thinking about buying a 756

[nateg20]

I've been wanting to get back into biking.  I used to ride all the time, but havent for quite a few years.  I was looking to get a sub 500 dollar mt bike.  I had it down to the specialized hardrock, gary fisher marlin, trek 4400 or 4500, maybe even a Motobecane 700ht.  Of course  all hardtails for my pricerange.  My neighbor tells me he wants to get rid of his bike. Guess what it is, its an old proflex 756.  Its actually in real good shape, except the notorious elastomers being flat and the brakes being kind of icky.  
Can you get a spring suspension for the 756... if so what would i have invest?  I saw somewhere where they had just springs that went in the stock 756 for like 100 bucks in the UK (im American).
Should I "gamble" with the 756?  I can probably get it for 200 as it sits right now.  Or should i get one of the above bikes?  It looks like after its all said and done the 756 would be about the price the above bikes are.  I really like to ride the proflex even with the flat suspension Please help, and advice would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks,
nateg20@gmail.com

[hortley]

get yerself the rig it is sweet. get a risse shock for 189.00 plus twenty bucks for an adapter to fit your swing arm. then go to ediscount bikes and get a new crosslink ext fork for 99.00. then you have spent 500 and you have a real nice set up if the 756 is all good but the shocks you would be nuts to get one of those other bikes you mentioned. or else you can get new elastomers from ironhorse for 12.95 each. all the links to all the brands are right here under links good luck. happy trails

[orange]

Have a look at www.rapiddescentscotland.co.uk for spring replacements. I have them for my Vectors and they work a treat.

[nateg20]

will pretty much any fork fit on this bike?  I can't seem to find the one you are recommending.  I may try the replacement springs from the uk if I go with the 756.  I see lots of good things about the risse rear supsension though.  How would this 756 compare with a new $1000 full suspension bike?  

nateg20@gmail.com

[hortley]

yeah sorry ediccount bike just ran out of em. that sux. but yeah i belive you have a 1 an 1/8 steer tube maybe its 1 inch but there are multitudes of fork options but nothing tracks like the fork thats on there if you ask me. comparing the mostly bloated 35 to 40 pound pieces of crap full suspension bikes to the 26 pound cross country machine is an unfair comparason. i have had lots of other bikes jamis dakar, fischer sugar, both bikes of the year and had no happier day in recent memory then when i sold my fischer and found my 957 on ebay. anyways my girlfriend just bought a 756 and it is a sweet bike and she loves it and so do i. peace dave

[nateg20]

Is 200 a decent price?  He wants more, but I think thats all I am going to offer him due to the suspension rebuild required.  I took a few pics of it yesterday.  How can I post them?  I rides well.  I rode it for like an hour.  I had a few ghost shifts, but they were predictable.  The rear brake kind of sucked.  The front was really good.  I hated the twist shifters.  Even though the suspension was shot it felt very solid.  I took the rear shock off, it still had a little resistance, but the elastomer was toast.  

[shovelon]

200 bucks is'nt bad. The sponges are getting easier to obtain all the time. Ironhorse and RDI will have them. Proflex may be back in bussiness in Spain too.

Things are looking good!

Terry

[nateg20]

He said his bottom price is 300.  I don't think I can give him that much for it.  Thanks for all your help.  Maybe if I can find a little newer proflex I'll be back on the bandwagon.  Thanks again!

[willem]

Surf the Bay... over a few months you'll get a shot at an 856 or 756 or something. Sooner or later you'll find a treasure.

Compared to a modern bike... well I put my disk equipped 856 up against the very best demo bikes my LBS has to offer (Specialized Epic, FSR Expert, and Enduro) and even though I had the cash burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to stick with the 856. Same goes for the Giant Anthem.

I'd sell you my "other" 856 but I've got too much time and $ into it. They are really amazing bikes.

Just went over to eBay... There are a bunch of good ones for sale. I saw one 855 Buy Now for $300. And and 855 with a Risse rear shock that's bidding below the cost to fthe shock! Wish I had more room in my garage - or a more understanding wife. (What's wrong with building a bike in the den?)