Which bike?

[Cliffster]

Looking to get myself a 29er for Christmas!

 

I do mainly fitness riding, trying to shed a few.... So my riding consists of leaving the house for a morning ride, street, pavements, a bit off-road etc

 

Which of the following would be the best one to go with, or in the below price range would there be something else that is better?

 

Where is the best place to buy from?

 

Should I go 29 or 27.5???

 

Thanks again

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/merida-big-nine-20-d-2015.html

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/fuji-nevada-1.5.html

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/trek-x-caliber-4-29-mountain-bike-black-blue.html

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/titan-calypso-650b-sport-2015.html

[Brett]

This is also about 7k...

http://www.silverbacklab.com/bike/mountain/silverback-spectra-29-comp/

 

Could also look at this bike

http://www.silverbacklab.com/bike/mountain/2014-sola-4/

It has an air sprung fork (lighter, better damping...)

[Brett]

But I think the 2015 sola 4 is about R8500, so not sure if that is outside of your budget?

[Cliffster]

Thanks all....... Should I go second hand rather, just in the classified I didn't see anything worthwhile unless I missed something?

 

I'm leaning towards the Merida big 9 twenty D, or does anyone know if a better bike with better components second hand for sale that would be a better bet?

 

Trek Marlin 7 or Merida? Trek is a grand cheaper!

[CHRISMAESTER]

See if you can pick up a second hand steel bike.

Cotic or on one or the like.

You won't regret it.

 

[Cliffster]

A steel bike???

 

Tell me more pls on why?

[johanpre44]

I'm a big fan of the Silverbacks, they seem to have a very good spec for the price.

 

Watch out for 2nd hand deals of the cheaper bikes, I find that most selling them try to recover their cost of buying the bike (but you don't get the warranty and may also buy a problem if you don't know the bikes). Nothing wrong with 2nd hand, but get the deal checked out by someone who knows bikes.

 

I would not be too worried about the wheel size, but I know that you will be more confident on a 29er, especially getting on curbs etc. But my 29er have also given me more confidence on my 26er.

 

You will not go wrong with steel, but building up a bike from scratch is very expensive! In this case you should be able to pick up a good 2nd hand deal (Cotic, Momsen STR-29 etc.). Steel bikes are more comfy because they are more flexible, and because they are more flexible they last a lot longer compared to Alu, especially for heavy/hard riders.

 

Silverback now also offer a nice steel bike (Segma 279). This bike solves the wheelsize issue by having both on the same bike! But this bike is probably going to be close to R20k...

[Eugene]

A steel bike???

 

Tell me more pls on why?

People seem to have this affinity to steal, personally I would not consider it. Steal is for the purists, who see the bike as a work of art. They can be heavy and at your price point you need to save weight where you can. A heavy steal frame will be more expensive than a lighter alu frame.

 

The big draw card to steal on road bikes is the comfortable ride steal offers. On a MTB the fat tyres and the fork negate the advantages of steal in the comfort stakes.

[Ryanpmb]

On a MTB the fat tyres and the fork negate the advantages of steal in the comfort stakes.

 

Ah... Ignorance is really bliss...

[Ryanpmb]

See if you can pick up a second hand steel bike.

Cotic or on one or the like.

You won't regret it.

 

 

 

A steel bike???

 

Tell me more pls on why?

 

You won't find a decent steel 27.5" or 29" steel bike at this price point.

 

Steel will be more comfortable than alu. Steel frames can be heavier but don't listen to those that mark this as a disadvantage (there is a slight difference in weight in quality steel frames) - I have a 8.5kg steel SS HT, when geared it's around 10kgs. In your price point you won't find an alu frame bike at this weight.

 

Anyway, I wouldn't worry about a steel bike at your budget. Any of the bikes you listed above seem good in this price bracket. Try ride them and get the one that fits and feels best. I would invest in one of the models with the best fork and/ or wheels. The groupset conponents are all upgradable over time at minimal cost.

[Brian Fantana]

People seem to have this affinity to steal, personally I would not consider it. Steal is for the purists, who see the bike as a work of art. They can be heavy and at your price point you need to save weight where you can. A heavy steal frame will be more expensive than a lighter alu frame.

 

The big draw card to steal on road bikes is the comfortable ride steal offers. On a MTB the fat tyres and the fork negate the advantages of steal in the comfort stakes.

 

If steal is for purists, then South Africa must have some of the purest citizens in the world.

 

I have owned two steel mountain bikes in my short 8 years of mountain biking, and there is a very clear difference in the ride characteristics and comfort of a steel hardtail and a aluminium hardtail.

 

My next bike will definitely be a steel long travel hardtail.  In my opinion it is the perfect compromise between weight, comfort and simplicity.

[Ryanpmb]

In my opinion it is the perfect compromise between weight, comfort and simplicity.

 

Well said. Sums it up in a sentence.

[Lurch the stalker]

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/merida-big-nine-20-d-2015.html

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/fuji-nevada-1.5.html

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/trek-x-caliber-4-29-mountain-bike-black-blue.html

 

http://cyclelab.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/titan-calypso-650b-sport-2015.html

 

I've never ridden any of those brands myself, but, some of my friends and my sister ride Merida's and they're very happy with them.

They're all on soft tails, but, I am sure their hard tails would be good too.

 

As for the 29 vs 27.5...that's a whole other debate and there is no real right or wrong answer, but, considering what you said your riding mostly consists of, you'd probably want the bigger wheel.

[CHRISMAESTER]

Steel is real hehehe.

I have spent thousands of rands going from alu,to steel,and now ride Lynskey.

If someone told me in the beginning how important the correct choices are,I would've saved to get the right thing for me.

 

Sorry guy,just my 2c.

Whatever you decide,should be cool,as long as you on a bike

[the nerd]

Steel is real hehehe.

I have spent thousands of rands going from alu,to steel,and now ride Lynskey.

If someone told me in the beginning how important the correct choices are,I would've saved to get the right thing for me.

 

Sorry guy,just my 2c.

Whatever you decide,should be cool,as long as you on a bike

So what you saying is steel is real but Ti is better?

[cpelser]

Try and get something with air suspension.

 

See whether you can't find something like a 2014 Silverback Sola 4.

 

Or save up a little bit more, and buy this:

http://www.solomonsonline.co.za/CYCLING-EQUIPMENT/BIKES/MOUNTAIN-BIKES/AXIS/Axis-A20-29er-2013

 

It's basically a R18 000 bike for R11500 just because it's a 2013 and an Axis rather than some expensive brand name.

 

The fork on that bike is almost worth more than any of the bikes you've quoted. You won't be disappointed.