Perfect spec for Bighit

[gral]

Hi there,

I'm trying to work out my perfect spec for an 04 BigHit Expert...will be making a trip to Canada (Whistler) for 4 weeks and buying a bike while I'm over there so I want to make sure I kit out the best possible bike (Canadian prices are way better than here in Oz).

Can anyone give me any feedback on how the 888 rides with the Bighit and whether the 7" 888 might be better to make sure the front end is not too high?

I'm about 5'10", just under 160 pounds and don't go absolutely huge but I'd still like as much fork as the bike (and me) can handle.

I'm also interested in speccing the bike with as much Saint stuff as possible (except for the rear derailleur methinks)...am I going to run into any major compatibility issues?

Finally, will definitely be going single front ring...can anyone recommend a good chainguide that works well on the BigHit?

thanks.

[Team2K]

If you're heading to the shore, make sure ya hit up Dizzy Cycles in North Van... 1st & Lonsdale... they have great deals on the Bighits. I just got mine from there on Saturday... not the 888, but the Super-T is perfect on it

[Nelson]

Swap the fork to a slider plus spv, the 888 is too big for the expert.

Swap, seat, seapost, pedals and grips.

Get evil SRS guide.

Dont bother upgrading to saint.

If you want new brakes, get 8" XT's the new ones, (same as saint, just IS insead of post mount, and theyre silver instead of dark grey. Otherwise its the same brake, and you wont have to swap hubs/wheels)

If you plan on doing this, youre better off calling the shop you want to get it from pretty soon, because not all shops will have those parts in stock.

Cheers

[Rida Guy]

Why would a 888 be too big for a Big Hit Expert ?
Is it not the same frame pretty much as last years Big Hit DH?

Guys were running big forks on those bikes last year.

[_TAZ_SIMPSON_]

i ride a 2003 Big Hit Dh with a 888r. and its amasing. great fit. i definatelly reccoment the fork for the shore and whistler.

[gral]

Originally posted by _TAZ_SIMPSON_
i ride a 2003 Big Hit Dh with a 888r. and its amasing. great fit. i definatelly reccoment the fork for the shore and whistler.

I assume you mean the full 8" 888 rather than the 7"?

Is there anything you find that its a hindrance for compared to another fork?

I would much rather use the Marzocchi 888 than a RS or Manitou due to the low maintenance...the zokes I;ve used have always stood up pretty well with next to nothing in maintenance.

[BikerBoy21]

888r definately, dont get the damn 7in version. my friend has the 8 in and loves it. buy it a month or two ahead and ride it a lot because it takes a while to get worked in and you want it worked in at whistler... buy it as far ahead of time as possible.

dont know about on the bhit but e.thirteen guides are pimp, i have one myself on my bullit.

rear shock: make sure your spring is corresponding to your weight, depending on the shock you should have 30-40% sag for dh, aacutally, thats for my 5thy sry, i think fox shocks are sposed to run with slightly less sag, so maybe 25-35% i dont know, manual should say though. acutally, just go to your lbs (make sure it's one who knows that their talking about) and have them tune your fork and shock near when you are leaving for whistler.

dont know much about saint myself, but if you've got the money get hadley hubs instead of saints, theyre way better (+they have the cool sound) but expensive, plan on spending about 2-3hun for each of those.

make sure you have good strong, well built wheels.

also i'd take an extra tube or two. if you have dh tubes this is less of a problem but still needed. if you have normal tubes then def. take 2 or more xtra tubes cause stuff in the villiage is hella expens.

ok now i've typed too much, PM me if you have anymore questions

hope it helped!

[_TAZ_SIMPSON_]

Originally posted by gral
I assume you mean the full 8" 888 rather than the 7"?

Is there anything you find that its a hindrance for compared to another fork?

