Advice please? Novice cyclist on tight budget.

[Rob Brown]

Hi there I'm new to this forum. I am a novice cyclist. I've grown up around bikes but have never taken it up properly. Recently I borrowed a modern full suspension trail bike and went on a few local trails I was blown away by how much the technology has improved the handling and response of bicycles since I had last ridden. Now the problem I'm faced with is having tasted what a decent bike rides like and how much better bigger wheels roll and all I can afford is in the older 2nd hand 26er market. So my question is to the riders that have ridden 26ers for years which full suspension trail type bikes stood out to you before the 27.5 and 29 craze. Just to note I'm interested in single track, and some technical riding. So preferably no XC bikes. For reference I've been looking at the early giant trances and specialized stumpjumpers

[nonky]

You cannot go wrong with a Trance or a Stumpy.  

 

They are the gold standard.

[Odinson]

You cannot go wrong with a Trance or a Stumpy.  

 

They are the gold standard.

 

Agree with Nonky.

 

Also, keep your eyes peeled for 2nd hand Commencal Metas - there aren't too many of them in SA, but they're propper rippers and built like a tank.

[Dexter-morgan]

I have recently sold my Specialized Camber for around 7k, super trail bike

[Odinson]

Oooh, what do we have here?  

 

 

http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/Files/98790/Img/15/16METAHTAMRRD_680.jpg

 

Legend says that this kind of bike can lay waste to many a "trail" pretender.

[Rob Brown]

Agree with Nonky.

 

Also, keep your eyes peeled for 2nd hand Commencal Metas - there aren't too many of them in SA, but they're propper rippers and built like a tank.

What is the weight like on those Metas? I wrote them off thinking they were a freeride bike. They look rad!

[Rob Brown]

I have recently sold my Specialized Camber for around 7k, super trail bike

That would have been ideal! Glad to know deals like that are going around

[popcorn_skollie]

Sjoe. The pot of 2008 - 2013 model mid travel trail bikes is filled with many forgotten treasures.

Some are for sale. Some people hang them on the wall. But mostly. If you have a decent one. Chances are you're probably still riding it.

 

Off the top of my head. Commencal Meta, Santa Cruz Nomad, Specialized Enduro, Trek Remedy, Intense Tracer, Morewood Shova, Yeti 575, GT Sanction, Ibis Mojo, Cannondale Jekyll, Giant Reign, Mongoose Teocali, Davinci Frantic, Kona Coilair, and many many more.

 

The most important questions are:

What's your budget and what size frame are you looking for?

[popcorn_skollie]

What is the weight like on those Metas? I wrote them off thinking they were a freeride bike. They look rad!

 

They are a bit heavy. But they get the job done. My small framed meta weighs just under 15kg

[Odinson]

What is the weight like on those Metas? I wrote them off thinking they were a freeride bike. They look rad!

 

Shhh! We don't talk about Commies' weight. It's a sensitive subject.

 

Just kidding. You'll probably be looking at somewhere between 13 - 14,5kg. That being said, don't be put off by a slightly lardy bike. Their the most fun to ride.

[Rob Brown]

Sjoe. The pot of 2008 - 2013 model mid travel trail bikes is filled with many forgotten treasures.

Some are for sale. Some people hang them on the wall. But mostly. If you have a decent one. Chances are you're probably still riding it.

 

Off the top of my head. Commencal Meta, Santa Cruz Nomad, Specialized Enduro, Trek Remedy, Intense Tracer, Morewood Shova, Yeti 575, GT Sanction, Ibis Mojo, Cannondale Jekyll, Giant Reign, Mongoose Teocali, Davinci Frantic, Kona Coilair, and many many more.

 

The most important questions are:

What's your budget and what size frame are you looking for?

Thanks for the suggestions I will look into those. Budget I'm aiming at something under R8.5k as for size I'm a bit of a tall bugger around 1.9m if I recall correctly so I'm guessing L - XL would probably suit me?

[RockCoach]

A decent 26" trail bike will roll just fine over obstacles as the geometry (head angle) and long travel fork aid in this regard. But with time and learning skills (which are accelerated on a trail bike btw) you'll find yourself hopping over stuff in no time.

 

Look for something with a slack head angle (less than 69deg) and decently long top tube.

[Rob Brown]

Shhh! We don't talk about Commies' weight. It's a sensitive subject.

 

Just kidding. You'll probably be looking at somewhere between 13 - 14,5kg. That being said, don't be put off by a slightly lardy bike. Their the most fun to ride.

 

There's seems to be quite a lot of love going around for commencals. In my ignorance as a teenager I bought a dirtjumper as a MTB and tried to commute on it needless to say it was exhausting lugging excess frame weight and not being able to sit ????. So I have a mild fear of heavy bicycles

[Rob Brown]

A decent 26" trail bike will roll just fine over obstacles as the geometry (head angle) and long travel fork aid in this regard. But with time and learning skills (which are accelerated on a trail bike btw) you'll find yourself hopping over stuff in no time.

 

Look for something with a slack head angle (less than 69deg) and decently long top tube.

Thank you I will keep that in mind. I wasn't aware that a long top tube can be an advantage. I'm really enjoying learning about frame geometry.

[RockCoach]

Thanks for the suggestions I will look into those. Budget I'm aiming at something under R8.5k as for size I'm a bit of a tall bugger around 1.9m if I recall correctly so I'm guessing L - XL would probably suit me?

 

Look for an XL frame. It's going to be tough to find but they do exist.

[jules1976]

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/205916-specialized-stumpjumper-fsr-comp-xlarge/

 

Here is an example of something on the Hub