Ok when we get our Ridgeline I have decided I need a new mountainbike. I curretly have a Giant full suspension. Maybe a Gt or a Gary Fisher. Im kinda thinking Cannodale but I just dont know. Maybe i will just go to wal mart and get me a Mongoose 
What MTB goes with an RL?
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Walmart...? You're killin' me!WM23N1 said:Ok when we get our Ridgeline I have decided I need a new mountainbike. I curretly have a Giant full suspension. Maybe a Gt or a Gary Fisher. Im kinda thinking Cannodale but I just dont know. Maybe i will just go to wal mart and get me a Mongoose
I was in the bike biz for 15 years. I just got a Giant NRS C1 and it's a very sweet ride. Looks like you've got an NRS already. The new design is far superior. Fisher makes a good product. Not a big fan of Cannondale. They bit it when their motorcycle division when belly-up. If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to offer any info I can. Bottom line, use a bike shop to purchase. It will pay off in a month after you need something done on your new rig.
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I suppose it depends are you out for the long rides where you have to ride up hills (XC) or do you prefer grabbing a chairlift and bombing down (DH)?
If DH is your game then I recommmend the Specialized Bit Hit or Demo series. I have the '03 Bit Hit but it has been tricked out with wider tires and more suspension. One of my buddies also loves his Rocky Mountain.
Specialized also make a nice XC (Epic) ride. It has a smart shock on the back end that auto-locks on climbs and releases on the bumps.
The other huge factor is how much ca$h do you want to spend. If brand new isn't a huge thing for you you might check out http://classifieds.mtbr.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.pl?db=MtbReview&website=MtbReview you can usually find a smokin deal on bikes and get more for your money.
If DH is your game then I recommmend the Specialized Bit Hit or Demo series. I have the '03 Bit Hit but it has been tricked out with wider tires and more suspension. One of my buddies also loves his Rocky Mountain.
Specialized also make a nice XC (Epic) ride. It has a smart shock on the back end that auto-locks on climbs and releases on the bumps.
The other huge factor is how much ca$h do you want to spend. If brand new isn't a huge thing for you you might check out http://classifieds.mtbr.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.pl?db=MtbReview&website=MtbReview you can usually find a smokin deal on bikes and get more for your money.
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I agree with Mayfelh, it realy depends on the type of ridding you do. I just purchased a new Santa Cruz Blur, I was initialy a little disapoited that it was not a great deal lighter tham my old Proflex. Then I rode it, I was amazed at how much more efficient it is. My old Proflex was great down hill, it had long plush travel that would soak up about any thing you come accross. What was less obvious is how much energy it soaked up peddeling. I thought it was a pretty efficient peddeler, it was state of the art five or six years ago.
The Santa Cruz feels like a rocket by comparison, I go on longer rides and use less energy.
I am frugal and it hurt to spend the $900. I spent on my Proflex on a close out special. But I put sevral thousand miles on the bike and I soom realized it was a cheap investment, per mile it was a great value and the fact that I am in better shape at 57 than I was at 37 is no small plus. It made spending $2500 on my Santa Cruz nearly painless
You did not cheap out when you bought a Ridgeline, don't do it when you buy your bike. Get something worth riding, you will ride it more and get more value out it.
Again you need to figure out what kind of ridding you are going to do but the VPP suspension on the Santa Cruz is amazing, other top cross country picks would be Yeti 575, Specialized Epic, Jamis, or K2. The Jamis Dakar gets great reviews and has a neat color that is close to Honda's steel blue.
Honda also makes a downhill bike but it is not widely known, it is full of technology just like our trucks, I am note sure if it has VSA but I would not be surprized.
Steve
The Santa Cruz feels like a rocket by comparison, I go on longer rides and use less energy.
I am frugal and it hurt to spend the $900. I spent on my Proflex on a close out special. But I put sevral thousand miles on the bike and I soom realized it was a cheap investment, per mile it was a great value and the fact that I am in better shape at 57 than I was at 37 is no small plus. It made spending $2500 on my Santa Cruz nearly painless
You did not cheap out when you bought a Ridgeline, don't do it when you buy your bike. Get something worth riding, you will ride it more and get more value out it.
Again you need to figure out what kind of ridding you are going to do but the VPP suspension on the Santa Cruz is amazing, other top cross country picks would be Yeti 575, Specialized Epic, Jamis, or K2. The Jamis Dakar gets great reviews and has a neat color that is close to Honda's steel blue.
