Bike recommendation wanted

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've got a xc country bike and I want to get a decent downhill/freeride bike. The best local bike
shop recommended a Specialized Big Hit Comp

which

Quoted message said:

I loved but was a bit too pricy at £1500. I would like to get a second

hand

Quoted message said:

one for about £1000 ish, the bike shop told me I would be nuts to buy a second hand freeride or
downhill bike. Are they right?

Are there any new bikes cheaper than the big hit but similar in spec and capability?

Cheers, Justin

Sometimes it is bad to buy a used bike. It depends on the amount of abuse the bike has seen. Maybe
look at Norco they are usually a little bit cheaper."Justin Heyes-Jones"

Justin Heyes-Jones said:

I've got a xc country bike and I want to get a decent downhill/freeride bike. The best local bike
shop recommended a Specialized Big Hit Comp which I loved but was a bit too pricy at £1500. I
would like to get a second hand one for about £1000 ish, the bike shop told me I would be nuts to
buy a second hand freeride or downhill bike. Are they right?

Yes and no. You have to bear in mind that a dh bike will have been subjected to far more wear and
tear than a 'normal' bike, but they are designed for that sort of riding. Being able to spot the
difference between normal wear and tear and excessive abuse is the tricky part.

Buying a second-hand dh bike is a risk, which is why your bike shop recommended against it (bear in
mind they have a vested interest though), but if you buy well, you'll be able to pick up a good bike
for your budget.

Quoted message said:

Are there any new bikes cheaper than the big hit but similar in spec and capability?

No. The Big Hit is already at the value end of the scale.

southerndownhill.comsoutherndownhill.comOpen ↗ has a classifieds section in their forum, where you should be able
to pick up a deal, eg, yesterday somebody posted a Kona Stab Dee-Lux for 1250.

If you're going to go this route, do make sure you know what you're looking for and what to avoid.

--
a.m-b FAQ: j-harris.netambfaq.htmOpen ↗

b.bmx FAQ: t-online.debmx faq.htmOpen ↗

Justin Heyes-Jones said:

I've got a xc country bike and I want to get a decent downhill/freeride bike. The best local bike
shop recommended a Specialized Big Hit Comp which I loved but was a bit too pricy at £1500. I
would like to get a second hand one for about £1000 ish, the bike shop told me I would be nuts to
buy a second hand freeride or downhill bike. Are they right?

Personally I think the bike shop gave you bad advice when they said don't go secondhand, I bought my
current DH rig secondhand last year, and am still well pleased with it. If your gonna buy secondhand
just make sure you know where to look to spot an abused bike; If it's scratched to high heaven and
has dents in the frame, don't buy it! Check the headset, bottom bracket, pedals etc aren't loose and
don't have bad sounding bearings. Don't buy the first thing you see, look at a few bikes and walk
away if your offer is not enough for the seller, this will help you familiarise yourself with the
market. Watch out for stolen bikes, ask for receipts, but if they don't have any look at the
surroundings; is the garage full of bike bits? If your careful and give the bike a good checkover,
you could get a real bargain.

--
Phil

bomba said:

Justin Heyes-Jones said:

I've got a xc country bike and I want to get a decent downhill/freeride bike. The best local bike
shop recommended a Specialized Big Hit Comp which I loved but was a bit too pricy at £1500. I
would like to get a second hand one for about £1000 ish, the bike shop told me I would be nuts to
buy a second hand freeride or downhill bike. Are they right?

Yes and no. You have to bear in mind that a dh bike will have been subjected to far more wear and
tear than a 'normal' bike, but they are designed for that sort of riding. Being able to spot the
difference between normal wear and tear and excessive abuse is the tricky part.

Then again, you probably *could* tell if it just spent a year in someone's garage, don't you think?

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

"Justin Heyes-Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I've got a xc country bike and I want to get a decent downhill/freeride bike. The best local bike
shop recommended a Specialized Big Hit Comp which I loved but was a bit too pricy at £1500. I
would like to get a second hand one for about £1000 ish, the bike shop told me I would be nuts to
buy a second hand freeride or downhill bike. Are they right?

Are there any new bikes cheaper than the big hit but similar in spec and capability?

Cheers, Justin

That's bad advice, Justin. All my bikes are used. they work great. Your new bike will be used after
you buy it and ride it. What counts is the condition its in. If the frame is stout, fits, you like
it, and the parts work, then the only issue is price.

Paladin Send my your used Intense Tracer.

Paladin <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Justin Heyes-Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've got a xc country bike and I want to get a decent downhill/freeride bike. The best local
bike shop recommended a Specialized Big Hit Comp

which

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I loved but was a bit too pricy at £1500. I would like to get a second

hand

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

one for about £1000 ish, the bike shop told me I would be nuts to buy a second hand freeride or
downhill bike. Are they right?

Are there any new bikes cheaper than the big hit but similar in spec and capability?

Cheers, Justin

That's bad advice, Justin. All my bikes are used. they work great. Your new bike will be used
after you buy it and ride it. What counts is the condition its in. If the frame is stout, fits,
you like it, and the parts work, then the only issue is price.

Paladin Send my your used Intense Tracer.

Thanks I think I'll check a few out then before making up my mind