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New to the Dirt? Read
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IBIS
Mojo Carbon (HOLY Sˆˆˆ!)
“Wait, is that bike built by…” Yup. IBIS. “But
it looks like its made…” Uh-huh. Full carbon. “Man
that must…” Cost a fortune? One would think, wouldn’t
one. However, being that the guys at IBIS are not only nice guys
and engineering geniuses, but also financial wizards, your pals
here at Solano Ave Cyclery can get you hittin’ the dirt on
your own Mojo by just barely cracking into the “HOLY S***!”
price range. Of course if you wanna spend more that’s not
a problem either, since plenty of build kits are available and we
specialize in custom builds if you gotta have something really different.
The Mojo uses the DW-Link 5.5” travel suspension system that
gobbles up bumps in a most efficient manner all the while remaining
in the mid 20-pound range. “Sorry, what?” Yes, 26 pounds
with about half a foot of travel. We’re already dreaming of
ours, Maverick DUC 6” fork, carbon bars, Thomson stem and
post… Sound good to anyone else? Oh, you’re uh…
drooling on your keyboard there pal. |
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Yeti
AS-R SL (HOLY Sˆˆˆ!):
If you are craving an ultra-light and
super fast full suspension bike that will impress your pals as much
as it’ll kick their butts on the ride, then the 2006 AS-R
SL may just be the bike for you. Aluminum front end with a carbon
swingarm and a titanium bolt kit holding it all together means that
this bike is as light as it is fast. And for anyone who has heard
the rumblings that “Pink is the new Black,” Yeti doesn’t
disappoint with Pink being one of four color options. And for anyone
who didn’t get that memo, they offer Black too. Also available
as a frameset. |
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Yeti
ARC ($$ - Frame only):
If when you think of a new mountain
bike, your brain screams, “KICK IT OLD SCHOOL, YO!”
But there is also a voice saying something about modern and good
suspension and components that aren’t SunTour XC Pro, then
the elixir that may soothe your screaming brain is probably the
Yeti ARC frameset. This model has been around since the days of
John Parker and has spent lots of time getting better and better.
We don’t get excited about hardtails too often, but this one
has such a rich history in the sport of mountain bike racing that
it’s hard not to be totally into this bike. From the fine
welds to the old-school loop seat/chainstays this bike has stood
the test of time and, and just like Yoda, has only grown stronger
with age (hey, it’s even green like Yoda… maybe this
bike possesses The Force). How many frames do you know that can
claim World Championship wins but aren’t washed up and flippin’
burgers at Jack-in-the-Box or selling Stain Resistant Carpets for
a living now? That’s what I thought! Come on down to Solano
Avenue Cyclery and let us build one up with your dream parts kit.
Hmm? No, we can NOT get SunTour XC Pro parts for it! |
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Yeti
575 ($$$$$):
Numbers are pretty confusing. To make
things easy on us, Yeti has named this bike the 575, which is not
only the amount of travel (5.75”), but also the frame weight
(5.75 pounds). We’re also confused by the fact that this bike
has freeride travel with cross country weight and climbing ability.
But it’s true, and that is about all that matters. In fact
maybe Nothing Else Matters. I like Metallica. Do you guys like Metallica?
Man, I have a really short attention span. I just remembered that
I like this bike a lot though… Oh yeah, Neil is an engineer
and he is eagerly awaiting the arrival of his 575, which must mean
it’s pretty dang good, ‘cause he’s real smart-like.
And Charlie has already replaced his old steed with one and said
the following about the 575, “Dude, this bike F***in’
ROCKS!” Charlie is a picky dude that won’t take something
for free if he’s not 100% into it, so the fact that he not
only chose this bike but also paid for it should really tell you
something. |
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Yeti
AS-X ($$$$$):
We here at Solano Avenue Cyclery have
always been fans of long travel single-pivot bikes (Marty has had
three Bullit’s over the years) for their affordability, simplicity
and durability. Yeti’s AS-X comes very nicely assembled with
such goodies as the Fox DHX 5.0 shock, 36R Vanilla fork, SRAM X9,
Race Face cranks, bars, and seat post, and an attitude in line with
getting kicked out of your High School Spanish class. I remember
when Andy got kicked out of Senorita Imes class for climbing out
of a second story window to escape the madness of Paco the Estudiante.
