XC FS MTB w/ LX?

Quoted message said:

I love acronyms!

I'm looking for an XC type (4-5" travel) full suspension bike with LX
level components and dual-control levers and hydraulic discs.

Anyone know who makes some bikes like that?

Thanks!

Joseph

Slight correction: I don't need LX level parts. Deore or similar is
fine, but I want dual-control levers, which I believe are only
available in LX or above.

Joseph

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

I love acronyms!

I'm looking for an XC type (4-5" travel) full suspension bike with LX
level components and dual-control levers and hydraulic discs.

Anyone know who makes some bikes like that?

Thanks!

Joseph

Everyone.

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_three.php

http://konaworld.com/08_fourdeluxe.htm

etc.

That's basically the default spec for entry-level "XC race fs" bikes,
albeit they sometimes use mechanical brakes, or (as with the Kona 4
deluxe) use a mix of parts that may go down to Deore and up to XT in
various places (why do these guys always spec really fancy rear
deralleurs? Road or mountain, it seems I routinely see manufacturers
sell bikes where the rder is an upgrade over the rest of the bike's
group).

Anyways, every bike maker that's even half-serious about XC bikes
probably has what you want. Given that suspension systems differ, it's
probably worth reading the reviews to get an idea of which bikes offer
better or worse value and performance in that category. I think that
unlike road bikes, the frame design probably can make an important
difference to the bike performance.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

Quoted message said:

I love acronyms!

I'm looking for an XC type (4-5" travel) full suspension bike with LX
level components and dual-control levers and hydraulic discs.

Why dual-control levers? I'm not trying to dissaude you, I'm genuinely
curious. What advantage do they offer over separate brake levers and
shifters?

Quoted message said:

Anyone know who makes some bikes like that?

Not off the top of my head. Manufacturers seem to be sticking with
separate brake levers and trigger shifters even when using Shimano
hydraulic brakes. Your best bet may be to get something with compatible
brakes and derailers and swap levers. Even if you can find something
that comes with those levers, there's so much variation among full
suspension frames that you're probably better off basing your decision
on the frame instead of what kind of levers it comes with.

Ryan Cousineau said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

I love acronyms!

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for an XC type (4-5" travel) full suspension bike with LX
level components and dual-control levers and hydraulic discs.

Quoted message said:

Anyone know who makes some bikes like that?

Quoted message said:

Thanks!

Quoted message said:

Joseph

Everyone.

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_three.php

http://konaworld.com/08_fourdeluxe.htm

etc.

That's basically the default spec for entry-level "XC race fs" bikes,
albeit they sometimes use mechanical brakes, or (as with the Kona 4
deluxe) use a mix of parts that may go down to Deore and up to XT in
various places (why do these guys always spec really fancy rear
deralleurs? Road or mountain, it seems I routinely see manufacturers
sell bikes where the rder is an upgrade over the rest of the bike's
group).

Anyways, every bike maker that's even half-serious about XC bikes
probably has what you want. Given that suspension systems differ, it's
probably worth reading the reviews to get an idea of which bikes offer
better or worse value and performance in that category. I think that
unlike road bikes, the frame design probably can make an important
difference to the bike performance.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden]://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

Yes, there are bags of bikes with that general spec, but I have yet to
find any with the dual-control levers.

Joseph

On Oct 14, 10:52 pm, Steve Gravrock <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On 2007-10-14,

Quoted message said:

I love acronyms!

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for an XC type (4-5" travel) full suspension bike with LX
level components and dual-control levers and hydraulic discs.

Why dual-control levers? I'm not trying to dissaude you, I'm genuinely
curious. What advantage do they offer over separate brake levers and
shifters?

I have large hands, and my fingers feel cramped with "normal" shifters
and often when I ride with my fore-fingers on the shift levers, they
jam sometimes painfully into the back of the brake levers. So I don't
ride with them there, and thus when I need to shift I have to move my
fingers around, which makes it difficult to shift while braking, etc.
I have tried for short rides other set-ups, but most of my experience
is based on my 2004-ish LX shifters and Avid mechanical disc levers.

