Do You Need A Downhill Bike?

Downhill is often likened to Formula 1 and you can see why when you take a look at the bikes. An F1 car looks totally different to the car you drive to work in, and a downhill bike, looks very different to most bikes you see out on the trails with their triple clamp forks, slack angles, fixed Seatpost, and long wheelbase. These striking looks make it easy to lust over downhill bikes, but do you really need one? Neil & Rich are out in Saalbach to pit a downhill bike up against an enduro bike to find out!

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[thefullstop]

9:16 "Nothing looks cooler, than a downhill bike", the best statement ever. Couldn't agree more.

[TrIpMo]

I agree with Neil. A downhill bike is still the best looking bike ever.

[jonnyfoxmtb]

I've been asking myself this question the past few days. I love my 160mm travel full sus, but I yearn for a DH bike just because they look so so so good.

[Thematty]

It really just comes down to what you ride. If your an aspiring racer and dh is the racing you want to do. Then yea perfect big squish big brakes and super stable for going fast.
If you race enduro then enduro will be your go to. Still burly but you have to pedal up.
Every day rides the go to bike has to be like a 150 or 160 mm trail bike. Pedals well, stops well, corners good.

[robinshoroscope]

I have a downhill bike, and I'm glad I have it. But last time I was at whistler I officially thought to myself "this really isn't necessary" after seeing all the people with 170 or 180 bikes. I now have a 180/170 bike in addition to the DH bike but still, I would say if you're limited to only owning a couple bikes, no, a DH bike is absolutely not necessary for parks. There's very little a DH bike is offering that a high travel trail bike isn't.

But, I'm still glad I have the DH bike and I will continue to ride it at parks. the extra travel certainly doesn't hurt anything except pedaling.

[huntii]

Don't let the bike shops talk you into bikes you don't need. You don't need 170/160. I run 130/125 and go riding in a bike park every weekend. No problem whatsoever.

[ridesafealways]

Still got a Giant Faith 2012 M. It went through many iterations of parts from, freeride, downhill, super enduro. Super enduro is my most favorite form with a Zeb 29 190mm up front, 12 speed sram gx lunar groupset, Mullet setup, and a 125mm reverb dropper post.

[louiefriesen]

I think it would've been cool to throw a long travel enduro bike (like the Nukeproof Giga), with a dual crown and see how that holds up against the DH and enduro bikes.

[jailundy]

I've got a downhill bike as my only bike in Taranaki, New Zealand where there are no shuttles. A bit of a struggle at first, but eventually your legs get fit enough that you can ride most uphill trails without too much struggle 😅

[asamcqueen]

I'm fortunate enough that over the years I've managed to get both an enduro and a downhill bike. The enduro is definitely going to get more miles out of it than the DH though, largely due to what's accessible nearby. It makes more sense to play and practice skills on the enduro on my local trails and grab the heavy hitter for the weekend trips to an actual bike park with a lift.

[stujm]

Downhill is amazing, and watching Neil ride one is always a pleasure. However I do love enduro too, it would have to be an enduro for me, just for practical reasons. If I could have both I would though.

[darenkirkwood]

Van girl yuka did a brilliant video on same topic. She came to a good conclusion

[fourutubez]

Oh look it's the time for the annual "Do you need a DH bike " video. Not watched yet but is the answer, No - but they are fun / good at what they do / look the most 'rad' ?

[letsgo_inc]

I'd probably pick up a vintage DH bike if I was looking for one. That Boostmonster that Jordan has is wicked.

[simondrew]

Bought a DH bike (YT Tues) a few years ago and regretted it on the first ride - so long and heavy, real pig to change direction - BB so low I was striking tree stumps and rocks all over the trail - gearing that was so high I struggled to get going again if I got hung up on anything…I’m sure they’re great in the right hands and I love watching DH but I’m much faster on a trail/enduro bike.

[rogue]

Im good with my XC Hardtail.. love it!

[t.s_mtb]

always love my downhills i got an ns fuzz which was the only dh i had that felt similar to a bmx and take it every where even if its over kill i love it

[nickthaskater]

Pedal your DH for a good leg workout and for the amazement on other faces when they realize what you're riding up on.

I love my DH for the fact that it's a tank. I can ride the daylights out of it and I never worry that it's going to fail.

[WilliamLevesqueineX]

I have Mont-Saint-Anne not too far from my place. So the answer is yes 😅

[impaledface]

I am setting up my flatline for enduro now. Might be insane but it seems to be a fun experiment just go towards making it better at pedaling.