Need advice

[Fat Whacker]

I am considering a new ride for next year and what better time to buy a new ride than right now while everything is on end of year sales.
So, I have a budget of about two grand ($2000) give or take a couple hundred. They two bikes I really like are the 04 Kona Stinky and the 04 Ironhorse SGS Pro Downhill. Both can be had for about the same price. I think their are pros and cons ot both bikes. 90% of my riding is either lift or shuttle accessed, so doing any amount of climbing or xc is pretty much non existant.

I have not been able to demo any of the bikes, so I can't compare. Looking at the specs, the Ironhorse seems to come out on top for what I want. I have heard that the Marz Drop Off Triple that comes on the Kona isn't very efficient for fast, stuttery downhill riding. Is this accurate?

I am a pretty burley dude at 6ft 230lbs. I won't be doing any huge hucks, maybe 5-10 feet at most. I am getting to old for the big knarley drops.

Anyway, any thoughts on the two formentioned rides? Any other reccomendations within that price range? I would like to stick with a new bike as I don't want to take any chances with used bikes.

[Keefer]

The Ironhorse's are a stellar value.

Perhaps you could link up some specs for those of us who don't know em off the tops of our heads?

I'd go with the Iron Horse myself for a full bike.

[Fat Whacker]

Sorry...here are the specs:
04 Kona Stinky

S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

Frame sizes: S(15"), M(17"), L(18"), XL(19"), XXL(20")
Frame tubing: Kona Clump 7005 Aluminum 6" travel
Rear Shock: Fox Vanilla R w/ ProPedal
Fork: Marzocchi Drop-Off Triple 150mm
Headset: FSA
Crankarms: TruVativ Hussefelt DH
Chainrings: Rockguard/32/22
B/B: TruVativ ISIS Drive Hussefelt
Pedals: Kona Jackshit
Chain: Shimano CN-HG53
Freewheel: Deore (11-32 9 speed)
F/D: Shimano Deore LX
R/D: Shimano Deore XT
Shifters: Shimano Deore
Handlebar: Kona DH Aluminum
Stem: Kona Clump
Grips: Kona Jackshit
Brakes: Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 HD
Brake Levers: Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 HD
Front hub: Shimano HB-M475 disc
Rear hub: Shimano FH-M475 disc
Spokes: Stainless 14g front and rear
Tires: Nokian NBX 26 x 2.5
Rims: Sun Singletrack
Saddle: SDG - Kona Gordo
Seatpost: IRD Quad 2
Seat clamp:Kona QR
Colors: Orange/Black


http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/images/low/2K4_Stinky_650.jpg

04 Ironhorse SGS Pro Downhill

Frame: DOWNHILL FRAME, 8" TRAVEL ,1.5" HEADTUBE, E13 LINKAGE, FSR PIVOT, REPLACEABLE DROPOUT, INTERNATIONAL DISC BRAKE MOUNT, 12MM X 165 REAR THRU AXLE
Rear Shock: ANSWER SWINGER COIL- 4 WAY, 8.75"x2.75"
Fork: ROCK SHOX BOXXER RACE, 7" TRAVEL, 20MM THRU AXLE
Handlebar: FSA RISER BAR, 1.5" RISE
Stem: FSA 3D FORGED &CNC MACHINED - 60MM EXT, 6 DEGREE
Headset: FSA NO.61 1.5" W/ 1-1/8" REDUCER
Bottom Bracket: FSA PLATINUM PRO DH 100MM
Crank: FSA V-DRIVE XTREME, 165MM, E13 CHAINGUIDE
Rings: FSA 38T
Pedal: WELLGO B37 PLATFORM PEDAL, CR-MO AXLE ALLOY CNC
Chain: HG73
Seat: WTB SPEED V RACE CHROME
Seat Post: MICROADJUST 29.8MM ALLOY
Front Hub: ALLOY, 20MM THRU AXLE, 100MM
Rear Hub: ALLOY, 12MM THRU AXLE, 165MM
Front Derailleur: N/A
Rear Derailleur: SHIMANO DEORE XT
Shifter: SHIMANO DEORE
Freewheel: SRAM PG-950 11/32T, 9 SPEED
Brakes: HAYES HFX-9-HD, HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKE, BLACK, W/ 8" ROTOR
Brake Lever: HAYES HFX 9 HD
Rim: WTB SPEEDDISC PRO DH 36H, BLK w/ SINGLE EYELET
Spoke: 14G, BLACK STAINLESS SPOKES
Tires: MAXXIS MINION, 26x2.5, SR 40A COMPOUND, DUAL PLY CASING, 60TPI
Size: MENS: 17", 19", 21"
Color: MATTE SILVER

