Of bad ideas

[spacekraken]

I really want to build out a bike from the frame up... and this steel metallic paint color shifting Kona Sutra frame is calling my name. But also want to save for a FS bike. Talk me into/out of spending my money oppo?

[This is what we'll show...]

2 wheels good. 4 wheels, also good.

[TheJWT]

Oppo championed poor financial decisions on Kinja and I fully expect that to continue in our new home

[DAWRX]

@spacekraken full suspension is my vote. What have you got your eye on in that arena?

[sn4cktimes]

Depends on use.... I used to do downhill when I was younger sans suspension (early-mid 90's). It was just called mountain biking at the time. I recall when front shocks came out. It was life changing but did alter the downhill lines you took significantly. My friend has a FS bike that cost $500 less than my husky dirt bike. So they get pricey.

[jayvincent]

why not both? (insert gif here) Build the bike you want, compare it to the FS after you have had time to ride and evaluate, then sell the one you built to buy the FS if you still want it... or keep the custom if you don't!

[Bloody-the-resident-LandRover-apologist]

@spacekraken why not go with a hard tail and build that? At least you can use the same frame and just switch out the forks. Then sell it if you really want to go FS.

[spacekraken]

Thanks all!

@DAWRX buying a FS is definitely the sensible call since I have fairly great downhill (ski lift served and ride up, both) near me. Was looking at the Marin Rift Zone, Kona Process 134, Giant Stance, and Rocky mountain thunderbolt. All "cheap FS" (LOL) $1500-2500 which is pushing my (college student) budget a bit, but I haven't found a type of riding I don't love so it seems like a decent possibility for next summer.

@jayvincent I may well do that... the idea of buying a $600 frame and slowly building it out over a few months seems more palatable than buying another bike (I have a gravel aluminum Kona Rove rn and love it, probably keeping that one forever). And I really like the idea of pieceing together exactly what I want-the full Sutra build is $2400 and has a ton of stuff I probably wouldn't use on a rigid bike like 2.2" tires and a dropper post.

@Bloody-the-resident-shitposting-saffer That would 100% be the most logical plan, but I've kind of found for gentle trails I prefer a fully rigid bike (my e-bike commuter is a hardtail, albeit a very heavy one, and I don't love pedaling with the fork unlocked). And the proper aggressive trails around me would be only doable on an FS-which is a bit beyond my skills and wallet to build haha!