Advice needed on new MTB bike purchase in the R30 -35k bracket

[Romulus]

I am of the opinion that it's better to buy a better specced hard tail for this amount of money than buying dual sus that's not as well specced.

 

I'm considering the following:

 

Cannondale Flash 3 Carbon 29er as I heard that these Cannondale's are as good as most dual suspension bikes.

Cannondale: Flash Carbon 3 29er

 

 

User's rating

Bike Info

Year: 2012

Category: MTB: Hardtail: MTB: Hardtail: Race

Brand: Cannondale

Model: Flash Carbon 3 29er

Price: R30000

Frame Material: BallisTec Carbon, BB30 1.5 Si head tube, Flash 29'er, SPEED SAVE

Fork: 90mm, Lefty 29'er PBR, OPI, Solo Air

Wheelset: 29'er, 32 hole, SunRingle EQ25, w/eyelet, welded

Components: SHIMANO XT

 

Or the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon

Specialized: Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29

 

 

User's rating

Bike Info

Year: 2012

Category: MTB: Hardtail: MTB: Hardtail: Race

Brand: Specialized

Model: Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29

Price: R34465

Frame Material: 29 geometry, carbon PF30 BB, FACT 8m carbon, FACT IS construction, hollow carbon dropouts, replaceable alloy derailleur hanger, tapered HT

Fork: 15.5: 80mm, air spring, Brain Fade and rebound adj., Custom RockShox SID 29 Brain, inertia valve damper, Others: 90mm travel, QR, tapered alloy steerer

Wheelset: 24mm, 32h, alloy disc, Roval Control 29

Components: 10-speed, 34.9 clamp mount, high-clamp, mid cage. Front: SRAM X7, Rear: SRAM X0

 

Or Scott Spark Expert

 

Or Scott Spark Pro

Scott: Spark 29 Pro

 

 

User's rating

We’ve been waiting for this one – claimed frame weight (with shock) is under 1900g, which is light for any 100mm travel dual sus bike, let alone a 29er. It’s a tech-head’s dream – IDS-SL modular drop outs allow a 142mm axle, and an elliptical plate can fine-tine the ride by changing the head tube angle and the bottom bracket height. Then there’s Twinloc, controlling both front and rear suspension, letting you switch between 100mm/70mm and lockout travel modes from the bars. All this high-end tech apperas on the mid-range Pro version.

 

Bike Info

Year: 2012

Category: MTB (All): MTB: Full Suspension: MTB: Full Suspension: Race

Brand: Scott

Model: Spark 29 Pro

Price: R37499.95

Frame Material: Carbon Main frame HMF NET Imp5 Technology / 6061 Alloy Swingarm

Fork: Rock Shox SID 29 RLT3 Air 100mm Travel: DT Swiss Nude2-3modes

Wheelset: DT Swiss XR29 Tubeless ready

Components: Sram XO/ Sram X9/ Sram X9 30spd/ Sram GXP carbon crankset/ Avid Elixir 9RS disc brakes

Website: www.probike.co.za

← METEORE ELITE 29RSuper Six Evo Team →

[Mr SingleTrack]

I can't comment on the first 2 bikes but you can get a new scott spark 910 (2013) for 36k

[Meentb]

Im riding one of the spez hardtail. Its an awesome bike. I love every second on it. Comes standard with formula r1's and these brakes are the bomb. Groupset is also really good. Shifters and brakes are on one clamp so the handlebar is clean. No lockout levers. And the brain fork is awesome!!!

 

Roval wheelset is really nice and stiff. Upgraded mine to ztr arch and cant really say they lighter

 

Changed handlebar to an FSA SL-K.

Changing seatpost to Ritchey carbon.

 

But all of the above aint really neccesary.

 

Pity you in cape town otherwise you would have been more than welcome to try mine out

[Shebeen]

I am of the opinion that you're unlikely to get any suitable advice this way. If you have more cents than brains, then just go for the shiniest carbon 29er with a view to upgrading to a 650b next year once your base is dialed in and tech skills have plateaued.

 

Suggest you tell us a wee bit more about your size, riding experience, expected use for bike etc etc. Otherwise you're only really going to fall for marketing schpiel direct from manufacturers sites and titbits from guys commenting on how awesome their own bike is.

[CJVDM]

Nino rides scott, Burry rides Spez. I would still buy the cannondale though, no reason other than my own personal taste. but honestly the cannondale and stumpy are serious looking racing machines. i just think that the groupset on the dale is better. just make sure you get a decent braking system, if not see if you can negotiate to pay the difference and upgrade to good brakes.

[CAAD4]

Rule number 1. A hardtail is a hardtail. The end.

[arendoog]

No mention of geometry ? All 3 are great bikes .I like XT and light wheels.Momsen R SL729 is also worth looking at .R27000.0

Edited September 22, 2012 by Blitzer

[Cav']

I got the above flash.

Enjoying it, busy upgrading piece by piece.

 

I paid 27k new.

[gummibear]

Have a look at Canyon bikes

 

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2547

[Cav']

No mention of geometry ? All 3 are great bikes .I like XT and light wheels.Momsen R SL729 is also worth looking at .R27000.0

Westdene's selling those for 20k

Good deal imo

[arendoog]

Westdene's selling those for 20k

Good deal imo

If you can get a sl729 racing for 20k ,it is a steal

[flashcannon]

Go to your LBS, if they worth anything you should get the right advice there! Far too many so called experts on the net.

[Cav']

If you can get a sl729 racing for 20k ,it is a steal

Oh f#ck didn't see the race part.

20k for the normal sl729

The race would be around 24k after bargaining

[Burries]

At that price you probably won't get a bad bike regardless of the brand. Take everyone for a quick test ride and see what you like. I'd take both those hardtails above the spark, but prefer the specialized stumpy. They are extremely comfortable and therefore gives you great control thus making you go faster

[Burries]

Go to your LBS, if they worth anything you should get the right advice there! Far too many so called experts on the net.

 

Agreed. And most of them try to force their opinion...