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For some reason I have a strange hankering for a DH bike - although I haven't ridden one....
Thinking it'll only get used occasionally for the odd uplift of over Stile Cop.
Been looking on evilbay and recon I could build a 26" one for around £500-£600.
Tell me it's a really crap idea and that I don't need one or even want to contemplate building one.
a bit over a year back I built a 26" S/H session frame to 35lb with top end DH parts for about £350-400 all in.
slacked out to 63 as well. rides great.
I did have lots of DH spares to begin with though.
I don't actually know what "stile cop" is.
sounds dangerous if you dress like the average STWer 😉
Just do it, they are awesome fun, but you do have to ride them hard otherwise they can bite back
I can't talk anyone out of building one for £600, they're great fun and while the geo is probably a little bit behind what we'd ever consider a trail bike to be these days, anyone who thinks they'll ride like a trail bike, has clearly never ridden one.
I wouldn't pay a lot though, unless you're racing or what to build shady DH lines in the woods, I don't think it'll get used much.
If you want to join in with the long n' slack thing - have a look for a Cove Shocker, for a 26" and probably 10 year old design they're pretty current. L has a 615mm top tube and 64 degree head angle (but I suspect they're actually a bit slacker than that) current Giant Glory is 620 and 63.
Cove can also put you in touch with someone who can make a new set of dropouts to make it a 275 if you really want.
They seem to go got buttons on Pinkbike.
I'll talk you out of it... and talk you into buying a full bike instead.
Likely to be more economical with fewer expensive new bits needed to fill the gaps.
I would love one for a few days a year at places like Inners and Revs.
don't talk, just build..... 🙂 🙂
What do you ride at the moment ?
I dont recall much, if anything, at Stile Cop actually needing a DH bike. Wont it all be doable on an Enduro / Trail bike ?
I reckon you can build one up for a few hundred quid. But it will be shite, it may roll down hills fast as it will be heavy, but will it be flickable, chuckable, will the suspension work, will the gears and brakes work well ? Or will it feel like a dead weight that you just cling to as it plummets downhill.
Ive often thought about getting a DH bike, but then I realise I would only be able to use it with an uplift, or push up for a few runs. I also realise that I will really need to pin it to get anything out of it and Im not that good a rider.
I think a modern Enduro bike is so capable, unless your Steve Peat, a DH bike will not be better.
I’ll talk you out of it… and talk you into buying a full bike instead.
Agree. Unless you have some parts already a complete bike will be cheaper
Thanks all.
Currently got a 160mm 650b hardtail and a 130mm 26" full suss trail bike.
Yeah looking on PB there seem to be some full bike for not much more money.
they’re great fun and while the geo is probably a little bit behind what we’d ever consider a trail bike to be these days,
What are you talking about?
A DH bike (even an old 26" one) isn't comromised by need ing to be ridden uphill.
If you want to join in with the long n’ slack thing – have a look for a Cove Shocker, for a 26″ and probably 10 year old design they’re pretty current. L has a 615mm top tube
DH bikes don't really need to be all that Long!
Apart from going flat out in a straight line they work better (more fun to manoever) with moderate reach. longish wheelbases (from the HA, longer axle to crown/travel and stays rather than a fashionably massive reach number) A proper DH bike can have lower BBs for stability as there's no need to compromise clearance for muppets who can't time a pedal stroke on an uneven climb.
Last time I looked Cove Shockers had pretty high BBs
Yes enduro bikes are massively capable but the other bonus a proper DH bike has over one will be strength/durability.
You could get one of those inbetween bikes with 180-200mm travel.
Think the Cube Hanzz is the lightest with a single crown around 32-33 lbs/14.5 KG mark, depending on tyre and fork choice, some peoples trail bikes are heavier!
The Death Of 26 is awesome tbh, I used to have a 224 Evo which I liked but didn't ride enough to justify having a couple of grand sat in the garage so when I saw the price crash coming I parted it out and just used my trailbike instead. Now I'm building a "new" one and it's cost me about £500 all in including boxxer teams, nice hope wheels, my pick of everyone else's discarded tyres, and a frame with a CCDB in it. (also, inexplicably the frame doesn't have any aftermarket welds in it, so it's a collector's item) Plus a few bits I'd never managed to sell or had kept as spares. You could always build a cheap dh bike out of other people's leftovers but this one will barely have a compromise on it- the only things that really cost money are the bits the bike industry hasn't made unstandard yet, like the drivetrain and brakes
Nah it's not cutting edge but my old one wasn't cutting edge or even especially great when I got it either and that didn't stop it being great fun. I'm not likely to take it racing and if I did, I'd be equally competitive on aaron gwin's own personal bike, or on GW's ebike. Actually I might not even be quicker on it than I am on my Remedy (which is awesome tbh) but it'll be different to ride and less disastrous to the wallet if I bend it in half. Or, I could be like MC and just use it as a place to store all my mechanical disasters to keep the main bike safe.
Yay bikes basically.
A mate has just built up 2 26" DH bikes for £280 and £350 respectively. Specs are driven by availability but he has been pretty ruthless with the budget and taken things on as they've come up in the usual places (mainly Facebook marketplace and Pinkbike rather than the disaster that is the new STW classifieds). They look a bit incoherent in component terms but ride great. It's amazing what you can pick up for very little money these days and DH bikes have been great for a very long time. In reality there's not a whole heap of difference between a good 2006 bike and a current one if you're not looking for the last few second in a race run.
Go for it
This thread has me thinking now... budget banger!
anyone know what it is like getting new 26 inch dual ply dh tyres? Does anyone still make them? Is it a case of second hand only and where from?
I have a great 26inch dh bike and want to keep running it.
On the off chance you're anywhere near Glasgow, I've got 2 barely used Super Tacky High Roller 2s, and 2 barely used Maxxpro High Roller 2s you could have for much cheapness.
Yes enduro bikes are massively capable but the other bonus a proper DH bike has over one will be strength/durability.
and its the strength through the whole build that makes the difference. Being able to hit a rock garden giving zero ****s about your tyres and rims is a massive bonus
New 26" DH tyres are still available but there's little point when (as above) so many folk have decent ones lurking somewhere they'll sell cheap.
I must have 20+ 26" dual plys. A few I bought new but most were either were given for free or bought S/H for a fiver tops and either unused or just a few runs use.
classifieds here used to be pretty good for picking them up but not anymore.
Hopefully others will see this thread and offer you even more.
I do not need any at the moment, but thanks.
Stile Cop is perfect for messing about on a DH bike, its what the trails are built for.
I vastly improved my air and drop skillz riding (and building) up there on a DH lite then 2 proper DH bikes. The DH bike will give you an extra cushion of confidence whilst getting away with things you might not on a normal bike. You may then be confident to ride the less easy stuff elsewhere.
I loved riding DH, just dont have time anymore.