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New Dallas rider looking for bike
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 12:42pm
So i am planning to start riding this year and haven been out of the bike and destroy world for years now. Looking for a 26" hard tall that i can trail and park ride.
I was told to get a Black Market but can't drop $1500 on a gearless bike. Started looking at the Specialized P2 but still more then i want to pay. Then a buddy told me to look into a Kona Shred but not to sure of if it's what i should get.
So now i'm turning to the locals for what they would recommend. i rode a 20" for 8 years and don't know anything about 26" frame sizes, i'm 5'8" if that will help someone give me a good place to start.
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 3:20pm
#2
There are tons of options out there for 26" DJ bikes. Pretty much every company will have one. Some other popular ones that come to mind:
Giant STP, Transition TOP and Bank, Kona cowan, Azonic steelhead, Yeti DJ, Scott voltage, Mongoose Ritual, etc.
Usually bikes like that only come in a small or large size. You'd want the small. You might hit your knees every now and then if you use it for any xc but it'd be much more comfortable and controlable jumping.
Black Market has a 357 model you can probably get for 1000. There are different models of the specialized P bikes that vary in cost. You can get more for you money than that KHS. You won't need a front deraileur and the fork on that bike looks questionable at best. 20mm front axle would be preferable.
If price is a big issue look for a used one. Pinkbike and Ridemonkey both have good buy and sell sections and then there is always ebay.
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 3:21pm
#3
here is a very fair deal on a new eastern with no shipping cost.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI284R01-Eastern+Thunderbird+Bike...
When you say trail do you mean dj or xc? This eastern would not be so fun on serious xc ride. Troll the for sale forums (mtbr/ridemonkey/craigslist/ebay/amazon/bikemojo/etc..) for used and can pick up a very good park/street/dj bike in the $400-700 range.
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 4:20pm
#4
trails meaning meaning just riding paths, dirt jumps, or mix of the 2 like bike trail built to to kick your ass. that's why i'm looking for a ~9speed so i can ride it xc if i would like and it's easier to removed gears to a single then add gears. was planing on buying a spare rear so i could swap to go street riding.
as for used, i don't know enough to buy a peace milled bike yet and that's mostly what I'm seeing
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 8:28pm
#5
They're out there, you might have to look for a couple weeks but DJ bikes are plentiful used. A lot of people buy em with intentions of jumpin and they collect dust. That's how I got my mine.
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 12:09pm
#6
Jeff - I believe that you came over to look at my P1 that I was selling. I gotta tell you, trying to ride that thing on the trails (XC Style) sucks. You can do it but I don't think that the ride will be as enjoyable as if you had a bike designed for long-term riding. The most I would want to ride trails is about 5-6 miles. Now, that being said, the P1 is only designed around SS - but I was riding SS on my XC rig before building this. Might check on that Eastern bike for $550 - looks like it may only be SS as well.
26 is the way to go though IMO.
In regards to a budget - $500-$700 is where these bikes are (used).
I probably paid close to 1K building a $700 bike.....but I like new better than used.
EDIT - Let me know if you get a bike - would love to hit an urban ride in downtown soon.
Sun, 02/07/2010 - 7:34pm
#7
You should really consider what types of riding are even available to you before deciding what bicycle is right for you. There are far more mountain bike trails than there are dirt jumps and skate parks in the area.
I used to dirt jump a bit in high school but driving 45 minutes to DJ's and skate parks just wasn't making things easy. I enjoy mountain biking more, and have way WAY more of it in my area. I sold my dirt jumper 6 months ago.
You can get a Specialized Pitch in your price range, and there are lots of similar alternatives, but that bike would SHRED the local trails and likely cater to your riding style on the dirt. It wont be great at dirt jumps, and it flat out shouldn't even be at a skate park, so I might just be wasting my time if that's REALLY what you are committed to doing.
Sorry I couldn't answer your actual question lol, but I hope I helped
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 5:27pm
#8
What about a fully rigid 29er?
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 5:41pm
#9
ha ha, Handjob likes things fully rigid
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 6:52pm
#10
If my Soul Cycles Icon were a small I'd reccomend it. Sounds like a perfect bike for what you're after; you can check it out at http://650bpalace.blogspot.com/2009/01/650b-iconic.html,
I sold a Kona hoss in your size a while back that would have been perfect. You can get one of those cheap.
Pinkbike.com has some good deals.
Kona 5-0
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/590126/
Santa Cruz Chameleon.
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/4055767/
these are in terms of being able to DJ, and handle XC trails without backaches.
added, co worker told me to look at a KHS bike http://www.khsbicycles.com/01_dj_50_10.htm but they are only going on where there brother rides.