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Registered Abuser
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southwest Montana
Posts: 2,738
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Recommendations For Full Suspension Mountain Bikes
Nothing extreme now I'm in my mid 40's looking for a good all around Mtn bike.
We have some of the best trails in the country here & I could drop some pounds. For up and down riding comfortable light and reasonably priced $1200 or under. 80% trail 20%paved I found this one it fits in the back of planes or small cars It would be the ticket for back country Flying. Whats Up with it? looks cool what's the down side ? Montague Paratrooper Tactical Folding Mountain Bike: The Bike ![]() ![]() My Current Bike is 20 Year old, Educate me on the new stuff
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MT 930 1987 930 - Gone but not forgotten A man with priorities so far out of whack doesn't deserve such a fine automobile. I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth - Steve McQueen американский |
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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Thats a Hardtail.......
Quite a few choices from all the majors.... $1200 should get you in the bottom of the barrel FS disc brake bikes.... |
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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Scratch that.... 1200 is a little low. You looking to buy new or used?
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,776
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Quote:
I do not own a modern full suspension bike, but I do know that I do not like the extra weight and squishy feel the rear suspension bikes I have tried out exhibit when simply pedaling along on flat terrain. If you do not plan on riding mostly rough downhill terrain at high speeds, I am guessing you would be happier skipping the rear suspension.
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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abides.
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This would be an awesome bike if you can get it for the opening bid:
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Graham 1984 Carrera Targa |
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Registered
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Ibis is making a 29er full suspension. Unstoppable with a strong rider.
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poof! gone |
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Zink Racer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Spokane WA
Posts: 3,998
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My 7 year old Santra Cruz Blur is still the bomb. New they are way out of that price range new, but used you should be able to get a deal. We picked up an almost unused 5 year Juliana, the womens version close to the Blur recently for my girlfriend for $500. Was probably closer to $1,400 new as equipped.
Not mine, pic of an 08 from the web. ![]()
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Jerry 1964 356, 1983 911 SC/Carrera Franken car, 1974 914 Bumblebee, a couple of other 914's in various states of repair |
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RETIRED
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Don't some have a way to lock the rear suspension while ridng on the flats?
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1983/3.6, backdate to long hood 2012 ML350 3.0 Turbo Diesel |
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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Yes, most of the better shocks have a lockout... My bike is a hardtail, and I lockout the front fork on long road sections....
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,598
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I've been absolutely thrilled with my full-suspension Cannondale.
No way, however, could it be purchased for $1200. I wasn't planning on spending as much as I did, but after riding a few bikes back-to-back this one was irresistable. |
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Marietta GA
Posts: 2,560
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Quote:
![]() Turner XCE by willtel, on Flickr |
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Registered
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$1200 is pretty darn low for a nice, full suspension mountain bike. $1200 may get you in to a nice 29er hard tail (uses 29 inch wheels, instead of 26 inch wheels). For the type of riding you plan on doing (ie., not SUPER STEEP technical trails) a 29er may suite you well. The 29 inch wheels do roll over terrain much easier than a 26 inch wheel.
For $1200 and full suspension you're looking at about the bottom of the barrel. The components won't be very good, and at best you'd get cable actuated disc brakes. For the same price you'd get a pretty descent 29er hard tail with hydraulic disc brakes. The best advice I can give (I raced for 18 years and worked at a bike shop while in college) is to find a great LBS (local bike shop). Make sure the people in the shop are nice and treat you well. They'll fit you on the right size and type of bike that will suite your riding well. It'll also come with free adjustments for a year or so, plus a good percentage off of a water bottle and cage, pump, tube, patch kit, mini-tool, bag to carry stuff in, helmet, gloves, etc. Don't forget to factor that stuff in too. It'd be nice to find a couple of LBSs near you as well, then you have more of a selection. Really, pretty much all the major brands sold at bikes shops are GREAT bikes and they all make bikes in various sizes and price points. There's a lot to chose from. Some bike shops will rent you a bike (for, say, $75) for a day, then apply the rental price to the purchase price of a new bike. Perhaps try that out. Have fun! Al |
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 5,733
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Quote:
I'm in the same boat btw. Nothing wrong with my old Proflex other than I want a newer bike. |
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Registered
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"Nothing wrong with my old Proflex other than I want a newer bike." - If you're using your Proflex for VERY light trails and around town, it's fine. Otherwise, mountain bike technology has come a LONG way in a very short amount of time.
