Second MTB?

[Ashold]

Hello Hubbers, this is my first post (but i read a lot) so bear with me.

 

I'm looking at getting a second MTB. I already have a pretty awesome 26er trail bike that i've been racking up mileage on for the last year or so. It's a little on the heavy side (+-12.5kg) and it's taking strain from constant flat training rides. I'm doing more and more XC races and was thinking a more suitable bike would be in order.

 

I have a preference for agile and nimble bikes that are good downhill but my weakness is climbing, i'm thinking something carbon and dual suspension - although a really good hardtail could sell me. Looking at both new and second hand but have a dreaded feeling i'll buy something and then find out it doesn't suit. Who offers test rides in the Cape and what are some good options to look into? Around R30k...

[johanpre44]

Nice budget for a second bike!

 

I've tried a couple of dual sussers and cannot get used to them, so decided to stick to a hard tail.

 

Both my bikes are XC oriented, the older one is a 26er (cheap and cheerful and now my play bike which I still use regularly). My other bike is a 29er with cherry-picked parts I use for the long rides and races. Both my bikes are less than your budget...

 

A nice second bike for your training rides and XC races will probably be something like a Giant Anthem X 29, Momsen Vipa AC, Silverback Sido etc. They should all be light-ish and within your budget. Travel is 100mm or less so they should help out a lot on the flat training rides or climbing on XC races.

 

Maybe check with Revolution Cycles, they may help out with demo's on Momsen's. There should be other LBS's that will help out with Demo's on other brands of similar spec.

[SimpleDom]

For that money, perhaps you could find and Anthem x advanced. You won't be sorry.

[karlvand]

Look for a used Santa Cruz Tallboy, I promise you will never look back.

[Ashold]

Interesting options here. I'll keep a look out in the classifieds. I had a chat with a guy in my LBS and he was of the opinion that most of the bikes are pretty similar handling-wise and it's more about getting the setup right for the rider.