Greatest FR bike ever??

[bullit71]

Ok, since we can probably agree that a good FR bike is one that is 'good at everything, but great at nothing', I believe that the SC Bullit is the best FR bike ever produced. Sure, there are some new entries in this catagory, but what bike has been so solid for so long with hardly any changes, not to mention, when the Bullit was first introduced, it changed the face of mountain biking forever.

The only other one that comes to mind is Stinky, but perhaps that is DH bike?

[mobius]

ugh. kill me.

[sh*t scared]

Mine is a strong contender:

[Zark]

With a screen name like "bullit71" your answer is a total suprise.....

I'll say the Mountain Cycle San Andreas since it was used for "freeriding" before that stupid phrase was used for mountain bikes.

[binary visions]

I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you guys.

Clearly, the greatest FR bike ever is the Trek Y-Bike.

[sleepinggiant]

I'll say the Mountain Cycle San Andreas since it was used for "freeriding" before that stupid phrase was used for mountain bikes.
I just found out that Mountain Cycle was a senior project here at Cal Poly!
In the words of Peter Griffin, I thought that was "Freakin' Sweet"
http://www.evilmonkey.tv/downloads/landogriffin.gif

[stinkyboy]

The only other one that comes to mind is Stinky, but perhaps that is DH bike?


I like this guy.

:rolleyes:

[Tongol]

My vote Big Hit....

[OGRipper]

No no no. :nono:

I vote for the free bikes you can ride around in some euro cities. You pretty much have to pay for everything else.

And all the peeps say: "Thank you Literal Man, for saving us from this horrible thread!!!"

[rpk1988]

Mine is a strong contender:

Sweet mother of Pearl that bike is huge. Look at that hub. Sweet.

[kinghami3]

I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you guys.

Clearly, the greatest FR bike ever is the Trek Y-Bike.
I agree. I conquered the North Shore on my Y-11 :) The essance of freeride is to each his own, there's no one best FR bike, it's whatever one works for each individual rider.

[pangeist]

Transition Dirtbag, down home, grassroots, freeridin' fun!!!!!!!!!

http://img277.echo.cx/img277/9195/jenniferscam0907xa.jpg

[ThePriceSeliger]

we should go ahead and change the forum name to www.pinkbike2.com because it is comming in fast!

[blue]

Something tells me this forum shall not last long. At all.

[Kevin]

I think everyone should STFU.
This forum is paying off allready.
You didnt want stuff like this in the DH forums cause you all were irritated by it and now its gone to the FR forums and your still bitching about it.
Let these guys talk about FR bikes if they want to and keep out of it if your a "hardcore racer"...

[bullit71]

I am not an expert DH racer, but can do things with my Bullit that most guys will stand around an watch, which is fun for me. I think the average big FS bike owner probably rides on the weekends, has to climb to get to the good stuff, and would consider mtn biking more of a 'hobby' than some full-on DH racer that is sponsered. Sometimes the attitude in the DH forum is you need to be a sponsered DH racer to be worth anything, while everyone else is a moron. Good, stay there, and let morons like me post stupid threads like ' the Bullit is the greatest FR bike ever' :eviltongu

BTW, the Bullit is a very good FR bike, but I started the thread to see what others would consider excellent choices as well. :p

[bullit71]

I might add that I am totally stoked that we have a FR/hucking forum. I usually spend most of my time over at mtbr.com, but their DH forum is starting to really suck with kids flaming each other, only posting their 'new rides' seeking the opproval of everyone, and some of the same elitist DH a-holes that seem to permeate the DH forum here.

I hope this forum works out! :thumb:

[InsaneP2Rider]

i'm just going to drop in and support your idea for this thread... I have a bullit and i'm pretty happy with it (only pretty happy because it's falling apart because i have no job). i go on rides with people that have pure DH bikes, and they complain on the climbs. Then the rides with more XCish people, they start bitchin when the DH gets rough and steep. The DH bikes are usually too heavy or set up wrong to do big, tech. hucks, and the XC bikes arn't strong enough.

all in all, the bullit is pretty good at most everything, but awesome at nothing. So, it can be considered by many people to be one of the greatest freeride bikes, but in my mind, i think that it is because it's so affordable.

[JacobDW]

Transition Dirtbag, down home, grassroots, freeridin' fun!!!!!!!!!

http://img277.echo.cx/img277/9195/jenniferscam0907xa.jpg


HELL YES ordering mine monday WOOOOOOOOOOOo

[smedford]

I don't really like Bullits that much, but I think it is because I see so many of them. I had one, it was a great bike and completely changed the way I ride. I would have to agree that is is one of the best freeride bikes out there in terms of affordabilty and usefullness.

