Archived Posts » 60,595,333
Mountain biking
6/14/2012 11:31:37 PM
I have been mountain biking a handful of times on some fairly technical single track and I am hooked.
I want to get my first bike, so, Do any of you gents know where to start? I am looking at $1200 or less.
Full suspension or hardtail?
26 or 29?
brands?
School me.
I want to get my first bike, so, Do any of you gents know where to start? I am looking at $1200 or less.
Full suspension or hardtail?
26 or 29?
brands?
School me.
6/14/2012 11:44:08 PM
I have been out of the mtn game for a few years so this may be out dated: go with a 29er hardtail, disk brakes, after market fork with lockout...I like trek and giant bikes but whatever you get at that pricepoint will be GTG.
6/15/2012 3:16:24 PM
Start by going to a legit bike shop and telling them what you want to do, and how much you want to spend. Go from there.
Get a 29. Hardtail 29ers roll better then a 26, especially if you run tubeless. Full suspension bikes for about $1200 aren't that great. Hardtails beat you up more, and you need to be careful with your line.
Look at the Trek Cobia/X Caliber, or the Specialized Rockhopper/Stumpjumper.
Santa Cruz has some wicked 29ers, but they're more costly. A $2300 Superlight 29 is a hell of a bike for the price.
Get a 29. Hardtail 29ers roll better then a 26, especially if you run tubeless. Full suspension bikes for about $1200 aren't that great. Hardtails beat you up more, and you need to be careful with your line.
Look at the Trek Cobia/X Caliber, or the Specialized Rockhopper/Stumpjumper.
Santa Cruz has some wicked 29ers, but they're more costly. A $2300 Superlight 29 is a hell of a bike for the price.
6/15/2012 4:14:03 PM
In your price range I would recommend a hardtail 29. Post above recommended the Specialized Rockhopper. If you can swing just a little more the Carve is a much nicer bike. The Carve Comp 29 lists at $1350 and you may find it a little less.. Most of the bikes in the price range will have similar components. Pick a good local shop and let them fit you. The brand isn't nearly as important as the fit.
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/carve/carvecomp29
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/carve/carvecomp29
6/15/2012 10:50:05 PM
i'm not very experienced, so take with a grain of salt and all...
i sold my hardtail 26 (big mistake), gt zaskar 09, tora fork, avid juicy 7s, deore all the way around, it was a nice bike (grabbed it for $600 from LBS, open box return).
after riding some friend's bikes around, full suspension, 26ers, 29ers, etc, my next bike will have to be a hardtail 29er. you can get a nice bike for $1200, especially if you concentrate on certain areas. Personally, i'd look into a single speed, depending on where you'll use it, it might be fun and leave you cash to spare for a nicer fork/wheelset/etc. my area is mostly rolling hills and tons of technical single track, so a single speed is great b/c you don't need to worry as much about jumping the chain or smashing quite as much stuff if you're flying over some rocks and what not.
just food for thought.
i sold my hardtail 26 (big mistake), gt zaskar 09, tora fork, avid juicy 7s, deore all the way around, it was a nice bike (grabbed it for $600 from LBS, open box return).
after riding some friend's bikes around, full suspension, 26ers, 29ers, etc, my next bike will have to be a hardtail 29er. you can get a nice bike for $1200, especially if you concentrate on certain areas. Personally, i'd look into a single speed, depending on where you'll use it, it might be fun and leave you cash to spare for a nicer fork/wheelset/etc. my area is mostly rolling hills and tons of technical single track, so a single speed is great b/c you don't need to worry as much about jumping the chain or smashing quite as much stuff if you're flying over some rocks and what not.
just food for thought.
6/16/2012 6:52:48 AM
For that amount of money- best to stick with a hardtail bike. A good full squish bike is going to start around the entry level of 2,000-2,500. The airborne goblin would be a great place to start for you
6/17/2012 8:33:22 AM
hardtail.
go browse at a local bike shop, they would be more than happy to help you
go browse at a local bike shop, they would be more than happy to help you
6/19/2012 6:26:53 PM
Hardtail 29er is sounding and looking like the way to make best use of my money.
6/20/2012 9:28:43 PM
Hardtail all the way.
Just picked this up for $1500. Last years flash f1 26"model.
Off year models are the way to go if you can find them. A new flash 1 goes for $2300.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Just picked this up for $1500. Last years flash f1 26"model.
Off year models are the way to go if you can find them. A new flash 1 goes for $2300.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
6/20/2012 11:07:45 PM
I'd say 29 hardtail for the budget as mentioned above. If you don't mind shopping for used you could get a decent full suspension for that, but would need help from someone who knows what to look for.
