manxman
stranger
Reged: 20/07/2008
Posts: 7
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Hi
At present I ride a specialised rockhopper disc hardtail 17" frame, now that I am more confident (though not better) at riding trails I want to get a full suspension bike I have about £1200 to £1500 to spend want would you recommend, my one gripe with the rockhopper is when i am going up steep trails i tend to get the front wheel off the ground.
thanks
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glasdrum
member
Reged: 23/06/2008
Posts: 100
Loc: Fort William (mostly)
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Manxman,
Good deals on 08 models is not long away as the 09 bikes are on the way. Some 07 models (from reading other posts) may also be around.
This will allow you to get more for your money as the sales kick in.
I was having the same problem as you with my hardtail (even with a 0 rise 135mm stem and short (63mm) travel forks!!)
Just got a Specialized Stumpy FSR and have had no problems at all. The front end stays glued to the track, as does the rear end. Cracking all round really.
If you are anything like me then you will fly on an full sus bike, compared to your hardtail... It just soaks up all the mistakes...
Welcome to the forum.
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Glasdrum
my other bike's got thumbshifters
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greeneye
old hand
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 831
Loc: sunderland
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hi glassdrum, how is the stumpy mate?
does it really climb as well as they say?
hi manxman, as said look at the deals on and coming and if possible test ride anything you like.
its a jungle out there and to be honest its harder to get a bad bike than a good one.
kona, giant, specialized, trek, there is so much to chose from for the money you have, have a look round this forum and issues of mbr and mags alike this will narrow the search as you read reviews on various bikes.
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I. falloffalot
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Sir_Queuesalot
old hand
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1011
Loc: South Cheshire
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Hi Glasdrum,
Which year stumpy are you straddling, been wondering if it's the new style or the older style with the rear shock mounted higher like my 06????
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My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder 
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
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prophet_1000
addict
Reged: 07/09/2007
Posts: 494
Loc: Staffordshire
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Quote:
my one gripe with the rockhopper is when i am going up steep trails i tend to get the front wheel off the ground.
Hey Manxman
Welcome, as the other guys have already given advise on buying I won't repeat what's already been said!
However with regards to the front wheel lifting on steep trails, this is probably more to do with your body positioning on the bike OR the wrong sized frame or components/ seat position etc? one of my buddies just couldn't keep the front wheel down when it came to the climbs and it was pretty darn funny to watch (he was on an older hardtail with old style geometry) but the main problem wasn't the geometry it was his position on the bike when climbing! its all about getting your weight as low as possible then trying to balance your position between over the bars to keep the front end down and over the rear wheel to stop the wheel spins as you put the power down! I had a Rockhopper (04) which was a brilliant bike and I had no problem with the front wheel lifting whatsoever so I would definitely say work on your positioning (unless your absolutely sure its correct, then it could be too small a bike you have?)
Hope this helps?
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My site www.27gears.com
Fresh from the Big Apple, Oh why did I have to come back home? just a few weeks more please!!
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frankey99
stranger
Reged: 05/07/2008
Posts: 6
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Yup i got the same bike m8 and its the greatest!!! light quick and i keep up with my m8 on his marin full susser!!
I'm also looking for a full susser for around the same cash, i test rode a kona dawg delux v.nice, commencal meta 55 fekin majic and test rode a kona stinky primo around AE at the weekend. Too heavy got cramp with 2 miles to go ruined the last decent BOOHHOO.. But i got my eye on a kona coilair supreme 07 for £1500 and at 34.7lb aint too heavy,  the stinky was 44lb!!!! commencal is 30lb and dawg 29lb, i want to go down fast but dont want to be knackered on the climbs. Hope this helps a bit.
Enjoy when u buy and test as many as possible it's certainly helped me.
Edited by frankey99 (21/07/2008 13:29)
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glasdrum
member
Reged: 23/06/2008
Posts: 100
Loc: Fort William (mostly)
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Quote:
Hi Glasdrum,
Which year stumpy are you straddling, been wondering if it's the new style or the older style with the rear shock mounted higher like my 06????
Sir Q / Glasseye
I'm on the 08 Stumpy FSR Pro.
It climbs like nothing I have ridden before, glorious. Not once has grip let me down with my 2.1 Panaracer Fire XC pro tyres. It doesn't make me want to get out of the saddle when I'm climbing. seated is far better - no bounce, just grip... 
I'm not sure about the the rear shock mounting compared to your 06 model, however I'm gonna say that it's mounted low (it couldn't get any lower). The inertia valve (brain fade) is mounted by the rear axle and to be brutally honest I don't tamper with it that much, but the rear set-up works great for me.
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Glasdrum
my other bike's got thumbshifters
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Sir_Queuesalot
old hand
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1011
Loc: South Cheshire
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Nice...
Really must get around to trying the 08 head to head with the 06 which is identical to th e07 apart from the colour and they went with the Spesh rear shock instead of the fox on the 07.
I must admit to not fiddling with the brain fade too much either, I've got it set up the way I like so leave it where it is most of the time.
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My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
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greeneye
old hand
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 831
Loc: sunderland
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i want one and i want it now, now i tell ya now!!!
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I. falloffalot
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glasdrum
member
Reged: 23/06/2008
Posts: 100
Loc: Fort William (mostly)
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greeneye
You gotta get one...mine is still sooooooo shiney and great...despite the whopping chip in the top tube (nobody came near me at work that day, I can tell you)
There are better bikes out there, like the carbon stumpy...but don't tell my Kylie that. It'd kill her.
I love here to bits, but I sometimes look at other bikes in 'magazines', late at night when she is asleep. Can't help it. It's an issue that I'm working on getting through.
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Glasdrum
my other bike's got thumbshifters
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Sir_Queuesalot
old hand
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 1011
Loc: South Cheshire
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Hi Glassy,
Just tell her that even though you may look at other lovelies she's the one your with!
(I know, doesn't work for me either )
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My LBS couldn't fix my brakes so they made my bell louder
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!!
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greeneye
old hand
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 831
Loc: sunderland
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ah you may look at others but you and kylie both know where your heart is.
besides if you ever cheat on her i will be waiting in the wings, i will sweep kylie off her tyres and be gone before you know where you are.
mmm, i should be so lucky lucky lucky lucky i should be......
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I. falloffalot
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Crag
stranger
Reged: 22/07/2008
Posts: 3
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If your Manxman by nature and not just by name then I reckon you're gonna struggle to get a vast array of demo's to choose from.
That said (if memory serves) you've got a Spesh/Trek dealer and and a very good Giant/(used to be, not sure if still is) Cannondale dealer (big up Richard for sorting my Cannondale warranty replacement frame 4 years ago - still going strong) so you've pretty much got you're bases covered.
The safe bet would be the Stumpy but if depends what you want the bike to do. In the IOM I always ride the hardtail so if I was riding a full sus then the the Prophet (which would be my bike of choice) would be overkill. I think therefore that I'd have a look at the Trek range. Not sure what Eurocycles are like for demos but the friends I have that ride them really rate them and tbh for the cash they seem really good value. Fairly relaxed geometry in comparison to the racey Rush and the Trance range.
But, as other people say, try as many as you can and don't be swayed by the bells and whistles - rear mech can break within a month so you'll be buying a new one pretty soon anyway.
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manxman
stranger
Reged: 20/07/2008
Posts: 7
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Hi
Eurocycles deal in Trek and Specialized and have recently started mongoose, Bike style the other shop in Douglas deal in Scott, Giant. From the research I have done I think I am going to plump for the Trek Fuel EX 08. I tried the Specialized FSR XC Expert 2008 and wasn't to my liking
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