OldTrekker

Thanks for all the input guys. Full sus it is for me. Learned a couple of things. One is on used not to go much older than a year or two unless you can really see the bike was not used that much. Bikehub needs a filter for that And another is to stretch the budget right from day one to it's limit and pull the trigger when your gut feel tells you to. Missed two great deals by not acting soon enough. Back to square one, will just have to be patient and hope a good deal comes along soon. Still got the option to go new via bike-addict but makes it more difficult when you missed a good used bike deal that would have been so much better. Hate it when people do not update to sold, but I suppose they just happy they got the sale

On this my googling started with if I should go full sus or hard tail. Feeling I got was overwhelming leaning to full sus side, so budget jumped immediately from 10k to 20k. And now I am up to 28k. I also know I probably have to budget an additional 2-4k ? a year for service. Is the difference in maintenance really that great if you go hardtail?

Now you are throwing a spanner in the works and a stone in the bush. One thing is, I am on the wrong side of mid-age, even though I am probably a bit fitter and leaner than the average in that age. Also had a bit of a bad one this year with bladder cancer, one of the reasons why I am taking up mtb, as exercise is the best medicine (if you ever piss blood or its even a bit pink go and see a doctor!!!). But I am on the road to recovery (hold thumbs), and its probably not a major reason to justify full sus, but I guess I will find out the hard way. Also thinking about it now having spoken to a friend earlier he mentioned he probably rides +90% of the time with rear locked out, but when he hits corrugated road or bit of a rough track it makes a difference. Also on multi stage events like sani2c over a couple of days it apparently helps. I have never experienced full suspension. Apparently it's more fun, don't know. But you got me thinking now. I will probably never do radical downhills/tracks, but I will do things like sani2c, trans baviaans, etc. (eventually :-)

One thing that I have discovered now is that a bike budget seems to be a moving target -upwards only. Was at 20k, then 25k and now at 28k, but that is it. Cannot go any higher. Still got all the other expenses around it as well that I do not even want to think about now. Ouch.

Thanks this looked really good although pushing the budget completely in the red. Unfortunately had something on tonight so by the time I got back and phoned the guy said somebody already put debs on it. Missed it by a couple of hours. Maybe the deal still fall through so will hear tmr.

Thanks also looks like a really good one. Budget out of the window and an unhappy wife Choices, choices but I suppose you only live once

Thanks will definitely have a look and find out

Damn, time to win the lotto

Thanks. Good one. Looks like an option. Only thing is I am in Gauteng :-(

Thanks for that. From my googling it also seems to me as if Santa Cruz and Giant were two of the brands where I can go for large or XL. But will still do the fit thing as recommended. Giant anthem is the other one I have been eyeing and really like. New they just a bit out of budget but considering your input that I can easily rack up an additional couple of k’s, maybe should just bite the bullet. New the only I probably could consider is the Anthem 3 https://www.giant-bicycles.com/za/anthem-29er-3

Thanks man. Must say I have been eyeing a Tallboy with mouth watering. There was an XL for a while on bikehub but just could not get myself to commit as I knew even less at the time. They got one on bikebay but just seems a bit old for secondhand? https://bikebay.co.za/collections/mountain-bikes/products/2011-santa-cruz-tallboy

Thanks for the feedback. My gut feel also had 2015 in mind. Just looks like such good deals on some of the older bikes like the 2013. If I go for used I will insist on a LBS first checking it out.

Thanks for the advice. Must say the sizes are a bit confusing. On some of the sizing charts giant for example, 1.87 seems to be on the edge of large, more towards a XL. While in Merida it seems a large is larger. So I will definitely consider doing a fit. I had my concerns on the 1x so will take your advice on 2x. Can always upgrade later. Will definitely do a bit more homework before diving into a buy.

Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum and mtb, but have been googling a fair bit. Using a 20-year-old hardtail steel trek bike for fitness currently. For every km I get 2 to 3 times the fitness value ????. But it’s time to join the fun in the new era. All the related technical jargon is a bit overwhelming but I think I have managed to narrow it down a bit. I will probably fit more in the mold of a weekend warrior, riding for fitness during the week/end and eventually doing stage events like sani2c, etc. Starting off I don’t want to break the bank, but then I also don’t want to end up in a month or two upgrading to something better. From what I picked up my preferred requirement will be dual suspension (mid-age so not sure if I will keep up on the trails with a hardtail), 2x10 or 1x11/12 ??, reasonably good fork seems to be important, good wheels are mentioned, but got no idea what is good and what not. Seems I will not get away with much under R20-25k, which already seems a lot paying for a bike, but I assume once the bug bites it will get less painful. 1.87m, 86kg so probably require a large. For a new bike in that price range seems an option is the Silverback Sido 3. But that might just be a buy that I regret in a couple of months.? So, for used if I look at the current available: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/332001-2013-giant-anthem-x-large-frame/ https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/329261-2015-giant-anthem-x/ https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/331244-giant-anthem-x-carbon-l/ https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/331931-scott-genius-950-2016/?utm_source=topad https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/329788-scott-spark-pro-29er-carbon/ Read some good things about the Giant anthem X so that is why I got a couple in the list, but it’s also maybe a concern that there are so many available. But same can be said for Scott as there seem to be a lot of used Scotts in the market for some reason. Don't really know enough yet to make an informed decision and what is a good buy, overpriced, etc. Also, a bit concerned on how old a used bike you should consider, especially if it is carbon. Obviously difficult to judge on face value but will appreciate some feedback on the above bikes (not by the sellers ????) in order of preference and also any other input or other bikes to consider that might put a bit of light in the tunnel. Thanks