Fluffyyyzzz Posted January 21, 2019 Share Hi All, I'm in the Market of buying my first bike and a bit torn to look for a second hand or a new bike. I want start getting in to mountain biking and have a R10000 budget. I went to a bike store the other day and was looking at a GT Avalanche Comp/Elite 2018/2019. The problem that i'm having with this bike are the shocks the elite comes with SR Suntour XCR32 RLR 100mm of travel air shocks the specific one didn't come with a remote lock but I'm sure I can find on that comes with one, but after doing some research i'm hearing a lot of people say that that are pretty crap. I've been borrowing my girlfriends Titan which is way to small and also has spring shocks. So from my experience on her bike I think air shocks are the way to go. I don't know enough about bicycles to feel confident buying second hand that is why buying new I would feel a lot better. The elite comes with full Shimano Deore group set and from research I don't think I can get much better in my price range, well buying new that is. Are there any bikes that you know of in this price range that have better shocks? I don't want to have to worry about changing my shocks soon and I want to learn and will probably be hitting jumps and other things on the track a bit to hard. I heard rock shocks are good and obviously Fox shocks are great. I really like the GT Elite but I'm just worried about the shocks. The frame is nice from what I hear. But i'm not really worried about the brand. Also what do you think about the low in Scotts in this price range and the Treks? Thank you very much in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickjay007 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Check out the following link for good value: https://silverbacklab.com/product/spectra-comp2/ Also remember to save some budget for a decent helmet and some padded shorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruity Posted January 21, 2019 Share Being your first bike, I don't think worry too much about the shock. I started mtb on an Avalanche which had SR Suntour and it was okay for the first few mtb events. I then upgraded to a GT Avalanche 3.0 which also had SR Suntour, and also, there was nothing wrong with the bike. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with getting a mtb that comes with a better shock, but what if you end up not enjoying mtb'ing, and then you've spent all that dosh on a bike? Here's a Silverback, a little over your budget, but the shock has lockout:https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/silverback-29er/products/silverback-spectra-sport-2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffyyyzzz Posted January 21, 2019 Share Thank you, but that looks like it also has the SR Suntour XCR32 RLR 100mm of travel air shocks. So you would recommend that? The Avalanche Elite has the same specs. Check out the following link for good value: https://silverbacklab.com/product/spectra-comp2/ Also remember to save some budget for a decent helmet and some padded shorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffyyyzzz Posted January 21, 2019 Share Yeah I agree. Thank you. That is a very nice bike. what do you think about this? https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=7734Being your first bike, I don't think worry too much about the shock. I started mtb on an Avalanche which had SR Suntour and it was okay for the first few mtb events. I then upgraded to a GT Avalanche 3.0 which also had SR Suntour, and also, there was nothing wrong with the bike. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with getting a mtb that comes with a better shock, but what if you end up not enjoying mtb'ing, and then you've spent all that dosh on a bike? Here's a Silverback, a little over your budget, but the shock has lockout:https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/silverback-29er/products/silverback-spectra-sport-2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 21, 2019 Share Don't worry about the lack of a remote lockout on a fork. It's there to soak up the chatter, and at that price, the Suntour fits the bill. It'll be fine. They're just not as good as the forks you get on bikes that cost 5k more than what your budget is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugéne Alberts Posted January 21, 2019 Share I'll rather look at a secondhand bike. I am not nearly technically knowledgeable enough to comment on the rest of your questions Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffyyyzzz Posted January 21, 2019 Share Thank you, all these posts are making me feel better about the shocks just want to get the best I can in the budget. Don't worry about the lack of a remote lockout on a fork. It's there to soak up the chatter, and at that price, the Suntour fits the bill. It'll be fine. They're just not as good as the forks you get on bikes that cost 5k more than what your budget is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruity Posted January 21, 2019 Share Yeah I agree. Thank you. That is a very nice bike. what do you think about this? https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=7734Seems perfect for a starter bike, and I like GT, I've always had a soft spot for GT mtb's, although I haven't had any experience in ordering a bike online, let alone ordering a bike from overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbloomer Posted January 21, 2019 Share Far from me being an expert but don't be scared of used bikes. There are very good bargains in your price bracket (and particularly if you go 26). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffyyyzzz Posted January 21, 2019 Share No that bike is the same spec at a bike sure near me on Joburg, but wanted to find the specs. And that is good to hear. Thank you. Seems perfect for a starter bike, and I like GT, I've always had a soft spot for GT mtb's, although I haven't had any experience in ordering a bike online, let alone ordering bike from overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffyyyzzz Posted January 21, 2019 Share Thank you, I am looking around for a second hand one but I am scared its got a cracked frame that I don't see of the gear set it damaged and I don't know. Far from me being an expert but don't be scared of used bikes. There are very good bargains in your price bracket (and particularly if you go 26). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgar Posted January 21, 2019 Share Nothing wrong with 2nd hand, just get it checked out at a bike shop if you can. Take note on rear side of the stanchons for wear.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertWhitehead Posted January 21, 2019 Share I will answer your question with a bunch of my own to be able to narrow your search for you: What's the intended purpose of said bike? Are you going to go down to your local jump track and let rip or are you just looking to ride on the dirt roads with some friends and or your girlfriend? 26er, 650B or 29er? Do you have everything else you need, i.e. helmet, gloves, shorts, glasses, tools, shirt? If not, your R10k budget for the bike almost got slashed down to R5k .Are you a weight weeny i.e. will the weight of the bike bother you or are you just looking for a quality product? Hardtail or dual sus? Why do you want to go new? A new bike gives you way less for a much higher price tag. Please feel free to PM me if you need any guidance with your purchase Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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