|   Giant DH motolink frames? | BigHitFSR
Jan 8, 2002 2:41 PM | | My mate is about to order a Giant DH frame.
The guys at my LBS which sell them say they are good for the money. but are not really impressed by them.
The intended use is DH, free ride and hardcore XC.
Would setup with an Xvert Carbon, D321, Intense WC 2.7/Blur 2.5.
Some obvious issues are:
Not much stand over height
Pretty average rear shock
LBS says not very stiff
Shock mounted in a place where it might take a hit (mbtr comment)
Anything else?
Some Plusses:
Light
progressive ? (comments)
We are in Australia so the choice of frames in this price range is limmited. The Norco VPS DH (inc: Fox TC, Hadley), Craftworks (inc Fox TC, local brand), Stab Primo, Big Hit DH.
Any feed back positive or negative would be great.
Also:
Comments on rear shock? (any recomended upgrades, would an Avalance work well?)
Comments on chain device?
Anyone know the BB height, seat tube angle, head angle? |
| its an outstanding value, great frame, great bike(more) | Jm
Jan 8, 2002 6:43 PM | | Ive checked it out at my LBS. The reason he may be trying to push you away from it is the giant is not very expensive, it may have smaller margins, other than that I can't imagine why an LBS would try and push you away from it.
I think it will not work for heavy freeriding and hardcore XC. This is a pretty heavy bike(with a boxxer even). I think Giant went with some pretty thick tubes to make it durable. Any 8" frame is going to be pretty horrible for XC pedaling, and the Geometry will stink for it, also the bend in the seat tube will prevent you from running a full length seat post and just "dropping" it for DH, in other words you will need two if you want to do that freeride/hardcore XC on it.
I don't know why it would not be very stiff, there looks to be no reason why it would not be. The shock is a RS but its unproven so it may turn out to hold up well, or maybe not, time will tell. The chain guide is interesting, its different from most everything else, can't say if it will work any better or be stronger, but its different. Basically it has two "plates" that sandwich the ring, but the ring moves freely and the plates are stationary, the plates are joined by several large "pins" around the guide. I don't see any advantage to it.
It looks like a great DH bike, and that means it is going to work best for DOWNHILL. If you want a bike that you can downhill, freeride, and do agressive XC on, there are better bikes. Bullits, Ellsworth Dares, Cheeta Prowlers, Jokers, and a few others. |
| 8 inch travel is a must | BigHitFSR
Jan 8, 2002 8:36 PM | | He wants an 8 inch travel bike.
He currently rides an 8 inch travel FSR.
We all ride DH bikes XC and freeride, you get more exercise that way.
Why do you say this bike is such great value?
The Norco VPS costs the same with a fox TC and a hadley rear hub (no chain guide).
Its a time proven FSR design too (they have been making these for at least 5 years right?).
For the application I think it would be really good as being an FSR it pedals decently.
What ahs the giant got over the VPS?
The bikes you mentioned are all super expensive.
This guys only got enough dosh for a mass produced frame. |
| you forgot the question you asked | Jm
Jan 8, 2002 9:21 PM | | whether the Giant DH was going to be the right bike for him, whether what other people have said about it is hype or what? I like the Comp version which sells for about 3000 US, I think you get a better frame than the VPS, because its a monopivot which means basically only one critical set of bearings to worry about. The shock linkages are important too, but will not have an effect on stiffness. The VPS on the other hand has many bearing pivots that can affect stiffness. This is not a bag on the VPS, but I think with the giant you get a better frame. Lets keep in mind what the real issue was, you asked about the giant for DHing, freeriding and hardcore XC. By looking at it in my LBS, playing around with it some, and generally comparing it to my bike(a cheeta, very similer suspension design) I can say that it is not going to be a very versatile bike. A VPS is a more versatile bike, the Specialized BigHit would be another versatile one, in fact that is probably the better buy for a capable frame. |
| The only reply I have at this time is two-fold... | Nobody
Jan 8, 2002 8:51 PM | | Part One: having examined the frame and done a basic shock test on it (not pedalling or crashing or whatever - that was Acadian's job - but watching the movement of the complex rocker arm, etc) there will be no option to switch to a shock that utilizes a wider spring than comes stock (1.25mm per side excess clearance doesn't leave much margin for error). This may leave the bigger sprung Romics and Avalanches out in the cold. However, if demand is high enough, I expect Craig Seekins to build special rocker arms, etc if possible. He did for the Cortina, so he might for other's bikes as well. Always worth the trouble, in my not-at-all-humble-opinion.
Part Two: I did the twist, waggle, and flex test and the bike was no worse than any other long travel bike. If you want a deflection test in millimeters, get the German Mountian Bike magazine geeks to do it - they love that stuff (dunno if they actually ride the bikes, but man! have they got some damnfine testing equipment!) It felt no worse to me than a Cortina, a Chumba Wumba, an Intense M1, a Santa Cruz Super8, or a Kona Stab Primo.
The shop may have issues with the company or the money, but they're a little arse-headed vis-a-vis the bike itself.
N.
(see me in action at RM 90% of the time, and MTBR the other 10%) - hah, like anyone cares....
sob sob. |
| I care man, I care.... | GspotRider
Jan 8, 2002 9:27 PM | | RM rocks |
| Comments form My LBS | BigHitFSR
Jan 8, 2002 10:57 PM | | Just to set things straight.
My mate is buying the frame only.
He is getting it from a mail order place in OZ that stripps down bikes and sells the parts so its pretty cheap (still around the same as the others mentioned in the original post).
My LBS only offers the giant's as far as DH bikes go.
So their opinion can be trusted 100%. The giant would be by far the best thing for them to sell me as they have the comp in stock.
The guys there all ride and race downhill (Craftworks 205, Orange 222, striaght 8, GT lobo is what they are currently riding). |
| Avanti D8 | Bobby
Jan 10, 2002 1:35 PM | | Since you are in Australia, have you not considered the D8. Well tested and proven now - and prob better value.
Just a thought |
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