thoughts on spec. bighit

[bike187]

i finally got a job at a shop and am looking into new bikes. i'm looking into the specialized bighit dh ( http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?san=03BigHitDHFrame&bl=mountain )and bighit expert. originally i was thinking about just building up a bighit dh from the frame up, but have since been convinced that it would be wiser to just get the complete bike and swap a few parts later on down the line. i was just looking for some input on these bikes. the bike will be used as a fr and possibly a dh bike. not sure if i want to race though. i'm 6'3",230lbs, and will ride off most reasonable stuff i can as long as i'm convinced i wont mess my bike, if that matters.

[Tim]

The bike is going to be MUCH improved next year -- the 888 fork alone is worth the wait.

http://www.nsmb.com/gear/04bighit_05_03.php

Tim

[bike187]

finally got to try out a bighit. tried a custom dh and mostly stock expert. both were a medium and too small for me. the dh was very heavy, partially because it was outfitted to be only for dh. trailriding on a bike with a monster t when you normally ride a hardtail with a psylo is a huge difference. the expert bike seems pretty good. nice for the price. i would undoubtly have to get used to riding with the weight when going on flatter terrain. i'm really looking forward to teh release of the 04 bikes, but from what i hear, that will be another 6-8 months, so i'm seriously considering just getting the expert if i can find a size that fits me and i can order it.

does anyone have any experience riding these bikes on flat terrain, and using it as a very-overbuilt trailbike?

[knucklebuste]

Yeah dude, I ride a stinky 9 all over the place. It's slow and painful as hell, but it's doable and the monster T kicks ass. I knock over trees with that fork. If it's too steep, I'll push it. I don't walk, though, I run. I'm all about self punishment. Thats what keeps ya young. One good thing is that when I ride the stinky for a couple of weeks and then hop on my gack hardtail, I feel like Lance Armstrong. Go big. Don't worry about the weight. Think of how strong your legs will be. MONSTERS ALL THE WAY, my vote.
knuck

[CouchingTiger]

One simple question comes to mind, why? What do you want a DH bike? Is it to do lift access DH? If it isn't, I'd highly recommend something more suited to what you intend to use it for. A DH bike is dessigned to be good at one thing and one thing only, DH.

If you are looking for a trail bike for an occasional huck/drop and tight twisty fast technicals, there are lots of FR specific models that will work better. If you just want something burly, you can even build up a FR-HT that will work fine and can handle most any drop (just check the vid of Private Joker dropping Acapulco at Lynn Sunday on his Sinister w/ a single crown fork).

I really like my Bullit as an all around trail bike. It's big enough so that I can jack the seat and get good leg extension for climbing. I can't do that on my DH bike. It's also only moderately heavy (under 40#) and is plenty rugged enough for anything I'm gonna drop. The bike isn't a DHer (too steep and upright), though it will work in a pinch and it isn't an XC racer (too beefy in it's current setup) but it's a spectacular trail bike.

The one issue the folks I know who have BigHits complain about is the 24" rear wheel. Yea, it's stronger, but it dosen't roll as well over stuff and makes "get-ups" tougher.

-Couch

[bike187]

i was really looking into the bullit for an all around trailbike, that could eb built up reasonably cheap, but the shop i work at is a specialized dealer so now i'm leaning toward the bighit for heavy trailriding/riding off stuff/lift assisted riding and possibly an eduro for a lighter trail bike. i'm also suppose to be gettting an i-drive 1.0 frame in the mail sometime this month, course that's what pacific has been telling me now for about 8-9 months. that could be a lightweight trailbike/ possible race attempt bike. the bikes previously listed are all a bit overbuilt for the intended purpose and could cross over onto eachother for lighter riders, but i'm no lightweight at 230 lbs.