I recently bought an 07 BigHit 2 (note: it still has the stock fork- Domain 318- and shock- Van R 8.75x2.5). I really like it and I think it's a great bike- especially for beginners or people on a budget- but naturally I'm wondering some other people's opinions on what it's limits are in things like: Racing. Like in a downhill race, can it be used effectively for a few races? I'm pretty new to races, so I would definentlely be using it in the most beginner category. I know that it is obviously not a DH racing machine, but how bad/good is it? What could I do to make it a better race bike? Once again, I know that I can't magically transform a BigHit 2 into a DH racing beast, but what can I do/what upgrades can I get to make it better? Drops. What kind of drops was this bike (and it's fork/shock) designed to take? As it's pretty new, I haven't taken it off anything more than 5-6 feet. Even so, I have felt like I've been going through my travel pretty quickly (at least in the rear...). I noticed that the shock stroke is 2.5in, whereas a lot of DH/FR bikes use 2.75 or something like that. Does it make a difference? And I know that the BigHit is no cliff-hucking monster either, but what could I do to make it's performance on drops better?
And a couple more random questions: Is it bad if you have your rebound turned pretty far up? Right now the fork is at 5 clicks from fastest rebound (19 clicks are available) and my rear shock is at like almost fastest setting. Does rebound have anything to do with bottoming out or that feeling that I'm eating up all my travel really fast? Maybe it's just me... And btw I ride Keystone a lot in the summer so how do you think it'll gonna hold up?
Its the rear shock. It has no other adjustments other than rebound. the van on my bighit did the same thing. go to santacruzmtb.com if you on a budget get one of the 99 dollar 5th element shocks their 8.75 by 2.75. Ive had one in my bighit for a while, and for the price they work really well. that will fix the bottom out thing. Bit hits are awesome bikes for new gravity riders. They can take lots of abuse. their tanks, but they ride nice.
Its the rear shock. It has no other adjustments other than rebound. the van on my bighit did the same thing. go to santacruzmtb.com if you on a budget get one of the 99 dollar 5th element shocks their 8.75 by 2.75. Ive had one in my bighit for a while, and for the price they work really well. that will fix the bottom out thing. Bit hits are awesome bikes for new gravity riders. They can take lots of abuse. their tanks, but they ride nice.
Really? Cause I noticed that a BigHit has 7.5in rear travel also, when the stroke goes up to 2.75 (BigHit 3) the rear wheel travel increases to 8.2in... So having more stroke won't mess with your bike because it doesn't have as much rear wheel travel? Also, what BigHit do you have?
And could it be anything else? i.e. like the spring weight/rate or anything? I've got a 350lbs spring in right now and I'm about 108lbs w/o gear. Another thing: when I bought this bike from my LBS they put in lighter springs for my weight, but one guy also mentioned taking out some sort of spacer that gave you more travel and had no affect on the bike. I don't know if they ever did it, and I don't recall him saying anything more about it than that....
Anyone else got ideas on what could make it a better race bike and stuff like that?
Sluggish in what way?
And about upgrading: is it worth upgrading a ton of stuff to make a BigHit 2 w/ really nice components? Because I know some other things aren't worth putting the money into because no matter how much you upgrade them they still can't preform at the level of higher end things. Is this the way it is with bikes?
If anything I would just replace the rear shock and use it as is, replacing what gets broken with decent components, not too expensive, and save for a kick azz bike in 1 or 2 years.
this is what you do: you ride the Bighit until you are outriding it and starting to bottom and break stuff, then the nice parts you have on it can go on another nice dh frame you will buy. the other leftover parts that you dont like can be replced with others parts ehrn you purchase your new frame. then you can sell the old parts for cash and upgrade some more.
they are just sluggish when pedaling around and also on flatter stuff. on the downhills they do great but they arent the best if you ride resorts a lot.
I think they are fine. They aren't purebred racing machines but I ride with a couple guys who have them and they shred just as hard as the dudes with the $$$ downhill bikes.