http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/images/products/downhill/sgs_pro_left.jpg

[the flying moose]

my vote is for the Iron Horse. its got a great spec and the price cant be beat.

[Trini-dad72]

The Iron Horse. Thats my pick. It has a very good reputation, having some of the best riders in the world ride what is practically the same frame is a huge bonus. If you can acquire that bike for around 2G, you'll be doing really good. The swinger shock and the parts spec are also superior.

[Jake the Trog]

iron horse is good people too:)

go for the IH definetly

[IFO]

Iron Horse...

no question outa those 2....

without even a test-ride, i'd def. be rolling out the LBS's door with it...

the Iron horse lineup is almost untouchable for value...

you wont be making a mistake getting one..

p.s. the Iron horse frame is super burly in person... first time i saw one, i was amazed at how big the frame tubing is... esp. the downtube... its MASSIVE...:eek:

for what its worth the Kona's part spec. doesnt even compare...sadly lacking when stacked agaisnt the IH actually...

:mad:

Kona needs to rethink their parts spec. esp. given what they want as a MSRP...:eek:

[Fat Whacker]

Originally posted by IFO


p.s. the Iron horse frame is super burly in person... first time i saw one, i was amazed at how big the frame tubing is... esp. the downtube... its MASSIVE...:eek:



Do you think a guy of my size and weight (6ft, 230lbs) can get away with riding a medium frame? Or should I stick with a large?

[IFO]

Originally posted by Fat Whacker
Do you think a guy of my size and weight (6ft, 230lbs) can get away with riding a medium frame? Or should I stick with a large?

depends on how u like your bikes to fit...this is more of a personal call then a right/wrong thing...

i'm 6' even myself, and i prefer Small frames... my BIGHIT for example is a Small...

and i wouldn't have it any other way..

with a Small frame u can tweak your reach/geometry a bit with seat postion and stem length...

were as if u get a frame thats to big u cant really deal with it...theres no way to "shorten" a frame thats to big...


if u want my 2cents, i'd say get the Medium....dont sound like climbing performance is much of a isssue...so why be bothered with a frame thats bigger then it needs to be...

small frames allow you to move around within the bike better/easier...larger frames tend to hit u either in the legs/ASS or chest as u move up/down or side/side during techy riding...

*edit* oh one more thing if u go with a Medium frame you'll prolly need a stiffer spring, as the bike will be spec'd for someone who weighs less then you... def. get the bike shop to spec. the corect spring for you if possible...

[switch]

The Ironhorse for $2K is a an awesome deal. How can they spec a bike for that price? :S

I'd ride it as is without changing a part, except for maybe having the fork modified. I've been told by a few people that the 04 Boxxer race doesn't feel/work that well. However, there are changes/upgrades that can be done to it.

The medium would probably be the right size.

[Fat Whacker]

So the deal is pretty much done. The Iron Horse came out a little more expensive than I thought but its still within 400 bux of my price range. I just have to cross the T's and dot the I's and I might even be able to get up to Sun Peaks once with it before the lifts shut down. :)

[IFO]

grats... thats a wicked bike, and your gunna love it..

:thepimp: