PS Or maybe something equivalent to the Specialized "Pitch" would be better ... Either way, something a few years old in good condition along the lines of the Camber or the Pitch would be very cool
Spent a couple of minutes looking at the Pitch on Specialized's site has me liking it. Horst link suspension is a big plus in my book. Pike is a nice fork. The U-Turn adjustment is the nicest fork adjustment I've used. Should make for a nice package that can be pedaled well and take a good deal of abuse. I've also always felt comfortable with Specialized's bike geometry.
You should check out a Santa Cruz Heckler. Just did... NICE. Sounds just like what I'm looking for... Bummer that they're $2,400+ just for the frame kit here!
i've had this rocky mountain for 10 years and have abused it here in colorado. 3.5 inches of travel, but i've treated it like a downhill rig. the frame is bombproof and i think they still make a version of this.
Ahh Aussie, huh. Guess stuff over there is a bit more pricey. I had a friend over in the US on assignment, and he bought three bikes while he was here to take back.
All those brands you mentioned would work really well. You don't see so many Mongoose and Jamis around here, but tons of Norco, and they are very nice. If you are seriously thinking all mountain, 5" inch would be a minimum, 6" even better. Other very nice frames from smaller more "boutique" type companies would be Titus, Turner, Santa Cruz. A Titus El Guapo might be perfect, and since Titus is having issues, I've seen them cheap. Not $1000, for sure, but you never know what might pop up.
Probably right about upgrading. If you ever try hydraulic brakes, you will never, NEVER, go back and your frame might not accept them.
I've stayed away from suggesting bike simply because I don't know what's available down there. The Heckler is a really nice bike though. Very similar to the Bullit that I own, but built lighter (the Bullit is a tank!).
My biggest issue with this design is the single pivot swing arm. It's built solid and work great when coasting. You do get some brake jacking when on the brakes though. Feedback through the drive train can really be annoying when in the small chainring. The feedback pretty much goes away in the middle chainring and it pedals over bumps much better that way. I never had the big ring on my Bullit so I don't know how it felt in that gear. It all has to do with how the chain is lined up with the pivot in the different chain rings.
If you are wondering about what the pedal feedback is, you can do a simple test in the showroom. Just bounce down on the seat compressing the rear suspension in all three chain rings. A bike that gets feedback will kick the pedals backward quite noticeably with a good bounce.
Ahh Aussie, huh. Guess stuff over there is a bit more pricey. I had a friend over in the US on assignment, and he bought three bikes while he was here to take back. Yeah, but it's getting better. With the ease of buying over the internet, and now the great exchange rate, the days of local distributors putting on obscene markups is numbered. I've started seeing prices of some guitars coming down a lot, and some of the bikes are coming down too. Specialized are actually pretty good, a Pitch Comp is $2,000 in the US, $2,500 here. I'm in the US for a conference the week after next, if I had some spare cash it would be tempting to bring home a whole bike...
dang my really small picture. good thing i am secure in my masculinity Lol!
I've stayed away from suggesting bike simply because I don't know what's available down there. And I'm still not really sure what I want, but I really like the look and specs of the Pitch and the Heckler. I read a couple of reviews today and they both sound like fun, confidence inspiring bikes. From the reviews I find it interesting some bikes inspire confidence, others tend to make you hold back... nuch like motorcycles
More realistically, some things I've spotted on ebay locally: '03 Norco Fluid 3 went for $385
If you are wondering about what the pedal feedback is... I was, I get what you mean I think. I need to get my head around the different rear suspensions.
Now it's 12 miles of asphalt (45 min) and 10 miles in the woods (90 min) Tilt - what tires do you use?
Newbie question - what are the pros and cons of folding vs non folding tires? I know non folding have wire in the beads, and folding means you could carry them with you, but that's about all I know.
Like Ted, I don't bounce well anymore. I'm not real sure how well I'll bounce either, and I have an overly strong self-preservation instinct... yet at the same time I'm itching to see if I can find some mild drop offs to see how I handle it... And those boardwalks through the woods look freaky!
Downhill tires with double sidewalls usually wire bead. Double sidewalls protect from rock cuts when weight doesn't matter, as in when shuttling or on a chairlift.