I tried a bike (hardtail) with the dual-control levers and I can leave
my index and ring fingers on the levers at all times allowing instant
shifting and simultaneous braking whenever I want, plus no jammed
knuckles. I also don't have to use my thumb to shift up I can just
pull with the two fingers already on the levers. All this together
makes riding more comfortable and I belive I have better control from
a solid constant grip on the bars, and less of a chance of mis-shifts
because I can shift while braking into a corner rather than after when
I am pouring on the coals.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anyone know who makes some bikes like that?

Not off the top of my head. Manufacturers seem to be sticking with
separate brake levers and trigger shifters even when using Shimano
hydraulic brakes. Your best bet may be to get something with compatible
brakes and derailers and swap levers. Even if you can find something
that comes with those levers, there's so much variation among full
suspension frames that you're probably better off basing your decision
on the frame instead of what kind of levers it comes with.

That's just it. By the time I swap levers the price jumps up into a
whole new category.

Joseph

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

Quoted message said:

I love acronyms!

I'm looking for an XC type (4-5" travel) full suspension bike with LX
level components and dual-control levers and hydraulic discs.

Anyone know who makes some bikes like that?

Thanks!

Joseph

Slight correction: I don't need LX level parts. Deore or similar is
fine, but I want dual-control levers, which I believe are only
available in LX or above.

Joseph

Oops. Missed that.

I can't tell if the Faze 2 and Faze 3 have the dual-control levers you
seek, but I think they might:

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_two.php
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_three.php

The latter has LX combined brake and shifter pods. I don't know the
dual-control stuff well enough to see if that's what's spec'd.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

Ryan Cousineau said:

I can't tell if the Faze 2 and Faze 3 have the dual-control levers you
seek, but I think they might:

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_two.php
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_three.php

The latter has LX combined brake and shifter pods. I don't know the
dual-control stuff well enough to see if that's what's spec'd.

Those look like conventional trigger shifters to me, although it's hard
to be 100% sure from that angle. This is what the dual control shifters
look like:

<http://www.jonesbikes.com/update/hbar/index.html>

Newer ones appear to have the tumb button of traditional trigger
shifters, which probably works a lot better than pushing the brake
lever upward as in the Jones animation:

<http://preview.tinyurl.com/yvkczv>, or
<http://bike.shimano.com/media/images/cycling/products/bikecomponents/ST/
ST-M585_popup_v1_m56577569830551621.jpg>

I'm just going off of photos, having never actually seen the levers.

Steve Gravrock said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

I can't tell if the Faze 2 and Faze 3 have the dual-control levers you
seek, but I think they might:

Quoted message said:

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_two.php
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/xc_race_fs/faze_three.php

Quoted message said:

The latter has LX combined brake and shifter pods. I don't know the
dual-control stuff well enough to see if that's what's spec'd.

Those look like conventional trigger shifters to me, although it's hard
to be 100% sure from that angle. This is what the dual control shifters
look like:

<http://www.jonesbikes.com/update/hbar/index.html>

Newer ones appear to have the tumb button of traditional trigger
shifters, which probably works a lot better than pushing the brake
lever upward as in the Jones animation:

<http://preview.tinyurl.com/yvkczv>, or
<http://bike.shimano.com/media/images/cycling/products/bikecomponents/ST/
ST-M585_popup_v1_m56577569830551621.jpg>

I'm just going off of photos, having never actually seen the levers.

The LX dual-contol levers I tried had the thumb lever. It is in the
place of a normal thumb lever, but it does not function in the same
way. It pushes the brake lever up as in the animation. The same lever
action, but actuated by the thumb. I suppose one could do as shown in
the animation, but I found it just as easy to pull the lever up with
my fingers as to use the thumb lever.

Joseph

email hidden said:

That's just it. By the time I swap levers the price jumps up into a
whole new category.

Joseph

LX dual control levers are about $150. I would hardly call that a
whole new category. Moreover, any decent shop will swap them out for
you and credit you for the ones that were on there.

I would be more concerned to get the proper frame.

Chris