Where do I start??

[fastpassu]

I picked up my Giant Yukon in February and have been riding it ever since. I cant seem to get enough of riding. I go out , ride for a few hours, get tired as crap, come home and already miss it. I want to start making some sort of upgrades on my bike but I have no idea where to begin. I have never worked on bikes so I would be pretty lost doing the installs as well, but I am sure I can figure most of it out. So what should I do first?

[airgabe]

Convert to SS and buy a Full Suspension bike within your budget

[fastpassu]

Haha, I wish but I think I am committed to this bike for awhile.

[Trizz]

if you want a little personalization i would suggest some grips, a nice comfortable pair of grips that lock on.

im still new at this as well and have changed some stuff on my bike,
1st changed the rear derailleur
2nd i put on some new Deore XT cranks (thanks to Neil on that one)
3rd next month im building some wheels, then im done for a while. (i hope)

[bighit8]

What do you feel the short comings of the bike are?
1) does not climb good,descend good
2) does not shift well
3)Fork feels wrong
4) tires?
5) how does it feel, stretched out out,to short, to tall ect.....
6) how tall are you and how much do you weigh
7) riding style
what is on the bike now

[graves.z]

If you want to upgrade you should figure out what you don't like. The feel of the fork, the stopping power of the brakes, the smoothness or lack thereof in the shifting, etc. If nothing has broke to require replacement then upgrade those parts you find lacking.

[slapfan1]

this is what i would do:

read the list bighit8 posted. Once you figure out what are the weakneses of your bike decide what you want to change.

get informed; read websites such as mtbr.com and the website of the products you have in mind.

visit your local bike shop ask them questions.

dont worry about the how to. Take the bike to your shop and let a professional do the upgrades.

see what others have and why they have it.

know your riding style. xc dh all mountain etc.

know your budget.

[bighit8]

I would also suggest test riding some bikes, so you can get a feel of what you like and don't like. On STR many members will let you try bikes on a ride or borrow one. This will give you something to compare you're current bike too.P.M me, I have two different bikes you are more than welcome to give a ride.

[fastpassu]

Originally Posted by Trizz

if you want a little personalization i would suggest some grips, a nice comfortable pair of grips that lock on.

im still new at this as well and have changed some stuff on my bike,
1st changed the rear derailleur
2nd i put on some new Deore XT cranks (thanks to Neil on that one)
3rd next month im building some wheels, then im done for a while. (i hope)

Great idea, I actually noticed that my grips have been sliding around and ones that lock into place sound so much better.

[Trizz]

Originally Posted by slapfan1

this is what i would do:

visit your local bike shop ask them questions.

.

Definetly agree here, not sure of where you live but Adrenaline has an awsome program as well as a great team over there. Neil has helped me a ton over then and has answered numerous questions for me.

[fastpassu]

Originally Posted by bighit8

What do you feel the short comings of the bike are?
1) does not climb good,descend good
2) does not shift well
3)Fork feels wrong
4) tires?
5) how does it feel, stretched out out,to short, to tall ect.....
6) how tall are you and how much do you weigh
7) riding style
what is on the bike now

I am going to be honest here,I am not sure if some of these things is because of me or the bike. I find it hard to get up steep hills on the easiest gear, is that my fault or the bikes? Shifting is ok. I am not sure what a good fork is supposed to feel like and as far as tires go I have never ridden on any other ones. I am 6' 3" and weigh 205 (pure muscle of course, ahem LADIES) and my riding style is only on trails and up and down the mountain.....

[Trizz]

just keep riding you will build that leg muscle to climb those hills. probably not the bike,

[fastpassu]

Originally Posted by Trizz

just keep riding you will build that leg muscle to climb those hills. probably not the bike,

I dunno I run about a 15 min 3 mile every other day and i fell like I am in great shape.

[Trizz]

Originally Posted by fastpassu

I dunno I run about a 15 min 3 mile every other day and i fell like I am in great shape.

you can be in great shape and run fast miles, but climbing hills is a whole different story,

i couldnt climb a hill for nothing, now im climbing 3bs and Big red without a problem, and i have been riding 5 months,
you got to work on those hills,

[TrailJesus]

Originally Posted by Trizz

then im done for a while. (i hope)

Troy who you kidding you know you'll be back at the Path buying something else for your bike

[Trizz]

Originally Posted by integradriv3r

Troy who you kidding you know you'll be back at the Path buying something else for your bike

well, not the path (nothing wrong with the path) im sorta married to Adrenaline since i joined their membership.

where you been riding, you got to ride with Steve and I this week,

[TrailJesus]

Originally Posted by Trizz

well, not the path (nothing wrong with the path) im sorta married to Adrenaline since i joined their membership.

where you been riding, you got to ride with Steve and I this week,

Hey I'm going to go ride Oaks right now and I think I'm stopping by adrenaline before or after to see if boats bled my rear brake with the new hose. Hit up Oaks at 3 with me.

[Trizz]

i would love to but im stuck at Panera bread doing homework with group of peeps.

sorry,

ill PM you for another ride.

[biglimey]

Originally Posted by Trizz

just keep riding you will build that leg muscle to climb those hills. probably not the bike,

ride, ride then ride some more. Upgrade stuff as it wears out,breaks, or as you feel that it's limiting you. Not just because you have the cash.

Ride with people that a faster or better than you, and when you start riding as fast as them on your stock stuff, then the upgrades will just make you even faster and even better.

[fastpassu]

Originally Posted by biglimey

ride, ride then ride some more. Upgrade stuff as it wears out,breaks, or as you feel that it's limiting you. Not just because you have the cash.

Ride with people that a faster or better than you, and when you start riding as fast as them on your stock stuff, then the upgrades will just make you even faster and even better.

great advice and it makes perfect sense