6 inches of travel really is more then enough for most people, don't why so many people ride downhill bikes. Unless you're racing or a pro it's an overkill haha
That seems to be a popular comment to make, but that really depends on your trails. I rode the local bike park for three years on my 6" travel bike, and when I finally switched to an 8" travel downhill bike a few years ago I found it's way better for the park and shuttle stuff around here. I can go faster, bigger, and for longer without breaking stuff all the time or feeling like I've been operating a jack hammer all day. I still have the 6" travel bike and it's super fun on the right trails.
I ride a 7" Faith and felt very outgunned at Angel Fire by the dual crowns with steeper head angles. I didn't think I'd need more travel, but I was very wrong.
I rode my slackline up at northstar this summer most fun I've ever had. 6 in rigs are perfect for parks imo too much suspension just dulls the ride for me
You don't need more travel, that's true but it sure as hell makes it more fun. That's like saying, you don't need power steering in your car.... true I don't but it makes driving a hell of a lot better!
ok im not saying you can take them off 20 foot drops, im just saying for the bang for the buck a 6inch bike can ride more than anything, all mountain, xc, dh, light freeride
I'd say that 4-6" travel AM/slopestyle bikes have their place, they are epic fun for just playing around and jumping all over the trail, I have a 4" travel trail bike, and I loved throwing it around on some DH stuff at Mountain Creek, but for some more serious, steeper, stuff or more routine park use I would definitely opt for a DH bike.
Big-JD, that's already been done on multiple occasions. Again, it will hold up because stuff now-a-days is so well built that it'll make er through the ride. It's just a matter of how comfortable you want to be during that ride. Personally for my one bike quiver, a 6inch AM rig with coil rear is perfect.
These were taken in 2003 on a hand-me-down diamond back xc bike. I can't remember if it was 3 or 4in. of travel but it handled this measured 8 by 17ft. road gap pretty well, haha.
I love my 6" and I agree that most vods with 8" could easily be done with 6" or less but there are some trails I ride with my 8" that I really wouldn't want to ride with my 6". Well... I could but it just wouldn't be as much fun.
Pinkbike could really use a lot more nice 5"-6" edits.
I've ripped big mountain lines here in OR on a 4.3" Rear/ 5.5" Front travel bike and left guys (admitedly with less riding skills then money in their bank accounts) on some VERY expensive "Big bikes" in the dust (a certain Foes DHS mono stands out in my memory )... That said, I do like having a big bike for certain things. When you can carry full speed over a rock garden full of basketball sized boulders, it all makes sense. But I'm not pedaling those big beasts back UP so yeah for a "do everything" bike 6" is pretty much all you need... That's why my next bike is likely going to be a Spec. Enduro or Stumpy Evo. I'd dare say the Enduro Evo is going to go UP better then some trail bikes of even 5 years ago and it'll certainly go down as well as anthing shy of a Demo
The other thing to realize is that rail-building these days is all about buffed sections and berms. When the archtypal FR and DH bike was built, there was a LOT more drops with no transition, corners with no berms just a mess of nasty roots/rocks and trails weren't built to stay in good shape for long (read: drainage and smart sustainable building) and after a season were just rough horse trails (trail maintinence days are FAR more popuar then they were even 5 years ago). What I think we're seeing is that as trails are built more and more "smoothly" were seeing less need for the "big bikes" of old as some have said and a good solid AMEnduro bike can get you down just as well but is light enought to flick around and "play" wth on certain trail features. Strength and lightweight materials are another huge advancement...
"I'd rather have a bike that can do everything than a bike im limited on." An AM bike is a bike that can do everything. A DH bike is limited to riding downhill. A 6-7" bike is more than enough for most trails, and as long as you can pedal back up, thats where its at. Sure a DH bike can ride straight thru a rock garden, but picking good lines is a good skill to have. If you want to ride in a straight line then get a 230mm 29er DH bike. That said, you can do most everything on a hardtail, with 100mm. In the hands of a skilled rider, it is much better than a noob on 8".
@downhilldestroyer: Agreed. With intlegently built transitions, and other newer trail features, a 6" bike will handle things that used to be "strictly 8" bike territory" (and a HT in the right hands can do it too, just look at some of the recent vids we've been seeing). Hell I'd wager that a modern 150-180mm SC fork is stiffer then early DC forks were and every bit as strong. I understand having a park bike if you live near to one or work at one or spend all riding season in one etc. and I understand having a full on DH bike to race on, but having a nice light yet strong 6" bike that you can ride TO the trails, up nd down equally well and then get home on are PRETTY handy. PLus with bikes like the Meta SX, Mojo HD, Nomad and Stumpy Evo (and esp. the Enduro Evo). you can still have a TON of fun at the park and will never be left wanting for a shuttle rig. You may not be chasing the title in a local DH series, but I'd bet you;d stll be faster down any track as an experinced rider on an Enduro bike then a newer rider would be on even the nicest DH race bike on the planet (I know because I've seen it happen).