Sweet! |
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Yeti
303 (HOLY S***!)::
Forget everything you’ve heard.
This is the Holy Grail of downhill bikes. If Missy Giove had this
bike back when her dead and petrified Piranha was hanging around
her neck and she was lighting up DH courses and winning every gravity-related
race in the world she would have come across the finish line so
fast that she would have traveled back in time and her Piranha would
have come back to life and bit her in the nose. Then she would have
said, “F@*K YEAH! Piranha’s rule man!” and then
she would have dove across the dirt in front of the podium where
2nd and 3rd place finishers stood in awe and felt rejected and slow.
Check your history, Dog, that be the truth, yo! Charlie got to swing
a leg over a prototype 303 during a tour of the Yeti factory in
Colorado and unleashed the wild fury upon the bike that he used
to unleash on a fully rigid Panda at Mammoth’s Kamikaze in
the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s (he used
to finish Top-10 against guys with suspension!). What did he think?
“I took one look at it and didn’t even want to ride
it since it looks like a tank, then I pedaled it around the parking
lot and it was as responsive and fast as a hardtail - I couldn’t
believe it and couldn’t wait to do some runs.” After
his runs Charlie had become convinced that he could destroy his
Panda time at Mammoth on this bike. If you’re looking for
the ultimate DH machine, then come to Solano Avenue Cyclery and
let us build one up for you with a top-of-the-line chromoly Panda
fork, one-piece cranks and… On second thought, maybe we’ll
just use some modern high-end parts instead. |
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Yeti
DJ ($-Frame Only):
I really like dirt jumping a lot. No
pressure like the top of the DH course, and all that matters is
how your flow feels and if you are satisfied with your flattie or
not. No timing system, no podium, no rules. Just you, your bike,
and some piles of dirt. If the dirt is calling but you don’t
have an appropriate ride, then the 2006 DJ can make your dirt dreams
reality. |
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Santa
Cruz Blur ($$$$$):
We have sold Santa Cruz Mountain Bikes
since their inception in 1993, and the VPP (Virtual Pivot Point)
bikes like the Blur are the best they have ever built. Props to
Santa Cruz for not only building a great bike, but also for being
more concerned with getting the bike right, versus getting it now.
They were planning on releasing the Blur after the 2001 InterBike
tradeshow, but were not happy with the bike, so they kept on working
for another year. How often does that happen in today's marketing-driven
World? "I'll take 'Never' for $500, Alex." Now you just
need to choose whether you want the XC version that sheds a pound
of weight or an LT version with 5.3 inches of travel. There is also
finally an XS frame size available in the XC! |
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Santa
Cruz VP-Free ($$$$$):
So as soon as the Blur came out, we loved it. Within about 10 minutes
though, we found the long-travel freak in us saying, "I can't
wait until a 6" or 8" VPP Santa Cruz comes out."
Well, much to our delight a few years later came the 8.5"-travel
VP-Free. Blur efficient with loads of travel. Not a bad combination
at all. |
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Santa
Cruz Juliana SL ($$$$):
A women's specific bike, based on the tried and true Superlight.
A simple, long lasting suspension design that works so well, dozens
of other companies have copied the design for their own bikes. Available
in so many good looking colors it defies logic and common sense,
and begs you to buy several so you can have a color to match your
mood. |
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Santa
Cruz V-10 (HOLY S***!):
Applying the proven VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) design used on the
Blur to a downhill bike means several things. First of all, it makes
it a pretty dang efficient downhill bike, and secondly, wait, who
cares. Number one does it for us. The V-10 is what DH dreams are
made of. A custom butted 6066 USA tube set paired up with a 5th
Element or Fox rear shock will have obstacles cringing as you approach.