[oly]

With a screen name like "bullit71" your answer is a total suprise.....

I'll say the Mountain Cycle San Andreas since it was used for "freeriding" before that stupid phrase was used for mountain bikes.

Another one from back before the word Freeride was uttered by 2 wheelers, K2 also had some pretty good bikes, and good riders on them (Shandro for one). The Animal DH, and also the Evo was used by the zero gravity team and appeared alot in the first cranked film.

[Hucknificent]

Loaded questions are funny!

[Pat...]

Bullits are the best. My friend hates them and says Im making big mistake getting one.
He's completely wrong. He has a scott Hi octane. My parents wont just get me a bike, especially like that. I think its more than he needs. A bullit is much lighter with enough travel for me. We are going to Mammoth this summer and I will show him what bullits can do. He rode one in a parking lot (I mean "up a hill and down") and didn't like it. That doesn't test anything.

[Hucknificent]

Like I said it's a loaded quest. there's no such thing as the perf. frame or bike. That's why sponsored riders bikes are so tailored to them. A lot of times the frames are even custom. No riding in a parking lot doesn't test what you can put a bike through but it does test the size and fit. This topic gets funnier by the post! Have fun!

[Downhiller]

karpiel apocalypse is the sickiest fr bike ever made
(for sick & twisted only)

but i agree about bullit but scream or norco are great to. :)



peace

[Pat...]

Rumbles are good hartails too.

[biggins]

the yeti as-x owns the bullit. way sexier, has the added swing link for stiffness and a 1.5 head tube.

[me89]

would consider mtn biking more of a 'hobby' than some full-on DH racer that is sponsered. Sometimes the attitude in the DH forum is you need to be a sponsered DH racer to be worth anything, while everyone else is a moron.

well not to burst your bubble or anything, but maybee if you didnt post stupid opinionated threads, or figured out was going to read your thread then maybee they wont think that about you. i mean come on man everyone in that thread thinks of mountain biking as a sport not a hobby (and seriously if football, basketball, and baseball are sports, then your damn straight mountain biking is). ohh and on another point if you wanted everyones opinion then put it in the title or state it in the first post. As far as the attitude goes theres tons of people in there that arent sponsored and people listen to them all the time because they dont make stupid comments and think that there better than everyone else. just my 2cents.

ohh and the vp free deffinatly owns the bullit hands down.

and vince i dont bitch thats just your bro and hes on a hardtail not a dh bike come on man.

[Pat...]

Of course the vp free owns the bullit, It has better pedaling, more travel and vpp suspension.

[losttrailsfound]

im going to have to say the sc bullit, specialized bighit, or ellsworth dare take the cake :cool:

[me89]

i dont know about the dare its more dh but anything can be hucked. :thumb:

but deffinatly the vp free. it handles dh with the best of them. it can take a dorado up front, or any fork up front for that matter, and still pedal up the hills with the best of them. it can keep up with full blown dh rigs if its got a compatant rider on it (ive seen it done), and of course it can huck with the best of them. only down side is the price tag but if you can get around that your good to go

[lovebunny]

Like I said it's a loaded quest. there's no such thing as the perf. frame or bike. That's why sponsored riders bikes are so tailored to them. A lot of times the frames are even custom. No riding in a parking lot doesn't test what you can put a bike through but it does test the size and fit. This topic gets funnier by the post! Have fun!
most random post of the day!

[scratch]

i'm gonna have to say here, that the ultimate freeride bike ever has got to be my first full suspension- twas a pacific from the top rack of toys'r'us, and it rocked for two weeks. but i broke it. best 180 bucks ever.

[bullit71]

First, of course mtn biking is a sport, but also a hobby I think, as all my money goes into it (bikes, parts, etc). But perhaps hobby is the wrong word. Whatever.

Also, of course it's a loaded question. There's no 'one' greatest FR bike out there, plus we mtn bikers tend to be extremely biased towards the bike we happen to own, for the most part. But it is interesting to see what other people think are classic FR bikes that continue to perform year after year.

That said, yes, the Yeti ASX owns the Bullit with it's suspension improvements and 1.5 HT, but I still think it's damn nice to be able to buy a used Bullit frame for $700 bucks or even less, and the next day your keeping up with your buddies at N* for DH'ing or XC buddies going up hills next to their $4k bikes havin' fun. True? Word.

