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OU812
04-22-2010, 10:13 AM
I am currently in the market for a new mountain bike. I have been out of the game for a long time. My current ride (1993) is a aluminum frame, 21spd, with XT components

Stepped into a bike store for the first time in about 5 years and was blown away by how much its changed!! It seems all my wants are pretty much standards now a days!!

My shopping list is as follows:
-Aluminum Frame
-Front suspension
-Hydraulic disc brakes
-Decent components

Don't know what else to look for? Budget is about $1000 and useage will be for general trail riding. Nothing competitive or crazy. Lastly I am tall enought that the bike store was recommending a 29r. I dont know If I'm sold on them as I have concearns as to how well the wheels will hold up given their size.

Any imput on what to look at or avoid is welcome.

beyond_ban
04-22-2010, 10:20 AM
Are you interested in rear suspension as well? Personally, i would never buy another bike without it. With the advanced lockout on most rear shocks, you can transform it into a hard tail clone with in seconds.

kaput
04-22-2010, 10:24 AM
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OU812
04-22-2010, 10:26 AM
Originally posted by beyond_ban
Are you interested in rear suspension as well? Personally, i would never buy another bike without it. With the advanced lockout on most rear shocks, you can transform it into a hard tail clone with in seconds.

I considered it. But I think it's more bike then I would ever need. The entry level full susp bikes are beyond my budget and it would mean sacrificing components.

beyond_ban
04-22-2010, 10:43 AM
That is definitely my mistake. I overlooked the $1000 budget portion.

I have always been a big NORCO myself.

http://www.bowcycle.com/bc10/bikes/mountain/norco-storm-dark-grey.shtml

Take a look through their other bikes in your price range. Their site makes it easy to locate something in your price range.

OU812
04-22-2010, 02:23 PM
Originally posted by beyond_ban
That is definitely my mistake. I overlooked the $1000 budget portion.

I have always been a big NORCO myself.



Thanks

Was also looking at Kona and Specialized, was hoping someone would chime in with more personal experiance, or issues.

teggypimp95
04-22-2010, 02:27 PM
I have always had different bikes from hard tails and full down hill suspension bikes. I bought a good hardtail a year or 2 ago and love it. Look into the Norco Sasquach. You may have to streach your budget a few hundred but you wont find a better hard tail for the price. It maybe even be one of the beefest hard tails you can buy. I remember mine being 1200 at bow cycle. They seem to move on the price a bit there too so never pay what they are asking.

http://www.bowcycle.com/bc10/bikes/mountain/norco-sasquatch-red.shtml

kaput
04-22-2010, 02:30 PM
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OU812
04-22-2010, 03:37 PM
Originally posted by teggypimp95
Look into the Norco Sasquach.


Will do, Thanks!!


Originally posted by kaput
Check out the Konas as well.


Any particular model?

Also, no one has chimed in yet...what about 29r???

OU812
05-07-2010, 09:33 AM
Ok have done some rides and searches and am looking at the following:

Kona Kula (2009)

http://bikes.konaworld.com/09/09_kula_en.cfm

Trek 6500 or 6700

http://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6500/

and

Giant XTC 0 or 1

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-CA/bikes/model/xtc.0/5403/39303/

Opinons?

Mitsu3000gt
05-07-2010, 09:50 AM
IMO you can't beat Giant for bang for the buck. The frame really is the only thing that will be branded the same as the bike you buy, the rest is all the regular component brands so its usually pretty easy to judge value. Giant also makes the frames for lots of other manufactures, so they know what their doing. Giant makes Trek's frames, and I'm not sure about Kona off the top of my head.

My recommendation would be the XTC 1 if you want to keep it around $1,000, XTC 0 if you want to spend a bit more and do not want full suspension.

I would also recommend PedalHead in the south (Avinita), they will give you a good price, and give you top notch service. I think regular tuneups are free too, if you buy from them.

syeve
05-07-2010, 10:13 AM
Stay away from the 29...after reading many articles they just aren't worth it. It's a fad IMO.

The giant is the best deal there. Check out Specialized also, I love the geometry on their hardtails...they ride like goats!

kaput
05-07-2010, 10:45 AM
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OU812
05-07-2010, 05:25 PM
Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt


My recommendation would be the XTC 1 if you want to keep it around $1,000, XTC 0 if you want to spend a bit more and do not want full suspension.

I would also recommend PedalHead in the south (Avinita), they will give you a good price, and give you top notch service. I think regular tuneups are free too, if you buy from them.

I looked at the XTC today, Fork doesnt have a lockout on it. That was a deal breaker for me.

I will look into PedalHead as its close to my place.

msommers
05-07-2010, 06:11 PM
Was in the sameboat a couple years ago, ended up dropping ~1000 as well.

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/221517/looking-for-some-bicycle-help/

Mine has a lock out though on the front fork, not sure why/if they changed that.

OU812
05-07-2010, 08:32 PM
Originally posted by msommers
Was in the sameboat a couple years ago, ended up dropping ~1000 as well.

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/221517/looking-for-some-bicycle-help/

Mine has a lock out though on the front fork, not sure why/if they changed that.

Thanks. Yeah the guy at the store was baffeled as well. I did take out a Specialized Rockhopper SL today:

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45806&eid=4340

Was pretty decent and may be a new front runner. Also went to Eurotech. Probably the weirdest store I have ever been in. They also sold brands I have never heard of:

Jamis

http://www.jamisbikes.com/

and some other brand began with an "o". They dont carry Norco like their web site suggests.

queenair77
05-29-2010, 02:35 PM
Looks to me like the Jamis offers a lot of value for the money, but I have ridden bikes from both brands, and in general I think the Specialized bikes have a better handling frame geometry.

Depends on how important that is for you.

Concerning forks, if your fork is set-up right, lock- out is not such an important feature - JMHO

Yes, I agree 29" is just a passing fad - JMHO