Folding tires are lighter usually, usually more supple. Folding tires are what you want for most trail riding, unless your trail are really gnarly with rocks that can cut sidewalls, or maybe if you are in a desert area with lots of thorns.
You can use either wire bead or kevlar bead in tubeless with Stan's or other sealant. I've done both myself.
I retrofitted new XTR components to this MY2000 Schwinn last year.The addjustable stroke U-turn fork is very nice.Does anyone use this rear type sus? Boing-boing bikes jump urban curbs easy
From the reviews I find it interesting some bikes inspire confidence, others tend to make you hold back... nuch like motorcycles : )
Very true. I've got a Klein Mantra. Great XC bike with 5 inch travel on the back end. It's has tossed me over the bars on nasty down hills more times than I can count though. I've dislocated my left shoulder and separated my right shoulder needing surgery from this bike. I also went over the bars into a tree knocking myself out cold. My Bullit and my wife's Yeti ASX both inspire you to do far more stupid things.
If you are wondering about what the pedal feedback is... I was, I get what you mean I think. I need to get my head around the different rear suspensions.
It's mostly about the relationships of the pivot point, rear axle, and chain path. If the chain path changes as the suspension moves you get feedback through the driveline.
and folding means you could carry them with you, but that's about all I know.
That's about all there is to know. Kevlar beads can be slightly easier to wrangle onto the rim on some rims (rhyno lites come to mind) but that's a minor issue. I've done it countless times with nothing but fingers.
Front and rear lockout to the right of the speedo.The front shock has upper and lower air pressure in the left leg and comp and rebound and lockout in the right leg.I hardy ever us the lockout cause it's all offroad miles.
XT groupo with hyd. disc brakes.
Air shock and comp. and rebound for the rear susp.
Now it gets washed and oiled after last nights ride.
Lemonchili, I'm on some form of WTB (Wilderness Trail Bikes) Velociraptor with the foldable (kevlar) bead. I'm not even sure which one! Usually pick up pairs (F + R) for about forty bucks. Noisy and quick wearing in the street, but I refuse to 'drive' the bike there if I can ride (plus it's a good warm up / cool down). Don't overfill 'em with air, they become unpredictable and slippery on the trail. Singletrack, softer, loamy and root filled is no problem. I've always gotten dozer like traction and great handling from them. They're not great on serious rockfilled trails or concrete like hardpack. The northeast is woods riding...
TIP: Run about 45-50 psi on the street, drop it to 35 psi or so in the woods and refill to get home. They 'whirrr' like the jumbo mud tires on folks off-road trucks. If you're really going to pound them... use more air as the dreaded 'snake bite' (pinch flat) seems to happen more often with these. No, I'm not sure why... thin sidewalls maybe?
I used to ride urban streets on various Mongoose MTBs all the time. I have a few friends that ride all the time in Palo Duro Canyon so I'd like to pick it back up and ride with them. Rick A I love your bike. It reminds me of a Confederate Wraith. Any details?
Since I haven't heard back from Rick about details of his bike, I went looking. Luckily I was able to make out "Noleen" on the forks. After much searching, I found out it is a K2 bike (Proflex-4000 I think? Maybe OZ-M) and I am in love with it. I don't plan on doing anything super-crazy, but I do want to do more urban riding and some trail riding in the Canyon. I'm keeping my eye out for a Proflex 3000 or 4000 that I can buy cheap and upgrade it to my liking, but I want the Carbon swingarm and Carbon forks for sure . I'm thinking Marzocchi shocks and disc brakes too. But I've got to have this bike just for the looks lol.
But I've got to have this bike just for the looks lol. I can see that, hehehe! I see the Confederate similarity now that I've gone back and looked at it properly. You have your mission, go to it!
Yeah, after more research, Rick's bike is definitely a K2 Proflex, but I think it's a 5000 trim since the front forks are carbon. Also it looks like a small or medium frame.
What size frame would you all recommend for a 5'9" 175 lbs, for all-around riding (mostly urban, with some canyon riding).
... Either way, something a few years old in good condition along the lines of the Camber or the Pitch would be very cool 
And those boardwalks through the woods look freaky!
. I'm thinking Marzocchi shocks and disc brakes too. But I've got to have this bike just for the looks lol.