|   Which bike! FS or HT | jared
Mar 11, 2002 4:20 PM | | I'm looking for a sub-1000 dollar bike. I've been saving for a while to replace my failing 7-speed Trek and I want something better. But I don't want to blow my gas money. I'll look at anything, HT or FS, any brand. I want a solid bike which withstand trail and some jumping/assorted stupid stuff. FS would be nice, but is the drop in compents too bad?
Thanks for any comments |
| FS | mountainbiker2
Mar 11, 2002 4:55 PM | | Don't waste any money on a hardtail. Either buy what you can now or save for something better a little later. Speaking of buying a FS. Lots of times you can buy a year old model pretty cheap. Check out the ads in Mountain bike magazines. If you bought a HT now, you would always wonder if you should have bought a FS. bike. So buy one first. |
| I don't necessarily agree..... | celly
Mar 11, 2002 5:19 PM | | You'll get way more bike for your money with a HT, especially given the budgetary constraints. Why buy an average to low end dually when you can get a much better HT and better equipped to boot. I ride a dually ('00 Rocky Instinct, nicely tricked out), but have recently built up HT ('01 Rocky Vertex), and can't waut to ride it more Took it out for the first time and forgot how precise a HT feels. If I could only afford one bike and only had a grand to spend, I'd go for a HT, hands down. |
| Rocky is cool. ;-) nm | Leisure
Mar 12, 2002 3:36 AM | | |
| i bet my Planet X JFC will smoke your FS in durability... | ibismojo
Mar 11, 2002 6:54 PM | | and stiffness...and pedaling power on flats and climbs. |
| It all depends | Bonee
Mar 11, 2002 5:53 PM | | Two differing opinions above. I'm not sure you'll get a great FS on the budget you lay out unless you dig around for 2001 close-outs or go used. But of course that'll take a lot of effort to get good bang for your buck kind of deal.
On the flip side, you'll be sure to get a great deal on a hardtail on your budget without having to dig around.
If you are wondering about the difference in quality or feel of the ride, go out and compare a $900 hard tail to a $900 FS. I'd bet you'll like the hard tail more. My guess is the weight will be the obvious difference between the two.
Then go out and ride a $1500+ full suspension - and you'll feel a difference that may inspire you to save for another 6 months or so to get a really good FS, or to splurge now for immediate "suicaine gratifaction". Its the American way. |
| if your'e looking to do stupid stuff.... | ibismojo
Mar 11, 2002 7:02 PM | | Get a HT, they'll last longer. And by a HT, not some cross country frame, i'm talking about things like the Trek Bruiser, Specialized P3, Cove Stiffee, Azonic DS-1/Evolution, Santa Cruz Chameleon, Kona Stuff/Roast/Chute, Planet X JFC/JFR/Bommer, 24 Le Toy III, Evil Imperial, Surly Instigator, Blafa Minute Man, .243's, etc..etc...etc. They'll weigh as much as a FS frame, but they'll last about twice as long. And depending on who you buy the frame from, you'll also get a sweet warranty, ie Planet X's two year no fault crash replacement warranty.
Get one of these, learn how to DH, and when you have the money for a FS bike, you'll be smoking the trails. I built my Planet X JFC for less than 2g with these parts:
Planet X Jack Flash Classic frame
Fox Vanilla RL 125
FSA Pig Headset
Azonic Shorty Stem
Azonic Double Wall Bar
ODI Lock Jaw
Yeti Grips
XT Derailleur
XT Shifter
XT Cassette
SRAM PC-59 Chain
Race Face Turbine LP, taper
Shimano UN-72 BB
Evil Security Chain Guide
White Industries Disc Jockey Hubs
Rhyno Lite Rims
DT Spokes, Nipples
Tioga Factory DH 2.3 Front/Rear
Avid Disc Brakes Front/Rear
Avid Full Metal Jacket housing
Avid Speed Dial 7 Levers
Planet X Seatpost/Collar
Selle Italia Flight Gel Seat
32.5lbs of plenty fun. |
| re: Which bike! FS or HT | Yeti_Rider
Mar 11, 2002 7:20 PM | | Dollar for dollar you'll get more bike for the buck with a HT. IT will be a higher quality frame with better components than a FS at the same price. A thousand dollar FS is going to have a heavy frame (at this price point they don't usually use the same high end frames and simply down spec the components, it's usually a different heavier but cheaper to manufacture frame) heavy wheels and most likely LX at best components. The same HT will have XT components and a mixture of other lighter weight componenets.
A HT will be more reliable since there aren't any moving parts to blow out or fail. No matter how good the FS is, bearings and bushings move and moving parts wear out. Therefore you'll have to spend more time performing maintenance on the frame and potentially run the risk of being off the bike while some repairs are made.
I always tell people simply to get the best bike they can afford. If the best bike is a HT then get that one. If they have the cash to spend and the best bike is a FS, then get that one. Just remember, there isn't anything on a "normal" ride that you can't do on a HT that can be done on a FS. the only thing you can't do on the HT is start hucking monster drops, and quite frankly you aren't going to be able to do that too long on a 1000 FS before it breaks either.
A FS is more comfortable, but I went back to a HT after 4 years of riding on FS bikes and my riding has improved beyond belief. I'm as fast on the downhills as many of my friends riding FS and faster on teh climbs.
There is no right answer to your question though, only you can determine which bike is best based on how you're going to ride it.
Michael |
| In your case, hardtail. | Leisure
Mar 12, 2002 3:34 AM | | I only encourage hardtails if on a strict budget or you've been riding HT so long it's not worth re-learning how to ride (a lot of professional racers would fit this description). You obviously qualify for the first. When you talk full-suspension under $1000, you often will be dealing with sub-Deore specs, second-rate frame construction, and poor shocks and forks. Way too much to upgrade. Otherwise, I'm one of the biggest proponents of full suspension. A budget's a budget, but if at all possible save up or find some stinking awesome deal on a used or clearance FS. |
| |
