full suspension neccessary?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by pigpen
I'm just a beginning mt biker, and am trying to buy the right bike that I can upgrade as I have the money. I'm looking at the Giant Warp DS3, but I saw a reply for a Specialized Hard Rock as another alternative. So, I'm wondering if I'm going to eventually do some serious downhill, but am now working toward that, should I get a full suspension bike, and what are the downsids to the hardtail. Thanks for any replies.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by pigpen
I'm just a beginning mt biker, and am trying to buy the right bike that I can upgrade as I have the money. I'm looking at the Giant Warp DS3, but I saw a reply for a Specialized Hard Rock as another alternative. So, I'm wondering if I'm going to eventually do some serious downhill, but am now working toward that, should I get a full suspension bike, and what are the downsids to the hardtail. Thanks for any replies.

With all sincerity: just buy something you can afford that isn't going to fall to pieces. Ride the hell out of it and figure out if mountain biking is something you want/need to do for the long haul. I wouldn't spend a ton (>$700) on your first mtb. If you ride for a bit and decide you want to do more DH stuff then you can start to narrow your search into that field of bikes and save up some serious ($3-6 K) cash for a "serious" DH bike. Maybe you'll find you just want to do whatever and wherever and will end up getting a "jack of all trades" kind of bike. Test the waters first and then drop the dough on something you can't live without. An alternative to buying an entry or mid-level bike is to rent several "types" or different designs (rigid, hardtail, DH, single pivot, VPP, Horst link, etc.....) and that way you could figure out what type of bike makes you smile and enjoy your time on it the most. Borrowing bikes from friends is an even cheaper way to start riding higher end bikes and testing different stuff. Bottom line: take your time and don't lock yourself into one type of bike or riding with your first purchase. Play around a bit. Have fun and let us know what you decide and how it is working for you! Take care.

K.

For a bike that is not a ton of money, rides uphill like a hard-tail, and gives a nice full suspension ride, I like the Giant NRS. Look into it. I go the least expensive NRS 3, but you may want to spend a little more and go for the NRS 1 or 2 (nicer components, same frame). The NRS 3 is about $1,000.

I think ireman covered it, but if your not sure what you want, but still want something tough and worth keeping - get a tough hardtail. You can trailride, go up hills, do a few drops, and even light to medium downhill on a decent hardtail. Going for a cheaper dual suspension bike just might have the bike falling to pieces underneath you.

If your working towards downhill, a hardtail will help you get your skills up, (meaning it will be a little harsher on the way down) but you'll also get better components, and a tougher bike.

I think the 2004 shore hardtail lineup from norco is worth checking out.
http://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/sasquatch.htm
http://www.norco.com/bikes/2004bikes/rampage.htm
kinda cost a bit more than hardrocks though.

The downside to hardtails are, the bike will be less cushy over the big stuff and your mistakes will be forgiven less, so you'll have to control the bike properly instead of just point and shoot. But that might be a good thing too, so one day when/if you get a good dually, you'll have a lot of skill to go with it.

Never a downside to a hardtail....go simple....a Kona Unit single speed, and if you really like biking, you can go from their. Can't afford $800, go then with a KHS or Redline monocog for about $400.

Don't go nuts trying to figure out what bike you need for the type of riding you think you'll be doing. If you are just getting started it is guarranteed that you will change your mind a lot of what you need and what you want from a bike once you start to really understand what you can and can't do on it due to both your abilities and the bike. For now I would recomend you just get the bike that has the best components for the price and a frame that is of some quality regardless of it being FS or hardtail. Don't go out buying a FS just because you expect to do downhill riding someday. Downhill requires very specialized bikes and none of them are cheap. I don't mean to say anything about your skills but downhill is not for everyone much the same way that many people can't say they want to freeride and take 15 foot drops. It is stuff that isn't for everyone. For now just get a good bike and then take it from there. See how you do and how you feel about it. Very few people who ever stick to the sport keep their first bike around because once they start to understand what they need they will adapt their ride to do.

And with respect to Alnamvet, a singlespeed, though elegant in its simplicity, wouldn't make the best first bike. You need a lot of skill and strong muscles to ride a singlespeed. Beginners (experts, too, for that matter) need gears to get up hills.

A quality hardtail will treat you fine.

I blew a wad and got FS when I started riding MTB's. Added a locking shock, and to tell the truth, it stays locked everywhere except for fast downhills. That's the only place it seems to make a difference - for me, anyway.

If I had it to do over again, I probably would have saved my money and bought a hardtail.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by JohnO
I blew a wad and got FS when I started riding MTB's. Added a locking shock, and to tell the truth, it stays locked everywhere except for fast downhills. That's the only place it seems to make a difference - for me, anyway.

If I had it to do over again, I probably would have saved my money and bought a hardtail.

Well said, JohnnyO...😉

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by JohnO
I blew a wad and got FS when I started riding MTB's. Added a locking shock, and to tell the truth, it stays locked everywhere except for fast downhills. That's the only place it seems to make a difference - for me, anyway.

If I had it to do over again, I probably would have saved my money and bought a hardtail.

What FS did you buy?

Like JohnO, I bought a full-suspension right off the bat. I've recently had it on the stand as I'm waiting on new wheels, so I borrowed a hardtail from a friend.

It is a totally different experience!!! The way you climb, the way you corner, the way you bomb downhills will all change. Not big time, but it is different.

And although I love riding this hardtail, I can't wait til I can climb back on my FS. But I'm sure a day will come when I'll just be Jonesin' to ride the hardtail again.

For the record, get you a hardtail first. As you become a better rider and your money builds up, get you a FS, maybe a downhill if you think you're ready...Just get to riding, man. And as far as having to have a full-on rig to ride any of it: what about that dude they're covering in the mags whose riding the hardtail in the freeride competitions...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by pigpen
I'm just a beginning mt biker, and am trying to buy the right bike that I can upgrade as I have the money. I'm looking at the Giant Warp DS3, but I saw a reply for a Specialized Hard Rock as another alternative. So, I'm wondering if I'm going to eventually do some serious downhill, but am now working toward that, should I get a full suspension bike, and what are the downsids to the hardtail. Thanks for any replies.

Ok well if you want to downhill look at trek liquids around $1200(used)+ they can be versitile and still have awesome components for a FS. Giants NRS blow for downhill they cant take hits they have less than 4 in of travel. Get a NRS for XC racing.
Hope I helped.