Advice on a freeride HT

[Aberrix]

Since my BMX got stolen a month or so ago I've been playing with the idea of replacing it... but I think I might replace it with a 26" 'freestyle' mountainbike. I really like the design/style/price of the Transition Bikes Trail-or-Park.

http://www.transitionbikes.com/images/TrailorPark_WebLarge.jpg

I was just curious if anyone else had any suggestions, I know about the Specialized p2, test rode one and liked it but don't think I like it enough to buy it.

[Kosk]

Being a Transition owner myself for a few years now, I can personally vouche for the company, their product, and the stand up guys behind all of it.

Give them a call, you'll talk to the owners themselves. They'll answer all your questions and get you setup right. The TOP is a solid bike, if you want BMXie, you'll like it. It's definately more of a street/park bike though.

[Aberrix]

Being a Transition owner myself for a few years now, I can personally vouche for the company, their product, and the stand up guys behind all of it.

Give them a call, you'll talk to the owners themselves. They'll answer all your questions and get you setup right.

That's pretty much why I am leaning so heavily torwards them, I've heard nothing but outstanding things about TBC.

The TOP is a solid bike, if you want BMXie, you'll like it. It's definately more of a street/park bike though.

I plan to do 60/40 of dirt jumps/street.

[wanderingrobots]

I have a hardrock that i have set up to be "freeride" i.e. singlespeed, better brakes, new seat, flat pedals, and hopefully more as i upgrade it. You might want to think about that option. I am sure you know that a freeride hardtail is going to ride ALOT diffrent than a bmx bike. Rotations are slower and harder to do in my opinion, as are manuals. the advantage is rolling speed. oh one more disadvantage is cost. its going to cost alot more than a comparable quality bmx bike.

[xbobeahenx]

Hey,

Transitions are bomb proof bikes. Another solid company would be DMR. Smaller U.K. based, but Quality Bike Components deals with them. Are you looking for a complete bike or just the frame? If you're looking for frame only, I'd go with the Transition if you have the money. DMR for the cheaper alternative. But for a complete, check out bikes like the Cannondale Chase, Speciliazed P.3 etc. I just picked up the 06 P.3, and that thing is pretty smooth and pretty well set up as a stock bike. 07's look just as good.

thats my 2 bits.

[Aberrix]

I have a hardrock that i have set up to be "freeride" You might want to think about that option.

I am kinda hoping to have a freeride bike (SS) and a trails/freeride bike (gears), so at this point I am looking to purchase a SS freeride HT.

I am sure you know that a freeride hardtail is going to ride ALOT diffrent than a bmx bike. Rotations are slower and harder to do in my opinion, as are manuals. the advantage is rolling speed. oh one more disadvantage is cost. its going to cost alot more than a comparable quality bmx bike.

I understand, but being 6'4" I feel a lot more at home riding a 26" vs. a 20"

[Kosk]

I plan to do 60/40 of dirt jumps/street.

Yeah, then this bike will rock for that purpose. If you are gonna go ride Leb or Theo or something, defiantely take the hardrock.

If you are looking for more of a "freeride" bike, one that you can huck with, and ride trail on, then look to something more like the Vagrant or Preston FR. These will have a better geometry for all around riding. But if you plan to use the hardrock for that stuff and want just a dedicated street/park/dj bike, then the TOP is proally right in your wheelhouse.

p.s. '06 Preston's are 20% off right now, don't ask me how I know this....

[Aberrix]

Yeah, then this bike will rock for that purpose. If you are gonna go ride Leb or Theo or something, defiantely take the hardrock.

That's my intension, use the Hardrock for all my trail riding (leb, theo, etc) and use the TOP for all the local dirt jumps/street riding.

If you are looking for more of a "freeride" bike, one that you can huck with, and ride trail on, then look to something more like the Vagrant or Preston FR.

I hope to someday replace my Hardrock with a Vagrant or even a Dirtbag. If I had the cash I would do it in a heartbeat...

Dream set up would be to own the following bikes:
TBC - Dirtbag
TBC - Vagrant
TBC - TOP

I figure I would have everything covered with those three steeds in my barn... now I just need to win the lottery...:eyeroll:

[gordanfreeman]

i'm currently looking at the cove sanchez and 24 le toy to replace my p.2 as my urban hucker bike. leaning more towards the cove right now but 3 months ago i was sure i would get the 24. that transition looks tight too, though.

[berrywise]

How crazy would one be to put a triple clamp fork on a dirt jumping frame? I'm not a dirt jumper but I would like to get in on some of these little urban rides that you guys do from time to time. I was thinking of building up a little frame that could handle some abuse, hit some drops, rolls some stairs, and keep my wrists from breaking.

I was thinking of picking up an old school Boxxer for like a hundred bucks, a frame for cheap and then using spare parts to build it up.

[Buck]

How crazy would one be to put a triple clamp fork on a dirt jumping frame? I'm not a dirt jumper but I would like to get in on some of these little urban rides that you guys do from time to time. I was thinking of building up a little frame that could handle some abuse, hit some drops, rolls some stairs, and keep my wrists from breaking.

