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Having moved somewhere where owning a downhill bike is now viable (I.e mountains) , what should I get ? Any 2015 or older bargains around? Or should I save up and get the new breed of direct sales long slack canyon YT types?
Would prefer aluminum , 2-3k max , 27.5 wheels
Ta!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-pulse-comp-dh-bike-2016/rp-prod135665
I wouldn't bother with a carbon framed direct sales bike, in DH you have to be able to afford to replace your frame if you wrap it round a tree. A 1400 quid frame from CRC will be far easier and quicker to get hold of and cheaper to pay for, than a carbon frame from YT.
I would by a second-hand one for peanuts. Or a new one from say YT. They are fantastic value for money for a new bike and do crash replacement.
If you could put up with 26" wheels, last years Canyons are on offer at a very good price
Get the best you can afford and don't be afraid of carbon, they're pretty tough these days. But, like anything, there will be examples of where it has gone badly wrong; I find this place can be like looking at the 1star reviews on Amazon where something has an average of 4.5stars.
YT, canyon all good but also cheap nukeproofs should not be overlooked. Plenty of 2nd hand choice on pinkbike as well.
Dan
I'm not afraid of carbon per se , it's more than I am more likely to crash at high speed I guess and warranties for crash damage and factory failure are two different things.
I wouldn't buy new 26" no. I think it would be pretty hard to sell it second hand for any reasonable amount. Although I suppose if you buy it new cheap enough that doesn't matter so much.
I like the look of the YT tues al
I'd look second hand - there are some bargains out there.
I picked up a 2015 Demo 8 carbon for a chunk less than a brand new alloy one - most of the parts were new too having been removed whilst the lad who owned it raced it last season (not that often due to illness).
mindmap3 - MemberI'd look second hand - there are some bargains out there.
Agreed, I know from bitter experience that DH stuff sits in a very small market and the depreciation is frankly brutal. Of the 2 I had I 'm sure renting one for £50 a day or whatever would have been cheaper than owning one.
Propain bikes look good for alloy and Iirc it's called the Rage.
I wouldn't buy new 26" no. I think it would be pretty hard to sell it second hand for any reasonable amount. Although I suppose if you buy it new cheap enough that doesn't matter so much.
The counter to that is you can buy 26" wheeled bikes obscenely cheap s/h now.
I saw a Transition TR-450, CCDB, Saint, top end boxxers, etc on Pinkbike for £1200. Even if the frame/fork/wheels are unfashionable I wouldn't be surpised if the brakes, hubs and finishing kit cost the original owner more than that!
Do you really need a DH bike? For UK use a full Enduro Gnarpoon is incredibly capable and much more versatile.
I live in Sweden not the UK, Will check out propain. One of the local shops rents their DH bike so could be good to test
Do you really need a DH bike? For UK use a full Enduro Gnarpoon is incredibly capable and much more versatile.
I was very much of that opinion for a long time...until I got another DH bike.
I guess it depends on how good you are; I'm happier on DH tracks on my Demo than I was on my Banshee Rune, despite the latter being very, very capable (in the right hands).
Are you medium sized?
Yeah it's carbon, but you can trust Kona have built it to last.
The canyon torque dhx is ludicrous vfm currently. 26" though. Personally I dont thnk it matters for this type of bike, either for riding or for resale value.
EDIT - its made of metal also!
@cha****ng I'm 6 foot 1 so maybe that's too small. Do like the look of it though
Just a bit.
If you read Dirt you'll probably be familiar with Steve Jones' complaints that hardly any DH bikes will fit someone your size properly.
Biggest size Tues might be the best bet, shame the dampers are a bit basic and they don't do a higher spec alu one.
Yeah it's carbon, but you can trust Kona have built it to last.
i know someone who's snapped two of them. he is a bit wild though and it was in whistler...
Guy I sometimes ride with has a large Tuesday pro ( top one with fox 40s) and its loooooong .
finbar - Memberhttps://www.canyon.com/en-gb/gravity/torque-dhx/2016/torque-dhx-whipzone.html
I bought one of them a year ago, it's very good for the money. The only thing I've 'had' the upgrade were the grips as I prefer thinner ones - still struggling to find anything else that needs changing before it falls off. Budget Boxxer isn't the best but it does the job. Likewise the Kage shock, but it's very tuneable if you don't get on with it. And then you just remind yourself of how little you paid anyway...
