|   I need a reliable full suspension trail bike | DSR
Aug 5, 2002 11:05 AM | | I just came off of a very frustrating day in which I snapped the main pivot bolt on a high-end fs/xc bike in the middle of a 20 mile ride. Near the end of a 6 mile climb, I noticed some creaking and then lateral movement in the rear. Saw that the bolt had backed out a bit. Went to tighten and it just spun. The other end didn't move. Snapped. I had to walk down the 2000' we just climbed and miss out on an epic downhill. So after several other issues with the bike, I'm considering ditching it. Wanted to get people's thoughts on the reliability of the bike options out there. I want full suspension for the rocky trails out here in CO. I want something light enough for the long extended climbs. And I want something burly enough to handle fast rocky downhills - no bid drops, just something to soak up babyheads and 1-2' drops.
Superlight - simple design and light, but can it take a beating?
Truth - leaning away from this because of tales of frame weakness
Isis - strong, simple, relatively cheap
Hammerhead 100 - where does this fall on the race vs trail bike spectrum within the fs/xc world?
Ventana Pantera - certainly looks strong enough
Ventana El Saltamontes - similar to Truth? stength, reliability?
Turner O2 - a stronger Truth?
Yeti - ???
Kona - ???
Rocky Mountain - ???
Others?
Basically I am sick of my bike being in the shop all the time and would really prefer not to have to push my bike 6+ miles again. Or have to worry about having to push my bike 6+ miles again.
Thanks. S |
| any frame can break | Jeffy
Aug 6, 2002 9:39 AM | | I ride a 2001 Ventana El Saltamontes, a bike with a bombproof reputation. However it broke at the weld on the left side of the chainstay below the disc brake mount. I wasn't even riding aggressive when it broke. It was on a climb! Thumbs up to Ventana as they 2nd day mailed a new chainstay. Didn't even ask for the broken part back. I was back in the saddle in three days. Great service. Also, I noticed that the weld and machining on the new chainstay is improved. Looks like they altered the shape to provide more surface area for the weld. Bottom line, buy from a builder with great service such as Ventana so when it breaks the hassle is minimized. |
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