|   Someone please educate me about "freeride" bikes | 2melow
Jul 12, 2002 2:24 PM | | Part of my job here at work is to be familiar with the "happening" products and know about trends, what's hot, new, etc. So, I'm looking at the freeride market, and have stumbled upon a bike which I don't think too many people here have. I've see a lot of Bullits, Id's, Foes, Kona's, etc. on this bike, but not too many people with these...
So, I discover Giant makes a line called the AC series. Fully adjustable 4.5, 5, and 6 inches of travel, XT components, Manitou Black Elite 4/5" fork...XT components.......32 pounds....complete bike for only $1700? And some of you guys are buying freeride frames for $2000+?
I might not know too much about Giant bikes, but this sounds like a hellofa deal to me - and if there are a few parts needed to be upgraded it is still cheaper.
Someone educate me please.
Brett (hasn't heard of Giant frames breaking) |
| Ask Biking Viking....... | celly
Jul 12, 2002 2:37 PM | | He opened our eyes to the subject (yet again) a few weeks back. |
| The AC, freerider/trail bike. | Kitchenware
Jul 12, 2002 2:49 PM | | I've ridden an AC an I can tell you that they ride great. They're extremely plush and come with a pretty nice parts spec for the price. I thought about getting one, but then I heard that they were a no DC fork frame, which turned me off instantly for what I was looking for at the time. I'd probably buy one for my everyday trail bike in a heartbeat... if I had some extra cash, but it wasn't what I was looking for, for where I want to take my riding.
Jim |
| Couple of reasons I would not buy one | Pat T.®
Jul 12, 2002 5:25 PM | | No dual crown fork, the seat cannot be dropped far enough, kind of a pain to change travel on the trail, not enough clearance for larger tires in the back....not sure about an 8" rotor on the rear. My son has a Giant, the top tube has a ding in it from falling over in the garage.....doesn't say much for Giant frames, but other than that is has been a very good bike. Now for a trail bike I would buy the Giant AC, but not for a freeride bike. And $1700? You get what you pay for. |
| Adjustable travel sucks!... | daveM
Jul 12, 2002 7:31 PM | | I have a BETD adjustable link on my FSR, and in the longer travel settings, when you probably need the most stability, the head angle steepens, and the bottom bracket gets scary high. The bike becomes twitchy and unstable, just what you don't want for high speed descents.
IMHO, the travel can't be adjusted much without some unwanted consequences.
Just my 2 cents.
BTW, Horsetooth rocks! |
| Wow that's weird | Pat T.®
Jul 12, 2002 9:02 PM | | My Pipeline gets lower and slacker when I put it in 6" mode....sheesh you'd think that they could do the same for the FSR....bummer they are sweet bikes too. |
| Is that a Rocky Mountain? I think that if it is designed to be.. | daveM
Jul 13, 2002 4:41 PM | | adjustable from the drawing board, it could be done, but with the aftermarket link... The FSR is a nice bike, I've had alot of fun on it the last three years, so I shouldn't complain, but if I would have won that Uzzi SLX that MBA was giving away (sent in 150 entrees) I would have parted ways with the 'ol FSR.
Hey Mike, don't you have a Switchblade too? |
| Which FSR / BETD link? | Seb
Jul 15, 2002 5:06 AM | | I have the 2000 Rockhopper FSR, which uses the old style link, not the "XC" link. Is that the one you are using?
I'd actually prefer to slightly steapen my head angle and raise my BB, because I put a 5 inch fork in to replace the 3 inch the bike came with. I'd been considering the BETD link. If I can match my travel front /back, AND "fix" my geometry, its a definate winner for me. |
| I've got one... | airwreck
Jul 12, 2002 8:51 PM | | yep, bought it cuz it's cheap. It's hard to have fun on the bike and not have it go off on it's own flying through rocks and trees on occasion, so in that respect it's good to know your not trashing an expensive bike.
the adj. travel does not change the geometry.
If you want me to ramble on about my bike, let me know.
Eric/01 AC2 |
| I've got one... | SmokinFatBob
Jul 14, 2002 12:46 PM | | Hey, I'm planning on ordering one this week.
Rambling on about it is encouraged! :-D
-sfb |
| The only EDUATION you Need! | mtber
Jul 13, 2002 1:28 PM | | JUST RIDE ONE! I broke my Giant AC AIR LITE In, In Brevard, NC |
| The only EDUCATION you Need! nm. | mtber
Jul 13, 2002 1:30 PM | | |
| re: Someone please educate me about "freeride" bikes | BRO
Jul 14, 2002 4:08 AM | | I have a 02 AC2. It is not the best bike ever but in terms of value for money and fun it comes pretty close. It is small enough to jump but is equally at home on flat out downhills. I won the first race I entered on it and that was a state round downhill up against full on downhillers like Norco and stab primos so iit can hold its own. |
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