Rockrider 9.1 full suspension - views/opinions?

[Woody]

Guys,
Have been offered one of these locally for less than the price of a new RR 8.1.

I've read THIS REVIEW and it seems like a cracking spec for the price.

I wasn't really considering a full susser as most of my riding will be single track /XC with a bit of the Trails thrown in for good measure - but keep thinking it'll stop me from 'upgrade-itis' too soon.

What are peoples thoughts on this bike?

What's it like without a lock-out on the rear shock?

Would I be daft to get it for the kind of riding I'm doing?

Thanks

Chris

[richardxjr]

Worth a go at £500 Woody. Saw a few in France, they sell more expensive stuff too. Our chalet host/guide in the Alps had a FS RR of some description.

I'd want to (at least) sit on one in store. Talk of bob would put me off as [nearly] half the fun of a short travel XC blaster is tearing up hill.

Respect to your budget creep I predict your next post will be 'Anthem or Trance ...?'

[Woody]

Thanks for the reply.
'Bob' concerned me a bit which is why I was a bit unsure going for a full susser with no rear lock-out.

They do the RR 9.2 with lockout and loger travel but that's over my budget.

Hopefully going to have a look at it one night this week.

Will probably try and pop into Decathlon and compare the 8.1 and 9.1 tonight.

[richardxjr]

Cool. Ask em when their 540 mtb helmet is coming into stock (M) as I want one!

[Woody]

Will do lol

[Incorrigible]

Get it, and then get a lockout shock when that one needs a service

If you're anything like me (got my first full susser in May) You'll realise how much faster you are down the gnarly stuff and just be looking for more and more challenges

In the early spring we were doing 20 milers with the odd hill, now it's 10 milers with a few thousand feet of climbing and gap jumps

Same amount of exercise but loads more fun

[Woody]

hora said:

How much and what are you planning on using it for?

If strictly pootling and canal paths fine. If you want to go in and more ignore anything bikeradar says on their reviews.

About £450'ish.
Will be used over Cannock Chase - Single track, blue routes and FTD and probably Hicks Lodge.

What's the issue with it (and BR reviews?)?

[caterhamboy]

There cracking bikes, nearly bought one myself instead of my anthem x3. bro's mate has the older 9.1 (same bike different colour)from around 2010 i think, had a go on it round cannock and couldn't fault it. Anything from decathlon in the higher range is good quality for money and that bike would easily cost £1200+ if it had a fashionable name on it. Kind of rides in between my old trance and the anthem and didn't notice any bob.

[richardxjr]

hora said:

How much and what are you planning on using it for?

If strictly pootling and canal paths fine. If you want to go in and more ignore anything bikeradar says on their reviews.

Nonsense.

Get the right framesize and that will be fine for XC and trail centres. Like caterhamboy says, it's not a million miles away from my Anthem or a Trance.

[Woody]

Thanks for the reply.

I met up with a few guys for a ride last night over the Chase - just over 11 miles on the blue route.
Really showed up how poor my bike is lol. Felt like a bucking bronco at one point as the forks couldn't keep up with the terrain - compensated a bit by dropping the pressures in the tyres part way round.

3 of the guys were on full sussers (Orange 5 and 2 Carrera Banshee's) another guy had a Voodoo Hoodoo with the only original parts being the brakes, frame and bars - everything else had been changed under warranty over the last year or so (putting me off the Voodoo's).

I kept up with them most of the way only lagging on a couple of the bigger hills - which is a fitness/technique issue for me at the moment.

Was chatting to another guy who runs a 1x9 set-up, he seemed to have no trouble with anyhting having 1/3rd of the gears I'd got.....

[richardxjr]

1x is great Saves half a kilo, less bar clutter, no front mech to foul or misbehave, silent, no chain slap with a clutch mech. With 9 or 10 wide range sprockets there's no need for anymore. I rode the SDW on 1x10, that's quite hilly and steep, now planning a singlespeed rigid build 29er though for even more simplicity, less weight, better fitness.

Generally to convert from 3x9 you'd need a 10 speed clutch mech, cassette, chain, shifter and narrow wide front chainring (to fit a std Shimano crank), about £150.

[AndyWoodall]

hora said:

Edit- On bikeradar reviews. I find they can contradict themselves, the star rating doesn't often follow what they said in the text. On some products I'd disagree 'frame is too stiff/not compliant' (on a On One carbon 456 frame) and it was really comfy for me. I also think they are advertising led. When Specialized were running big one page ads on the back of the mag(s) and inside regularly the bikes (although Enduro was very good) - always won 10/10, cynically the advertising looked like it'd dropped off a bit and the reviews did too..

Isn't the inconsistency down to the fact the reviews are reposted from lots of different sources? (What Bike?MBUK etc etc) I don't disagree, but that was always my thoughts on it.

[Woody]

Missed out on the RR 9.1

Back to looking at the 8.1 hard tail and Carrera's.....

[Gizmoish]

Woody said:

Missed out on the RR 9.1

Back to looking at the 8.1 hard tail and Carrera's.....

Check out the Boardman HT Comp 650b. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

[richardxjr]

Proper bike if it fits (18" frame which is about a medium)

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/on-one-456...

New frame but some componentry has been swapped on to it. Worth getting pics though.

[Woody]

richardxjr said:

Proper bike if it fits (18" frame which is about a medium)

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/on-one-456...

New frame but some componentry has been swapped on to it. Worth getting pics though.

Thanks for the heads up.
lovely bike, but a bit too far for me to travel to pick it up.

Looking at the works cycle scheme or getting a Carrera Fury for 12 months to see how much I use it before spending out loads for something else.

[Gar3276]

I’ve got a Rockrider 9.1 model it’s 2012 I need to change the chainring over does any brand fit? Cheers