When the Pipeline dies...

[Trini-dad72]

Ok I got the Pipeline running, and it's a super fun ride! I'll be stoked come this Spring/Summer to go for Urban rides, and to rip some XC rides on it. It has already been to Abby Indoor BMX, and it works a charm in there. I know it's an old frame, and that it's a *gasp* URT design, but go ahead and cry all you want. It works and it's MINE.
Now, that being said... When it dies, and may not take too long, what frame should I be thinking of? I can do long-term layaway at some places I'm sure... But for know my question is this:

If you could build a mid-price FS frame for XC, Urban, and some 4X. What would you choose? The parts on the Pipeline are good to go. All I'll need is a set of disc brakes.

I'm thinking of a Santa Cruz Heckler, maybe the Cove Hooker... I'm wanting to keep the frame price to around $1200.00

And...?

Let's hear your ideas and suggestion.

[RideCraft]

I think the heckler is a pretty sure bet. It totally depends how serious about the XC you are. Rocky Mountain Switch fits the bill pretty well, but It may be alittle bit heavy for XC, I'd also check out the Trail from the big S, but this is a new relatively untested design. The all mountian overings from Kona look good as well, The Bear in particular.

[TheGiggler]

HECKLER!

(if you have more questions... the answer is HECKLER)

[Wayne P]

Check out the avatar.

Heckler for sure. I had one for over a year without any problems. The bearings lasted the entire time I had it. Rode it all winter too. Now they get 5.8" of travel. The frame is really strong and is only about 6.5-7lbs.

[Trini-dad72]

Ok so I figured that the Heckler would be a sure bet... How about the Preston FR for Transition? I know that I can't do layaway for one, but how does it stand up in caomparison?

[GRIZZ]

definatly the heckler or maybe a preston freeride, the preston would be rad actually

[Nelson]

Im partial to hookers...they look sick.

But the hecklers are definatley pimp too....

[flattire]

Gemini all the way.
Hecklers are too much $$ for what you get. PLus you get thru axle in the back, great warranty, plus onepointfive option.
Plus its nice and light for almost 7 inches travel.

[Nelson]

Originally posted by flattire
Gemini all the way.
Hecklers are too much $$ for what you get. PLus you get thru axle in the back, great warranty, plus onepointfive option.
Plus its nice and light for almost 7 inches travel.

:lol:

[TheGiggler]

jaru, should also consider they Weyless XP.

i almost wish i'd bought one... it's super cheap.

don't know how the warranty/crash replacement compares to SantaCruz.

the heckler is just an amazing do-anything bike. i've never ridden anything that excels in so many areas (climbing, xc, skinnies, jumping, tech, whatever)

[Animal Mother]

Originally posted by flattire
Gemini all the way.
Hecklers are too much $$ for what you get. PLus you get thru axle in the back, great warranty, plus onepointfive option.
Plus its nice and light for almost 7 inches travel.


hahaha even being a huge gemini support, this bike doesn't belong here, unless you drop it to 5 inches and run a 5 inch fork.


but there is better suited bikes for what jaru needs

[PT-Colin]

I am loving my Preston....a bit heavier than the heckler and cheaper. Holding up just fine for me and a great all round bike.

If you ever want to take it for a rip Justin, just send me a pm.

CM

[Hack On Wheels]

the heckler, preston, and hooker are all in my top choices for shorter travel dualies. however they are all different and you should try to find which one(s) suit your needs best, and fit you best. the preston and heckler can both do almost anything but the hooker is more specialized and is on the small side, it sacrifices performance in some areas for improved perfomances on stunts/jumps/etc.

[derwood]

you were partial to the AC1 werent you?

I really like mine:)

[Solar_mtb]

Originally posted by derwood
you were partial to the AC1 werent you?

I really like mine:)

argh ya beat me 2 it.
i was gonna say an ac is a really stand-up bike for all sorts of riding.

[Faithless]

WE NEED TO RIDE SOON JUSTIN.

ps. That weyless frame was quite cheap.

[Trini-dad72]

Majin... did you go for the Weyless?

