patches Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 (edited) As Nolipoli said, there is no such thing as a true do-it-all bike. You get do-it-all bikes but they don't do-it-all-well. Unless you're Brian Lopes you won't be able to win DH races on a 160mm AM rig, and at the same time you won't podium at the XC events... But, the right rig will afford you to have non-competitive fun in many variations of the sport. I have a carbon 160mm AM rig with a dropper seatpost. What this means is that it's fairly light (approx 13.5kg). I can raise/drop the seat according to task, and it's burly enough to handle most of what I do on it. I also run it with 2 chainrings up front (36T & 24T) with a chainguide and bash guard, That gives me the option to granny-gear up the super steep hills, but also jump, take drops, and rocky sections without worrying about dropping the chain, or taco-ing the 36T. Basically it's a bike that I feel ok doing 30km on at a fairly brisk XC pace. Nimble and snappy enough to jump DHL or the bike park pro-line, and it can descend most gauteng DH courses in a fair amount of confidence. I do have other bikes that are task specific (a 200mm DH bike and a 100mm 4X/jump bike), but most of the time the AM bike is the most convenient, so I find myself using the other 2 less and less. FInd something like that and you have your all rounder AM machine. Some recommendations I can make... 140-160mm travel. 160 may sound big, but it's not as "heavy" or "slack" as it sounds.Dropper seatpost (5"). They're not cheap, but ask anyone who owns one... it totally transforms the bikeShort stem wide bars. My AM rig came standard with a long (85mm stem) and narrow bars. Change these and your bike will feel way better on the gnarly stuff, as well as jumps. As for models, there are plenty of good AM rigs on the market. In europe AM and trail bikes are more popular than XC bikes (it's only us Saffers that have a fascination with riding farm roads). Here are just a few locally available options. Scott RansomCannondale JeckyllMongoose TeocaliGT ForceYeti SB66Commencal Meta AMMorewood Sukuma (150mm)Morewood Jabulani (170mm)Ibis Mojo HDGiant ReignTrek Slashand what my dream AM bike would be... Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon. Just.pure.awesomeness Edited March 12, 2012 by patches Nubbin 1
HaydenWilson Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 Thanks muchly dude! I have had a look at the pics of your plastic bike. stoopid. i might just fall on you out of a tree and move toanother country with your bike. Some of you have talked about body weight. i currently weigh 86kg. is that too much for a 120mm?
covie Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 Thanks muchly dude! I have had a look at the pics of your plastic bike. stoopid. i might just fall on you out of a tree and move toanother country with your bike. Some of you have talked about body weight. i currently weigh 86kg. is that too much for a 120mm? No 86 is well within acceptable limits, 125 however .... not so much
Jay_B Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 Also look at the Specialized Enduro... rode mine for the first time on Sat and absolutely loved it, best bike i ever ridden.
(Deon) Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 If you are ligtht, get a Giant Trance X. The 120mm travel is enough, it is light and tough enough. It can be abused and will do a decent XC race. You can put a 140mm fork upfront if you want to do more severe jumps and drops. You can put a lightweight wheelset on for marathon and XC stuff. If you are heavier, get a Giant Reighn. This will not limit you at all in the AM and even downhill departments, but it will make your XC climbing a bit slower and tougher. It will also tire you out over marathon distances. If you are strong, it can be done. yaay, I am strong!
RiderX Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 OMW just saw this on gumtree: http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-sports-bicycles-fitness-GT-Force-1-0-large-frame-W0QQAdIdZ343703239 If its in good nick then you should totally check it out
patches Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) OMW just saw this on gumtree: http://capetown-west...QAdIdZ343703239 If its in good nick then you should totally check it out whaaaa! why is it in capetown! It's a few more bones, but Omnico (the GT agents) is selling 2009 Force 1.0s brand new for R16 000. A pretty good deal if you ask me! check out www.obike.co.za under the All Mountain section Edited March 14, 2012 by patches
HaydenWilson Posted March 14, 2012 Author Posted March 14, 2012 So i have seen! rather nice! now all i need to do is shout at wits until they pay me....
Louis for real Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 one bike seems to be left out and the the prices are really good for the kit..GHOST BIKESThe AMR Plus lector7700 good amount of travel and a weight to boot 12.8kg
TheV Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 It's a few more bones, but Omnico (the GT agents) is selling 2009 Force 1.0s brand new for R16 000. A pretty good deal if you ask me! check out www.obike.co.za under the All Mountain sectionIt's a few more bones, but Omnico (the GT agents) is selling 2009 Force 1.0s brand new for R16 000. A pretty good deal if you ask me! check out www.obike.co.za under the All Mountain section All SOLD OUT....
Beer4Recovery Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 If I trow a 140mm on my Fuel Ex 7, should that help as a first step to make it more "all-mountain-ish"? I don't want to worry about small drop-off's & jumps. Ideally a Slash would be sufficient, do you think the Fuel EX would take the punishment?
Mada3400 Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 i tried the all mountain route, i ended up wishing i had less on the way up and more on the way down, i found it was a compromise in both directions, so now i just do DH
geecee Posted March 26, 2012 Posted March 26, 2012 i tried the all mountain route, i ended up wishing i had less on the way up and more on the way down, i found it was a compromise in both directions, so now i just do DH im starting to feel the same way. really need seperate bikes for all disciplines.but an all mountain bike is good if you just going for some fun. i guess between friends we are quite competitive so either way you want something more
nigelhicks Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 It depends on what type of "riding" you will be doing to say whether you need more than one bike. Personally I'd say that if you are into (or think you are a racing snake) ... you need a hardtail 29 or 26 race bike, and then a play bike (6inch fullsus trail bike) But to be honest most of us (even the guys who think that they are racing snakes) are never gonna win or even come close in the big races - so if you looking for one bike to do it all a 5 inch or 6 inch trail bike is the answer. Look overseas ... the majority of bikes sold over there are 26 Trail Bikes (and just wait ... as soon as the geometries and fork issues are worked out for 29er trail bikes ... they will be the next big thing) Personally I have the following (remember i RACE - downhill, RIDE - Trail/marathon) GT Zaskar 26 hardtail (9spd - single ring up front) - for the short XC ridesGT Force Carbon Expert 26 - for the marathon and long trail ridesGT Fury Carbon Downhill Bike - For racing DH And of the 2 XC bikes .... the Force is WAY more comfy to ride
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