Best value for money MTB

[WhiteSpider]

Hi Spider. Are there bike shops where you stay. Have you test riden anything yet? Will you do flat, gravel, climbing, xc type, or technical trails, forests, hectic stuff....Have you made 100% sure on bike fit, maybe at a bike shop, to actually see what size fits you. Also, you must like how the bike looks, sounds stupid, but you must be happy with what you bought. Also, carbon sometimes is not the be all and end all. Some Alu bikes come in at 12kg, some under that, where carbon might only be 1kg lighter. If you have a budget of say 15k, you can get a good new bike or really good second hand, but then again, you need to view the bike options, see it for yourself, ride it, pics look different to real life. 

 

You will still need to shell out bucks on a helmet, padded shorts, decent pedals, clothing. Allot of bike shops let you test ride in the parking lot or wherever. See what you like, slacker or steeper, chill or aggressive. As i said, and others said as well, it all depends on what riding you gonna do.  

There are bike shops where I stay and I went them and they all tried to sell me something stock standard without telling me what the bike was suited for.

I would like to do trails but I also would like to try out everything else and see what I enjoy the most.

 

I am a road rider so I realise all the extra costs involved. 

 

I'm gonna go for this bike if the seller ever replies and go from there.

 

Thanks for all your help.

[WhiteSpider]

WhiteSpider further to my previous reply.

 

In this price range the bikes are very similar, subject to the items  noted above.

 

 

Now find that ONE that moves your soul !  The one that puts a smile on your face and that wants to make you ride is worth way more than the one with a marginally better specification level.

 

 

For some it is the colour of the bike, for some the flowing lines of the frame .... I have seen somebody choose between two bikes based on the quality of the weld lines near the head tube - though he chose the "lesser" of the two bikes, he ENJOYED it until he outgrew it and moved on to the next bike.

 

 

Happy hunting.  Hope you find that "one bike" that makes you feel young again. 

I think I'm going to for this one I really like the look and it is well spec'd.

Thanks for  all the help.

[WhiteSpider]

I bought a 2015 Carbon Merida Big Nine 5000 for R17k in Mid May. It's my 1st bike and basically had all those specs. Has given me SO many happy hours already and no issues. It looked the part, I looked at the picture of it every 15mins and I never doubted giving the previous owner my cash - despite it burning the pocket.

 

It's all fine and well getting something with heaps of travel or some fancy geometry but the reality is that when you do end up venturing out onto the trails and see your 1st drop or rocky single track you're not gonna be too fussed on the suspension but rather how the heck you're gonna walk down it nevermind ride a bike! And that's only after the initial 1st few weeks learning how to uncleat ha ha.. 

 

My point - get something that YOU think looks sexy, is well looked after and you don't doubt having spent your R15k. Once you've done some/plenty hours on the saddle you're gonna start understanding what you really want! I speak from experience with having been new to the sport in May to now riding almost every day and learning tons every time I go out! What I thought I wanted in a bike is now very different to what I want now.. and likely that'll keep changing as I do more hours learning and narrow it down!

 

Pick the bike that has the most views in your browser history and I guarantee in 6 months time you're gonna be able to know exactly what you need in a bike. Then you can look out for 'The One' all while still being able to ride you're 1st steed and enjoying the sport.

Thanks for the response.

I think I'm going to go for this bike, hopefully the seller replies.

[Patchelicious]

That looks like a good bike! Good luck and remember to post pics of it on the couch!

[WhiteSpider]

So I've decided to go for this , I still need to go see the bike but I'm pretty confident, what do you guys think?

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/425291/2016-carbon-big-nine-merida

[ChrisF]

Very nice bike

 

ENJOY

[Bosman]

Congrats on the bike! Nothing like the thrill of a new ride!

Edited September 5, 2020 by Bosman

[Spafsack]

Hi guys, the Merida big nine 6000 hard tail. For 31k, it weighs in at 10.5kg. is this correct? Seems like a allot of bang for your buck...

[Starchboy]

Hi guys, the Merida big nine 6000 hard tail. For 31k, it weighs in at 10.5kg. is this correct? Seems like a allot of bang for your buck...

I bought a Big nine 5000 earlier in the year. It’s an absolutely brilliant bike, very happy with it. I don’t know if a Big nine is the best value for money MTB you can get, but if it isn’t it must be very close.