Buying a first mtb

[keith]

Hey guys I know this has been asked before but what bikes shall I look at when it comes to getting my first mtb? Any bikes to avoid, any you can reccomend? Budget is about R4000. Shot.

[Oliver]

hmmm... for 4 grand you're looking at a fairly entry-level-ish front suspension.  there was a good article in last months' or two months ago's bicycling mag about some awesome value-for-money fs bikes... find a friend who got that issue and check it out...

 

 

 

[Oliver]

or save up an extra 2 and a half grand and u can get yourself a dual sus mongoose, i think it's the otero???

[mountain_lion]

What kind of riding do you intend doing?

 

 

[4ph3X]

hmmm... for 4 grand you're looking at a fairly entry-level-ish front suspension.  there was a good article in last months' or two months ago's bicycling mag about some awesome value-for-money fs bikes... find a friend who got that issue and check it out...

 

 

 

 

bikes listed in mag: mongoose tyax super disc; raleigh ridge; silverback phoenix; giant rincon; specialized hard rock xc sport. all in the 3-4k range.

 

if you want the article i can scan it for you....

[Zoo Cookie]

merida = good value for money.

[Oiltrash]

or save up an extra 2 and a half grand and u can get yourself a dual sus mongoose' date=' i think it's the otero???[/quote']

 

I am no expert so I may be wrong but isn't it a waste buying a dual suspension in this price range? The parts are not really good and if the rider takes to it seriously he/she is going to "outgrow" it really quickly?

 

Would it be better to spend the extra 2.5k on a better hardtail?

 

 

[Saffa_G]

or a second hand dual sus Oiltrash .. you ahve made a valid point man

[Tumbleweed]

there's also the giant thermo in that range.

[_Daemon_]

Rode Lulu's Silverback phoenix the other day at Northern farms, was really impressed, for a entry level bike it rode quite well, and I am used to a Trance 1 specced with top of the range components.

[Slowbee]

shucks guys, do we want another 25 page sale ? huh ? I have a tough decision to make soon on a dual, very out the price range I started with, but oh so worth it. The endless debate of should your first bike be a hard of soft? Should you get a better frame and upgrade components as you wear through them? Should you even have a budget? I thought I could get clarification by asking a few questions - let me say ..... it would be easier trying to look through chocolate mousse than trying to make sense of buying a mtn bike..... dis mos nie perd koop nie ...

[TNT1]

25 pages? that's optimistic... And the hard or soft debate... shouldn't your wife be involved, and in private? Kiddies access this forum you know

[Canaris]

Slowbee, at our age, a softtail is better, we have power, but want a comfy ride.

With MTB, ALWAYS by new.  MTB's are meant to be riden tough, and will break, you don't want to take a fall for the other bloke, do you?

MOst of the time the frame stays the same through the range and the components cahnge, ergo, buy the best you can afford.

 

Budget:  entry dual with deore is between R10 000 and R15 000, with mongoose and silverback on the cheaper end.

[Oliver]

the most important q is: what kind of riding are you going to do now, and are hoping to do in the next, say, year or so? if you're going to cruise along jeep tracks and tackle the occasional ST then a hardtail is probably the best option - if you plan on doing more technical riding i'd suggest a dual sus because take it from me - you don't have allot of cash, so you get a hardtail only to be dissapointed when your rear rim bends more than... nevermind.   ya you get the idea.

[keith]

Thanks for the opinions guys. I did see the article in Bicycling mag so I'm looking for one of those preferably (or similar). Most entry-level mtbs have Suntour shocks, are these any good though? They not gonna bottom out on my first ride? I'm just looking to ride trails- nothing hectic.

[Slowbee]

 

Slowbee' date=' at our age, a softtail is better, we have power, but want a comfy ride.

With MTB, ALWAYS by new.  MTB's are meant to be riden tough, and will break, you don't want to take a fall for the other bloke, do you?

MOst of the time the frame stays the same through the range and the components cahnge, ergo, buy the best you can afford.

 

Budget:  entry dual with deore is between R10 000 and R15 000, with mongoose and silverback on the cheaper end.

[/quote']

 

&^%#@# here we go again

 

all the qstsn what type of riding blah blah blah .... just need to decide

 

but 90% there. and I think it will be a dual. just set the shocks up correct, right?