Slopestyle Bikes

[ecbmxer]

Hey guys, I just recently registered on here. I've decided to try and put together a new freeride/slopestyle type of bike. I mainly ride BMX, and have for 8 or so years so I want something that has a kind of BMX feel or influence. But I also want to have some nice plush suspension for doing drops and downhill type riding. I had an enduro expert a few years ago (before they came out with the SX) that I liked, but it felt too flimsey and XC'ish. I want something with decent travel but that I can also throw around and jump. So far at the top of my list is the Transition Bottlerocket, but I am concerned about only having 5.5" of travel. Anybody have experience or opinions on these bikes and the travel? If it had 6.5", I would buy it in a second. I love the slacked, low geometry, it gives it a sort of BMX feel. So I'm just wondering if anybody has any other suggestions on frames and/or bikes. Oh and if you reccomend a frame, do you reccomend a fork to go with it. Thanks!

[fiddy_ryder]

sx trail... bottle rocket.. supposed to be a new iron horse 6 point series coming out.. the new spec demo 7($$$$) i heard sinister is coming out with a new splinter($$$$).. the old one was like like a burly 4x/ free ride. foes fxr maybe??

[BikerBoy28]

TRANSITION BOTTLE ROCKET!!! That 5.5" will feel really nice cuz its meant for slopestyle.

[ecbmxer]

Yea, thats what I was thinking too. I kinda like the SX trails, but man are they expensive. And I actually like the look and design of the transition better anyway.

[BikerBoy28]

And its a smaller company so they are nicer people. Hey, I live where the Transition HQ is!

[T-Pirate]

I'd get a 4x bike if you can deal with shorter travel, its gonna have to be setup somewhat stiff if you want to really jump well, so a 4x bike would be the most nimble in that setting. I've been drooling over Foes FXR 4x's, those things are sick, and with a 6 inch fork and burly build it would probably be perfect for what you want. You could also get a light FR bike and build it with what you have in mind. A size small Yeti ASX, VPfree, or Foes Fly with a fox 36 and a light build would probably fit the bill. My fly jumped awesome when I had a 36 on it, it just suffered a big on DH because of the shorter fork, the 66 I have now is better overall, but the light front end and short travel was awesome for DH style jumping.

[glivingston5]

heckler or bottlerocket, both frames r realy good for the price and realy strong, i think the heckler has a full six inches of travel now, and id probably go for a 66 up front

[rigidhack]

Transition Bottlerocket looks promising, if you can track down a Sinister Splinter MXS they are outragously good (I ride a Splinter MX). Maybe a Norco 4x or an older Turner Rail?

[oiswego]

bottlerocket and the sinister are nice and all, but i say check out an evil imperial.
perfect slack on it and the bike just feels right for so many reasons!
no rear suspension, but that's not too big of a deal because the frame is super strong and super dope!
i've had one for a year now and of all the bikes i own, this is essentially the only one i ride because you can ride it for virtually any type of riding.
think "bmx bike on steroids".

[ecbmxer]

I'll definitally go with the bottlerocket over the heckler. The bottlerocket has 140mm and the heckler has 143mm, so basically the same travel. And its gotta be full suspension, otherwise I'll just ride my BMX. Thanks for all the great replies! Unless I see somthing else, I'll be ordering a bottlerocket frame as soon as I have the funds!

[Five]

Some of the guys on the Santa Cruz team rode the Blur 4x for slopestyle.

[Zutroy]

Some of the guys on the Santa Cruz team rode the Blur 4x for slopestyle.


I think Jamie is using a Nomad up at Crankworxs.

[fiddy_ryder]

that would be sweet... any word on soul cycles doin something up?

[Sir_Crackien]

btw after riding more than one imp. all i have to say is that they are not slack. infact i don't like the ride because it is entirely too steep for me. even with a 6" fork on it.

i will still say it even though every one it thinking it. the preston is still a very nice slopestyle bike. another bike that is nice would be to have the new mountian cycle slope bike.

btw i hate to say it. even though i love soul cycles i think that they can't survive much longer with thier current productions and web page.

