Downhill bike!

[TOU93]

Travel isnt everything, it's the geo of a DH bike that make them ride they way they do. I have ridden several of the Canadian DH parks on my 6" Intense and kept up with my mates of full DH bikes(most were specilized demos) the only thing that slowed me down was big rock gardens and drops.

But a full 8" travel is fun! I turned in to plow king on a DH bike because I didn't have to worry about the big stuff. Supposidy the Intense 951 small is quite compact but a little expensive.

[Nat.]

he speaks the truth, most australian tracks dont warrant a full 8-10'' bike. Someone of your size is probably better off getting on a smaller bike and being able to pedal faster. A lighter bike + a lighter person is more able to float over bumps and ruts than other (bigger) people.

Specialized enduro evo is a full coil suspended 7'' bike. With a short stem and a 1x gear set up it would destroy the downhills. You can pick them up for 3k new (2012 model).

If youre set on a dh bike, check out the intense socom. They dont make it any more. But it was the lightest dh bike around when they did make it. Transition tr250 is another small dh bike. Iron horse sundays were pretty small too, and they pedal pretty efficiently. Which may help you out.

Avoid the santa cruz driver 8, although it is a smaller dh bike the suspension design doesnt work all that well. The v10 is designed to use all its travel and soak up bumps, that doesnt translate to an 8'' design.

Sent from my U20i using Tapatalk

[Pushie]

Australian tracks might not warrant 8-10" of travel, but frack it makes it easier. If your like me and never likely to be an elite, then it makes progression infinitely faster and easier. So with more travel you can enjoy the tracks that are there with more margin for error and less time healing from the inevitable crash fest.

So in summary
More travel = more margin for error = more time riding = less time healing. so much Win.

Good luck with your selection

[chamois]

inevitable crash fest.

and this is why i don't own a DH bike... singlespeed hardtails can only get me into so much trouble.

if money were no object and i had more spare time i'd have one in the garage for sure...

[Pushie]

The crashes are half the fun ... well the less bloody ones

[Tokyo Drifter]

I only ride downhill bikes around the workshop. They are fun. I want one. But I am logistically impared, so could never get around to organising utes and trailers.

[Lambchop]

What about a Yeti ASR 7, spec and geo easily downhill worthy, and with them becoming discontinued you may be able to bend a bike shops arm.

[Lambchop]

or this http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicyc.../qld/100153376

Says it's a medium, but it looks like there med is 16.5, and you get a new bike warranty.

[Nathan]

or this http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicyc.../qld/100153376

Says it's a medium, but it looks like there med is 16.5, and you get a new bike warranty.

If she's only 5'4, a medium will definitely be too big for her. I'm 5'10 and ride a medium or a small depending on the frame.

As for the AM/DH and travel argument.
Orphic, I'm not sure of your level, but I really think you should put some serious thought into where you want to be in the next couple of years in terms of your skill and speed on a DH trail.

With all the extra travel of a DH bike comes the extra weight, and it may not be beneficial to go for an 8+inch bike if it becomes too heavy for you to handle and if your not going to use all of the travel.
Then on top of this, your going to have to set the bike up super soft (I'm asuming your not very heavy) to get the most out of your travel, which will mean it becomes an absolute pig to try and pedal efficiently.

So picture yourself riding a 18-20kg bike which is hard to throw around, will wallow through the corners due to the soft suspension and wont pedal at all.

If you think you'll be fast and strong enough to be able to use all of the travel on an 8+inch DH bike without making it too soft to pedal then go for that.

Otherwise I'd seriously consider a 6inch bike with relaxed geometry and a single crown fork.
It'll be cheaper, smaller and lighter so you'll be able to hussle the bike better, and you can run a slightly stiffer suspension setup (because it has a bit less travel) which will make it corner and pedal alot better.

Don't worry too much about what the boys are riding. You want the best bike to suit you and your riding style, and an 8+inch bike may be slower and harder to ride than a 6inch bike in your case.

Anyways, my 2c

[Lambchop]

If she's only 5'4, a medium will definitely be too big for her.

Yeah, thats what I thought as well. Have Giant changed their sizing? I had a Trance at one stage and it was medium (18), The reason I posted the ad was it says it's a medium 16.5, not sure on the sizing of them though. Agree with you on the full 8" travel thing though, 7 would be a good compromise I think.