New from Zambia, which one of these 4?

[EtienneXplore]

Hi there!

I am getting into Mountain Biking here in Lusaka, but will be down in SA to buy a bike as all bikes here are basically double the price as in SA. I have R20,000 to spend on bike, some kit and then a travel case to transport the bike on the plane back to Zambia.

I am looking at a 29" Hard Tail 

 

I have basically narrowed it down to these:

 

Momsen AL229

http://momsenbikes.com/bikes/hardtail-alloy/al229/

 

 

Merida Big Nine TFS 300

http://www.merida-bikes.com/fi_fi/bikes/hardtails/29-xc-race-marathon/2014/big-nine-tfs-300-1778.html

 

 

Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29

https://www.specialized.com/za/en/bikes/mountain/trail/rockhopper/rockhopper-comp-29/106485

 

 

Trek X-Caliber 9

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/x-caliber/x-caliber-9/p/2045600-2016

 

 

Any others I should look at?

 

What do you guys think?

 

Thanks, 

Etienne

[eddy]

Don't bother with a case.

 

Get the bikeshop to pack the bike into the rigid cardboard box they received it in. It will be just as safe as hard bike case, and better than a soft one. Wrap the box at the airport if you wish,

 

I have flown dozens of times both locally and internationally with a bike in a cardboard box without any problems. A bike case is no better.

[Rocket-Boy]

Eddy is spot on about transporting it. 

Best bet is to try the bikes and see what feels best. That Trek looks quite good to me.

[EtienneXplore]

Don't bother with a case.

 

Get the bikeshop to pack the bike into the rigid cardboard box they received it in. It will be just as safe as hard bike case, and better than a soft one. Wrap the box at the airport if you wish,

 

I have flown dozens of times both locally and internationally with a bike in a cardboard box without any problems. A bike case is no better.

 

 

Thanks, 

That makes sense, I will just make sure the box looks a bit "used", because if these clowns at the airport sees a muzungu with a nice new shiny box, you will get pulled aside and then you have to try and explain to them that this is your own used bike as they will want to charge you VAT and Duties.

[EtienneXplore]

I will only have one Saturday morning to look, test and buy. Where in Pretoria is the best place to see all these bikes? Not sure if one shop will stock all of them?

[Kevlouw]

I will only have one Saturday morning to look, test and buy. Where in Pretoria is the best place to see all these bikes? Not sure if one shop will stock all of them?

 

I would suggest Bruce Reyneke Cycles in Lynnwood Road. Not sure if they will have all these bikes, but they should have a big variety of everything you might need. 

[eddy]

I will only have one Saturday morning to look, test and buy.

 

And don't forget a nice muddy ride at Fountains for it to be a proper used bike by the time you get home.......

[Shebeen]

silverback always got a good bang for buck

 

http://www.silverbacklab.com/bike/mountain/sola-2/

[EtienneXplore]

silverback always got a good bang for buck

 

http://www.silverbacklab.com/bike/mountain/sola-2/

 

 

Nice!

 

I have also been told to look at this?

 

https://www.jowettscycles.co.za/collections/scott-mtb/products/scott-scale-960-2016

[Eugene]

Don't forget to keep all your documents so that you can claim back the vat when you leave SA. You can score another 14% in this manner

[EtienneXplore]

Don't forget to keep all your documents so that you can claim back the vat when you leave SA. You can score another 14% in this manner

 

huh?

How do i do this?

 

I am a South African citizen, living and working in Zambia. I am buying it privately, not through a business or anything. How do I get the VAT back?

[GRG]

Bruce Reyneke in Hatfield deals in Cannondale, Giant and Santa Cruz. Not sure about the Pretoria east Shop.

Hot Spot cycles on Atterbury deals in Scott, Merida, Momsen and Cannondale if I am not mistaken. Great shop.

Lynnwood Cyclery for Specialized.

Hatfield cycles deals in Scott and Pyga.

Solomon cycles also an option, not sure what they deal in but they do do deals.

Not sure of a shop stocking Trek.

[EtienneXplore]

Bruce Reyneke in Hatfield deals in Cannondale, Giant and Santa Cruz. Not sure about the Pretoria east Shop.

Hot Spot cycles on Atterbury deals in Scott, Merida, Momsen and Cannondale if I am not mistaken. Great shop.

Lynnwood Cyclery for Specialized.

Hatfield cycles deals in Scott and Pyga.

Solomon cycles also an option, not sure what they deal in but they do do deals.

Not sure of a shop stocking Trek.

 

Thanks!

Yeah, also been struggling to find out what shops stocks Trek bikes.

 

I will probably go past CycleLab in Lynwood, Hot Spot Cycles in Atterbury and then Solomons, as they are also in that area.

 

I should find something in one of those three shops.

 

I quite like the look of the Momsen, the Trek and the Scott. But will have a look at them in real life and see.

[arendoog]

i have seen trek bikes at Bicycle company in Lynnwood bridge .You have 6 good shops in Lynnwood road 

[arendoog]

Send an email with your budget to  a few shops and let them work out a deal for u .They might add a tubeless setup for free ??and even get it  packed  for transport 

[Spock]

Remember to factor in your immediate upgrades as well. I bought that Trek you are considering a while back. Well specked for what you pay in terms of wheels, group set. I only had to upgrade the seat, pedals (clipless), stem (shorter) and handlebars (longer) (this will cost R3k easily). But XT gears would be nice, and brakes, but not essential.

So with my bib, shoes, helmet, camelback, tools etc the total spend on my R12k bike was R20k