Stab Garbonzo, worth the risk??

Question

my friend is selling his 06 stab garbanzo and im thinking of buying it for DH. It was a whistler rental but he has put alot of money into fixing it. someone told me that all whistler rental bikes just constantly brake but wtf if he has fixed it a bunch of times doesn't that mean its not a piece of **** anymore?? any advice would be appreciated thanks.

Answer 1

It's the frame that you need to be most concerned about.  Yes, Whistler rentals get the sh*t knocked out of them, but they're not trash just because of that.  Last I heard, they only use them for one season and then liquidate them.  The thing is, if you're actually using it for downhill and the frame goes.....bad news.  

Other parts like the fork, stem, and handlebars are important, of course (and so are the pedal axles) but they're not usually going to fail.   Fork steerers or uppers sometimes snap, though....again, bad news!   If your friend replaces some of those things, at least that's a little bit of comfort knowing you have newer parts in those vital areas.   But there's the frame to still think about.

When you buy used, especially a fleet bike from a really rough and rocky environment, you never know exactly what you're getting or what it's been through.   Rentals often get put under novice riders who crash or case landings, etc.....and *nobody* ever reports the things that happen during a ride that could possibly cause them to pay for repair or replacement of the bike.....but those are exactly the things you need to know about!  

Assuming it has at least two seasons on it, I think I'd consider a different bike unless you're willing to take the risk, or if maybe you aren't going to be putting it through technical trails, large drops, etc.   It might be just fine and give you several more years of gnar riding....or it could crack somewhere and send you down hard.   Who can say, y'know?   For me, downhill/freeride frames, carbon frames, and a few other bike parts are always better to buy new unless you really know how the bike was ridden, crashed, and maintained.   The cost of new equipment is far less than the medical bills you'll have to pay if you take a bad spill....not to mention all of the other pitfalls of injuries.

Answer 2

It's your safety we are talking about.  DH demands a lot from the bicycle and the rider.

Do you really want to take a chance?