A lil advice choosing DH/FR bike

[Sharky]

Been looking for a bike to play and eventually race DH with and was all set to buy a Session 7. Happened to be by the Path yesterday so dropped in and Tani started pulling out the toys!! BTW I see why the locals love that place...great LBS. Loved the Stinky there now I'm trying to decide between the two but hard to get a true feel hucking curbs and speed bumps in the parking lots. They both feel good and like a slacker front for better handling compared to a full DH. You all give great advice so hoping those familiar with these can help with my decision. Neither has great forks but the Path said I could switch to something else so fork suggestions helpful, too.
A few components on both:

2006 Kona Stinky...Marzocchi Dropoff triple fork (7 inches front and rear) rear fox DHX 3.0, Brakes 8 in. Hayes HFX 9's, Shimano lx rear derailler , Deore cassette shifters front derailer, vativ cranks...

New 2005 Trek Session 7,Fork Manitou Stance, rear Manitou swinger 4, SRAM x7 shifters rear derailers, Deore rear cassette, same brakes as the Stinky .

Thanks for any help...

[Winston]

Can't believe you didn't setup a poll.

1 vote for the Stinky. Durable bike. Durfee is the man when it comes to Stinky advice there. Maybe a Marzocchi 66 ETA if you want a fork that works well pedaling up and going down.

The person I knew that had a Session quickly replaced it with a Highline.

Good luck and welcome to the dark side of the force.

[Sharky]

Good idea POLL...keep it quick and simple.
Can't see it when I go to edit so hope George can help...gotta leave to work.
The dark side is gonna be FUN!!

[guero]

another vote for the Stinky.

[jfromlv]

1 vote for Incycle, you traitor!

[Chaos]

Stinky would be on a short list for me.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Traitor! You are banned from the tent.

[SIZE=1]Unless you show up with beers in hand. [/SIZE]

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Winston

Can't believe you didn't setup a poll.

1 vote for the Stinky. Durable bike. Durfee is the man when it comes to Stinky advice there. Maybe a Marzocchi 66 ETA if you want a fork that works well pedaling up and going down.

The person I knew that had a Session quickly replaced it with a Highline.

Good luck and welcome to the dark side of the force.

Gotsta get Stinky. Not that I have given mine a real lickin' yet, but bike just feels bombproof.

Also agree with Winston's call on fork or even ATA! I did same with mine as replaced stock fork with 66 ETA. Great fork and helps quite a bit to lower front end for long climbs on a big rig (see 3B's). May also scrub some weight going to single crown (only a guess) but wasn't my goal. Also cannot say i demo'd stock fork too much beyond parking lot and street as well. but reviews on boards seemed to suggest stock soaks up big hits well but sucks a$$ on small bumps.

Only other mod i made was too replace shifters and rear derailler to SRAM X-9 but more from a personal preference so actuates same as my AM bike. figure i'd upgrade other "lesser" components as they wear. however, if LBS is amenable to swapping tires I would do so. Maybe i'm wrong but they just seem to roll slow and don't hook up nearly as well as the Kenda's i'm running on other bike (BG and Nev)

Below Marz 66 ETA on my Path limited edition Stinky (STR luv'n on the chainstay obscured a bit by flatsl)

btw - Sharky frame size is L but if you want to take her for a "longer" spin on this side of the hill to help make your call just PM me

[Shu]

KHS FR2000 4"-5"-6" large /w medium front triangle included
Marzocchi Bomber FR Z1 6" w/ eta lockout 20mm thru axel
Fox Vanilla RC
Bombshell wheel set
Magura hydrolic brakes 7"fr/6"rr
Sram X7 shifters/derailer
Truvativ FiveD crankset w/o pedals
Evil chain tensioner/guide w/ Emig bashguard
60mm Sun Ringle stem and bars
38#'s
Bike very well maintianed
$1000obo

send me a PM if interested

[tkblazer]

you should also hit up neil to see what size Versus Blitz's he has in stock... i saw one that might have been a medium? i'm sure neil or gabe can chime in, they have a good selection of bikes to choose from at their shop.

[dstepper]

If it was me looking for that type of bike: either a Turner Highline or Knolly Delirium-T. But there again, cost wise you can not beat the Stinky. But what do I know, my Turner 5-Spot is still more bike than I need.

Dean

[Shu]

I've ridden the Versus Blitz a bunch and it's not a very good pedaling(climbing) bike your feet are too far forward from your seat...not a big fan...although Victoria(I think her name is) that works/owns/sells the bikes is HOT!!!

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by Shu

although Victoria(I think her name is) that works/owns/sells the bikes is HOT!!!

sorry Shu, but we're going to need visual proof of that statement to verify the hotness

[Vince]

I have a Kona Stinky Deluxe $500

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Vince

I have a Kona Stinky Deluxe $500

year?

pics?

could be steal of century

[Sharky]

Many thanks for the replies...it's been a huge help. I'm 5'5" so a small fit me well but I've taken down the info on the changes and am pretty much sold on the Stinky (great price too) but will try just a few more bikes you've mentioned just in case. Again very much apreciate the help.
So Frank...is that ANY kind of beer gets me in...still have some Bud left.
You Incycle Brats make F**F proud at the Woodward race this weekend. Wish they had the Stinky at the shop.
(any more fork suggestions for the racing aspect?)

[shagginwagon]

My buddy Angry Lewis rides a Stinky --- not sure what year , but it's the same as in Kid A's pics . I've never heard him complain about it since he got it , in fact it's his second Stinky . He replaced the fork with a triple 8 , and he runs a single ring . I'm pretty sure it's a small ( he's a midget so he still needs a curb or a rock to get on it , j/k just had to rip on him ) , maybe I can talk him into lettin you demo it .

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by Sharky

Been looking for a bike to play and eventually race DH with and was all set to buy a Session 7. Happened to be by the Path yesterday so dropped in and Tani started pulling out the toys!! BTW I see why the locals love that place...great LBS. Loved the Stinky there now I'm trying to decide between the two but hard to get a true feel hucking curbs and speed bumps in the parking lots. They both feel good and like a slacker front for better handling compared to a full DH. You all give great advice so hoping those familiar with these can help with my decision. Neither has great forks but the Path said I could switch to something else so fork suggestions helpful, too.
A few components on both:

2006 Kona Stinky...Marzocchi Dropoff triple fork (7 inches front and rear) rear fox DHX 3.0, Brakes 8 in. Hayes HFX 9's, Shimano lx rear derailler , Deore cassette shifters front derailer, vativ cranks...

New 2005 Trek Session 7,Fork Manitou Stance, rear Manitou swinger 4, SRAM x7 shifters rear derailers, Deore rear cassette, same brakes as the Stinky .

Thanks for any help...

please dont get the session 7
my experience with the manitou fork/shocks have sucked. ask joe his manitou just keeps sticking on his DEMO
or if you get it. get the fox or marzocchi

[dstepper]

The fork you want Marzocchi 66 SL 1 ATA

[Pain Freak]

I'm a Fox man myself and I really like this baby:



I'd go with the Stinky in a small frame.

Shiat, I can't believe we lost another one to the dark side. What's the boss gonna say?

Sharky please come back (don't sell the LeMond just yet, you might come back to the light, sooner then you think!).

Oh yeah the mini version of the specs:

[FONT=Arial]Fox 40 RC2 Front Fork Small-Large (TSH90-165mm)Weight 6.79 lbs. - 8 inches travel (203mm) - Titanium Spring - Adjust Coil Spring Pre-load, Rebound, Low Speed Compression, High Speed Compression - Disc Only[/FONT]


Somewheres around 1400 bucks.