Can this Downhill bike be used for Cross Country / free ride?

Question

Is this bike http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Cycling/Mountain-bikes/auction-161304006.htm a good pick for an all round free ride bike? I want to use it for light downhill, free riding, cross country and road use for commuting. I am aware that I will have to switch out the crank and add a front derailer.

What are the pros and cons of using this bike for what I have detailed?

Answer 1

too heavy and too much travel to be much of an XC bike. you'd never need the double crown fork riding XC. my stumpjumper isn't much heavier than my road bike. now thats a sweet XC bike! decide what type of MTBer you are, and buy accordingly. if you like to pedal up hills, and down, get an XC rig. if you prefer to ride the lifts, and rip down the hills on a 40lber, get a downhill rig. it's all good in the end!

Answer 2

absolutly it more then good anough for free ride/cross contry

Answer 3

I think you're asking if a Hummer can make a good sports car.

It will be too heavy, the geometry will be too slack for XC and road use.  It won't pedal nicely on long rides.

I think that you should look for two different bikes for what you describe.

Answer 4

The bike will be horrible for commuting, most full suspensions are (even if you can lock out).  Weight and comfort all come into play here.

For downhill, you will be good shape as the bike is made for this.  The bike has a lot of travel up front and in the rear.

Free Riding should not be an issue at all.

Cross country is another story.  Sure you can do it, just like you can commute on it, BUT the bike will not perform as well as its cross-country / All-Mountain cousins.  The weight and geometry will come in to play.

Before buying, make sure you give the bike a good look over.  If you know of a trusted bike shop, ask if it can be brought there for a check up.  Buying a used bike is similar to buying a used car in that you cannot be sure of the abuse it took from the previous owner.

Good luck and ride hard.

Answer 5

Hey

Cross country and freeriding are very different styles. This bike would be great for freeriding and would be the type of thing i'd buy but for cross country nah. It's probably to heavy and also with cross country you generally use smaller shocks and forks. If you doing stuff that needs triple clamps well then it's not really cross country anymore.

Answer 6

For DH and FR it will do fine, For XC, road and commuting it will be heavy. But if your XC, road and commuting is less important than DH and FRing this bike will work great. Just remember what the bikes intended use is.