Thanks for the link for the canyon but it's sold out in everything except small
Crack on with it's big brother then!
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/gravity/torque-dhx/2016/torque-dhx-rockzone.html
Guy I sometimes ride with has a large Tuesday pro ( top one with fox 40s) and its loooooong .
Great that you've got the chance to try for size.
My pal's got the large, I have only swung a leg over it but I wouldn't wanna go shorter (I'm 5ft 8in). Personal preference of course.
Do you really need a DH bike? For UK use a full Enduro Gnarpoon is incredibly capable and much more versatile.
Seen a helmet cam of enduro riders riding DH tracks and then watched the same run with someone on a DH bike, the speed differences are quite immense! DH bikes allow most people to go much faster than they normally would and top riders to utterly rip through nasty sections much more easily, even on UK DH tracks.
Bashing around chicksands and cannock though? Enduro bike for definite.
@cha****ng I'm 6 foot 1 so maybe that's too small. Do like the look of it though
In that case, go for fit over spec. Geo first, spec second.
Get this, they are LOOOONG.
EDIT: Wheyyy, actually that Summum isn't as long as their other bikes!
Nukeproof do an extra large which has a 465mm reach, long for a DH bike 🙂
I like the look of the YT tues al
I got mine a few months back.
It's an awesome bike but on the heavy side.
Would have gone for the Comp Al version but they discontinued it this year.
You won't need to spend more than £1200 to get.a very good bike 2nd hand. Especially a now unfashionable 26". Just think what a years depreciation left in your wallet will buy in terms of kit and or riding experiences.
Not sure why anyone would want to throw money away on something that's only shiny and new until the first run/wash unless you need the tiny % extra performance or have money to burn.*
* I do quite fancy one of those Canyons or a Demo C but both are out unless some kind of windfall turns up.
The main thing about buying used is just avoiding buying a dog. There's a lot out there- people thrash dh bikes for a year or two then ditch them rather than service them.
P-Jay - MemberOf the 2 I had I 'm sure renting one for £50 a day or whatever would have been cheaper than owning one.
Probably true of most folks tbh unless you're riding it constantly. But it's not all about money, being able to have it set up just how you want is seriously valuable, especially if you're uplifting- who wants to spend their first runs fannying around with setup and figuring out how the bike rides?
(this was half the reason I sold my Last; it was a great bike but too unlike my trailbikes, it always took me a couple of runs to get used to it.)
I think that's part of the thing, where I am is relatively remote . People who buy downhill bikes here tend to use them, hard, then sell them on after they have been thrashed . I could keep an eye on Stockholm listings (I.e a bit like London , far less likely that they are using a DH bike regularly than if you lived in say Fort William) So new is more likely. The other alternative is to wait until the end of the season and get one of the bike parks bikes, which have been serviced regularly and I would imagine not thrashed , just bimbled on.... But I want it now 😆
Just be careful and you can get a great bike. I looked at a few other Demo's but they were either dogs or just off.
I think I lucked out with mine. It's been used but well looked after and most bits were new.
There were some great value 26 inch bikes that were of interest too; Wilson, Evil etc.
I like the Tues too, but I wasn't willing to wait for it. YT couldn't guarantee a shopping date and summer was approaching fast. I'm happy with the carbon a Demo too.
I have a Cove STD which I would sell for the right price if interested, Rock Shox Totem 40mm forks, Fox DHX Titanium, Hope Moto V2 203mm brakes, Hope Pro 2 hubs, Saint groupset etc and all in pretty newish, unused condition!
never seen these in the flesh but why are they all around 17kg ? Assume it's the thick frame sets ?
Assuming you're talking about the Cove, the frame is pretty darn beefy, though 17kg does sound on the high side, don't think mine weighs that much! It does have a very, very nice weight to it, it feels incredibly stable on the downhills.
Yum yum mondraker yum
Second hand Turner DHR.
coconut - Membernever seen these in the flesh but why are they all around 17kg ? Assume it's the thick frame sets ?
TBH I think it's just a bike that appeals to people that want a bombproof playbike/uplift bike, you hardly ever see weightweenied ones as you often do with say Sessions etc.
+1 For the Canyon, its a great bike! I got the basic one and got a second hand ccdb and charger damper for the boxxers. Pretty damn light for a dh bike too