29er on a tight budget or 26" ???

[PieterV]

If you buy a 26er, i am almost certain by March next year will be back here trying to sell the 26er who no one will want, and you will be married to it... the other side, buy a entry level 29er, then by March next year you will probably have the entry 29er on sale looking for an upgrade! Go entry 29er!

[Mike Bike]

I ride a Vidal 1. Awesome bike. You won't go wrong. As far as I know the vida5 is almost the same frame just different equipment.

[Drahthaar]

Do you think I should try and get the vida 5 (2012) or vida 4 (2013 -vida 5 not available in 2013)

 

 

http://www.silverbacklab.com/2011_website_SILVERBACK/vida4_13.htm#

Vida 4 2013 - R 5900.

 

http://www.silverbacklab.com/2011_website_SILVERBACK/vida5.htm#

Vida 5 2012 - R 5600

 

I am already going over my budget but if the specs are really different it makes sense otherwise not. Please advise as I dont know to much about componets and specs

[Drahthaar]

I wenst to a few shops today and I am more confused than before

 

The different shops suggest the following for basically the same price up to R500 difference bubt that is fine

 

Giant revel 0 . 29er

Titan sport disc 29

Silverback vida 5 29

 

Only obvious difference that I can see is the Giant has a 80mm travle fork and the rest 100mm. Is this a problem or not ?

And the silverback is 24 speed , giant 27 speed, titan 24

Any suggestions or advice will be appreciated

Thanks

[Drahthaar]

I wenst to a few shops today and I am more confused than before

 

The different shops suggest the following for basically the same price up to R500 difference bubt that is fine

 

Giant revel 0 . 29er

Titan sport disc 29

Silverback vida 5 29

 

Only obvious difference that I can see is the Giant has a 80mm travle fork and the rest 100mm. Is this a problem or not ?

And the silverback is 24 speed , giant 27 speed, titan 24

Any suggestions or advice will be appreciated

Thanks

[Drahthaar]

Anyone ?

[Wayne Potgieter]

How tall are you?

[Shebeen]

How tall are you?

my exact thoughts there.

 

29er is a whole lot of hogwash. People coming on here saying that 29er is the best thing since sliced bread. I don't think a 29er is going to be the best bike for everyone. If you are 6ft7, then it is a no brainer, if you are 5ft3 then it will look like you're from the circus, in between is the grey area. So how tall are you?

 

On the subject of 2nd bikes (and budgets) I think you can get some amazing deals on 26ers right now. Mainly fueled by the 29er is the best thing since sliced bread marketing hype as seen on these pages. You might not want to shop around too much since you're out in the langeberge and don't have the time to pop into your local, but if you did you could get a bike worth R10-12k new in your price range.

 

My best advice would be to phone Avron at cycletraders or (shame on me for suggesting this?) Neil at Neil's Wheels and get a decent spec 26er for your R5k. unless if you're 6ft7

[Shebeen]

Do you think I should try and get the vida 5 (2012) or vida 4 (2013 -vida 5 not available in 2013)

 

 

http://www.silverbac...K/vida4_13.htm#

Vida 4 2013 - R 5900.

 

http://www.silverbac...BACK/vida5.htm#

Vida 5 2012 - R 5600

 

I am already going over my budget but if the specs are really different it makes sense otherwise not. Please advise as I dont know to much about componets and specs

vida 4 2013...for an extra R300 it's 600gr lighter, you'll feel this difference!

otherwise bikes look quite similar, 2013 paint job looks more lekker!

[Drahthaar]

I am 1,75. Weight 95kg

[Wayne Potgieter]

I am 1,75. Weight 95kg

I am 1.74. A niner feels too big and is uncomfortable.

 

My vote...a second hand 26er

[Drahthaar]

Damn. I thought the 29 was the thing for me and now the whole search starts over...

[Mojoman]

Buy what you want! Odds are you will want to buy another bike anyway once you have one...!

 

I weigh the same and am more or less the same height, I bought a GT Avalanche 1 a few years back, 9 speed, Deore FD, XT RD, Suntour air fork, Tektro brakes, FSA cranks SPD's. Looks good, handles well and is tough enough to take the knocks.

 

There will always be that 'other' bike you will think about....!

[Stretch]

ok - i will try give you an unbiased opinion......seeing as I ride a 26". I replaced my 26" for another (2nd hand) 26" purely because I could buy a really good spec'd bike at a fraction of the cost of the same 29er. I am 6ft so size wise it would not make a difference. My next bike I build is going to be a 29er hardtail SS...just because

 

as for being able to do everything better and faster with a 29er...well that is very marginally true in an open road situation. At berg n bush this year I rode a long section of district road type riding with some guys on 29ers and i was quite easily able to keep up with them although i could see that i was pedalling slightly harder...although i was probably fitter cos i would leave them on the hills........at the end of the day the benefit is marginal unless you are a competitive rider.... then go for a 29er. Personally I like, and am comfortable with the handling of my 26er so why change that?

[Hilton.]

Drahthaar,

 

I own a 2012 Vida 4, which is close to the new Vida 3 I think. Its a great bike, and I love riding it. The new Vida 4 looks awesome, and the specs are pretty good for the price. I must agree with some of the others here, and say that you could get a great value 2nd hand 26" on the hub here, but that depends on how hectic the riding you will be doing is. Chances are, as a beginner you'd appreciate the slightly easier rolling of the 29" for the type of riding you'll be doing. But with your height, you may feel more comfortable on a 26". I'm 1.85m after all, so I'm a large. Overall for you, it's quite a toss up. In the end, the quality you'll get going for a second hand 26", that once retailed for R10 - R12 k, will be better than that for a new 29".

As to you're question of whether it'll last on a race, it will. Silverbacks are great value for money.

 

I'd just highly suggest getting pedals immediately upon buying. And most importantly, change those horrible non-folding 2.1 small block 8's tires for some any decent 2.2 folding tyres. Doesn't have to be too expensive (think R350 each). You'll appreciate the change when you get punctures. And buy a bit of that yellow sludge stuff to put in your tubes, to help deal with punctures.

[Drahthaar]

The giant revel 29 has a 80mm fork and the silverback and titan 100mm what is the difference ? I am trying to eliminate bikes so have to start looking at differences. As well as 24 and 27 speed bikes ?

 

Thanks for the replies so far