Every pivot relies on sealed cartridge bearings, meaning long life
and smooth operation, and a replaceable dropout means if things
get beyond ugly you still don't have to worry about trashing your
frame when you slam a boulder with your rear derailleur. This bike
will make you wish there was a ski lift around every corner. An
entire bike will only set you back 1/40th the cost of a 2006 Ford
GT, or half the cost of a Hyundai Accent. |
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Santa
Cruz Nomad (HOLY S***!):
Now here is a bike for every occasion! Six inches of ultra-efficient
VPP travel and shock options such as the new Fox DHX Air which provides
downhill travel and adjustability with the weight of a cross country
air shock. We set one of these up with a Maverick DUC fork, an XT
build kit and 2.5-inch tires and it weighs 30-pounds. What's that?
Is that you Downieville? You're in love with the Nomad you say?
And you're jealous that the climbs of Mount Tam want the Nomad too?
Well, get used to it, cause this sexxxxy looking ride is designed
to kill 'em all! Somewhere on tour, James Hetfield is proud. |
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Specialized
Hardrock Sport /
Hardrock Sport Women’s ($):
Can you believe that way less than 400 smackaroos buys you a 24-speed,
aluminum-framed, front suspension bike from one of the oldest companies
in mountain biking? Neither could we, so we ordered a bunch of these
bikes thinking that Specialized had screwed up the pricing in our
favor. Well, we have got news for you; this is the real deal. The
Hardrock is not only a screamin’ deal, you even get to pick
Gray, Black or Orange (our personal favorite) for the men's, and
Blue or Silver for the women's as the frame color. If you went to
the grocery store and said you wanted to order Cocoa Pebbles cereal
in Orange they'd look at you like you were crazy. We know, 'cause
we've tried it. Apparently Cocoa Pebbles comes in chocolate color
only. Period. Not the Hardrock. Man, that's so great. |
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Specialized
Hardrock Sport Disc ($):
Okay, pretend for one moment that you are Emirel Lagasse on the
Food Network. Seriously work with me here. Take a sweet Hardrock
Sport, stir in some poppin' colors like Matte Brown or Gold with
flames, sauté with a pair of Tektro disc brakes and BAAAAAM!
You've got yourself a sizzlin’ hot ride! |
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Specialized
Rockhopper /Rockhopper
Women's ($):
Last year one of the best selling bikes in the Specialized line
was the $500 Rockhopper. "So what?" I hear you say? Well,
for 2006 the bike has been spiffed up significantly, but the price
has dropped. Sounds crazy to us too, so we'd say buy one before
Specialized realizes the extent of their own insanity, fires their
crazed product manager, and raises the price to $375,500. SRAM has
stepped up big this year with some slick product like the SX-5 rear
derailleur and SX-4 trigger shifters which are quicker and more
accurate than the Shimano Alivio they replace! Add in a TruVativ
ISO-Flow crankset and a RockShox J3 SL suspension fork with lockout
(yes, WITH LOCKOUT, incase you just crawled out from under a rock
for the first time in 10 years, lockout on a sub-$500 bike is CRAZY!)
The RockShox also surpassed last years Manitou Six fork in the stiffness
department by not wobbling around on corners and under torque. This
just might be the best deal of the year in Mid-range hardtails.
Oh, we almost forgot! You can also get the Rockhopper Women's which
has women's geometry (shorter top-tube) and a lighter-sprung fork
for the same price! |
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Specialized
Rockhopper Comp ($$):
Ever since the increased popularity of full suspension, the availability
of nice hardtails in the $500-$1,000 range has shrunk as manufacturers
put more of their high-end attention into their full suspension
bikes. What was left was often a nice $500 bike, and a great $1,000
bike, with nothing in-between. Fortunately you can now but a 2006
Rockhopper Comp featuring a frame with a double-butted front triangle
along with a Shimano Deore and LX drivetrain, TruVativ crankset,
Sun rims, Avid brakes, and a RockShox Tora fork with 100mm of travel,
lock-out, preload and rebound adjustments! Pretty sweet ride! |
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Specialized
Rockhopper Comp Disc ($$$):
So you tell me that you sold a thousand candy bars during your schools
“Tooth Rot Drive” and them tasty treats cost you 50-cents
each but you sold them for a Buck-and-a-Half? Sly devil you! If
you're as bad at math as me you'd say that you made 47 million dollars,
then you'd do the calculation on a calculator to see how may zeros
are in forty-seven million and find that you actually made a thousand
smackaroo profit there. Almost as good, and almost enough to buy
you the sweet 2006 Rockhopper Pro Disc. A few more candy bar sales
and you'll be stylin' all over the mountain on a shiny red bike
with a sweet RockShox Recon fork, Avid mech disc brakes, and a Deore
& XT drivetrain with TruVativ 2-piece cranks. Heck, maybe you
can even sell yourself some of those candy bars to earn the money
quicker! |
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Specialized
Stumpjumper /
Stumpjumper Womens's ($$$$):
This year the massively popular Stumpjumper is better than ever!