I was thinking of picking up an old school Boxxer for like a hundred bucks, a frame for cheap and then using spare parts to build it up.

Lots of peeps do it, you'll just have to get used to the set up. My guess is that for a hundro your getting an older boxxer with like 6" travel...all the new HT come with 6" singel crowns. so I wouldn't see a problem with it. As a matter of fact I saw quite a few HTs with DC out at Whistler shreddin' wit da best of em!
L8Rz
Buck

[berrywise]

Lots of peeps do it, you'll just have to get used to the set up. My guess is that for a hundro your getting an older boxxer with like 6" travel...all the new HT come with 6" singel crowns. so I wouldn't see a problem with it. As a matter of fact I saw quite a few HTs with DC out at Whistler shreddin' wit da best of em!
L8Rz
Buck

Yeah I see a boxxer for sale on Ebay for a cool hondo right now (Nobody better outbid me! :crazy:)

Figure back in the day those forks were going for top dollar and even if it's beat to ____ I probably wouldn't even care.

[Magic]

I really like my Banshee Scirocco with the Marz. Super T Pro on it. Can take anything that is thrown at it. Plus I can trail ride it if I choose to do so. HT's are nice in their own respect, but FS is the way to go in the long run. But I'm not giving up my freeride trail HT anytime soon.

[berrywise]

I really like my Banshee Scirocco with the Marz. Super T Pro on it. Can take anything that is thrown at it. Plus I can trail ride it if I choose to do so. HT's are nice in their own respect, but FS is the way to go in the long run. But I'm not giving up my freeride trail HT anytime soon.

Drat. I was all set to bid on that Boxxer yesterday at the last minute and my internet goes down and I couldn't get it restarted in time. I could have worked out a deal with ya to overhaul it for me in exchange for some paint/cash :D (never did get out to Stillwater).

I agree on the full suspension if you really want to do more freeride and less jumping (which doesn't sound to be the case of the OP). I had my Planet-x pretty burly but always wanted a fully in the back of my mind. Then again full suspension adds about a thousand more dollars to your budget.

Now it's back to searching for a cheap triple clamp.

[xbobeahenx]

How crazy would one be to put a triple clamp fork on a dirt jumping frame? I'm not a dirt jumper but I would like to get in on some of these little urban rides that you guys do from time to time. I was thinking of building up a little frame that could handle some abuse, hit some drops, rolls some stairs, and keep my wrists from breaking.

I was thinking of picking up an old school Boxxer for like a hundred bucks, a frame for cheap and then using spare parts to build it up.

Dude, unless your frame is designed to handle long travel forks, I wouldn't exceed what comes stock on your bike by more than an inch, at the max. We see it all the time when people put Jr.T's, Boxxers, etc...(older forks that are awesome ebay deals), on HT frames. Even beefy DJ frames aren't meant to handle the leverage. because your shock no longer wants to go UP as the headtube angle suggests with appropriate short travel forks. It wants to bend OUT and UP. Like a big ol' lever. And there goes the head tube or often times the middle of the down tube. yes some people will swear by their bikes with their big forks, and thats totally cool, more power to 'em if it works. But I wouldnt risk it. Banshee, Sinister, 24, and some other brands make long travel HT's. But p.3's and other short travel Dirt Jump bikes aren't meant to handle it. I'd stick with a stout DJ and use your legs to absorb, or spend the dough for a long travel frame. Its worth it in the long run. Keep in mind, thats just opinion and what I've noticed in the past years.

[berrywise]

Dude, unless your frame is designed to handle long travel forks, I wouldn't exceed what comes stock on your bike by more than an inch, at the max. We see it all the time when people put Jr.T's, Boxxers, etc...(older forks that are awesome ebay deals), on HT frames. Even beefy DJ frames aren't meant to handle the leverage. because your shock no longer wants to go UP as the headtube angle suggests with appropriate short travel forks. It wants to bend OUT and UP. Like a big ol' lever. And there goes the head tube or often times the middle of the down tube. yes some people will swear by their bikes with their big forks, and thats totally cool, more power to 'em if it works. But I wouldnt risk it. Banshee, Sinister, 24, and some other brands make long travel HT's. But p.3's and other short travel Dirt Jump bikes aren't meant to handle it. I'd stick with a stout DJ and use your legs to absorb, or spend the dough for a long travel frame. Its worth it in the long run. Keep in mind, thats just opinion and what I've noticed in the past years.

Based on the amount of extra metal that On-One put in the front their gimp frame I don't forsee this as a problem. Not to mention I'm poser and won't be hitting any huge drops anytime soon. Still might just go and pick up something like a single crown Z1 w/ lock out so I can fiddle around and do some trials stuff to. Not sure anyhow. Good heads up though.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/images/pagemaster/small_RawGimpHead.jpg

[Bikerkid]

I'm on a STP frame with a Rockshox Tora 318 u-turn. It has a lot out, but it still gives you 20 mm of free travel, and if you drop your front end it will travel further, it's not the lightest fork in the work, about 5 pounds, but it's really solid, and with the u-turn you can crank it down to a smaller travel. The best part is, it's only like $250.