Runbikeswim Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Yet another which bike to buy….I just sold my Scott spark 950 and want to go back to HT.I am looking at a budget of 20 000. Idea is to build it into a carbon. But the budget is non neg.I am a Scott and Giant fan, the bikes I am looking at Merida Big Nine 500 (2015) Scott Scale 950 (2015Scott Aspect 910 (2015)a Giant in this league Any advice in this price range ?
Bizkit031 Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 You seem to like your Scott's so stick to either one and check parts speck on the 2 and go from there,try and ride them.
Pooyan Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 For 2015 it seems Giant is very well priced. Get 4k somewhere and go for this; http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-za/bikes/model/xtc.advanced.29er.1/19603/78204/#specificationshttp://cerescycles.co.za/product/2015-xtc-adv-29er-1/ Or you can go for this one; (but I would save the 4k and buy the bike above)http://cerescycles.co.za/product/2015-xtc-adv-29er-2/
PoiZoNouZ Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 The Scott Scale is power. Maybe also look at a Spez Carve, very good HT bikes.
Odinson Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 If going Scott, get the Scale and not the Aspect. For your budget, you might be able to pick up a carbon 29er with very nice spec - ;possibly 2014 stock that's been reduced to clear. Also, the Spez Crave is a ridiculously good XC racing HT.
karlito Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 For that price the spaz is going to be under speced compared to the scott
XCnewbie Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 If you are determined to buy new (like I was 6 months ago), I would recommend the Silverback Sola 1 http://www.silverbacklab.com/bike/mountain/silverback-sola-1/, 2015 model currently selling for under R17,000 at Kyalami Cycles. Great fork, brakes and rims on a fairly light frame (not as light as the Giants above admittedly, but less susceptible to cracking at the intersection of the seat tube and top tube *flame suit on*) puts it well above the Scotts and Merida and probably just below the more expensive Giant. I bought my Sola 1 (2014 model) in July last year and have been very happy - I did decide to upgrade the brakes to SLX with IceTec rotors (probably wasn't required) and the builder rebuilt the wheelset on Arch EX rims for my weight (definitely necessary at my tonnage), in the interest of full disclosure. If you can find a better deal on a 2014 carbon hardtail, then go for that, but that level of components was the absolute best I could find when I did my research (I opted for a good RS fork instead of an entry level Fox based on my research). Alternatively, second hand will open up a lot of carbon options, but with warranties not transferring ownership, I was more comfortable with a lifetime warranty on my alloy frame. FWIW, most manufacturers only offer a 2-3 year warranty on carbon frames (for the original owner).
Pooyan Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Great post XCnewbie For that price (17k) the Sola 1 is great value for money- and at 11.3kg, there is no bike cheaper with better spec that weigh less. I also agree that the Reba is a safer option than the entry level Fox on the Adv 1 Giant. (I own both Forks) As XCnewbie mention, the crest rim on the Sola 1 might be a problem if you weigh more than 86kg.According to my knowledge it were the Alu Giant Xtc that had problems with cracking at the seat tube, And the Sola 1 might also have their problems. The bike is not as common as the Giant/Scott’s so the weak points is not easily identified. I would conclude with;Get the Giant Adv 1. And this is why.The bike is direct competitor to the Scott Scale 920 that goes for 30k (Giant probably 350g more, but you can thank the reliable wheels for that)You want a carbon bike- if you buy Alu, you would always wonder how much better a carbon bike is!If you want to sell a Titan/Silverback or any other non-main stream brand, your target market decrease and thus the selling price.
XCnewbie Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Apologies Pooyan - I completely misread the frame material on the Giant XTC Advanced range, that is a really good price for that spec carbon hardtail! RoboJedi, it seems that if you can stretch your budget by R4,000 (possibly less if you negotiate with a few LBS), the Giant is a great deal. Seems I was also wrong about the warranty in this case - Giant website confirms lifetime warranty on all frames. Alternatively, you could save R7,000 (possibly more) on the price of the carbon bike, and get the alloy Sola 1. The Giant might have slightly better re-sale potential due to the brand reputation, although in my own experience people are more comfortable buying alloy mountains bike rather than carbon when it comes to second-hand (just my 2c). Pooyan does have a point in that if you buy alloy, you might always wonder about the carbon ....
Runbikeswim Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 I can get a new 2013 giant xtc 1 for 14000 or a new 2015 scale 950 for 17000
Pooyan Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Very difficult to advice on these 2. https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-za/bikes/model/xtc.29er.1/12784/59384/#specifications If the above link is the Giant you refer too then; XTC 1 vs Scale 950.For 3k more you get; 2015 bike (Frame; probably only the color scheme that differs from previous models) The Scott's Fork is better than the Giant. I would guess that the Giant would be a few grams heavier than the Scott It seems you do get 3k worth of improvements for the additional 3k in cost. Thus a toss-up for me.
XCnewbie Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 The Sola 1 will fall between those 2 in terms of price and is probably the best value out of the 3, IMHO.
Runbikeswim Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 I can get a anthem x1 ( the silver one) so think its 2013? But new for 20... Reallllllyyy like it. Any comments?
XCnewbie Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 I thought you had sold your FS to change to HT?? That being said, a FS is probably what I would choose if I bought again today, although I would try head for a mid travel trail bike (easier said than done in this price range). The Anthem is a bit more prone to cracking at the seat-tube than other bikes (Google will enlighten you - I know because I was also considering that same model), but if it's new with full warranty, then no problem. I also know people who have that model (not sure of the year) who have never had any issues. The one thing I don't like about that bike is the brakes, but that can be upgraded at some stage - Shimano Deore and up are really the benchmark at the moment in terms of stopping power. I also read in my fairly exhaustive research that the Fox Float Evolution CTD fork and shock are not the world's greatest, and are definitely more expensive to service in South Africa than RS. Also bear in mind that a FS is more expensive than a HT to maintain. But it is of course up to you!
Runbikeswim Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 ja wanted to go hardtail... but man that silver frame is beautiful!!!!
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