Noob seeks new MTB advice

[emortal]

I've come to terms with this being a lot more expensive then I initially planned, so I've culled a couple of plans I had and pooled the monies, everything I got for Christmas (I asked for cash), and was a stingier Santa. Sold some *** I've outgrown / lost interest in. And now have R8k for the bike. Will soon be making a nuisance of myself at LBS. Worked out the actual distance and Linden Cycles is actually the closest.

 

This is the sort of thing I have in mind:

http://www.trekbikes.com/za/en/bikes/mountain/sport/x_caliber_29/x_caliber_6/

• 29er
  
• hard tail
  
• aluminum frame
  
• SR Suntour XCM hydraulic lock-out front fork (100mm travel)
  
• Sram X4 shifters w. Shimano M191 front derailleur and Sram X4 rear
  
• Shimano M395 hydraulic disc
  

Looking back on this thread, I seem to have learned a lot, but it's still all theory.

 

I will have to use it for more than commuting though, to justify spending so much on toys .

 

I've got a grand for a helmet, a part of me says I need something like this, but I wonder if this is just leftovers from falling off riding bmx as a kid:

http://www.bellhelmets.com/cycling/helmets/dirt/helmet-type/full-face/sanction

 

Any last minute advice would be appreciated.

[feetup]

Stay here and get a 2nd hand quality bike.

When you are ready to upgrade,you will get a better return too.

It will have better components then the standard cheapy which will loose 50% value when you walk out the shop.

Edited December 29, 2013 by feetup

[feetup]

http://www.thehubsa....2-momsen-al100/

 

nothing wrong with this?

can probably pick it up for R2700.

Edited December 29, 2013 by feetup

[Uni]

As a noob myself here's my 2c

 

1. Buy the best you can afford, it's not worth saving some money on the bike and then spending money to fix things that break.

2. Not knowing enough I was not comfortable buying 2nd hand, I also wanted my own new bike, so I opted to go new.

3, size matters - see what the shop recommends but try the bike out as well.

4. At the end if the day, you must love what you buy, you're the one who's going to ride it.

5. Find a LBS that's not just trying to make the sale and shove something down your throat, if you're not sure wait - as exciting as it is buying the bike, it's a lot of money to get it wrong.

 

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[feetup]

Noob he only wants to spend 3k lol.

 

 

 

Its about owning the bike-nothing to do with new?

 

just puting it out there

[emortal]

Feetup, thanks for taking the time to lookup the Momsen.

 

As a 26er it is less fashionable, not that I care, but a lot of folks do and so it does ding the price.

The XCR fork is better spec than the one on the Trek.

The Alivio vs X4 looks about par, they are both low end, but not the lowest.

Can't really comment on the Tekro (sp. Tektro?) disks, all I know is disks should be hydraulic, but hydraulics are a waste on V-brakes, and its easier to upgrade existing disks, than to do a conversion (some frames especially the cheapies that come with V-brakes don't have the space &/ mountings).

XL frame would probably be too big for me though.

 

It looks like a good deal, but I've moved up in my ambitions

 

As porqui said, and feetup demonstrated, If you have a mate who knows a bit about bikes, then second hand will get you twice the bike for the price at the low end, (they will know which features are expensive nice to haves - like 29ers, vs a suitable groupset).

 

Unfortunately my mates are generally not interested in bikes. Except for the hippy, who thinks Game is overpriced, but wouldn't buy from their capitalist buts' anyways. Rode his bike to Knysna on holiday . The others would ask where the engine is, and the rest would warn me of the dangers of taxi's.

 

Will harass the LBS on Monday / Tuesday. New Years is messing with my timeline. If they don't confuse me more than I already am, I should have a ride by the end of the week.

[emortal]

For those who like to see the outcome:

 

2013 GT Karakoram

• 29er
  
• Shimano ALIVIO 9x3
  
• Tektro Hydralic Disk
  
• Medium Frame (Short legs )
  

From LBS.

 

 

 

Thanks for all the advice!

 

Happy as a kid with a new bike!