New Bike?

I was wondering y'all with newer bikes (3 years or newer) could attest to them being more advanced and/or better than a 10 year old fully suspended bike.

I bought my Univega from my brother who used it for law enforcement duties when he was in Cache Valley. It was in his garage that caught fire but didn't sustain any appreciable damage. A year after I bought it, I replaced the rear shock with one from Fox that had a lockout feature. The front suspension is a Rock Shox Judy. The components are decent (besides a dead rear shifter that is currently being replaced).

I'm debating putting up the coin for an 07 Stumpjumper FSR and just need confirmation that technology has improved in the last decade.

I'd save your money and go with an '05 or '06 bike. Resell value on bikes is horrible.

I have owned 2 FS bikes, a 1998 Proflex 5000 and a 2003 Santa Cruz Blur. The 1998 Proflex 5000, it was one of the earlier FS bikes. It is a good, but not great, XC bike. It has a single pivot design and the biggest drawback was the bob as I climbed. In fact I would time my pedal strokes with the up and down movement of the bike. A lot of my pushing power went into compressing the rear shock instead of moving me forward, not very efficient.

Last year a purchased a used 2003 Santa Cruz Blur. It has a more complicated Pivot design and has almost eliminated the bob when I climb. More of my pedal stroke goes to pushing me up hill rather than compressing the shock, I climb much better on the tech stuff. The downhill is much smoother, this is probably due to the newer shocks and not the design of the frame. Overall the new bike has made me more aggressive and a better rider. Plus with the newer shocks I can choose more aggressive lines on rides like Porcupine Rim.

If you have the cash it is a good upgrade, I would probably wait until you have broken some parts on your old bike like the shocks, gears, cranks .... and instead of buying new components get a new bike.

If you climb well and fill "one" with your current bike, just ride. I know some people who have upgraded to really $$$$ bikes but didn't find vast improvement from their old bikes.

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Originally Posted by Sombeech

I'd save your money and go with an '05 or '06 bike. Resell value on bikes is horrible.

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Sombeech is right, thier are lots and lots of new bikes out their. Seems like I see Stump Jumpers everywhere. Wait until October or November and see who is upgrading and who is getting out of the sport. I believe the bike shops sell their old rental bikes in the fall. I have a friend who picked up a good used bike down in Moab for a nice price. Plus they let me test ride it on Slick Rock.

The 2007 that I'm looking at is actually used and I can get it for 25% off of new.

Even if you only ride a few times a week, you will love the way the newer bikes feel - improved shock performance, lighter components all around, smoother shifting, etc.

I don't know exactly what Univega you're referring to, but regardless of the suspension design bikes have come a LONG way in 10 years! Almost any new full suspension bike on the market has been designed with great pains to reduce pedal feedback, and most do a great job. The stumpy is one of those! Also, they almost all use air suspension, front and rear tunable to your specific weight instead of elastomers like the Judys. Do you have a picture of the bike you could post??

You can definitely get a far superior frame with better components for the money than you could several years ago.

Having said that - you won't know how good the new bikes are until you've spent time on a clunker to appreciate them! :nod:

The new Heckler is SIIIIICK!!

http://www.santacruzmtb.com/heckler.5/

http://www.santacruzmtb.com/heckler.5/heckler.5.jpg

I agree with what has been said about the newer full suspension bikes out there. You will appreciate how much more efficient and smoother they ride. I have seen the good deals begin in late July and August when the new bikes start arriving in the shops.

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Originally Posted by Mtnbiker

Do you have a picture of the bike you could post??

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The Stumpjumper or my Univega?

I'm just curious to see this so called Univega :mrgreen: I didn't know they made a full suspension bike :ne_nau:

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Originally Posted by Mtnbiker

I'm just curious to see this so called Univega :mrgreen: I didn't know they made a full suspension bike :ne_nau:

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Surprise!!!

get a new bike..wait for the new models to come out and you can get killer deals on last years model...if you are 6 foot or taller i would try the gary fishers...have had two of them, love them, my shorter buddies hate them, tell me that they spread them out too much. they have anew one, the sky...awesome...looking at buying one next winter!

I'd say go with the stump jumper. I have specialized big hit and have hand no problems with it. Of couarse I have to regularly maintain it. Specialized is a great company that stands behind there products.

You could stick with your old bike, (a much cheaper way) but you will have an entirely different experience. You might actually end up liking mountain biking in stead of just putting up with it if you get a new bike. At least this was the case for me. I had an older bike and I really didn't like biking. Once I got my new bike, it literally was a night and day diference. Not only for he reasons that other's have said, IE: improved shocks, suspension design ext., but over all feel of the bike will be better (they can really be tuned to you individually now). Disc brakes are tons beter than the side pull brakes on your old Univega. This alone would almost make the purchase work it to me. Much better stopping power with much less for force. It really saves your hands when you are going down hill.

I do think the Univega looks cool and I would definately hold on to it. If for nothing else than just to remember the old days of FS bikes. But in my opion, I would go for new if you want to enjoy the ride.

I would check out www.mtbr.com and go the classified page. They sell used bikes and sometimes for great deals. That's where I got mine. I got a very, very good deal. This will at least give you an idea of what used bikes are going for and see what sort of deal you are getting on the 07'

Hope to see you with a new bike soon!! Your going to love it!

one question is the FSR the comp, expert or pro?

I ended up with this :naughty: 07 Enduro SL Comp FSR

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/...t_Sliver_d.jpg

OH! THAT is a SWEET ride! - You have chose well grasshopper :2thumbs: :mrgreen:

WOW TRIPLE crown forks!! that is sweet!! And you can raise and lower the seet with out risk of hitting the shock with the seet post!! Excellent choice. I think you are off to a life long love of mountain biking.

So what trails have you broken it in with?

WOW TRIPLE crown forks!! that is sweet!! And you can raise and lower the seet with out risk of hitting the shock with the seet post!! Excellent choice. I think you are off to a life long love of mountain biking.

So what trails have you broken it in with?