2014 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab

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hodge-xj

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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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How you liking that polygon?? I've been eyeballing them.
So far so good man. I really wanted the T8 because of the better brakes, drivetrain, suspension etc overall but its always out of stock in my size (L) and has been that way for the last 4 months or so in a row that I've been checking it out. The T7 was in the same boat until 2 weeks ago when size L showed up as available for a couple of days so I snatched one. Now it just wen up in price and out of stock again.

It's a very nice bike for the price as an entry level full suspension bike, I have a Marin hard tail and needed an upgrade. I looked into the Marin Rift Zone 2, Specialized Stumpjumper (alloy) and Giant Stance 29, settled down on this one. It's tubeless ready but it comes from the factory with a tube and no removable presta, and now it comes in 2022 with Schwalbe Hans Dampf II Addix 2.6" Tires instead of the chitty Vees they had before. They're still heavy suckers and the tubes are heavy too so i dumped that and bought Maxxis DHF front 2.5 and and Dissectors 2.4 for the back. Wheels are fully taped, so super easy to remove the tube, install the tires, removable presta valves and with a compressor they were beaded in 1 sec :), after that add your choice of sealant and that's it.

I'll be upgrading the fork and shock later on. You have to put it yourself together but it's super easy and everything is literally installed just dissaseembled for space savings. i spent more time mounting removing the factory tires/tube and getting the Maxxis in with sealant than actually putting the bike together.
 

hodge-xj

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So far so good man. I really wanted the T8 because of the better brakes, drivetrain, suspension etc overall but its always out of stock in my size (L) and has been that way for the last 4 months or so in a row that I've been checking it out. The T7 was in the same boat until 2 weeks ago when size L showed up as available for a couple of days so I snatched one. Now it just wen up in price and out of stock again.

It's a very nice bike for the price as an entry level full suspension bike, I have a Marin hard tail and needed an upgrade. I looked into the Marin Rift Zone 2, Specialized Stumpjumper (alloy) and Giant Stance 29, settled down on this one. It's tubeless ready but it comes from the factory with a tube and no removable presta, and now it comes in 2022 with Schwalbe Hans Dampf II Addix 2.6" Tires instead of the chitty Vees they had before. They're still heavy suckers and the tubes are heavy too so i dumped that and bought Maxxis DHF front 2.5 and and Dissectors 2.4 for the back. Wheels are fully taped, so super easy to remove the tube, install the tires, removable presta valves and with a compressor they were beaded in 1 sec :), after that add your choice of sealant and that's it.

I'll be upgrading the fork and shock later on. You have to put it yourself together but it's super easy and everything is literally installed just dissaseembled for space savings. i spent more time mounting removing the factory tires/tube and getting the Maxxis in with sealant than actually putting the bike together.

Awesome! I might have to follow up on it with you again in the future and see if your sentiment changes with time. I'm still lugging around my old dh/freeride 26" bike. Aside from a few inches in wheelbase its pretty much the same specs as a heavy, modern geo, enduro bike. I really would like a trail bike in the 140/150mm range but prices are bonkers or they're just out of stock like you mentioned. The specialized stumpy or polygon series is what I had set my mind on after watching a bunch of vids. 18 years ago when I was racing pro/open I would have really cared about all the minutiae on characteristics of the suspension etc, but now I just want a well rounded, quality bike that I don't need to fiddle with too much. I still ride pretty aggressive so bottom quality stuff finds an untimely demise but I also can't validate 5k for a top tier bike anytime soon.
 
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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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And back from another nice ride at our local MTB trails. Loving every minute with the bycicles. Man is not in vane to say a nice set of shocks can make the day every day. It's a constant grin in your face, all the damn stress goes out and the focus is on the road or the lack of road :) while having fun.

52192025148_0e0a697e89_h.jpg2022-07-03_07-22-02 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52221609364_f901a3d178_h.jpg2022-07-16_10-19-28 by RAM RSM, on Flickr
 
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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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Took a week off with the family and headed to Rio Verde, AZ
52278299310_7fc59b639f_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-34-11 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52277828203_31e53c5c4b_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-26-53 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Brother in law brought his 2022 4Runner TRD Pro Premium and we did the break in around the area. It doesn't have the Fox 2.5's so he couldn't keep up hahaha, but the thing drives nicelly considering he's got 5100's couple of days before our trip.
52277810071_0833b1fe7d_k.jpg20220807_184949 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52277810486_29b4d65248_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-30-03 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52276836992_ece98f9901_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-31-18 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52276837217_3766ead563_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-31-30 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52277813426_92cf4f5e2e_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-32-09 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52278081504_4a369a010b_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-30-52 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Got my son to drive in the washes again so he's getting the hang of it
52277815281_8ea97f4f48_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-33-31 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

he climbed the hill as well on his own
52277813976_cf9ad14167_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-32-31 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52277814206_4652508538_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-32-42 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52278084264_0b1d2618c5_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-32-53 by RAM RSM, on Flickr


We had lots of fun.
52276839352_b3b0c642c2_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-33-04 by
RAM RSM, on Flickr

52277814631_820deec2cf_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-32-59 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52276840152_15e47db12a_k.jpg2022-08-10_08-33-41 by RAM RSM, on Flickr
 
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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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Got a new toy friend for my puppies, 3 ton, low profile 3/14" min lift, long reach, 24 1/4" max lift
52333699947_814220c43e_k.jpg20220904_153812 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

