Hi all, Our MTBs were stolen two weeks ago and we are looking to replace and upgrade a bit. We need some advice on trail bikes as this isn't something we often buy and the mtb models seem to change quite a bit each year. We also would prefer new bikes rather than second hand (based on previous experience with second hand bikes). We mostly ride the trails in the Grabouw/Elgin area about 3 times a week. We don't do races and want bikes that we can have fun on the trails with, won't kill us on the hills and provide some confidence on more technical decent. We don't want to spend much more than R35 00 000 per bike (preferably around R25 000 - R30 000) complete, i.e. tubeless conversions and clipless etc. For my wife we are currently looking at a Scott Contessa spark 710 (2017), it's a carbon 27.5 which she feels will give a bit more confidence on the bendy single track sections (she had a 29er Merida). The older model also suits our budget. I'm looking at getting a Specialized Stump Jumper Alloy ST (2020) or Giant Stance 2 (2020). My previous ride was a FS Merida XT 96. Other bikes on our short list are: Merida One-Twenty 400 (2020) Scott Spark 960 (2020) Trek Fuel ex 5 (2020) And then more toward wish list than shortlist are the Norco Fluid FS1, Giant Trance 2, GT Sensor elite or Carbon Stump jumper... but on these the price is getting a bit on the steep side for us. Help :-)