The name has long been associated with lightweight, fast, tough
cross country bikes. Shimano LX and XT along with a killer TruVativ
Stylo 2-Piece crankset fill up the spec sheet and Fox's proven Float
RL 90 fork compliments the bike nicely with it's full-aluminum construction
and excellent attention to detail. As with many of Specialized's
other models, this one is available in a sister model, the Stumpjumper
Women's which has had it's geometry adjusted to include a shorter
top tube and features Specialized's Women's Body Geometry saddle
to help insure hours of riding comfort. |
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Specialized
Stumpjumper Disc ($$$$):
Take a 2006 Stumpjumper, stir in an extra few smackaroos and as
though through magic, you'll be rewarded with a set of Avid BB-7
disc brakes and a gloss black paintjob to make your riding experience
that much better. |
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Specialized
S-Works Carbon Hardtail (HOLY S***!):
There are still folks out there looking to spend full suspension
money, on a hardtail. The S-Works Carbon hardtail is about as expensive
as a hardtail gets these days. A FACT 10m Carbon frame, full XTR
groupo including hydraulic disc brakes, a Fox F90x fork (locks itself
out in smooth terrain), Mavic Crossmax Disc SL tubeless wheels,
a Thomson seat post and stem, along with a set of carbon handlebars
and a titanium railed seat make this the raddest hardtail we have
ever seen. |
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Specialized
FSR XC Comp ($$$$):
If the Stumpjumper FSR is just too much for your pocketbook to handle,
but you gotta have full suspension, then we can pretty happily point
you to the Specialized FSR XC Comp. A nice set of Avid BB-5 disc
brakes, a RockShox Tora 318 Air with rebound and lockout, genuine
Mavic rims, and an acceptable Shimano drivetrain make this probably
the best bike for the money. If you can save up a few extra hundred
for that Stumpjumper FSR by all means do it, otherwise you'll still
have a good time on this ride, only getting your butt kicked by
friends on Stumpjumper FSR's… |
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Specialized
FSR XC Pro ($$$$):
Now don't get us wrong, this is a pretty cool bike, but honestly,
for an extra couple hundred bucks you get a Stumpjumper FSR which
has a nicer frame, better components and a $600 Fox fork. You do
the math. |
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Specialized
Stumpjumper FSR/
FSR Women's:
If we could only sell one full suspension bike this year, this'd
be the one. This bike got some sweet upgrades from the 2005 model
and the price remained the same. Absolute madness, considering that
the old $350 fork is gone and replaced with a fully adjustable (rebound,
compression, lockout) $600 Fox Float 120 RL! Not to mention that
you now get Avid's BB-7 mechanical disc brakes (the favorite brake
of Solano Avenue Cyclery for it simplicity, ease of adjustment on
the trail, and powerful stopping ability), TruVativ Stylo 2-piece
cranks with external bearings, a revised Rival saddle, Fox Triad
rear shock with ProPedal and Lockout, and, oh yeah, it's now 120mm
travel up from 100mm in 2005. This is the bike of 2006, and at least
one bicycle magazine agrees (Bicycling declared the Stumpjumper
FSR to be the best trail bike - yes, it beat the Blur). The same
bike can be had in a women's model which gets a gorgeous metallic
paint job and adjusted geometry, women's saddle, shorter stem and
narrower bar width. |
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Specialized
Stumpjumper FSR Expert/
FSR Expert Women's ($$$$$):
This was our hottest selling full suspension bike last year, and
for good reason. Excellent component selection, great suspension,
and a real swell value to boot! Not much has changed for 2006, except
the bike got an XT crankset upgrade and a nicer Fox rear shock.