Honda also makes a downhill bike but it is not widely known, it is full of technology just like our trucks, I am note sure if it has VSA but I would not be surprized.
Steve
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So, what flavor Specialized, FSR, Big hit or Epic?
Just trying to figure out whether you are a type A or type D rider (Ascending or Descending). I guess if you live in the prarie states you may be verticly exempt.
Steve
Just trying to figure out whether you are a type A or type D rider (Ascending or Descending). I guess if you live in the prarie states you may be verticly exempt.
Steve
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If you want to see what a Honda down hill bike looks like, you can see pictures if you search Team G Cross or 23 degrees. There was also a write up about it in Mountain Bike Action about a year ago, Google Honda develops new down hill bike.
Honda started out with a joint venture with Intense, and the next year came up with their own design. Not sure if they are getting into the market or just dabbling in the race area for name recognition. The bike is under the oversite of their motorcycle division.
Steve
Honda started out with a joint venture with Intense, and the next year came up with their own design. Not sure if they are getting into the market or just dabbling in the race area for name recognition. The bike is under the oversite of their motorcycle division.
Steve
I live just below the northeast georgia mountains so theres lots of uphill and downhill.I will prolly get the fsr.It seems to fit my needs. Maybe the comp model with the discs. Never had a bike with them but I have wanted one to see what its like.
Take it from A Cat 1 road racer,
and Expert MTN bike racer,
Do yourself a favor and get the Blur from Santa Cruz, you
wont be sorry.
As for Road Bikes my Silver and Black Orbea Onix looks like it was
painted with the same paint as my RTL Silver Nav ,,
Its a killer combination to show up with at the races and
then go home with the Medals.....
BAJA
and Expert MTN bike racer,
Do yourself a favor and get the Blur from Santa Cruz, you
wont be sorry.
As for Road Bikes my Silver and Black Orbea Onix looks like it was
painted with the same paint as my RTL Silver Nav ,,
Its a killer combination to show up with at the races and
then go home with the Medals.....
BAJA
Joined
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1,292 Posts
Once you go disc you'll never go back. I have the Hayes DH series 8" brakes and let me tell you they stop on a dime wet or dry. Two pieces of advice DON'T touch them after you been bombing down a hill (they get HOT!!!) and don't get any lubes on the pads (if you do toss them and buy a new set).WM23N1 said:
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A good alternative is to check the Rocky Mountain Bike page out of Vancouver.
http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2005/index.aspx
I bought an older model full suspension "Instinct" last year (equivalent to the Element 70) and it has been great. It just fits in the rear seating area of my Ridge to boot without removing the front wheel.
http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2005/index.aspx
I bought an older model full suspension "Instinct" last year (equivalent to the Element 70) and it has been great. It just fits in the rear seating area of my Ridge to boot without removing the front wheel.
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WM23N1
I sure could not recomend the Blur any higher, you should go to Santa Cruz Bikes web site and have a look.
They are also just introducing a Blur LT long travel bike and also a new model the Nomad it has the long travel of their VPFree at the weight of the Blur. It is disigned to be their all ride bike, up hill down hill and cross country.
It looks really cool as well. I would have ordered one but they won't be out for a month or so.
Be prepared the Santa Cruz line is not inexpensive, but they are worth it. You should be able to get $500. or more off of list if you check around. Just stay away from the Ebay out of country deals as you will never see your money or a bike again.
Steve
I sure could not recomend the Blur any higher, you should go to Santa Cruz Bikes web site and have a look.
They are also just introducing a Blur LT long travel bike and also a new model the Nomad it has the long travel of their VPFree at the weight of the Blur. It is disigned to be their all ride bike, up hill down hill and cross country.
It looks really cool as well. I would have ordered one but they won't be out for a month or so.
Be prepared the Santa Cruz line is not inexpensive, but they are worth it. You should be able to get $500. or more off of list if you check around. Just stay away from the Ebay out of country deals as you will never see your money or a bike again.
Steve
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Mayfielh
Whats that hanging in the backgroud? Looks to be a hardtail to me. Does that mean that you sometimes ride up hill, or do you have your wife pull you up the hills with the hard tail.
Steve
Whats that hanging in the backgroud? Looks to be a hardtail to me. Does that mean that you sometimes ride up hill, or do you have your wife pull you up the hills with the hard tail.
Steve
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