Dylan Solms

Dude, don't get a silverback. Its got components but a suck frame. If you want to win a race go with the giant xtc 2, merida matts lite 1000 or scott scale 70 or mabye even the 60. The giant is my favourite and is a really godd looking bike and their service is awsome. http://merida-bikes.com/en_int/bike/38/MTB+Hardtail/MATTS+Lite+1000-D http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/xtc.2/4893/39100/ (go to the store to check out this bike. The picture here looks really crap and doesn't show the beauty of the frame) http://www.scott-sports.com/us_en/product/10024/55474/217947 (has nice stickers and geometry like the giant but has a rockshox tora) Here is a better picture of the giant: http://bicyclingaustralia.com/classifieds/images/A/d-IYV2891503IUJ.jpg

All GREAT LEADERS OF THE WORLD

Hi Do you know of any place that sells on one bikes in the western cape? One of my friends wants to buy a scandal 29er or a inbred 29er but can't find one. I thought I would try and help by asking you guys. Thanks

Hi DO you know of any shops in the Western cape that would retail this bike? How much do you think it would also cost? Thanks

RIGID FORKS OWN The reason they added it to the 29er is not because they are nts nut because they don't need suspension o it as the lower pressure tyres and larger circumference provides this Plus it saves a lot of weight. This bikes weighs as much as a scott scale 899. Awsome

How lon will a zaskar 9er frame with a rigid carbon fork last about. Just wondering cause apparently their frames are like bulletproof (figurative)

Hi I would like to know a bit more about frame fatigue. Is it really true that alumnium frames fatigue and do the different alloys fatigue less. I've heard 7005 doesn't fatigue as bad as 6061! Does steel fatigue? P.S. GT makes this kinesis superlight frames. What is this and does it resist fatigue better? And does rigid forks in a 29er fatigue the frame more?

Hi I would strongly reccommend you build yourself a niner with a rigid fork. For R15000 you could build a singlespeed niner MCR9, SIR 9 (both are made of steel so they are damn strong) and if you prefer aluminium there is the EMD 9 which is rhe cheapest of the three. Then buy yourself the worlds best rigid fork, the niner carbon and make the bike a singlespeed. The reason for the rigid and singlespeed conversion lies in the fact that the niner wheels provide enough suspension (so you don't need a heavy fork which requires maintenance every 25 hours of ride and climbs are beter with a rigid) and single speed work with momentum and guess what 29 inch wheel are all about...momentum. So they fit together perfectly. PLus this all saves a lot of money and build you an indestructable maintanence free bike which will be extremely light and will own climbs. I would reccomend you buy a pair of dt swiss rims mabye even form the hub and get a slx crank and some cheap brakes like tektro. Your bike should weigh less than 10kg and for a beginner, that is the most awsome you can go. Plus singlespeed and rigid makes you cool.

Hi I had the same problem, I almost bought a new crank until I got some awsome advice. They told me to take the crank off and take it to an aluminium welder where they filled it with aluminium (of your crank is made of aluminium). The only problem is that they did not have the right drill though,however the bike store did so they drilled the hole and sprayed by crank illuminous green. I also got the other one sprayed and they look awsome. In total, it only cost 200 bucks which is a lot less than a 800 rand crank. So just find your nearest aluminium welder, they fill it and mabye they even have the drill bit, otherwise your local bike store has! Hope it helps and good luck!

I had an avalanch atx 575. Worst bike the world has ever seen. I hated its geometry, its rims were crap and not to even mention the tyres. You will be fixing that bike every damn secind of your life plus it weighs in at a gross 15kg I would go with the silverback but for 5K you do have good options like a scott aspect 40 (would be my first option by far) and a gt avalanche 3.0 or schwinn moab

Hi Out of interest, what do you think of taking a 26 inch frame (like a scott scale 70 or ciant xtc) and putting on all its usual components but then taking the suspension off and replacing it with a rigid fork with a 29 inch wheel. It will be like a 69er. Do you think something like this could work and be able to tackle xc. Just wondering

Started off with an avalanche atx575: 15kg Now I bought this lightspeed : 9kg (Pretty awsome bike)

Dude, for full suspension, these are quite crappy bikes! With 15000 have a look at a scott, merida or giant!

