Cheap A$$ Full Suspension

[manitouman84]

Okay so normally I advocate only buying an FS bike if its atleast 1500 if not more, otherwise I say stick with a hardtail. But I want some input... What would you all consider to be a good cheap @$$ full suspension rig. Something that I could huck off retaining walls and large ledges on, and not care about when I beat the living crap out of it. I dont care if the things made of lead, whats the sturdiest yet cheapist FS rig out there?

[UP_boy]

I'm not a real big gear head but I noticed the Haro Extreme at a bike shop that looked interesting. I believe it was under a thousand and it did looked like it would take a good ol fashioned beating. Anybody else have any info/feelings on this bike?

[Kingbozo]

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?san=03BigHit&bl=mountain&JServSessionIdroot=t895vzmli5.j27004

[Rocky Mountain]

Buy Used if your intention is to launch it off anything since you will probably damage something eventually. What's a used '99 bullit worth these days?

[danger!]

I just got a 2002 Norco VPS 4by4 for $951 new in the box. It sounds like it may fit the bill for what you are looking to do. I like the bike a lot so far. It is part of their supercross series, so it has dirtjumping/DS geometry, but they have found that a lot of people are using them for general freeride purposes. The VPS rear suspension system is licensed from Specialized, and is the same as the FSR stuff on the big hit and epic and enduro(I think) bikes. Check it out, let me know if you have any ?? about it.

I bought it here:

www.sbcoutlet.com

Norco site:

www.norco.com

The value of the canadian peso is to your advantage!

Hope this helps!

-Dan

[manual63]

Originally posted by manitouman84
Something that I could huck off retaining walls and large ledges on, and not care about when I beat the living crap out of it. I dont care if the things made of lead, whats the sturdiest yet cheapist FS rig out there?

I do this with my Specialized P.2 and it's a hardtail. It cost me $650.00. Use your legs for suspension and you will have more control too. I've done and seen guys do huge gaps and drops on their BMX freestyle bikes, and they have no suspension; not even on the fork.

[martini]

I agree w/shad, go with a DS-y style HT ala the specailized line, or an Azonic with a nice 4"-5" fork on the front and you'll be stylin' it good. I've ridden a P-1 and immediately fell in love with it. For me at 6-5, it'd make a great BMX cruiser to race with, or take to the dirt jumps, or do urban crazy ****e. Does Trek still make the Bruiser line? That'd be a good way to go as well.

[manual63]

Jumping around cubicle yelling, "someone actually agrees with me!!!!"

[Rockhoppa]

the giant nrs 3 looks o.k. i think it would fit your wants for about $900!!!:cool:

[ice ice baby]

The Trek Fuel 80 is down $250 at Penn $875 I think. Fox float in back and Maintou Black in front - looks real nice:banana:

[martini]

sorry guys, those aren't urban bikes. I think that's what he's after. They're both pretty strict XC rigs.:D no big drops for them!

[SilverAthlon]

The Giant Warp DS offers lots in the "huck off retaining walls and large ledges on...".
3 models ranging from $500-$1000 allow you to select your needs for components. These things are built like tanks, have 26 X 2.40" tires inflatable up to 60 psi, and a super heavy duty frame. Spring loaded rear suspension system, allows you to change tension at the twist of a wrist, and also has rebound dampening. Front fork has 4" travel, and adjustable 4-5" rear travel.

Just the thing i would get if i didn't care about taking care of something.

[manitouman84]

Yeah i think the NRS and the fuel would both get trashed pretty quick, those shocks would blow pretty quick too.

About the BMXers, yeah they can go huge but you have to mind how much smaller their bikes and wheels are, they are gonna take a beating like that with style. You do raise a good point though, I could probably just use my old moab with some beefy wheels. The only thing is it would be nice to have something that could fly down stairs too without thinking twice. Dont get me wrong, ill do stairs in a hard tail, but with an FS i bet you could fly down sets of stairs.

[Dr. Guitar]

I have a cruiser size BMX that would suit the abuse you may speak of. The wheels are inbetween BMX and MTB size. I am also planning on selling it. FS is a lot of money to put into a bike you want to toss around. I used to do some trials on my Hard tail. I found that the bounce of suspension was usually a dissadvantage. Unless you are a big guy.

[Dr. Guitar]

I have a cruiser size BMX that would suit the abuse you may speak of. The wheels are inbetween BMX and MTB size. I am also planning on selling it. FS is a lot of money to put into a bike you want to toss around. I used to do some trials on my Hard tail. I found that the bounce of suspension was usually a dissadvantage. Unless you are a big guy.

[manitouman84]

Im sittin at about 165 lbs, so im not a heavy rider, but im not exactly a light foot either.

Maybe I should buy one of those target FS bikes and see how long it takes to trash :cheesy: .

[manitouman84]

Hey Shad, your living in edina right? You ever been to that BMX park down in the cahill area? If you go up 70th towards cahill, and drop down onto the railroad tracks heading north, then pedal for about 500 feet youll find some single track on the left of the track. Back in there are the biggest freakin jumps I have ever seen, and there are like 20 or 30 of them, you been back there?

[dragomni]

I ride a DS3, the parts are cheap but so far I haven't broken anything. I'm not a very aggressive jumper after a nasty crash last season but I have took a couple diggers on this bike and nothing is wrong with it. Chainrings are chewed up pretty badly but they still work for this season. I've talked to others that say they were very happy with the solidness of the frame for the buck.

I got mine for $400 including tax at a local shop. I think Eriks or Penn wanted $500 for it.

A DS2 or DS1 you could pick up pretty cheap if you want better components. But if you're just going to bang on it why have really nice stuff to wreck? A friend of mine bought a Sp Bighit, the $800 one. It also is very tough machine, more bike than the Warps IMO. He ended up trading it in for a P2 though, didn't need the FS or the weight.

[Rockhoppa]

the jamis dakar sport is a good bike

[dragomni]

What a coincidence! A Dakar is listed in the for sale section!

15" Jamis Dakar F/S For Sale - $800
15" Jamis Dakar Full Suspension Cross Country Mountain Bike

For Details and pics See http://marketplace.consumerreview.c...query=retrieval

I'm asking for $800, will deliver inside 50 miles of metro area.

Please email me or call me:
pwpatton@comcast.net
651-450-0702

[manual63]

Originally posted by manitouman84
Hey Shad, your living in edina right? You ever been to that BMX park down in the cahill area? If you go up 70th towards cahill, and drop down onto the railroad tracks heading north, then pedal for about 500 feet youll find some single track on the left of the track. Back in there are the biggest freakin jumps I have ever seen, and there are like 20 or 30 of them, you been back there?

Yeah, I helped build it about 5 or 6 years ago with some friends of mine. It kinda went crazy after that. I have not been there in awhile. Thinking about helmets, I never wore one while riding there. I should take my new P.2 there and see how it works.