Budget conscious newbie buying a Raleigh MTB from Makro

[BLADE_RSA]

There, I said it...

 

I've been doing a lot of research and figured it would be interesting to bring my thoughts here to see what the hubbers would say about my findings/opinons on buying my first MTB.

 

My story:

 

I've pretty much decided 100% that I want to take up MTB'ing as a hobby in order to get fit and get back on 2 wheels. I'm taking a sabatical from motorbikes for a few years as a recent family tragedy has left me not wanting to leave my wife and 2 little  girls in the lurch if I have a serious accident on my motorbike. So... Harley Davidson sold and colours and riding gear stowed away in the rafters (sadly).

 

Thing is though, I've been riding (motorbikes) for about 30 years so 2 wheeling is kinda part of my DNA. I figured taking up MTBing would be a good way of keeping the animal at bay and also having some fun with friends whilst getting back into shape - I truly miss my six pack hahaha.

 

So this past weekend I borrowed a bike and did my first trail ride (Rietvlei in brackendowns). We did a "cut-and-paste" mix of the different trails and 11 kilo's or so later I was feeling thoroughly mountain-bike-bug-bitten aleit gasping for breath with my smoker lungs.

 

I've chatted to a number of people and all have done their best to give me good advice. Right in the beginning before I knew anything about this I looked at a dual susser at Makro and was impressed. It looked better than any bicycle I'd ever owned but then I spoke to a dealer who sorta swayed me in the direction of Titan - though it was way above my pretty much non-existant budget.

 

Once I started thinking of dropping more than 5k on a bike then the proverbial thought flood gates opened and I played with a number of options including considering the following brands (all in hardtail of course):

Titan

Silverback

Momsem

Scott

Merida

 

The above would have been new hardtails at a price range of 8 to 14k.

 

Then I saw a second hand Scott Spark for R12k posted for sale here and that got me thinking about buying a 2nd hand bike - plus I had received advice to consider this as an option.

 

Before long I even started considering financing a new "proper" bike, something along the lines of the Scott Spark 710 dual susser.

 

BUT... then I logged on to my bank and reality started sinking in - I honestly cant afford to drop much more than R5k on a bike right now or in the near future - I simply don't have the cash or the credit facilities available right now.

 

One thing I know for sure and that is that the Giant I rode on Sunday was too big for me (large frame) and the seat sure as hell was too hard - I'm still sitting very gingerly and it's been almost 2 whole days (I know, I know TITS,TITS and more TITS - but seriously, I'm not too proud to buy a "senior" saddle and even cover that with an additional gel seat cover - this pain is near unbearable man!

 

So then I did some more research and discovered that Raleigh is actually a near 100 year old brand and that they have sold millions of bikes all over the world and that got me thinking again about the bike I saw at Makro.

 

Does the mre fact that it is labelled Raleigh and not Merida or Scott and the fact that it is sold my a Massmart chain instead of a dealer and the fact that it is a dual susser at under R4800 brand new (yes really) automatically have to mean that it will fall apart after 10 rides and that it is utter junk?

 

Considering my budget constraints, I find myself needing to challenge these preconceptions and prove the theory wrong. Also, in my experience, more expensive does not necessarily always mean better in all aspects and it is often more a case of brand loyalty that comes from a good experience on a particular bike (remember, I rode Harley's so I think I'm entitled to that opinion at least .

 

Don't get me wrong, from what I've seen read and heard, I'm not anti-expensive bike at all and would buy that new Scott Spark in a heartbeat if I had the cash but I simply don't and I don't want to wait until I do either cos I want to get riding ASAP - that is of course, once I can actually sit properly again

 

Thanks for reading guys, hope you had a chuckle or 2 along the way. Your well thought out responses that show you can challenge the paradigms of marketing brainwashing would be appreciated but the trolls are welcome to post too .

 

Oh, and I promise to post a pic of my new bike (whatever it may end up being) on my couch.

 

Cheers

 

Link for the bike in question: http://www.makro.co.za/sports-and-outdoor/raleigh-29er-sports-frs-alloy-mountain-bike-272037EA

Edited October 21, 2014 by BLADE_RSA

[marko35s]

Don't do it, you will regret getting one of those things from Makro.

Sniff around the classifieds here and something will pop up in your price range and you would be far better off buying a decent quality used hardtail than wasting your cash on a R4800 dual susser that is just going to put you off riding.

 

Anything like these would be better -

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/108056-titan-trail-650b/

 

or

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/106335-price-dropped-nomad-fs-twenty/

[rvdm1]

Firstly, welcome to the awesome sport that is cycling, hope you will have many happy miles.

 

Now to get to your question. I would advise you to steer way clear of the so-called Makro specials. You will not be getting value for your money should you go that route.

 

The suspension on those bikes are pretty much only there for cosmetic purposes. The frame and entire bike for that matter is very heavy compared to a proper mtb.

 

Then we get to the drivetrain. The components on the makro specials are usually lowest of the low spec. Your shifting will be sluggish and just not lekker, this and you have less gears to play with (24 speed vs 27/30). The raleigh you are referring to has low end mechanical disc brakes which I would never recommend. I have had a bad experience with mechanical disc brakes and would choose rim brakes above them.

