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Fantasy
This is really cool from Mondraker for their downhill bikes. It connects your bike’s suspension to the app and recommends settings based on the data. Very cool.
https://www.ridefox.com/content.php?c=livevalve-bike
Does it for you.
My ford raptor has it and it’s amazing. With aftermarket tuning you can even turn a steering wheel button into an “oh shit” button that valves for a gnarly hit. I instantly thought of Moto when I saw that, Imagine you’re mid OJ and you had a button to hit or a lever to pull and you can basically turn your suspension into supercross stuff to handle the flat land. Remembering to hit that is another deal but the tech is pretty amazing.
I thought about this when Doug Henry had his big crash. We all know that feeling of coming up short and bracing for impact ( you know it's going to hurt )
Thus far mtb seems more intent on adopting and eclipsing moto price tags!
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Sizing to fit the rider. Maybe not a whole different frame, but they could do a lot with bar mounts, seat and subframe options. At just over 5’11”, fit is pretty easy for me, that’s not how it works for riders at 5’ 6”, or 6’ 4”.
I was at the Trek store here, and they had a $13,900 mountain bike…all carbon fiber, wireless shifting, electronic suspension that auto adjust based on speed and the rate at which you hit a bump…even had a wireless dropper.
Rockshox flight attendant is similar really next level. They worked on it for almost ten years! It stiffens up when going up hill and opens up when descending. Way more advanced than fox live valve.
I have been MXing for 30yrs but the last two years got into MTB and I find myself wanting a steering stabilizer at times anybody else? I see Canyon has one now but wondering if that will catch on?
never sure where to ask this:
I want to get into mtb. We dont really have downhill here in kentucky but I want a trail bike that I can ride a ways out to a trail, "unlock" the suspension, and go ride. Any suggestions on bikes? Price ranges? Seems like you can spend your retirement on a bike but I just want the first "price landing" point where they stop sucking. I don't care if its carbon or the lightest thing out there. I don't care if it's got the coolest gearing setup. I just want a full suspension bike that works well. Really appreciate any pointers!
is sizing a big deal? I'm naive, but it sounds like you wouldnt just pick up "any size" bike if you're 6'3" (like me)?
I have a Commencal Meta and I have zero need for a steering stabilizer. Is it because the Meta is better than a Torque? Nope, it's because I can't imagine going even half as fast as you'd need to go, to get headshake on a bicycle!!!
Proper frame and crank size is super important if you plan on miling it out.
What is a wireless dropper? Like a wireless panty dropper?
Specialized Stumpjumper. Look no further. Has to be one of the best all around bikes on the market right now. Climbs well, descends well, reasonably light weight depending on the build you get, and Specialized generally gets you more bang for your buck build wise because of their buying power. 130mm of rear suspension and 140mm of front travel is a touch above modern XC bikes and a touch below some of the bigger, more dh focused enduro bikes. Great for all around riding and can hold it's own at the bike park depending on the pilot..
I know Specialized catches a lot of crap for some of their business antics, but it's hard to argue with the quality bike they build. I've been riding and racing Enduro for the past 10 years and have tried just about everything from high dollar Pivots, to smaller boutique bike company's and keep coming back to a stumpjumper. I think I'm on my 5th one right now
I second the stump jumper recommendation for a good all a rounder for the semi flat lands but I’d go with the EVO version.
If you spend 15k on a mtb I think it's a wireless boxer dropper
Dropper post…seat dropper. To drop the seat out of the way on descents…
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/stumpjumper-alloy/p/199784?color=3203…
No context given; thoughts on this unit?
Pit Row
That would be a great bike. Like Scootch said it’s hard to wrong with those for an all a rounder.
I think that poster meant sizing for dirt bikes. Like offer different options for taller or shorter riders instead of building a one size fits some. Like how bicycles come in different sizes.
I've been thinking that with an electric powered MX bike, making different sizes for taller or shorter riders would be easier than with gas power. Since you remove some of the restrictions of the chassis design you have with gas engines. And I am pictureing Electric MX bikes being similar to electric MTB's. Having a 3rd party battery and motor , similar to how suspension is not made by the motorcycle brand. Then they would have less R&D that they would have to dedicate to engine/motor development and could put more effort into chassis design. And having a subframe for a taller rider would not need to work around the air filter intake of a gas engine , possible requiring different airboxes and intake boots, etc. And it might make it not such a costly project by eliminating some of those things. Bringing the cost down, or profit margin up just enough to make it worth offering for manufactuers.
