play in it. Just had to live with it.

mtnbikej

I never really messed with my Zoke 20mm hub but, when it became loose, I took it to the LBS and they fixed it.

[Zaskar Rider]

It's just a front hub, name brand and cheap, I've got two of them, on that I've beat the $@(^ out of and it's still rolling just fine. A front hub really isn't a place where you need to spend a lot of $ IMO. Unless of course you just can't live without a king ;)

[Pat...]

Thaks for the info.

[Pat...]

It is hard to find a small bullit that is cheap. I am cosidering a joker-how are they? I heard they are hard to manual. 15" would be perfect for me.

[Jayridesacove]

Don't bother with the Joker. Just keep looking for a bullit.

[quickneonrt]

or just get a bighit or a gemini. don't waste your money on a joker

[Pat...]

whats wrong with jokers.

[Pat...]

Are they weak or what?

[Pat...]

what is bad about jokers, everyone on mtbr liked them.

[bballboy388]

why dont u just listen to some one and buy a new bike. you keep say why all i need are and u list ur parts that u need. just sell ur good parts and buy a complete it just makes more sense!