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05-04-2006, 01:08 PM
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#1
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Chimp
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ - have to drive like 2 hours to get to any decent mountains but once you're there its all worth it
Posts: 86
Rep Power: 3
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Balfa BB7 ye or ne?
Hey...i'm thinking about getting a well set-up balfa bb7 (Marz 888RC, putting an avy rear shock, etc). I was wondering what you guys think? Should i get the BB7? I heard many good things, but also many bad things about the BB7 from all kinds of riders. Its either a BB7, Turner DHR (a lot more money than i would pay for the BB7), Mongoose EC-D (if i can manage to get enough money together), or IH Yakuxa Kumicho 05 (cheaper than BB7, even with upgrades). Dont know what to do? If not any of these frames, what other frames or complete bikes would you suggest? Thanks a lot for the  guys.
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05-04-2006, 01:15 PM
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#2
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Press Button, Receive Stupid
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Morristown, NJ
Posts: 18,121
Rep Power: 9
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i would go with the balfa, ESPECIALLY if it has an AVY
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05-04-2006, 01:19 PM
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#3
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Monkey
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 434
Rep Power: 4
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I rode a Balfa for 2 years and loved it, it's not the best bike if you are a straight up hucker but for all around DH its a great bike.
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Yeti Cycles, Shimano, Fluidride, Maxxis
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05-04-2006, 01:50 PM
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#4
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Poopdeck Repost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hanging out in Hollywood, swinging a cactus... in my pantz.
Posts: 6,457
Rep Power: 5
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a great dh bike. not so good as a pedaling freerider. i had mine set up with an avy and a shiver. it was a bunch of plush suspension. it ate rocks and roots and dropped like you were on a cloud. i am 6'1" and rode a 2003 regular/short. it was a cramped TT when i sat down (almost never) but standing it was great. the bike is a plow and will run over anything. the steeper and rockier the better.
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05-04-2006, 02:11 PM
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#5
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My Nuts Are Flat
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Towing the party line.
Posts: 17,146
Rep Power: 8
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Why not just get a bike that is still in production, and will have support if something breaks on it?
Bust a chainstay, like many have, and you will be out of luck...
Oh also, the best setup balfa I ever rode (and I rode MANY of them being friends with their team riders and living in Balfa central) had a 5th on it, curiously enough. I am not a huge fan of the "5th feeling", but it rode really nice with one. The ones I have tried with avalanches all felt incredibly overdamped.
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05-04-2006, 02:23 PM
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#6
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Poopdeck Repost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hanging out in Hollywood, swinging a cactus... in my pantz.
Posts: 6,457
Rep Power: 5
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Transcend
Why not just get a bike that is still in production, and will have support if something breaks on it?
Bust a chainstay, like many have, and you will be out of luck...
Oh also, the best setup balfa I ever rode (and I rode MANY of them being friends with their team riders and living in Balfa central) had a 5th on it, curiously enough. I am not a huge fan of the "5th feeling", but it rode really nice with one. The ones I have tried with avalanches all felt incredibly overdamped.
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bust a chainstay on a bb7 and you will be in a world of hurt 
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05-04-2006, 02:26 PM
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#7
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My Nuts Are Flat
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Towing the party line.
Posts: 17,146
Rep Power: 8
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by mandown
bust a chainstay on a bb7 and you will be in a world of hurt |
That too!
I just happen to be in an area where for about 5 years, everyone and their dog owned a balfa. I have seen more Balfas break, simply due to sheer numbers on the mountain, than any other bike.
They have come a long way though. Anyone remember the bobonum and the shoddy "welding" jobs they did as repairs on those? It included throwing on a collar, welding that to the 2 broken tube ends (creating stress risers) and not even stripping before or repainting after. Priceless.