I would much rather use the Marzocchi 888 than a RS or Manitou due to the low maintenance...the zokes I;ve used have always stood up pretty well with next to nothing in maintenance.

sorry, yes i am running the 8" verson. i havent seen a 7" here yet.

i am also running a 2004 Manitou Swinger 4-way rear shock.

[gral]

OK so I think I'm gonna go as follows:

8" 888R
Saint Cranks
XT 8" brakes assuming there is no diff. b/w XT and Saints.(Airborne: whats the diff. b/w IS and post mount on the brakes?).

swinger 4-way or probably upgrade to 6-way

Hubs - not sure (BikerBoy: whats so good about Hadley hubs? my favourite sound of any bike part is the sweet sound of silence - but I'm willing to be convinced otherwise if the parts are good).

chainguide - dunno but will look into the Evil SRS & E13

Does that sound like a perfect spec?
its not every day that I'm gonna be able to come to Canada and buy cheap parts - in Australia everything is about 30-60% more.

thanks

[_TAZ_SIMPSON_]

wow im glad i dont live there, i thought things were expensiver here

lol. but yah that sounds good. but i would look at some Block 8 Pipes (the cromo ones) or some RF DH cranks. also look at the MRP system 1 or 2 chain guides, simple and amasinig. hope you like your rig!

[Rida Guy]

Well I'm building a Big Hit Expert as well, I am going with the 888r.
I am also adding Hope Mono M4 disc brakes, In my opinion they are the best brakes on the market. I'm going to run Intense Mag 30 wheels, and an Envy chain gang chain guide.

Not sure exactly how it's all going to work but that's the stuff I ordered and I am patiently waiting for it to come in.

Not to confuse you any more but the Manitou Slider Plus fork would also be a very good choice, if you wanted something a little smaller (7") and less sqishy. The manitou will probably be a little more rideable for all round trails, but the 888 would be better for going big. Manitou's dampening is so plush.

Either way would be

[Nelson]

Originally posted by gral
OK so I think I'm gonna go as follows:

8" 888R
Saint Cranks
XT 8" brakes assuming there is no diff. b/w XT and Saints.(Airborne: whats the diff. b/w IS and post mount on the brakes?).

swinger 4-way or probably upgrade to 6-way

Hubs - not sure (BikerBoy: whats so good about Hadley hubs? my favourite sound of any bike part is the sweet sound of silence - but I'm willing to be convinced otherwise if the parts are good).

chainguide - dunno but will look into the Evil SRS & E13

Does that sound like a perfect spec?
its not every day that I'm gonna be able to come to Canada and buy cheap parts - in Australia everything is about 30-60% more.

thanks

The IS (international Standard) simply looks like two holes that can mount onto a frame without an adapter (6 inch). Post mount is like a hayes. Where it can boly right onto a manitou fork without an adapter (6 inch).

The only reason im sugesting the XT is because its not a centre lock tyoe mount (its 6-bolt).

The Evil and E.13 are the same BTW.

[Jamie_k]

I agree with airborne ranger exept get MRP bones combo

Jamie

[IFO]

Originally posted by Airborne Ranger
Swap the fork to a slider plus spv, the 888 is too big for the expert.

i disagree... the Sherman Slider is to short for the BIGHIT in my opinion...

at least the 8" travel versions...

the 888 is a great fork on the BIGHIT,

p.s. while im struglling with mine, i expect most people wouldnt....

i found the Slider on my BIGHIT steepen'd the headtube to much, given teh slider is so short....

[gral]

Originally posted by IFO
i disagree... the Sherman Slider is to short for the BIGHIT in my opinion...

at least the 8" travel versions...

the 888 is a great fork on the BIGHIT,

p.s. while im struglling with mine, i expect most people wouldnt....

i found the Slider on my BIGHIT steepen'd the headtube to much, given teh slider is so short....

can I ask what it is about the 888 that you're struggling with and why you think most ppl wouldn't be having the same struggle?

how does the Slider compare to the stock Junior T that comes on the bike (I know its a higher quality fork but in terms of height etc.)?