MTB choice??

[gparsons]

Which one and why....

 

Giant Anthem 2, XTC 2 or Talon. Newbie thinking about longevity i.e. outlay now, pay it off over the next while  and have a bike that I can keep for a loooooooonnnnggg time (with possible small component upgrades along the way).

 

Thoughts, experiences, warnings, excuses all welcome! Thanks !

[Tumbleweed]

talon for the budget. if you're a newbie, learn a bit about riding on the hardtail rather than the full sus.

[gparsons]

Thanks!

[Tumbleweed]

where are you located, by the way? who's got the giants you've been looking at?

[gparsons]

Durban - cyclesphere.

[PappaBear]

are you only looking at giant?  otherwise there is lots of better options....

[Tumbleweed]

ok, i thought you may be in jozi. look, the talon's slightly heavy, but it's decently specced. you haven't considered the alias? also good value 

[Gert Janse v Rensburg]

Ill Go Dual sus from the start... its so much more comfyand handles much beter and spend as much as your bdget allows, but go cannondale rush..... upgrades cost lots more....

[gparsons]

Better options  Are you sure about that!

[gparsons]

Have looked and test ridden the Alias - nice bike although I prefer the Talon specs, although my budget prefers the Alias 

[Thug]

I'd definitely go with the Anthem 2. Splurge the cash now and don't worry about upgrading !!

[PappaBear]

yip!  I got the schwinn moab disc.  Has got about the same specs as the talon, but goes for the alias's price.....

 

I'm a happy camper!  But it all depends on your budget.  If you can, I say go full sus straight away, wanting to upgrade is very expensive, mtb's have no second hand value!!

 

[gparsons]

Is that the 2007 Schwinn? The 2008 spec looks more like the Alias except for the fork which is Talon equivalent.

[Tumbleweed]

Ill Go Dual sus from the start... its so much more comfyand handles much beter and spend as much as your bdget allows' date=' but go cannondale rush..... upgrades cost lots more.... [/quote']

 

not for a newbie. learn the skills on a hardtail, then buy a full-sus after a year and a bit of riding.

[Gert Janse v Rensburg]

Holy... he said he doesnt have the bdget for buying a bike again in a year or two.... he wants his to last for ages.... so go straight dual i would say...

[NotSoBigBen]

Ok so my 2000ZIM$ sents worth!

 

My technical skills (OK so you had to see how bad they were before to realise how much better I am though still bad!) have definitely improved since I have been training on a HT. Based on this I would agree with those saying a newbie should consider a HT as a starter bike ..........