[fiddy_ryder]

i talked to redical a while back,, and he mentioned that he told the SC guys to jump on this slopestyle bandwagon asap,, this was a few months back,, maybe theyre up to something.. they were partially on track with the 4x bike, i got to ride it, it did its job. wasnt the prettiest but mechanically sound.

[redical]

that would be sweet... any word on soul cycles doin something up?

There is something in the works, but it is too soon to give details. These things always take a long time to develop and there is still doubt as to how big the slopestyle thing will actually go over. It is great fun to watch, but how many people will be capable of actually doing that kind of competing? Time will tell.

The 4X has gone through a couple of changes for the production version, all of which are for the better. Soul is going strong, there will be a lot of focus on suspension frames for the future. There have been major delays over at Easton, thus things have been slower than they hoped for production. I guess that is the price to pay for lightweight custom tubing. It will be most def be worth the wait though!

Been to Tampa lately, Fiddy? It looks like those guys need a hand getting it back up to snuff.

[.Pit Steelers.]

B-rocket..Cove G-Spot..

[redical]

IN the meantime, a lowered 7" Turner Highline (AKA the Highlight) would do the job nicely...if you have the green.

[fiddy_ryder]

that highline was soooo sick,, you were able to get it sold right? havent been out to tampa in long time,, maybe soon, my jumping i think is up to snuff to hit the **** out there...

as for slopestyle taking off,,, i heard crankworx had 100 peeps register for the comp.. dunno.. I do think there is a market for a do it all dh/fr/dj bike at an affordable price. enough travel for average rock gardens and drops, low enough to rail but not too slack and racy.. guys are drooling over the spec sx and demo 7,, but $$$$$$,, IH rumored about the 6 points.. id love to have 2-3 sleds but i cant justify it. no more big bike/small bike,, but just a medium bike, i think alot of people would go for that.

turners almost there.. maybe 6" and drop a bit of weight off the frame set. the spec demo7 is sick but a $2k frame?!?! id rather have one pimped out 6" bike @ 35-38lbs and spend 3K on it than 2 $1500 bikes..

[bjanga]

infact i don't like the ride because it is entirely too steep for me. even with a 6" fork on it
Relatively speaking, the Transition Vagrant has a degree slacker head angle than the imp. I am going to be running one with a 6" fork and the HA should be about 67* after an inch of sag.

I think Soul needs to get the specs for their frames out there.

[glivingston5]

how about the commencal supreme 6 i think that would be an exelent bike for what u need it for, plus its dam sick http://www.commencal.com/bike/2006/mtb/index_en.htm

[bent^biker]

go ahead and flame but....SWD 6 gun with a 66RC2X

[ecbmxer]

I'm torn between the SX trail and the Bottlerocket. I went and rode my brother's Demo 8 over the weekend at Wisp and am sure I don't want something that bulky or with that much travel. The trail and the rocket both have similar geometry, but I like how the bottlerocket has a really sloping top tube so you can run your seat low if jumping, etc. But then again, I like the extra inch of travel of the SX. Ahh, decisions decisions. I'm gonna go price out each of these this week and see what I come up with.

[ufdff15]

Try and find a Sinister Splinter MX (or even a MXS)
here is mine
34lbs
4"/5" rear travel w/ 2.0 stroke shock, 5"/6" with a 2.25" stroke
HA adjustable from 66*-69*
Extremely solid, and some of the best Customer Service around
http://i.pbase.com/g4/55/648955/2/64048905.714RD7AR.jpg

[Polandspring88]

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/6435hecklerback2.JPG

There is my Heckler. Set up with 143mm in the back and 150 in the front. It is light enough that I trail ride it, and I have even taken it downhilling. It performed incredibly in both settings and I have not yet found the 5.5 inches of travel to be a drawback. Quite flickable and an absolute blast to ride.