To those of you who suggested the Gemini... I have a Devinci 8Flat8. I have no need for another FR bike:P

The Prophet is a bit too willowy for me. I'm sure it's strong and what not, but for single pivot... I'll lean towards the Heckler. For linkage type bikes, I guess the AC would be ok, and the Preston FR, looks neat.
The Weyless is a FR bike, so thats not needed. I figured that the Hooker would only be good for 4X and Urban. If I scratched off the XC requirement, I'd even be interested in the Jackal

[Darklord]

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?LPROD_ID=24414&lmfg_id=262&searchtext=&referpage=

gets some great reviews
It's weyless' heckler copy.
You can build it up pretty tough (like the Heckler)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27948&item=7127972679&rd=1

or as a more all mountain ride.

Check www.mtbr.com (forums) for comments. I've heard it said that it's more laterally stiff than a Heckler (due to the X-Wing!)

I ordered one for a friend with my 67, so when both frames get here we'll be sure to post some reviews

[Faithless]

Originally posted by jaru72
Majin... did you go for the Weyless?

To those of you who suggested the Gemini... I have a Devinci 8Flat8. I have no need for another FR bike:P

The Prophet is a bit too willowy for me. I'm sure it's strong and what not, but for single pivot... I'll lean towards the Heckler. For linkage type bikes, I guess the AC would be ok, and the Preston FR, looks neat.
The Weyless is a FR bike, so thats not needed. I figured that the Hooker would only be good for 4X and Urban. If I scratched off the XC requirement, I'd even be interested in the Jackal

Depending what my next paycheck looks like, i might buy someones frame thats on the board.

though on my last paycheck I might get this

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz20.asp

choices, choices.

[the flying moose]

what about this???

http://www.norco.com/05/2005bikes/bikes/images/4by.jpg

[flattire]

hahaha even being a huge gemini support, this bike doesn't belong here, unless you drop it to 5 inches and run a 5 inch fork.

Hows that? Gemini can drop down to 5.9 inches rear travel, is single pivot, is light, how does it not belong in a cpmparison to the heckler? You can even lock the fork down to 5 inches from 6.7.

Typical cannondale naysayers.

[switch]

Originally posted by Hack On Wheels
the heckler, preston, and hooker are all in my top choices for shorter travel dualies. however they are all different...
Best post yet.

The difference between a bick like the Heckler and a bike like the Hooker is quite noticeable.

About the only things these bikes have in common are less than 6" of rear travel.

[TheGiggler]

Originally posted by switch
Best post yet.

The difference between a bick like the Heckler and a bike like the Hooker is quite noticeable.

About the only things these bikes have in common are less than 6" of rear travel.


so the hooker is full-blown 4X then?

in that case i would say scratch it from your list Jaru, unless you never want to pedal or ride xc. the Heckler is completely xc-able, which IMO, is pretty important when buying a mid travel bike. just my take having ridden a 4X-specific bike before...

[switch]

Yeah, the Hooker is quite different. Sits really low, 4" of travel. Much more like a Norco 4BY.

The Heckler, IMO, is more of an all-mountain bike.

Hooker (http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=318447)

[jeremyb]

Pipelines rule, I'd still love to have a purple and green one in my garage, when I first got into biking and was watching the early Kranked series I was in love with the pipeline :rolleyes:

[XXX_er]

Originally posted by jaru72
The Prophet is a bit too willowy for me. I'm sure it's strong and what not, but for single pivot... I'll lean towards the Heckler.

have you ridden one?IMO very balanced ,very light ,a very nicely engineered package AND the lefty Max is stiifer than any other sc fork I rode

[Trini-dad72]

I'll believe that the Prophet is all that and a bag of chips... I just believe in Santa Cruz more, and I will choose them over Cannondale. The travel idea is 5 inches. I don't really need more. The Hooker, while a bike that I lust for, is compromised for my needs, so it's off the list. The Gemini, is definetly a no, just to reiterate...

Frame Choices for the Future:

Santa Cruz Heckler
TBC Preston FR
Giant AC? maybe not...
An older Switch frame (The 5" one)
Older Specialized Enduro SX (I don't like the looks of the '05 frame)

Now IF I were to ignore the XC idea... I'd have to say that the Jackal tops the list, with a LeToy 4 after it and... man there are a lot to choose from, I guess it all depends on how much I'll be willing to spend when the time comes.

I know that some of you mean well with your suggestions, and I thank you either way:D

[TheGiggler]

Originally posted by jaru72

Older Specialized Enduro SX (I don't like the looks of the '05 frame)



i could help you out with that one... ;)


why no Weyless XP (or whatever the Heckler copy is called)? i think you should at least consider it... if the people who bought theres aren't breaking 'em, probably not getting much by buying a real SC Heckler. it's a little uncertain right now, but with so many people on the board buying them, in a few months we should have a pretty good idea of how they hold up...

