The average DH bike has arounf 7-8 inches of travel. Depending on what kind of bike you get some could have up to 10 inches or you could get 6 inches for a more freeride/slopstyle bike.
Preferably a DH Mountainbike. With their long suspension travel, beefy brakes, thick tires and strong wheels they're best adapted to the forces involved. Any bike can go DH of course, but both rider and bike stands a much greater risk of damage if you use a standard bike.
Downhill
A DH bike is heavier, stronger, has a slacker steering angle and plusher suspension. The XC bike is lighter, more responsive, weaker and has less travel in its suspension.
find a DH bike and ride down a DH track signal hill is a good place to start! (dunedin, NZ)
Yes, but won't make it a DH bike. If you take it DH-ing odds are you'll break something - either the bike or you.
depends on where you live I know in Iowa the average is 68,000
Marzocchi bomber forks are used as a dirt jump shock but i ride DH on my dirt jump bike with those shock and can manage.
DH bikes are regularly jumped on during DH runs, for which they work just fine. But if you want to do jumps on the flat you'll have to work really hard to get a heavy DH bike up to speed.
An AM bike is basically a cross between a XC and a DH MTB. Usually full suspension and long enough travel to take some fairly serious drops and jumps, but still light enough and with a gear ratio and a ride position that'll make it somewhat useful on the flat and during climbs. An AM bike is the best bike if you want to ride to the top, and do a decent descent. An XC bike will climb far better, but would suffer on the way down. The DH bike would be a pain to climb with, but be the best for the run down.
Depends on the type of bike. For a road bike - no. For a hardtail MTB - no. For a full suspension DH MTB - kinda. For a townie/dutch bike with fenders, rack and all - yes.
invest alot of money in a dh bike and buy a motocross helmet. develop an affinity for xxl clothes and then lose your sense of fear.
# how much money are you willing to spend # what kind of riding do you intend to do(DH, AM, XC, dirt) # what size bike do you need If you're uncertain, start off with a used bike. You'll lose less money that if you decide to switch to a bike more suited for another discipline later.