Who really cares if people have top of the line bikes, but limited skill. It's their choice. If they have the money, and want to spend it that way, fine. If someone rides a new Carbon Demo 8 and I can ride faster on a 6" travel, I'm not going to blow my trumpet and judge them, there's guy's (and gals) out there that would probably kick my ass on a hardtail. Each to their own.
I don't think any of us were saying there was anything WRONG with inexperienced riders riding TOTOL Bikes... just that a good rider on a lesser bike (both in travel and in overall quality) can be a LOT faster down any given track. As I said, I've left guys in the dust n a 4.3" travel bike who were on some VERY nice DH bikes but while I found it kinda funny that they bought the worlds most expensive bikes but had no riding skills I wasn't MAD at them, it's their money and I still had a great time out riding with them aye.
I'm gonna get neg propped to shit for saying this, but..... in biking (in all forms) there are too many pretentious a*sholes who believe they have the optimal gear or point of view (i may even be one by writing this). Everyone is different both in riding style and preferences. The point is we all ride bikes (which is f*cking awesome), no matter what your preferences and that is exponentially better than sitting on your ass doing nothing or roller bladeing. PEACE
I'm not gonna neg prop you for that mate... good points aye.
I don't care if someone's out there on Wal-Mart special (other then the fact that they shopped at wal-mart hahahaha), if theyre out there with a grin on their face having agood time, RIDE ON. Like I said above, I've never showed up to a group ride and said " that bikes not good enough for me to be seen with it". Hell I've never had the nicet bike in a roup ride for that matter Hahahahahahaha. The "opyimal gear" is whatever get's you ut on the trail... I actually LOVE seeing the guys with Uber expensive rigs getting blown by or not being able to hit the big stuff while some guy on a 10+ year old bike just goes for it. It's about riding, not fashion aye.
From what I've seen, people with shit bikes usually get complimented on how good they ride despite having a crappy bike.
On the other hand, I don't have enough fingers to count all the times spandex assholes made disobliging remarks about my AM bike having more than 140mm travel...
I think the main issue here is SPANDEX hahahahahaha But yeah, I've been out doing some climbs into some gret descents and gotten all kinds of snickers about "how's that MOTORCYCLE gonna make it up the hill... and what re those things on his KNEES???"... Always makes it more of a joy when you beat them to the top then watch them try to get back down HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Having spent time riding whistler, sun peaks, silverstar, kamlops, etc around BC I think that rio escondido is probably my favourite trail. So much fun, it should be illegal!
There was a sick edit from silvia at night and on snow a while back (one of my fav vids) on what I believe to be the same trail as the above video. Nice to see the trail in the light. Convinced me I would not be doing it in the dark/snow!! This link is that edit, totally worth the view if you missed it:
I love the "Loops"... I've been wanting to ride this trail for quite ometime but haven't had a bike with me the last few times I've been there the last couple years. I agree with others though, I'd like to see a "Long" next time, just when you're getting into the flow of the vid, it's over... Great vid, too short.
I thought he is sponsored by Giant. We have a video of him riding that we play on our tv and talking about what kind of ridder he is compared to the rest of the Giant mountain bike team.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/256246
www.pinkbike.com/photo/256246
These were taken in 2003 on a hand-me-down diamond back xc bike. I can't remember if it was 3 or 4in. of travel but it handled this measured 8 by 17ft. road gap pretty well, haha.
Pinkbike could really use a lot more nice 5"-6" edits.
The other thing to realize is that rail-building these days is all about buffed sections and berms. When the archtypal FR and DH bike was built, there was a LOT more drops with no transition, corners with no berms just a mess of nasty roots/rocks and trails weren't built to stay in good shape for long (read: drainage and smart sustainable building) and after a season were just rough horse trails (trail maintinence days are FAR more popuar then they were even 5 years ago). What I think we're seeing is that as trails are built more and more "smoothly" were seeing less need for the "big bikes" of old as some have said and a good solid AMEnduro bike can get you down just as well but is light enought to flick around and "play" wth on certain trail features. Strength and lightweight materials are another huge advancement...
An AM bike is a bike that can do everything.
A DH bike is limited to riding downhill. A 6-7" bike is more than enough for most trails, and as long as you can pedal back up, thats where its at. Sure a DH bike can ride straight thru a rock garden, but picking good lines is a good skill to have. If you want to ride in a straight line then get a 230mm 29er DH bike.
That said, you can do most everything on a hardtail, with 100mm. In the hands of a skilled rider, it is much better than a noob on 8".
I don't care if someone's out there on Wal-Mart special (other then the fact that they shopped at wal-mart hahahaha), if theyre out there with a grin on their face having agood time, RIDE ON. Like I said above, I've never showed up to a group ride and said " that bikes not good enough for me to be seen with it". Hell I've never had the nicet bike in a roup ride for that matter Hahahahahahaha. The "opyimal gear" is whatever get's you ut on the trail... I actually LOVE seeing the guys with Uber expensive rigs getting blown by or not being able to hit the big stuff while some guy on a 10+ year old bike just goes for it. It's about riding, not fashion aye.
www.pinkbike.com/video/250332
Video was way to short.