Rant over. :)

[jackalope]

My main criteria for a great FR bike is durability, price, and ease of maintenance...Basically, the damn thing shouldn't break, unless you pull some Kadvang-dank silliness (except w/o the skill) and 50/50 a forty foot step down...Or I'm even fine with it exploding after 5 years of abuse, as I understand that eventually, all frames break...But I've just seen too many 'freeride' bikes die a little too prematurely IMO (e.g. a couple Yeti ASX's and Ellesworth Jokers)...Not crashed, and not dropped to flat 400 times with a 250 lb rider...Nope, just normal stuff, and SNAP...I know that's kinda subjective and may only be reflective of what I've seen personally...

Also, my Bullit has been a breeze to keep in running order and with a properly tuned 5th, pedals as good or better than most XC/trail bikes...I race mine DH, and have podiumed in Sport, so it's now I'm off to Expert to get butchered (i.e. this where I honestly think the bike will be a real liability compared to the dudes on DHRs, Demos, V-10s, M3s, etc...)
Never had a huge issue with brake jack, but every once in awhile I do feel it lock up a bit on steep, techy DH (could also have something to do with the fact that I suck)...I've ridden a VP-Free and while it certainly is a great bike, I really didn't think it pedaled better or took big hits any better than my Bullit...For small bump sensitivity, it was VERY nice, but like I've also seen the owner of said VP do a lot of pivot maintenance - which I despise (yes, I'm lazy)...Not to say I wouldn't take one, I just don't think the VP is light years better than a Bullit (blasphemy I know!), much less a Big Hit or Stinky...The main issue I have with the Bullit is I feel like the rear is a little flexy (yes, I said the f word) compared to a Big Hit, Stinky, or ASX (due to the swing link)...Not terrible, and with my Fun Bolts, it's stiff enough...Love the Big Hit too, as I think you can do so much with that set up (e.g. competent DH rig or heavy trail bike in 6" mode)...Plus, no major brake jacking issues, although I have NEVER ridden a Horst link 4 bar that I felt accelerated very well...Like the Stinky and Dirtbag as well as they're relatively simple and affordable...

So I'll end my stream of consciouness with this: I say a tie between 5th equipped Bullit (pros - simple, cheap, practically unbreakable, good pedaler; cons- brake jack, little flexy in the rear) and the Stinky (pros - not crazy expensive, stiff, practically unbreakable; cons - not a superb pedaler and lots of fun pivots to maintain) and the Big Hit (pros - still fairly inexpensive, nice 4 bar sus for all sorts of riding, practically unbreakable; cons - I don't think it a particularly good pedaler, pivot maintenance)...I should caveat the whole pivot maintenance issue with the fact that I am uber-anal about ANY amount of play in a suspension...I mean ANY...So some folks may not worry about it as much as I do, thus not a big deal to them...

Btw, with my 3 way tie, I am officially sending in a resume to MBF as I think I am ready to write lots of uninformative articles for the masses....

[stinky6]

I don't ride a Stinky anymore, but I would say its a very good FR bike and I haven't rode any other "Freeride" bikes for more than a few minutues so I can't say about the rest of them.

[erikkellison]

Winners, IMO:
Bullit. Great price, strong, pedals well. Downfall: quality of travel
ASX. Good quality travel, pedals well. Downfall: price
VP-Free. Great quality travel, pedals well. Downfalls: weight and price
Stinky. Good price, strong. Downfalls: no Horst link, not light, unnecessary amount of pivots if Horst link isn't used
AC. Light, pedals well, price. Downfalls: not strong, lacking travel
Saber. Light, pedals well. Downfalls: not strong, lacking travel
Norco Shore. Price, strength, quality of travel, pedals well. Downfalls: weight, noise.

[jackalope]

^^
Interesting, but I have a few questions (yes, I'm that bored :) )

* How do you define 'quality travel'? I can't detect any meaningful difference between a 5th equipped ASX and 5th equipped Bullit (and I've ridden both)...Never had an issue the 'travel' of the Bullit, unless you're referring to stink bugging (which would affect the ASX as well)...

* Price on the ASX? Thought they were about the same as a Bullit (maybe a little more, but around $1200 for the frame)...Although that may have changed with the newest model...

* I don't think just b/c a 4 bar doesn't have a Horst link that it doesn't work (and work in a similar fashion)...I always thought the seat stay pivot 4 bars were still a basic progressive suspension, although perhaps they don't isolate pedal forces as well as the Spesh design...


Again, just curious...

