Mountain Bike Help

[Jerry Lewis]

Guys

 

I am looking to buy a small Mountain Bike for my 15 year old son who is actually a very good roadie but want to venture into the world of Mountain Biking.The problem is we do not know enough about Mountain Bikes to make a decision as to what to buy.

We are very knowledgeable on all things road but not unfortunately have no experience with mountain biking.

Could somebody possibly advise us as to what is good value for money,do we buy a 29er,26er or 27.5,what sort of componentry to use etc etc....

 

Thanks in advance

[Meentb]

First we would need your budget

[Jerry Lewis]

First we would need your budget

 

 

10K Max

[Cruz Addict]

on that go for a 26inch hardtail, you can get a good value bike for about 8ish and then upgrade things like tire and go tubeless.

for a 15 year old i woulnt look at a 29 or even 650B as the 29 will be too big unless your son is large for his age and the 650b is just going to be too expensive for your budget.

thats the way i would approach it anyway.

[Tomik]

I agree with above except I would look second hand and spend a bit less, perhaps even a dual suspension (depending on his preferred type of riding). My reasoning is that your son might be big enough for a 29er in 2-3 years. And second hand 26ers don't have much of a resale value.

 

re: price: I sold my Giant Trance 26er (full susp, full XT) early last year for R6500 - it was in excellent condition.

[Jerry Lewis]

on that go for a 26inch hardtail, you can get a good value bike for about 8ish and then upgrade things like tire and go tubeless.

for a 15 year old i woulnt look at a 29 or even 650B as the 29 will be too big unless your son is large for his age and the 650b is just going to be too expensive for your budget.

thats the way i would approach it anyway.

That sounds like good advice and yes his only a shade over 5 foot tall .....Any suggestions on any particular brand or models......Somebody is trying to sell me a New 650B Carbon Fibre Silverback for R18000 with Sram components ....is this worth it?

[cowboylegs]

on that go for a 26inch hardtail, you can get a good value bike for about 8ish and then upgrade things like tire and go tubeless.

for a 15 year old i woulnt look at a 29 or even 650B as the 29 will be too big unless your son is large for his age and the 650b is just going to be too expensive for your budget.

thats the way i would approach it anyway.

 

already feeling for the little man! his gonna have one sore ass!

[SaKiwi]

If your son is tall, buy 29'er, if not (1.6lm), then buy 26. For around 8-10K you could buy 26" with XT/SLX (Silverback Spectra 2) and for 10K you could buy 29" Merida Big Nine 500 with XT/Deore.

 

Just 2 examples, you have to shop around, but try and buy SLX and up

[Mental Mamba]

agree with day G, if he is not a big boy "Length wise", start off on a 26er, get the bike handling skills sorted although he is a roady mtb skills differ somewhat, once he has mastered mtb including doing some races he could if he feels like it have the transition over to 27.5 or 29er.....

[HaydenWilson]

That sounds like good advice and yes his only a shade over 5 foot tall .....Any suggestions on any particular brand or models......Somebody is trying to sell me a New 650B Carbon Fibre Silverback for R18000 with Sram components ....is this worth it?

 

nope.

 

get the skills first (involves lots of crashing) then get the carbon....

[Cruz Addict]

agree with day G, if he is not a big boy "Length wise", start off on a 26er, get the bike handling skills sorted although he is a roady mtb skills differ somewhat, once he has mastered mtb including doing some races he could if he feels like it have the transition over to 27.5 or 29er.....

especially of he is a roadie, he is not going to be used to having to select a route that could hurt, ( ok with the exeption of pothole ducking)