Stantards!
You can take the forks out of any modern bike and put them on another bike.
Same thing with wheels. Most of them are "boost" spec.
Nope, I meant MTB's. I think it was a goofy question though because now that I think about it, one or two slots in any direction on a spin bike is enough to light up your muscles in a way that is not sustainable so I feel like size is something critical actually.
Great entry level full suspension man. Built durable. The main differences between that model and the higher end builds are heavier (but durable) components and basic suspension. Both of which can be upgraded down the road if you want to.
Not you, the original poster that said sizing, as in bring the sizing options from MTB to MX like the title of the thread said . Gravel was the poster . I guess I should have just quoted your post and Gravels instead of all of them.
I knew you meant MTB and that was why I was saying that the first person meant MX bike sizing. Being 6'9" I can tell you that sizing makes a difference on both MX and pedal bikes. If I had never ridden a bicycle sized for me I might not wonder how much more fun it would be to ride a dirtbike that was sized for me. I've been over 6' since I was 12 and was 6'6" by 14. Adding taller seat foam, and taller bars or mounts to a dirtbike only changes it so much. Bicycles have larger changes in sizes than can be achieved without having custom stuff built. And bringing something like that to MX bikes would be nice for the people who were not between 5'4" and 5'8".
The numbers of female riders in MTB is huge, I believe in part, because they offer bikes to fit shorter riders.
In moto, if you're a short female you're just expected to either ride a TT-R230 or deal with a race bike that's way too big for you.
I'd imagine we've lost a ton of potential riders because of this gap in the product lines.
👍. Wife’s bike, Giant LIV. Fits her perfectly, Giant has been making the LIV line for women for years.
Mtb industry is widely criticized for all the ever changing standards. Hub spacing, axel size, bb interface, freehubs, headsets, bar diameter, etc etc. Makes a few year old bike obsolete that wouldn’t be otherwise. If mx bikes had some of the gimmicky mtb tech they would be $25gs..
It's been said in this thread already but I'll say it again... SIZING. Its absolutely ridiculous that someone that is 5'3" rides the same size bike as someone that is 6'6". Even if you take pedaling position out of the equation, like a downhill bike for instance. If someone that is 6'6 tries to ride an extra small or someone that is 5'3 tries to ride an XXL, they are at quite the disadvantage.
Yup. The length of the frame , reach a lot changes with a change in frame size. For MX bikes, being a taller rider , the sitting to standing transition is tougher than for the average rider ( similar to pedaling on a frame that is too small). And then as you get shorter I imagine you start to get hit by the seat/rear fender in bumps.
Adding an inch taller seat foam and 15MM higher bar mounts, dropped the pegs, but put them back to stock height after my clown feet started to stick to the ground more than the pegs. But with those minor changes I felt much more comfortable. The sitting to standing transition was easier. So coming out of a corner into a rough sand section was much easier. And it made a big impact on how tired I did not get. It allowed me to compromise less by not staying standing where I should sit than stand back up. Or vice versa. I'm sure a lot of people get used to riding a bike that is too small for them. But like a bicycle , a rider could be much more efficient on a properly sized MX chassis.
There is probable more of a market for doing the shorty versions than the tall . But I hope that both become a thing in the future. The short versions would work for women racers, kids moving up, etc.
The electric suspension, I'm surprised its everyplace EXCEPT MX. I think that could be cool too. And maybe a dropper style system or lock out for starts.
Picked up an Intense 951 XC a couple months ago and loving it. I don't think you could go wrong with either the XC or Trail model as I think both will suite your terrain in Kentucky. Intense is still running the $1k off promo which means you can pick one up for just under $3k. I bought an "open box" model directly from Intense Sales as they are reduced another $300 so I was able to get this one for $2500 + $75 shipping (its direct to consumer w/ minor assembly required). It's ALOT of bike for $2500.
There are a ton of other good bikes, but in general I think you'd want something that has 100-130mm of shock travel, 120-140mm of fork travel, 29" wheels, dropper seat post, & the best drivetrain that you can afford. $3k to $5k is a good baseline for a well-equipped bike. You can always upgrade suspension, drivetrain, brakes, and wheels as your skills improve.
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