[erikkellison]

I felt that the ASX was more sensitive in the small bump area than the Bullit. I think that's due to the progressive design of the linkage. Yes, this can be somewhat compensated for with the adjustments on the 5th-equipped Bullit, but since they have the same shock, you can do the same adjustments to both bikes. Mechanically, the suspension design of the ASX is better. However, both bikes have (and need) the platform on the 5th for pedaling efficiency.
As far as quality travel, I consider a very sensitive in the beginning stroke suspension design to be ideal, while ramping up to end compression so the suspension doesn't bottom out easily. Having more travle helps the quality, at least in my book, because a 9" travel bike is going to be more progressive/adjustable than a 6" travel bike, all else equal. It's simply easier to tune the suspension.
ASX is at least $300 more, last time I checked. Bullit's go for $1100 nowadays. I could have my price on the ASX wrong, but I'm pretty sure it went for $1400.
And the Horst link is a far superior design to the non-Horst 4-bar. Yes, both are designed to be progressive, but the Horst will pedal better, and as I understand it, have better quality travel since the non-Horst 4-bar is simply a glorified single pivot, kinda like a DHR or an ASX (not that there is anything wrong with a glorified single pivot, just that if I had my choice between non-Horst or Horst, I'd go with Horst as it seems like there's no good argument to not use it, except for the money you have to pay Specialized for the design rights).

[trailblazer]

the yeti as-x owns the bullit. way sexier, has the added swing link for stiffness and a 1.5 head tube.
thank u
someone with brains.

lets get back on topic and stopthe self indulgent posting of your 60lb anchors. A freeride bike must be able to pedal up hill as well.

[jackalope]

OK, thanks for the info! Not really sold on the Horst link 4 bars claims (not yours, just in general) as I ridden Demos and Big Hits and thought they were good, just accelerated VERY poorly (regardless of set up).

Although I've always wondered how the ASX swing link really affect the characteristics of the travel - as it appears to me that the link is just there to take off some side loading placed on the shock...I believe you, I'm just too dumb to understand how :)

[erikkellison]

As I understand it, the link on the ASX is there to make the leverage ratio lower in the beginning of the travel, and higher nearer the end of the travel. I'm not sure about the designers' primary and secondary intent of the link, but I would think that added stiffness was secondary to the progressivity.
However, I don't think the 1.5" HT is an asset. It is usually more trouble for the stuff I plan on running, and it means you either have to add HT stack heigh through a reducer (not to mention weight), or run one of those reducer headsets. Since all the good forks I plan on running are 1 1/8", I'll stick with standard. That means that I can keep running my CK HS and take advantage of the fact that it's lighweight w/o having to add a chunk of metal to make it fit.
If the price was the same on the ASX and the Bullit, or within $100, I'd go for the ASX. However, it's not. I'd have a tough time finding a "once-ridden" ASX for $900. But if price isn't a part of the equation, count my opinions out as they're always formed on a budget.
The Demo and the Big Hit are both heavy bikes with huge tires, which probably aren't the best examples of a Horst link bike for showcasing pedaling efficiency. Try a Saber, or some other Horst link 4-bar that's a little more nimble and a little less like an Abrahms.

[jackalope]

I hear ya on the 1.5" HT - very kool...As for the quick accelerating horsts, I've had some saddle time on a FSR and sure, it gets like Kirsty Alley going after a box of Hohos...But I was referring more to a apples to apples comparison - in otherwords, my Bullit feels a lot more lively in terms of acceleration than any Big Hit I've ridden...But it may just be my imagination, dunno...

And btw, aren't we supposed to be insulting one another? Or at least you should blast me for not doing a search ;)

[Jeff 151]

Time to respect the 800 pound gorilla in the room:

CANNONDALE GEMINI.

It defines the ideal of a freeride bike: Balls strong, light and flickable (can easily be built burly, under 40 pounds), 1.5 header, low maintenance (single pivot), relatively efficient pedaler.

The ultimate ride for the ultimate gravity rider: Monseur Gracia.

Thread . . . OVER.

[rpk1988]

I think Jeff 151 just hit the nail on the head. The Gemini is an awesome bike. Its handmade in the USA and is very well equipped. IMO, Cannondale has done it again.

[Jayridesacove]

I have owned:
a 1999 Norco vps2, bought in 1999. That was my first suspension bike. I used it for DH and just riding around. Solid, 4bar FSR. Only weakness it used bushings at the pivots.

2002 cove g-spot. I recently sold this frame. Very burly, 4bar walking beam. Would feel even better with a DHX on it. Ciaran is the new owner, he even painted it a sweet color. I might end up ordering a new one and make it a trail bike.