[SuspectDevice]

1. I have a Splinter MXS I am looking to sell
2. Sinister is currently developing a very dialed 6.5 pound (with shock) 4-5-6" travel slopestyle/woodstyle/slalom frame.

Proto #1 is out in the PNW where it is a serving as a DH race bike,
the next few protos will hopefully be together before interbike. If they prove popular production bikes (less than 30) will be done in March.

It will be just steep enough, just high enough in the bb and just long enough to be stable at speed. No, it does not use the new VST suspension design, it is instead a simple straight single pivot.

Super, super, super excited about this one!

[pinkshirtphotos]

ok ok u want a good bike u get this beatch

spotted it a diablo freeride park today

[tamRDR]

Hey, what about a Versus Blitz 2? I rode my friends and you can set it up as burly as you want. A sweet ride.

[ecbmxer]

I've already decided on the SX trail I. Thanks for all the inputs though! I'm trying for an 06 model since it has nicer stuff and no front der.

[mandown]

here is my vote.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163303
http://usera.imagecave.com/mandown/bottlerocket/CIMGP0658.JPG

[gmac]

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/6435hecklerback2.JPG

There is my Heckler. Set up with 143mm in the back and 150 in the front. It is light enough that I trail ride it, and I have even taken it downhilling. It performed incredibly in both settings and I have not yet found the 5.5 inches of travel to be a drawback. Quite flickable and an absolute blast to ride.


Werd. I miss my Heckler. I remember having sooo many good rides DH and trail on the Heckler. Excellent, excellent bike.

I still remember seeing a Heckler being tailwhipped in a early Santa Cruz catalog. That was it for me. Had to have it. My first bike w/ any suspension. What an eye opener.

Is the one pictured ^ a small or medium ? (perfect build IMO)

Last Summer I watched a guy full on ripping DH w/ his Heckler. Pulling some real nice moves out. All on a Heckler/Z1 w/ XC helmet and no armor (read: foolish). Really shows what that frame is capable of w/ a good rider though. Most people don't even begin to tap into it. (myself included I guess)

On the SX note: I've ridden an Spec. SX in a lightweight full air and a coil build. Good bike but check into the breakage hassle. Seems they still have issue w/ that rear end. No biggie just more downtime.

I think regardless a 36RC2VAN fork is the way to go for slope/wood/trail whatever it is currently called. Just pick a frame that won't break and doesn't have too much travel. SX, Bullit, Bottlerocket,Blitz, Sinister.... Good frame from a good company that supports the scene & rider.

.02

[nycurse]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i158/nycurse2003/pbpic944491.jpg

[manhattanprjkt83]

I hate the fact that a good solid short travel bike is now a "slopestyle" bike because we dont need any more names flying around, but they just make sense. A fun nimble bike is just where it's at for me...

I have been riding my bottlerocket for about a week and loving every minute of it, pick up a bottlerocket and build it with a dhx a 36 with some mid level components and call it a day.

[mandown]

werd! tell us more about the bottlerocket
http://usera.imagecave.com/mandown/bottlerocket/BIMGP0653.JPG

[sumskat]

Hey how about the Versus Blitz II? You said the Bottlerocket only had 5.5" of travel, and that you would prefer 6.5"? The Blitz II has 6.7" travel (170mm). Its a nice stiff bike, suited very well for slopestyle. It looks good and is tough as hell.

[WestCoastHucker]

.....Been to Tampa lately, Fiddy? It looks like those guys need a hand getting it back up to snuff.

i don't need a hand, i need some rain. i've got some plans too, so you may not want to just show up and start working unless you want your work to be in vain. feel free to work on the mini 6-packs on the backside. but if you are talking about that wack course way in the back, i had nothing to do with that....

[redical]

i don't need a hand, i need some rain. i've got some plans too, so you may not want to just show up and start working unless you want your work to be in vain. feel free to work on the mini 6-packs on the backside. but if you are talking about that wack course way in the back, i had nothing to do with that....

That was back in July, when the Dj's were f'ed up.