So does the 2.5 vs. the 2.75 really make a big difference in bottoming out?
What about the fork? Is the Domain 318 good for fair sized drops and a little racing?
Djponee: I like your idea. What do you mean by their not good at resorts but they are good at downhill? A resort is like a ski resort like Keystone right? Keystone has a bunch of lift-served downhill that requires almost no pedaling... And yes I have definintely noticed this bike's sluggishness when climbing.
Anyone got any idea about the spacer thing I asked about a couple posts up?
this is what you do: you ride the Bighit until you are outriding it and starting to bottom and break stuff, then the nice parts you have on it can go on another nice dh frame you will buy. the other leftover parts that you dont like can be replced with others parts ehrn you purchase your new frame. then you can sell the old parts for cash and upgrade some more.
they are just sluggish when pedaling around and also on flatter stuff. on the downhills they do great but they arent the best if you ride resorts a lot.
aren't they made for the resorts, just like any other downhill or freeride bike. If they arent made for the resort style riding than what are they made for?
and you say they are great for the downhills but then you say they arent the best for riding the resorts? how does this work
The bike will be fine...you don't need a $4000 bike when you're doing 5 foot drops and racing beginner class every once in a while. Buy a new spring if you're going through the travel too much.
The bike will be fine...you don't need a $4000 bike when you're doing 5 foot drops and racing beginner class every once in a while. Buy a new spring if you're going through the travel too much.
i have a 2004 big hit that i've used for 2 years. i've done everything from dirt jumping to whistler on it. Don't sweat "what it can do" and just ride it. I've pushed that bike to the limit, and it's held up far better than i ever could have imagined. Much longer than every component on it. I've since upgraded the fork to a manitou travis, the shock with an 08 dhx 5.0 coil, x.9's. and a bunch of other stuff knowing that if and when i get a new frame it'll all transfer just fine. Trust me, you've got a great bike, don't sweat it's capabilities and worry more about the guts it'll take to push yourself to YOUR limit... have fun!
aren't they made for the resorts, just like any other downhill or freeride bike. If they arent made for the resort style riding than what are they made for?
and you say they are great for the downhills but then you say they arent the best for riding the resorts? how does this work
i meant that they are good for steeps and rough **** like on the gnarly trails and stuff, but they don't work as well for resorts due to the flat sopts on some trails. every dh bike is like this really. Not dissing on your bike homie, my isnt any better, just they arent good for certain stuff, one of them being pedaling.
for spacemarine, it will do everything, just doesnt excel over every other bike at anything, it is a good all around bike that you can get for relatively cheap and will last you.
i meant that they are good for steeps and rough **** like on the gnarly trails and stuff, but they don't work as well for resorts due to the flat sopts on some trails. every dh bike is like this really. Not dissing on your bike homie, my isnt any better, just they arent good for certain stuff, one of them being pedaling.
for spacemarine, it will do everything, just doesnt excel over every other bike at anything, it is a good all around bike that you can get for relatively cheap and will last you.
It's fine, now I get what your saying. Good point. And thanks for all the help guys. One more quick question regarding how good the current stuff is , is the fork worth upgrading to a cheapish DC (like a boxxer race or something... Not now, sometime in the future)?
And now on to a few more tech questions:
What about that spacer? I'm thinking this might affect some of this stuff...
And the 2.75 will work fine on my bike right? The 7.5in rear wheel travel doesn't restrict that right? Because most of the bikes I have seen with 2.75 have like 8in of rear wheel travel. Just checking though.
Sorry for all the questions
It's fine, now I get what your saying. Good point. And thanks for all the help guys. One more quick question regarding how good the current stuff is , is the fork worth upgrading to a cheapish DC (like a boxxer race or something... Not now, sometime in the future)?
And now on to a few more tech questions:
What about that spacer? I'm thinking this might affect some of this stuff...
And the 2.75 will work fine on my bike right? The 7.5in rear wheel travel doesn't restrict that right? Because most of the bikes I have seen with 2.75 have like 8in of rear wheel travel. Just checking though.