52334951959_0ca29bf4b8_k.jpg20220904_155238 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Also another for the wife, Orbea Rise H15
52296884888_dab02dc73f_k.jpg20220817_191713 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Son and I are still pedaling the old fashion way hahahaha. Must confess pedaling with the eletric one comes handy at the end of the day when you've climbed and climbed your way to the top of the fun trails to go down again and have 3 times the fun and and you do it for the entire day until your legs can't take it anymore
52334540375_cf1770a845_k.jpg20220903_153643 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Then you say the heck lets eat and enjoy something yummy to help the body heal faster
52334111781_bef9e682ff_k.jpg20220903_142938 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Thinking about buying another bike for me. Will see...
For now i'm teaching my 17 yo daugther to drive the RAM, that's another thing on its own. My god :)
 
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2018 2wd
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HEMI 5.7 Revolution 4.88s
Got a new toy friend for my puppies, 3 ton, low profile 3/14" min lift, long reach, 24 1/4" max lift
View attachment 50150420220904_153812 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

View attachment 50150520220904_155238 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Also another for the wife, Orbea Rise H15
View attachment 50150620220817_191713 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Son and I are still pedaling the old fashion way hahahaha. Must confess pedaling with the eletric one comes handy at the end of the day when you've climbed and climbed your way to the top of the fun trails to go down again and have 3 times the fun and and you do it for the entire day until your legs can't take it anymore
View attachment 50150720220903_153643 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Then you say the heck lets eat and enjoy something yummy to help the body heal faster
View attachment 50150820220903_142938 by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Thinking about buying another bike for me. Will see...
For now i'm teaching my 17 yo daugther to drive the RAM, that's another thing on its own. My god :)
I got mine a while back but in yellow ... love it !!!
 
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HEMI 5.7 Revolution 4.88s
Oh and 2 pairs of the BIG RED T46002A Torin Steel Jack Stands: Double Locking, 6 Ton (12,000 lb) Capacity, Red ... makes rotating and working on my truck so much easier ... got the jacks from Amazon last January ...
 
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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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I got mine a while back but in yellow ... love it !!!
That 3 ton jack will come super handy. I was lifting the truck with a 2 ton long reach one but recently that one squirted a little oil so I thought to to buy the 3 ton long reach version and leave the 2 ton for super light duties. I have another 3ton as well but that one is short reach I think 17 1/4” max height so it doesn't work well when I need to droop the rear axel on the truck or any of the axels in the Jeep because the shocks are so darn long :)
 

hodge-xj

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What's the next bike gonna be? I'm still lugging my old 26'er around since I can't decide what I really want. Some days I want a 130mm trail bike, others I want 180+mm enduro and to just get stupid.
 
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2018 2wd
Engine
HEMI 5.7 Revolution 4.88s
That 3 ton jack will come super handy. I was lifting the truck with a 2 ton long reach one but recently that one squirted a little oil so I thought to to buy the 3 ton long reach version and leave the 2 ton for super light duties. I have another 3ton as well but that one is short reach I think 17 1/4” max height so it doesn't work well when I need to droop the rear axel on the truck or any of the axels in the Jeep because the shocks are so darn long :)
Oh it's already paid for itself 10 times over or more, from rotating my tires to installing the AFE headers on @the_goodguy07 's Ram 1500 ... along with the four 6 ton double locking jack stands

How do you like the foot pump? , mine doesn't have it ...

20220905_141255.jpg
 
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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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What's the next bike gonna be? I'm still lugging my old 26'er around since I can't decide what I really want. Some days I want a 130mm trail bike, others I want 180+mm enduro and to just get stupid.
Thinking about a YT Jeffsey Core 3 if i stay with a conventional bike. They're local to us in San Clemente,CA and their bikes are dope. Either that or i'll buy the bullet and go Electric with a YT Decoy 29 Core 3 or Another Orbea Rise but size L :). I'm not into the big Jumping stuff so for me 150-160mm is plenty. My 14 yo son has jumping fever so that Lyric Utlimate 150mm came handy hahaha So he's progressing into the jumping scene quite nicely.
 
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ram1500rsm

ram1500rsm

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Oh it's already paid for itself 10 times over or more, from rotating my tires to installing the AFE headers on @the_goodguy07 's Ram 1500 ... along with the four 6 ton double locking jack stands

How do you like the foot pump? , mine doesn't have it ...

View attachment 501612
It's adds a very nice touch and it's surprisingly quick too.
 

hodge-xj

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Thinking about a YT Jeffsey Core 3 if i stay with a conventional bike. They're local to us in San Clemente,CA and their bikes are dope. Either that or i'll buy the bullet and go Electric with a YT Decoy 29 Core 3 or Another Orbea Rise but size L :). I'm not into the big Jumping stuff so for me 150-160mm is plenty. My 14 yo son has jumping fever so that Lyric Utlimate 150mm came handy hahaha So he's progressing into the jumping scene quite nicely.
Took this week and was looking into more bikes. My head spins trying to sort through reviews. I def want either a longer travel trail bike or a short travel enduro. 150-160 should be more than enough especially with the technology in New bikes. It's so much different from when I used to race it's mind boggling. I'm still lugging around my 26" 200/180mm free ride bike from 2003 lol. Its getting hard to find parts to keep it updated so it's close to time to retire it to the wall.

I keep circling back to something like a specalized stumpy evo or polygon or one of those Marins, just wish I could test ride one before throwing some decent amount of money out ***** nilly.
 

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