2005 bullit. I just ordered this frame about a month ago. I decided to for a U.S. bike maker this time around. This is my first single pivot bike. With a Fox dhx 5.0 on there I really like the feel of the rear end. Dunno about the brake jack, as I've been working on not using the brakes too much so I can catch up to my faster friends.

Hard to choose a favorite.

[OGRipper]

Thread . . . OVER.

Please let that be true.

[erikkellison]

The C'Dale Gemini is a very versatile frame for sure. For some reason, I completely forgot about it when I mentioned the others. It's light, tunable for DH racing or freeride, but when you tune it for freeride, I really don't like the way it feels (twitchy, too high of a BB?) It's also not cheap, and unless you've got a platform valved shock on there, it'll bob with the best of them. And it has the 1.5" HT, which IMO is a negative attribute. So although it deserves to be included in my list, it is far from being the hands down winner.

[mountaingoat]

Banshee of course.. They are awesome.. I have ridden other bikes, but my scream pedals awesome.. Try it you will like it.. We rode 36 miles the other day , mostly dh , alot o pedaling though.. It seamed easier to pedal than my old FSR.. My scream weighs 5 times more.. SICK YO.. If your worried bout weight, get stronger!! :mumble: :evil:

[spacemanspiff06]

sry yall' best FR bike ever: foes fly. only con is the price but this isn't the 'best, cheap, FR bike' thread. bulit is up there, so is stinky, vp-free, demo 8, scream, shore team. still what is all comes down to is personal perfrence and riding style

[OGRipper]

AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!

There is no general consensus on what "Freeride" means, so how can anyone say what is or was the best ever?

This is too painful, goodbye.

:stosh:

[jackalope]

^^
We're doing this just to p!ss you off... :blah:

It's always struck me as funny to see posters come on to a thread (thereby actually helping keep it going) and denounce it's contents, when they have the power to just ignore said commentary...About like people complaining about how bad Jennifer Lopez movies are (i.e. just don't watch the damn things and don't worry about it)...

So where was I? Oh yes, the best Freeride (as defined by the good folks at IMBA) bike ever...Ok, how about a Canfield? Or Disco? No, no, I think the Intense Uzzi SLX was the best :thumb:

[erikkellison]

Why isn't there an accepted definition of freeride?
Seems to me that it implies going downhill predominantly, with either natural and/or manmade stunts. If there's an uphill required to get to it, it's pedal-powered. If it's flat, or there aren't stunts, or the stunts are quite small, it's aggro trail. If it's more fast and flowy than stunt oriented, then the line starts to get blurry between that and downhill.
Doesn't seem that hard to me to define freeride. It's all the trail riders calling what they do "freeride" that seems to be the problem to me.
A loose definition is okay, for example, I ride DH and freeride. Some trails are very in between the two, and I'd rather just describe a trail than assert whether it's DH or freeride... it can be a little of both.
I think if you're sane, then this thread makes sense. Seems like most people are on the same page here, only the exception masters and loons are the ones having problems understanding.

[haromtnbiker]

Here it goes.... (stupid movie)

Its a sledgehammer, I mean what else can handle a 3 foot jump?



Actually, if I had to pick any bike, I would get a 2005 bullit, and get that special swingarm that is stiffer and has 8 inches of travel. (Problem solved Jackalope!) Then I would get a floating brake and a dhx w/ a titanuim spring.
Wow, I wish I had money!!! :cool:

[OGRipper]

It's always struck me as funny to see posters come on to a thread (thereby actually helping keep it going) and denounce it's contents, when they have the power to just ignore said commentary...

I apparently don't have the power, that's what drives me nuts. :help:

Seems like most people are on the same page here, only the exception masters and loons are the ones having problems understanding.

Ah hah! I am the master loon!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! :eek: :eviltongu

But seriously, I don't agree that freeride is predominantly downhill. There are some pedal-powered trails in the new Bike mag that most people call freeride - or maybe Wade's opinion doesn't count? My only point is that an urban hardtail might be the best freeride bike to one person, whereas a 12" Super Monster Huck Machine the best for someone else. It's not much different from asking "What is the best mountain bike ever?" Fun to discuss, but good luck finding a consensus. Anyway, I mean it, goodbye. :)

[erikkellison]

Exception Master OR Loon, not both ;)
I think you've been trusting your fortune cookies too much... desserts aren't always right, Homer.

[Gleeke]

Mine is a strong contender:


You can fell good. Good about HOOD!!!!
I love that bike...

[Hucknificent]

most random post of the day!

Thank you! Please drive through.

[arboc!]

i think the kona stinky series deserves alot of respect for being around as long as it has, and remaining virtually un-changed