I had a first generation Santa Cruz Blur. Great bike. However, I just upgraded to a newer model and I can hardly believe the difference! It's really amazing how much the shifting, braking, geometry, and fit have changed in the last four or five years. The new models are FAR superior to anything older. Used bikes can be tempting, and there are GREAT deals out there. It's tough unless you know what you're looking at and for. For example, a top-of-the-line ten year old bike is pretty darn out of date (IMHO). I'd rather ride a $2500, middle range bike; it's just better. Of course, this is only my opinion and there are always exceptions. I mean no offense to anyone. Al |
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fullerton,Ca
Posts: 5,463
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I worked for Santa cruz for 12 years. My favorite bike EVER from them was the Heckler 5" travel bike.
The Blur has a fault. to make VPP work the system has to BIND. it tears up bearings big time, ANY VPP will hammer the poo out of bearings. Lock out shouldn't be on a bike. would you lock up the suspension in your car? Do you REALLY need full suspension. if your riding groomed paths that are smooth just buy a GOOD 29'er hard tail. If you're going to hammer trails with rock gardens and 1' or more steps up or down at 15mph uphill or down time to look at a sigle pivot bike or a DW linked pivot or IBIS. When the BLUR VPP came out to Santa Cruz I told an Engineer where the bike would crack. "Where did you get your ME from" was his answer. "You don't have one, I know more than you" 9 broken frames later "We're working on a fix" first fix was a bandage. second fix works pretty damn well but I would still want more bearing strenght on the links. Reality if your looking at a folding bikee it will be a lmtd use bike and it should be fine for 1-2 rides a month. If ou want 1-2 rides a week look for a better bike
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" Formerly we suffered from crime. Today we suffer from laws" (55-120) Tacitus |
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Max Sluiter
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Now I could see the engineers not getting the pivot points strong enough first time round, but why do you say that a VPP (which I think means virtual pivot point, or 4 bar linkage here) must bind? It may be true that using single degree of freedom bearings in all the pivots will result in a little bit of binding but it should be so slight as to not be an issue. And if one uses spherical bearings (heim joints) the problems can be all but eliminated.
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1971 911S, 2.7RS spec MFI engine, suspension mods, lightened Suspension by Rebel Racing, Serviced by TLG Auto, Brakes by PMB Performance Last edited by Flieger; 04-26-2012 at 08:57 PM.. |
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: bottom left corner of the world
Posts: 22,765
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Bike shops always seem to be having sales "Last years models 40% off (or 50%)".
And go for what is light, brand name, and Shimano componentry of the best grade for your money. Did I mention light. |
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fullerton,Ca
Posts: 5,463
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Quote:
The first upper link was a cnc alloy link and they would fail in the valley of the cnc lines in the middle of the link from a wide to narrow path. First one I saw failed I called all the way up to #9 and the funny thing with #9 was that the owner tried to weld it up! Next try was bead blasting the edges and valley off the link. they lasted longer. but the skinny ti links work well. I still think that they need wider bearings. Santa cruz fired me due to "We can't afford to pay you what you're earning from your sales" My commision was 3.75 %
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" Formerly we suffered from crime. Today we suffer from laws" (55-120) Tacitus |
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Max Sluiter
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To me that just sounds like the bearings need more shock/impact load resistance. I wouldn't classify that as bind. Sounds more like anti-squat kinematics.
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1971 911S, 2.7RS spec MFI engine, suspension mods, lightened Suspension by Rebel Racing, Serviced by TLG Auto, Brakes by PMB Performance |
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fullerton,Ca
Posts: 5,463
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take the shock off place a sharpie in the drop out and mark the travel on paper.
/ = no bind J = bind. I'm not bitter. I made a great start in my life hawking them. I like the single pivots better. I also like IBIS and Pivots bikes. Your car's wheels move / not J J isn't the best way. and if you're using J you better build/spec well to make it work. I've been toying with another design and there's a guy that I respect and we both came up with a very close idea at the same time. I will work with him to get a prototype made. it won't be a J type but a altered / To be best a VPP is an upside down ?
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" Formerly we suffered from crime. Today we suffer from laws" (55-120) Tacitus |
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