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05-04-2006, 02:53 PM
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#8
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Chimp
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ - have to drive like 2 hours to get to any decent mountains but once you're there its all worth it
Posts: 86
Rep Power: 3
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yea.....i have to agree with you guys....all the people i talked to so far told me about the same thing...since its out of production its gonna be a pain in the a$$ getting parts for it. A friend of mine told me that balfas are still in production (which i figured was wrong as hell, since the last BB7 produced was in 2003). He said that Balfa in the UK is still operational. I dont think he's right....but then again i dont know....anyone know anything about that?
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05-04-2006, 03:03 PM
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#9
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Poopdeck Repost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hanging out in Hollywood, swinging a cactus... in my pantz.
Posts: 6,457
Rep Power: 5
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there is a UK company that bought the name and the remaining inventory
http://www.balfa.co.uk/balfa/balfa_bb7.php3
you could get stuff from them.
appalache cycles is being run by the former balfa guys. maybe they would help you out with a repair of something broke (for a small price).
http://www.appalachecycles.com/index.html
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05-04-2006, 03:17 PM
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#10
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Monkey
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Global Gravity Mecca, aka: Manchester UK
Posts: 421
Rep Power: 4
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by mandown
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Pretty sure Jamie didn't buy the name, just the rest of the stock and spares.
I hated my Balfa. Really didn't get on with it at all. My hatred of 5ths probably didn't help matters. Sold it and got a DHR w/DHX. Wish i'de done it sooner!
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05-04-2006, 03:24 PM
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#11
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Poopdeck Repost
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hanging out in Hollywood, swinging a cactus... in my pantz.
Posts: 6,457
Rep Power: 5
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by AR_
Pretty sure Jamie didn't buy the name, just the rest of the stock and spares.
I hated my Balfa. Really didn't get on with it at all. My hatred of 5ths probably didn't help matters. Sold it and got a DHR w/DHX. Wish i'de done it sooner!
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interesting that they are using the name and the logo if they did not buy it. not saying you are wrong, just saying that it is interesting.
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05-04-2006, 03:33 PM
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#12
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Monkey
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Global Gravity Mecca, aka: Manchester UK
Posts: 421
Rep Power: 4
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by mandown
interesting that they are using the name and the logo if they did not buy it. not saying you are wrong, just saying that it is interesting.
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Yeah, we were all a bit confused this side of the pond too  I presume they're just allowed to use the name to sell the stock, and so people know where to go for spares etc. Afterall Balfa don't make them anymore, but can't really say "Hey we never made those! Take our names off them!".
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05-04-2006, 03:41 PM
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#13
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My Nuts Are Flat
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Towing the party line.
Posts: 17,146
Rep Power: 8
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by mandown
interesting that they are using the name and the logo if they did not buy it. not saying you are wrong, just saying that it is interesting.
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I believe he just got the left over stock and is allowed to operate under that name to sell the stuff off. Not 100% sure though.
The old Balfa guys are probably not interested in going out of their way to help out someone when their company got bought and shut down.
Either way, they are no longer in production.
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05-04-2006, 03:42 PM
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#14
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Monkey
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Broomfield, CO
Posts: 527
Rep Power: 4
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I went from a bb7 w/ avy and avy DHF to a Turner. I loved the bb7, it was really low, slack and heavy, but loved it to pieces.
The turner i'm still getting used to, but it's damn light which makes it ride alot better. I think i'm liking the DHR more, but i'll always have a spot in my heart for bb7's, definetly sweet bikes.
I don't think you can go wrong either way.
-Adam
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05-04-2006, 04:54 PM
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#15
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Turbo Monkey
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NSW Australia
Posts: 1,391
Rep Power: 3
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I vote go the BB7 for sure.
Cromo swingrm,easy to get fixed if you ever have issues(I doubt),read the fine print,transcend saw alot of breaks but he saw a ****load of Balfas.
If you ride rocky trails I don't recon any of the other bikes listed will handle that type of riding better. If it already has a shock just run that before throwing cash at an Avy. Not hackin on the Avy it would be sweet but run whats in it first.
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