arrg so f'ing frustrated!!

[mshred]

Well, i was planning to get a new full suspension for a few months, and had my finger on the coiler. Then, I sort of realized i don't really need a fully for my area. I mean, I'm doing pretty good, although not as fast as others on my ol' hardtail. Then I almost slid my card thru the till to buy a new hardtail frame. After more thinking, i sort of went back to the fully idea, but now I'm leaning back again to the hardtail pride.

The thing is, that Downhilling/freeride is my favorite type of riding in my life. But it also isn't my most common type of riding, because they nearest trails are out of riding distance away. I can do most of the things nearby on my hardtail, but I may go to some ski mountains nearby, possibly even whistler once or twice. But i would probably be renting

So i need some help. I don't 100% really need a fully, maybe it's just that i want one.I would also be owning a lower-end bmx, possible i nicer one if i like the little kid bike.If i were to buy a fully, i would most likley have to sell my hardtail, leaving me with a bmx and a fully, or i could have a dh oriented hardtail and a bmx.

Im sort of confused right now, so any feedback is welcome, and if you need any other info im here

[muddy beast]

I was in the same position a year and a half ago, well sorta. My dellema is I want something I can screw around on doing anything, and not have to worry about the impact. And something that can handle me as I progress. I got my bighit, and have upgraded it to my liking.

Now I have an Atomlab sponsor, so Im going to buy an atomlab hardtail and build it up with parts from my other sponsors so I have an urban ride and for light trail riding. Then when I go to races or whistler or something I can use my bighit.

It all comes down to money. If you CAN afford it, get a fully because you can always get a nicer hardtail to solve your other needs later for alot cheaper. Otherwise just get a decent hardtail built up the way you want from the ground. Your dream bike basically, and have fun on it. And make it something that can handle DH so you can do DH on it too.

And fullys are just down right fun, you CAN do anything on them if you try. Including a 200mile 2 day road race, ;-).

[klutch]

check out my ad in full sussy of the classifieds it's the mountain cycle fury (red) it's pretty kick ass and might be what you're looking for.It only weighs 31 lbs. and is really fast...peace

[firemandivi]

I was in the same position up until a month ago. For two years I had been wanting a new bike, one with a full suspension. I rode my friends bikes, and I ended up buying the Yeti 575. It rides great uphill and with 5.75" of travel, can take downhill pretty good too. I highly recommend this bike. But you really should test ride a lot of different bikes before investing the money on a new bike. So far I've only ridden my 575 twice one the trails, but I love it. Most stores will let you test ride their bikes, all you have to do is ask, and they'll give you a bike to ride on the trails for a couple of days. So get out there and test ride some bikes and find the one you want.

[OGRipper]

Don't worry about what you need. Feed your jones, get more bikes if you want. Two bikes is a long ways away from too many.

[sad panda]

Get the coiler.

[skatetokil]

get a 7 point with an adjustable travel fork and a platform shock.

[skatetokil]

actually, if you're poor, build a soul cycles titan. my brother is doing one right now and i'm jealous.

[jonnynails]

I'd get the fully without a doubt. You will have so much more fun on it and they make the bikes and shocks so adjustable now that you can ride every different kind of terrain out there including XC stuff. Worst case scenario is your legs will get stronger riding it uphill and you will not climb as fast as on the hardtail, but it will be so worth it when the hill points back down!!!!

I have a Spec. SX trail (6.6 inches of travel)and it is the bike I use on XC rides. Sure it is not the ideal XC bike, but I don't care who gets to the top first as long as I can ride my bike to the top. It's all about the descent. I did not want to buy a bike just for XC rides, so I use my freeride bike for it and I can tell you that I have a bigger smile on my face riding it then any of my buddies on there hardtails.

Just make sure you have a granny gear up front and you will be able to climb anything.

[mshred]

Thanks everyone. I'm not too worried about XC compatability, but i can do most of the trails nearby on the hardtail, so im not sure if i exactly need a fully. I could also get a short travel fully, are there any suggestions or advice for one of those?

[mshred]

Get the coiler.

why do you say that?

[engel777]

oh dude of course you need fully, just sell that little piece of **** (bmx) and keep your old HT... that's the best you can do... :monkeydance: :pirate2:

[mshred]

oh dude of course you need fully, just sell that little piece of **** (bmx) and keep your old HT... that's the best you can do... :monkeydance: :pirate2:

I kind of want to get into the BMX world too..

[gmac]

Short travel fully. Pick a solid design w/ <6". Why beat yourself up w/ HT pride thing ? Keep a beater HT around for fun. But, suspension is where it is at for riding.

[mshred]

^^ hmm, the short travel fully i know is the howler but theres another on the tip of my tongue.. any others?

[spacemanspiff06]

nother vote for short travel fully.
i got a howler and love it, but for big freeride and DH raceing (not just chill riding) i'ld go for something bigger. coiler maybe? 07s are SLACK, perfect for DHish stuff.

[Transfer]

07 Preston FR
Blur 4x
Yeti AS-X

[adurham]

sounds like a short travel full suspension is exactly what you need. check out the Norco 4X, Transition double, kona cowan, santa cruz blur 4x, or you could find a turner rail pretty cheap used.

[ATOMICFIREBALL]

Try a Yeti ASX.It's a 9.5# frame & pedals good.
With a Ti spring it could drop about 1 pound i think.

Hardtail i liked the "LeToy3" because it manuals easy & drops good too,just harsh on the ankles ..

[bent^biker]

transition bottle rocket, swd 6gun, norco XXXX,

oh btw, my vote is short travel fully + bmx

[gemini2k]

Two bikes is a long ways away from too many.

Holla holla

[sweetimzack]

well id say go with a 5inch or 6inch fully i mean i have a fully and i dh/fr and i find it awsome and dont worry people where i live arent really in riding distance and if you are where i live you gotta ride up the mountain then ride down so its a pain to ride up but id say get a fully and if you like hardtails that much get a ****ty 300 dollar specialized hardtail lol

[Sir_Crackien]

ok i have been in the same deal as you for my whole fr/dh experance. for the longest time i was of a hardtail i loved the bike but i was finding that i was a little rough on me seeing i was going urban/fr/dh at least 1-2 times a week. after a bite i started to notice that my knees hurt a little longer than they use to after a ride.

so i decided to get a fully. at this point in time i also started to ride less urban for many different reasons so i felt justified in getting a fully because of the comfort offroad. then i noticed how little i actually got out to the slope or fr stuff. so i decided to get a short travel fully (this was like after 2 years or so) , the one i for was a preston fr. it was great offroad and pedalled pretty well. starting to want to do more on the extreme stuff again i started to take is to the slopes where it did very well and then later on i took it for a couple of urban rides where it just plain and simple sucked.

now i'm back in a burly hardtail and couldn't be happier. hardtails are plain more capable at more aspects on riding. all the biggest things i ever done have been on a hardtail. i feel much more confident on one. the sussy was great for allowing me to point and shoot more but that is not the way i like to ride.

i don't think i will ever own a sussy again personally. not even for xc, though i would love to have a soft tail CX bike

here is my current beast

http://www.hcor.net/gallery/Sir_Crackiens/IMG_1126_1.sized.jpg

[sad panda]

why do you say that?

You said that the coiler was what you wanted from the start: A bike you want is a bike you will be excited to ride. Hardtail pride makes you think you don't want a full suspension: Buying a bike for pride or because you think it's cool won't last in the long run (I know from experience). The coiler is affordable, quality, and versatile.

[pedalmunky]

Buy the fully and keep the hardtail. Nothing wrong with having a quiver of bikes. Having said that, short rear-travel is gonna be the most versatile type of frame.

I'd second the 07 Preston Fr vote. Good guys at Transition.

[mshred]

I might have worded it wrong. I am not just reconsidering a hardtail for pride, but I've been hearing lot's of things like if you leave you won't expirience stuff etc. and you will get better at picking lines. Sir Crackien's post sort of explained it, seeing as they are more capaple ect.

[sad panda]

I might have worded it wrong. I am not just reconsidering a hardtail for pride, but I've been hearing lot's of things like if you leave you won't expirience stuff etc. and you will get better at picking lines. Sir Crackien's post sort of explained it, seeing as they are more capaple ect.

In my opinion, it kind of depends on how much you've been on a bike. It's important to develop most of the fundamentals before you jump into anything with too much travel. That's what I did, I went from hardtail to 4in full to 6in full to VP Free. I definately can appreciate the VP Free more after spending a couple years on smaller bikes. I don't think the coiler would be a bad place to start (if you're just starting), and it's a good all-round bike.

[mshred]

^^ I've probably been riding most of my life, but the last 2-3 years ive been riding actual trails and doing "real" riding. I'll just check my lbs soon.