You already know how great the Fox Talas RL fork is, and Fox Triad
rear shock is among our favorites too. Don't forget that you also
get our favorite hydraulic brakes here, the Avid Juicy 7's which
feature adjustable lever feel and come with super groovy Polygon
rotors. This is guaranteed to be one of the hottest sellers again
this year. Get yours early before they're all gone! Jose, Marty
and Neil have all jumped aboard and are happily riding Stumpy FSR’s. |
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Specialized
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR (HOLY S***!):
Okay, it's S-Works which means absolute top-o-the-line, lighter
weight frame than the standard line of bikes, better parts, new
Brain Fade shock, yada-yada-yada. BUT, most importantly, it is anodized
brown! YEAH! This mighty fine ride will look clean when you get
it dirty, since it's dirt colored to begin with! What will they
think of next? But seriously, this bike is spec'd as nice as it
gets with Mavic Crossmax SL Disc wheels, full XTR, Thomson stem
and post, carbon bars, Fox Talas RLC fork. |
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Specialized
S-Works Carbon Stumpjumper FSR (HOLY S***! x 2):
Oh my God. This bike does not suck at all. Proven FSR suspension
design with an increased 130mm of travel but built from Carbon so
your friends will fall over backwards when they see it. Think that
60” Plasma HDTV you got two days before the Super Bowl flipped
your buddies out? They will lose their minds when they see that
you have a mountain bike with about the same level of technology
as Fernando Alonso's F1 car. And to think, it only costs about as
much as two disc brake rotors from Alonso’s car. |
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Specialized
S-Works Enduro (HOLY S***!):
If you are troubled by the thought of not having the best product
money can buy, and you are an All Mountain kinda guy (or gal), then
step right up and plop down the duckets needed to get your very
own S-Works Enduro. A mixture of XTR and X.0 make for the crispest
shifting and smoothest running drivetrain money can buy, and a Fox
36RC Talas 110-150mm fork, and their new DHX Air 5.0 shock with
ProPedal and rebound adjust mean that this puppy is not only light
weight, but will handle most anything you toss in its way. A DT
wheelset will spin as fast as you dare pedal and XTR brakes bring
the blurry horizon back into focus. Thomson stem and seat post and
a Black Spire chain guide round out what will surely be the bike
to beat in a great variety of events this year. Now if only they’d
build one of these out of carbon! |
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Specialized
Enduro Expert (HOLY S***!):
So you really want that S-Works Enduro, but the wife says that divorce
is certain if you blow over Five G's on a bicycle. You owe me big
here, but I have the perfect solution: Get the 2006 Enduro Expert
and with the Two Large you save, buy her a new sofa and have $400
left over for burritos. To prove the theory we instructed Marty
to follow the plan exactly. Last we saw him and his wife, they were
sitting side by side on a sofa eating burritos and grinning ear-to-ear.
Marty was also covered in dirt and had some chain grease on his
leg. Coincidence? We think not. |
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Specialized
Demo 9 Pro (HOLY S***!)::
If Mad Max needed a bike for his missions in the Aussie outback,
and for assaulting things with names like Thunderdome, we're pretty
sure this is what he'd pick. It would need a little roughing up
to match the rest of his outfit and vehicles, but the green anodized
finish and the intimidating look that appears as though it could
conquer anything might make Mad Max, Happy Max. Huge, 9-inch suspension
travel is handled by a Manitou Swinger shock in back, while a Marzocchi
888R fork sporting 8-inches keeps the rubber side down in front.
Other noteworthy components that you get include a TruVativ Holzfeller
crankset with chainguide, Hayes Magnesium hydraulic brakes, Shimano
XT rear derailleur, welded Mavic rims, and a Specialized 150mm spacing
rear through-axle hub. If you don't need another hero, and all you
need is life beyond Thunderdome, the Demo 9 DH might take you there.
Otherwise, give Tina Turner a call. |
Solano Avenue
Cyclery 1554 Solano Ave.
Albany CA 94707
510.524.1094
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