[switch]

If you're looking at 5" of travel, then consider:
Heckler
Hustler
Coiler
Slayer

All of these are much more of an all-mountain bike that can be used for anything from XC to riding moderate downhill trails.

[Trini-dad72]

OK, It's not DH that I am looking for. I have the Devinci for that.

Now Hear This:announce:
The Bike is for the following uses:

Urban
Park
XC
4X.

I built the Pipeline for the above reasons. After one ride at Abby Indoor I think that the Pipeline will do those things quite well. I have built it with:

Truvative Husselfelt Cranks, Single Ring 34t
The 5" Travel Psylo XC
Rhyno Lite on Shimano disc Hub 8spd Cass.(This wheel will be rebuilt with my other Supra rim. Matching set and OCD)
Supra Rim on a 20mm disc Hub
Deore Derailler
Shimano Rear Shifter/Brake Lever 8spd
Rear V-brake
And I have the Lever and brake for the front, all I need are the posts
WTB Saddle, regular post
.243 Alu bar, and some kinda stem.

It works well together. The parts are great, bombproof stuff.

Now, back to the Task At Hand.

The Cove Hustler looks nice, but as usual the webpage is short on details. How much travel does it have?

The RM Slayer I'm not into. Sorry just don't feel it.

The Kona Coiler from last year sounds good. Thanks, I forgot about them>

And the Heckler, still on top.

The Weyless, is ignored simply because I am aiming to do this on a layaway basis, starting sometime in the fall/winter. But I wanted to get ideas and opinions now...:D The parts that I have, I will be using. All I'll really need is maybe a new fork, and disc brakes.

edit: Now... IF I could have my way with money... I buy this in heartbeat.
http://www.nicolai.net/05/imgs/range-05/350-ufo.jpg

But I just wouldn't be able to decide on a color.

[pete@nsmb.com]

I owned a Heckler briefly (it was my first duallie). It still remains possible my favorite bike ever - and that was an old one that wouldnt even take a rear disc. Part of it was that it was my first full squish...

Reminiscing aside, I've ridden the new one built for XC with a Fox Vanilla RD up front, and with a Sherman Slider, and it rocked in both config's. It is still one of my fave bikes, and I may be picking one up myself this year.

[switch]

OK, heard the announcement.

The Cove Hustler has about 5" of travel. It's more of a trail bike so doesn't fit your needs.

The Cove Hooker would a good fit. It would be better than the Heckler for street/urban/4X/park. It's a very nimble bike with good geometry for those types of riding.

[Wayne P]

One thing to consider, I personally havn't heard of a Heckler break in the ~3 seasons the newer style frame has been on the market. Although, I'm sure it's quite possible. You'll own it forever. Plus, if you ever wanted to build it up for serious XC riding, put an air shock on it with light wheels and you've got a sub 30lb bike with over 5" of travel.

We had a small Heckler at Steed with an XC build that weighed in at about 26lbs!

[TheGiggler]

^^^ totally! ;)

my Heckley (med) is about 36lbs... but thats with pretty much full on shore-worthy DH cranks/rims/tires. and not much bling.

and at 36lbs with the 5th you can ride XC all day and it doesn't feel like heavy at all.

[Jordan15]

Hey,
I've got a Hooker. Great bike at speeds on runs like A-Line and Dirt Merchant. Also a great jumper. It's not as plush as say a 4by on slower technical riding. Very stable and flickable though.

Since you're planning on doing a fair amount of XC though, the heckler might be the best bet. I've heard they are quite versatile.

[Wayne P]

Originally posted by statix
^^^ totally! ;)

my Heckley (med) is about 36lbs... but thats with pretty much full on shore-worthy DH cranks/rims/tires. and not much bling.

and at 36lbs with the 5th you can ride XC all day and it doesn't feel like heavy at all.

Looks like we're on the same page.

I went from a FSR Pro XC from Specialized that weighed in at about 24lbs to my Heckler that weighed about 33lbs. The Heckler has seen way more XC rides and longer ones too. Much easier to climb technical stuff as well.

[Wes]

the new Specialized SX looks friggin nice.

I would check it our for sure...

[UFO]

my 05 giant ac came in. its a nice ride, not much more you can ask for in a bike that retails at a bit over a grand. entry level components, but definitely good enough components to get you riding until you feel the need to upgrade :)