Need help chosing a DH bike

[Koper25]

So after taking my Reign X1 to Baw Baw and Buller this Summer, I've come to the conclusion that I really like riding DH, and I want a dedicated DH bike.

Bikes I'm considering are:
(in no particular order)

- Giant Glory 1 '13
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/glory.1/12056/58355/

- Rocky Mountain Flatline Pro '13
http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+Flatline_Pro.html?BIKE=1196&CATID=1&SCATID=7&Y=2013

- Kona Operator '13
http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=operator

- Norco Aurum 2 '13
http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/dh-race-park/aurum/

- Specialized Demo 8 I '13
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/demofsr/demo8i


So I guess what I'm asking you guys is, what would you chose out of this list and why? Or what else would you recommend in that price range?

Thanks in advance! :smile:

 

[driftking]

Don't Bother with kona one of the WC guys snapped 5 frames in 6 races, my mate also snapped his and it has not been abused, kona is then almost impossible to deal wih about warranty and if you race the bike at all they will say you can't get warranty. Eventually my mate did get his replaced or at least refunded but it wasn't a normal process and it took some extra initiative to get sorted.

Not sure on the rocky mountains so can't really comment.

The glory, demo and aurum are my three you listed. From here it comes down to seeing if you can get a test ride. Cant really say which one to buy because they are all good. The glory comes with r2c2 which is a plus over the others only using RC. In terms of value for money I'd say glory>demo>aurum

That said its always best to choose the bike by frame. What is your budget?

 

[Shredden]

Don't Bother with kona one of the WC guys snapped 5 frames in 6 races, my mate also snapped his and it has not been abused, kona is then almost impossible to deal wih about warranty and if you race the bike at all they will say you can't get warranty. Eventually my mate did get his replaced or at least refunded but it wasn't a normal process and it took some extra initiative to get sorted.

I know this is all circumstantial but I think this is bs.

A good friend cracked his 2011 operator, sent it off and had a 2012 frame in his hands a week later. He had raced it for more than a season and Groupe knew that. Connor Fearon may have cracked one, but certainly not 5.

I dont particularly care about Groupe Sportif but I dont think they deserve the rumors that have been circulating about poor warranty/service.

 

[bikesarefun]

Just get the demo. Solid bike, and it's hard to fault them.

 

[driftking]

I know this is all circumstantial but I think this is bs.

A good friend cracked his 2011 operator, sent it off and had a 2012 frame in his hands a week later. He had raced it for more than a season and Groupe knew that. Connor Fearon may have cracked one, but certainly not 5.

I dont particularly care about Groupe Sportif but I dont think they deserve the rumors that have been circulating about poor warranty/service.

Well I can guarantee its not BS. More so it appeared that only because me and my mates were raging about how BS it was on facebook that the boys who work at the LBS are mates saw it and upon seeing it the issues was reexamined some more questioning and contact with kona it was fixed up. But they were initially not given the warranty. It took a uproar of riders on FB.

The snapping 5 frames in 6 races I was told by the mate whose frame also snapped so that is not something I personally read he did say it was Fearon though. even if it was mis read and it was the whole team snapped 5 its still not looking good. Ill see if I can find out where it came from and if its plausible

I think the kona is a great bike in terms of its performance but its reliability might not be the best, if I was sponsored sure id run it but that because I wouldn't need to replace the bike. For me as a none sponsored rider I need my kit to be reliable and solid to race all season that doesn't involve me forking out more money.

 

[Danman89]

I rode a Demo last year at Whistler which was awsome. It was the first time I had ridden a DH bike and was really impressed how easy it was to ride that bike coming from an XC background.