DH mountain biking

[Catalyst]

Hello chaps, unfortunately i'm having to sell my motorbike as i can't afford the insurance renewal so i'm looking at something else to do that will cure my boredom through summer. I used to BMX when i was 12-16 and got quite good at it but just ended up drifting away from it.

I'm looking at getting into downhill mountain biking as i've always been good on push bikes, anyone else do it at all? I'm looking for some guidance on what bikes are good & bad, what gear to buy and where i can ride?

Cheers, Jack
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[Steve H]

How much is your insurance renewal?

The only reason that I ask is what you're gonna spend on a decent spec'd bicycle (and the inevitable gear that goes with it) will more than likely be a hefty sum anyway.

I'd seriously think about getting rid of the bike, think about what you'll miss. You'll never EVER get the same buzz on a bicycle that you will when you accelerate hard off a bend, filter like lightning through traffic, go on a rideout with your mates or masturbate frenetically in full leathers.
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Mellow Yellow
The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[.....]

Why not get into offroading? Best of both worlds.

[Catalyst]

£990 TPFT, i thought about selling it and getting a different bike but nothing else interests me really. I've got a car as well, so i can't afford to pay petrol for a motorbike and car.

Don't get me wrong i really would rather have a motorbike but i just can't afford to run a motorbike and a car. I'm going to wait a year or 2 until my insurance premium comes down then get a bike.
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I'd keep something like a CG125, to both preserve the no claims discount alive and not have to pedal anything.
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[Ste]

Surely if you can afford petrol for your car, you could also afford petrol for your bike? You can't use them both at the same time.

A bike which is older should be cheaper to insure and to run. Are you getting your ER-6n serviced at kawasaki dealers?

[Catalyst]

I might be getting a crap old 50 off a friend just to keep NCB ticking, but i'm joining the forces later in the year anyway so mountain biking will help my fitness a bit more.

Also fancy something different, i'm starting to get bored of road riding recently anyway. Too much traffic, too many coppers, too much for petrol and not many places close enough to me anymore that i'm not bored of.
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[Steve H]

Well, for what it's worth I've got a Marin Northside Trail which, although is marketed as a simple MTB regularly receives more punishment than that and takes it in its' stride - it's a real all rounder. I had a Scott prior to this 'un and the Marin definitely feels sturdier although the ride comfort isn't as good as the Scott (however this is very negligable and down to individual preference)...

https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/steveqpr/Marin_Northside_Trail_08_Large.jpg

It's a 2008 model and I paid 400 quid for it (as I recall - about £100 off list price) when the 2009 models were released which is a good time to buy the previous years range. If you're prepared to be patient there's a deals to be had. ALWAYS test ride a bike before buying and then shop around. I fired off emails to Marin stockists throughout the UK asking if they'd be prepared to do a deal on that specific bike.

I'd still advise you to keep the Motorbike though
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Mellow Yellow
The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[SpicyBlimp]

[G]

[snomag]

If you're interested I've a Commencal Meta 4.3 for sale. ( '08 model )

Bought it last year (in June I think) as I wanted to get back into DH once again. Obviously it never happened as I don't have the same friends around me anymore and on my own I just couldn't be bothered. Been at the look out only 3 times I think.

The bike is absolutley amazing and if you read up on it, Commencal bikes usually offer a really great value for their prize.

[Hazylogic]

I'm into DH. Are you just going to jump straight into it? If so, rent or borrow a DH rig to see if your into it. Getting to places that do uplifts can be expensive.

If you do like it, you could get yourself a kona stinky 2005, 2nd hand for the measly sum of £450. Would be a nice starter bike.

Like t'others said: equipment costs money, derailleurs, wheels etc break and your motor needs to be able to carry said bike.

Pushing up gets tedious too. It depends on how much of a buzz you get. Be warned, the uk ain't like france were you can get a telecabine to the top!

Not to put you off, just warning ya of the downsides to downhilling

Comparing it to motorbikes is apples and oranges, although XC is pish!

Give me a shout if you need any help.

Rob

[KLR600]

DH MTBing rocks. It's a totally different kind of fun to motorbikes and despite what everyone is saying can be done on the cheap. Here's my bike which cost me a total of £210 to build. Ok to be fair I did have some of the parts lying around but £210 for a 7" travel DH bike with hydraulic disc brakes is pretty good I reckon!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/pbpic2995104.jpg

It's all about knowing what to buy and where to look. If you're looking to do it on the cheap then go secondhand but check anything you buy over super carefully for cracks etc. Look at the classifieds section on www.southerndownhill.com and www.descent-world.co.uk and look at getting something like a Kona Stinky or a Specialised Bighit or maybe even an Orange Patriot/222 depending on what you want to spend and what comes up at the right price.

Personally I just ride in a helmet and gloves, I've only ever ridden with pads a few times and have found them to be more hindrance than help but then I've been riding since as long as I could walk so know my limits pretty well and I'll pad up if I know I'm going to pushing myself. If you're going to get pads then check out Dainese and 661 which you'll also find secondhand on the above forums.

Where to ride? Find a hill and point yourself downwards and let go of the brakes! There are loads of tracks all over the UK, some do uplift days for about £20 where tractors shuttle you to the top of a track and you do as many runs as you can in a day or you could try and get a a few mates together and hack around some local woods and build your own trails.

Hope that helped

KLR600 - Failed wannabe pro mtber!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/pbpic3076267copy.jpg
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[snomag]

[Hazylogic]

KLR that is sweet for 210 bucks! my sx cost me 1200 brand new. lurrve the sx!

[el_oso]

Norco also does a decent of set of bikes.
as other people say get a used bike.

[MinhDinh]

check out kona bikes. they have a good website and do great bikes.
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