Sorry for all the questions
i know that the boxxer race is a pretty good, durable fork. what i dont know is how the domain rides. all i know is i have heard or seen anything wron about them, so i couldnt help you. And, the 2.75 inch stroke on the new shock would give you 8.2 or 8.3 inches of travel, and it is fine, because the bighit 3 has a 2.75 inch stroke so it will not void the warranty.
i have a 2004 big hit that i've used for 2 years. i've done everything from dirt jumping to whistler on it. Don't sweat "what it can do" and just ride it. I've pushed that bike to the limit, and it's held up far better than i ever could have imagined. Much longer than every component on it. I've since upgraded the fork to a manitou travis, the shock with an 08 dhx 5.0 coil, x.9's. and a bunch of other stuff knowing that if and when i get a new frame it'll all transfer just fine. Trust me, you've got a great bike, don't sweat it's capabilities and worry more about the guts it'll take to push yourself to YOUR limit... have fun!
I never rode a BH, but this post seems right on. I've seen BHs everywhere from Cali to Whistler. If I was starting out, it would be a top choice.
The shock stroke isn't a factor in length of travel, at least with regards to your question.
Here's my take on figuring out your bike. Aside from your skill level, the fork, shock, and wheels are the biggest factors in how 'big' you can go. The wheels will be the first to go if you screw up. The rear shock will determine how 'fast' you can go without blowing up, but the fork will *save your ass*. Everything else on the bike is either eye candy or bleh -- whatever, it won't make or break the drop, jump, or race.
Ride yer bike, start hitting and dropping, and save up for a new fork.
i know that the boxxer race is a pretty good, durable fork. what i dont know is how the domain rides. all i know is i have heard or seen anything wron about them, so i couldnt help you. And, the 2.75 inch stroke on the new shock would give you 8.2 or 8.3 inches of travel, and it is fine, because the bighit 3 has a 2.75 inch stroke so it will not void the warranty.
Now I only have one question left:
What about that spacer? Like I said before, the guy at my LBS said that you could remove a spacer in the shock that would give it more travel (I recall him saying like 8in or something...). This has been confirmed by a couple more people. However, if removing the spacer raises the shock stroke, then doesn't that make for a lot less preload on a 2.8 spring? If that's true I should probably get a spring with more stroke...
I upgraded mine to a 2.75 stroke as well to get the extra travel. It feels great, more so cuz the shock was a world better than what came on it.
As far as the stopper goes, if you make the stroke longer, than you would definitely need a new spring. springs are designed with the shock stroke in mind, so bottom out problems will occur if you don't get the correct size.
So if removing the stopper/spacer did increase stroke, and I still had the 2.8 stroke spring in the shock, could that be the bottom out problems (like too much preload)? Has anyone ever heard of this stopper/spacer or does anyone know how much it increases stroke if it is removed? Cause if it gets it to 2.75 then I might be able to hold off on a new shock...
Big Hit frames are pretty strong. A friend of mine had his Big Hit fall off the rack of his car and hit a big rig.
Big Hit vs. Big Rig = Guess Who Won?
The big hit frame was fine, the parts on it, especially those ever so bendy Single Track rims were toast, but the frame...he got it built up again in a few weeks and was ripping it up.
This question is kind of redundant. Are you asking about the quality of the frame, or the physical limit of it?
Big Hit frames are pretty strong. A friend of mine had his Big Hit fall off the rack of his car and hit a big rig.
Big Hit vs. Big Rig = Guess Who Won?
The big hit frame was fine, the parts on it, especially those ever so bendy Single Track rims were toast, but the frame...he got it built up again in a few weeks and was ripping it up.
This question is kind of redundant. Are you asking about the quality of the frame, or the physical limit of it?
Wow that's crazy that the frame survived... I was more asking about what it was designed for/it's physical limit and people's opinions on it.
But now I'm mostly asking about that spacer thing. It's kinda confusing...
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