Hi I am starting xc and um currently 16 years old and take a medium frame. I have done some research and narrowed my options down to 2 bikes which fit my budget of R10000 A new merida matts lite 1000-d or a 2004/2005 litespeed tenasi Specs of the tenasi: Weight: less than 10kg Fork: Fox 32 rcl Deraileur: sram xo Seatpost: thompson carbon Bar: thompson carbon Crank: Truvativ Brakes: shimano Specs of merida + picture @ http://merida-bikes.com/en_int/bike/38/MTB+Hardtail/MATTS+Lite+1000-D Do you think the litespeed titanium frame will still be okay and that I won't have any prblems with it. P.S. the merida weighs 11.7kg

Hi I want to use one of these for xc racing. The scott is brand new from the shop and the cannondale is second hand though. Both are for exactly the same price. Do you mabye know the weight of these too? Specs of the Jekyll: Cannondale Jekyll, Medium frame. Lefty Jake fork recently serviced by Omnico. Shimano XT Components. Hope Brakes. Carbon handle Bar Fox rear suspension height adjustable with lockout Specs of the scott: http://www.scott-sports.com/gb_en/product/10024/55474/217947

Dude, there is nor comparison between the two.Go for the Schwinn!

Hi Do you know of any store, preferably in the Western Cape, or of somebody that would sell this for under R10000. I was like thinking mabye R8500. Do you think I would pay less for a demo model and do you know of one? Thanks Dylan

Hi This is basically going to close the decisions between which bike I'm going to choose. Which of these would you recommend for someone who is going to do an xc race and ride quite hard on the fork? I know air forks have lighter weight and it has lockout but will the rst air actually last and not leak oil? I weigh 65kg so I'm not concerned about weight really on the bike but more sort of really riding it quite hard! Any personal experience on the two forks would be great

Hi Thanks for all the replies. It looks like its between the merida tfs 800 and scott scale 70. Going to test them out and see how they go. I'm thinking mabye that the scott's frame is slightly better and will make up for the fork. Plus, the merida's air fork may leak oil as its an rst first air which is apparently suspectable to oil leaking. Any opinions or experience on the rst first air fork mabye would be cool. Thanks

About 8000 to 9000

Just wondering about the merida fork. Its an rst gila air. Do you think it would leak oil. So far, I think the scott looks the best but do you guys think the silverback compare in any way or aren' they for racing really?

Just checked. The cubes are all out of stock. I guess it unfortunately gets crossed off the list!

Hi I've done a lot of research now on all the bikes and managed to gets some special deals on a couple of good bikes! I want to use them for xc racing and would like to know which one has the most race suitable geometry and is able to take quite a hard and rough race. Options: Scott scale 70 Silverback ventura Possibly could get a silverback spectra for same price or a bit more as a ventura Merida matts tfs800 Cube ltd comp -the ltd pro is mabye a bit expensive. SHould I mabye save up for it. Thanks

Also 15 and was also on the 29er idea. 29ers are great stuff, no doubt about it but it all somes down to the point that for a 29er at X amount of price you can buy a 26inch that is better. Its simply reality. Plus, being 15 you are quite agile and can do a lot of jumps an maneouvres on trails so you don't want a bigger and heavier 29er pulling you back. FOr 10000 you can get yourself an awsome mtb like a scott scale 60 or possibly a scale 50 if you go to the right stores. Dude, for xc nothing beats scott because of the geometry of the frame. Don't go for merida-its crap and overpriced! A gt zaskar could also be a good choice However, if you are really hooked on the 29er idea, go for the scott scale 29er team. Goes for 11600 and weighs only 12kg making it the lightest aluminium 29er on the market. Much better than the =priced momsen. Hope this helps.

Hi I am starting xc racing and need a bike that will be able to survive a real race and manage the track well. My option are the scott scale 70 and serfas xcr3. Which one would be able to take me over climbs and around corners the best and still be intact as I sort of ride the bike quite hard. I think it will have to be a 20inch frame as I am 1.81m and weigh 64kg. Do you perhaps know the weight of the bikes? Thanks Dylan