 

My advice would be to look in the classified section for a good 26" hardtail bike. You should be able to get something with shimano slx or even xt components and possibly also an air fork in your budget range. I sold my merida hardtail a while back for R5000 and it had an xt/slx mix of components, tubeless tires (tubeless is the way to go) and a manitou R7 air fork, if you don't rush it you should be able to find something that you would actually be able to enjoy riding.

 

Also remember to budget for kit, things like a helmet, gloves, shoes and so on.

 

Hope that helps. I am sure there will be more replies tomorrow singing the same tune.

[GreatGusto]

You were a biker and rode a Harley Davidson, not a Bajaj Pulsar.

You were clever enough to make that choice.

[SeeKooigaap]

Whatever you do don't do it!!!

 

I Bought a Game Raleigh Hard tail and took it back the next day as the drivetrain was stripped. They replaced it with another.I took it back a day later as the Crank Fell off. Then I "Upgraded" and took a Peugeot from them for 1K more, well that just me off riding completely., it was eventually given away.( as rdvm1 said the Suspension is not work mentioning and the bikes are as heavy as a Harley!.)

 

Years Later I bough an Entry Level Silverback Saturn 26er for R5000.00 and have never had any hassles with it at all, it still gets used now and then.

 

I now only buy from my LBS and stick to Tried and Tested Brands.

 

cheers

[mazambaan]

I think I followed a similar route although some years ago. My Makro "top of the range" special did about 2km before even my anemic power broke the chain. If it cost R2500 back then I probably dropped another R1000 on chain and tyres to do the Amashova and a few of the very early MTB rides (40km was an epic).

 

But I wised up a little and I picked up a good Giant and my mate a Trek for about R1000 odd each, secondhand (hardtails, vee brakes, bouncy little fork etc). These bikes are still alive.

 

Even now, R5000 should get you a very reasonable MTB, secondhand, maybe a bit of work needed.

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/107580-gt-avalanche-30-2013/

 

A good start, remember most sellers will also be a bit negotiable

[Uni]

I don't know the ins and outs of components, but I started off wanting a new bike, rather than a second hand one - at the time my budget was also limited as I didn't want to spend a lot not knowing it was a bug that would bite hard.

Within a few months on my first proper trail ride the shifters broke.

A year later I gave the bike away to the gardener at work and upgraded to my current bike, nothing flashy but perfect for the type of riding I do and the frequency.

 

Buy the best you can afford without getting into debt - my 5c

[shaper]

Look around there are better options both in the classifieds and at shops with specials as they replace for new 2015 stock.

 

You might want to also take a trip to the Cycle Fair this weekend as there are often specials on sale. I know from last year that there were some bargains to be had.  

 

http://www.africacyclefair.com/?utm_source=The%20Hub&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=The%20Principality

[johanpre44]

Looks like you already did a lot of research. For any cheap MTB to be worthwhile there is a couple of must haves:

1. Hydraulic disc brakes (preferably Shimano), they will stop you always.

2. Air Fork (like Suntour XCR Air Or Rockshox XC30 Air), for tuning the feel of front suspension and save some weight

3. Good Shimano/SRAM drivetrain (stay away from anything else), durability and good performance. 9 speed of even 8 speed will do fine.

 

A cheap and nice bike that fits the above spec is the Silverback Sola4 which sells new for around R7k. Even though its only a 3x8 drivetrain, the components are bullet proof (my old bike have been going strong for more than 2 years with the same drivetrain).

 

It may be worthwhile looking at a second hand bike, some people sell their budget bikes because they never really started cycling so you may be able to bargain a bit and get a slightly used one for a couple of grand less than new.

 

Like most of the other said, stay away from Makro specials, it will cost you much more in the long run and really suck the enjoyment out of cycling.

 

Enjoy the bike hunting!

[Shebeen]

Don't buy a new full sus for that price, or from makro at all. You will get a double pogo stick head ache.

 

If you're chasing value and prepared to do your homework then second hand is the way to go. Even more if you find a26 inch bike that fits. A new bike buys you piece of mind but loses value the minute it's out the shop door.

 

Good luck, welcome to the hub

[Guest DieBees]

Dont do it.

[Shebeen]

Oh and the Raleigh brand is interesting, they've won the tour de France. They have a good line of bikes that were made under licence until about four years ago. The mtn energade team ridethem and won a lot of races. Those same guys now make the Axis range.

 

The super market Raleigh has always been crap,but probably sells a crapload of volume due to the price point

[Amberdrake]

Don't do it!

[LeTurbo]

A neighbour had one of those Makro Raleighs. Man, I don't think I've felt a heavier bike ... considering most of mine come in aound 10 - 11kgs, that's saying something. 

[Ispeed_V]

As they all say, don't do it.

 

Rather look at a decent 2nd hand 26er in you price bracket. Should be plenty in the classifieds and if the bug really bites then you can work your way up from there.