Looking to buy a decent 2nd hand bike for my 5ft2 GF

[BrettB1]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a decent 2nd hand Mtn bike for my 5ft2inch Girlfriend. She has mainly cycled on-road but has not owned a Mtn bike before.

Happy to pay between R5 000 to R15 000 depending on what I can get. Bike must be in Gauteng/Jhb area and relatively clean, I'm thinking small frame around 16inch/42cm's.

Should I be looking at an older 26" with carbon, nice wheels and decent group set or should I be looking for a newer Bike with 'Lesser' Components for her.

No idea how often she'll use it, so resale needs to be taken into account if hobby doesn't bite.

Any advice welcome and happy if you could point me to a few bikes you think are decent quality at a good price.

Regards,

Brett

[dasilvarsa]

29er

Check out the Classifieds.

[Nico van Loggerenberg]

For R7-10k you can get a very well-specced, lightweight 26" dual suspension bike generally.

 

For the same price you can get a newer 29" hardtail with much lower-end components.

 

The big difference is going to be geometry - the older bikes will generally speaking have steeper head angles and shorter wheelbases, while the newer bikes will be slack, long, low etc. I'd say the older bikes are fine for riding most of the stuff around Gauteng and are going to be lighter with parts that are cheaper to replace, but it's really dependant on exactly which bike you get. 

[RobertWhitehead]

What does 5ft 2inch mean in cm? But ya, it does sound like a small. If my math is correct it is under 1.6m? This is quite short, I am not 100% sure that a 29er will suit her. Yes, now before the pitch forks come out, it is not always the case and some folks fit like a glove on a 29er but I've heard from quite a few short riders that the bigger wheels and be quite something to get used to. 

Anyway, for your budget I can offer the following: 

S x 26er HT - not listed anywhere, needs to be assembled

S x 26er dual - not listed anywhere, needs to be assembled

S x 27.5 HT - not listed anywhere, 80% assembled (I do have an arrangement with @CM101to test this one)

S x 29er HT This is currently listed for sale: https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/583891/s-gt-zaskar-29er - (I do have an arrangement with @CM101to test this one)

CM101 posted another thread but he'll only be in the market for one: 

[MORNE]

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/579503/silverback-sola-2-small-hardtail
 

But by experience….you are better off shopping at the upper extremities of your budget to increase her enjoyment to maximise the chances of her taking it up permanently.

i know its a bit more than what you want to spend but something like this has a much better chance to get the bug to bite:

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/585747/norco-fluid-fs3-s-12spd

Edited September 20, 2022 by MORNE

[ChrisF]

6 minutes ago, RobertWhitehead said:

What does 5ft 2inch mean in cm? But ya, it does sound like a small. If my math is correct it is under 1.6m? This is quite short, I am not 100% sure that a 29er will suit her. Yes, now before the pitch forks come out, it is not always the case and some folks fit like a glove on a 29er but I've heard from quite a few short riders that the bigger wheels and be quite something to get used to. 

Anyway, for your budget I can offer the following: 

S x 26er HT - not listed anywhere, needs to be assembled

S x 26er dual - not listed anywhere, needs to be assembled

S x 27.5 HT - not listed anywhere, 80% assembled (I do have an arrangement with @CM101to test this one)

S x 29er HT This is currently listed for sale: https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/583891/s-gt-zaskar-29er - (I do have an arrangement with @CM101to test this one)

CM101 posted another thread but he'll only be in the market for one: 

 

 

157cm

 

A Medium 26" will be a nice comfortable fit.

 

As said already, much better bang for your buck if you buy 26" vs 29".

 

 

 

Pity you were not closer, she could have had a test ride on our 26" M.

 

NO it is not for sale... 😋

[RobertWhitehead]

1 minute ago, ChrisF said:

 

157cm

 

A Medium 26" will be a nice comfortable fit.

 

As said already, much better bang for your buck if you buy 26" vs 29".

 

 

 

Pity you were not closer, she could have had a test ride on our 26" M.

 

NO it is not for sale... 😋

I can offer 26er M on both dual and HT as well 😁 (yes I do have a problem, yes I do border on being a hoarder 🤣) 

[ChrisF]

1 minute ago, RobertWhitehead said:

I can offer 26er M on both dual and HT as well 😁 (yes I do have a problem, yes I do border on being a hoarder 🤣) 

 

At least you try to make space for the next one ...

[BrettB1]

Thanks for the replies guys, I do think she's going to look awkward on a 29er. 

So a med 26 sounds like the target. How does a budget of R7 to 10 k for good cond carbon and decent components sound? 

 

Ill have a look at what you've put forward so far as well.

[Steady Spin]

5ft2 is 157cm tall and no way in hell a medium is the correct size. 
She needs to be on a small / x-small depending on brand. A 29er will work in the correct size. 
Don't get stuck in old wheel sizes where you can't find good tyres anymore.

[Shebeen]

how did i miss this thread, have you looked at the frogbike range?

[dasilvarsa]

1 hour ago, Steady Spin said:

5ft2 is 157cm tall and no way in hell a medium is the correct size. 
She needs to be on a small / x-small depending on brand. A 29er will work in the correct size. 
Don't get stuck in old wheel sizes where you can't find good tyres anymore.

Best Advice Ever

[eala]

4 minutes ago, dasilvarsa said:

Best Advice Ever

My son in law got hold of a neat giant anthem 26 inch bike at low price .I sponsored some maxxis ikon 2,35 tires that was on sale at cycle lab and now he is cycling all over Cape town. There are still thousands of 26 inch bikes in Europe .You see them everywhere 

[ChrisF]

Bret welcome to the world of 26" vs 29" 

 

With a youngster in the house, we have two 26" bikes.  NO issues getting spares !

 

Sure, a smaller pool of options when it gets to tire tread patterns.

 

 

A GOOD 26" is certainly still way better than an entry level 29" .... in my opinion

 

 

At 149cm Maritz is loving his Small 26".  At 157cm ... would be interesting to see what size works for your GF.

EDIT - height corrected

 

YES, there are benefits to a 29" !  But on a budget, and looking at a smaller bike, it is very possible that a 26" may tick all your boxes.

 

 

Speak to @RobertWhitehead .... he may have what you are looking for.

 

 

 

On second thought ..... we did struggle to find a 26" seat .... 

Edited September 21, 2022 by ChrisF

[dasilvarsa]

6 minutes ago, eala said:

My son in law got hold of a neat giant anthem 26 inch bike at low price .I sponsored some maxxis ikon 2,35 tires that was on sale at cycle lab and now he is cycling all over Cape town. There are still thousands of 26 inch bikes in Europe .You see them everywhere 

I Actually Saw a 1973 VW Beetle Yesterday.

Tons of 26er Are Still Around but I have not Seen One at the Track for a While.

Mainly used for Commuting and Kids Bikes.

The Only New 26 Inch Bikes you get are at the SuperMarkets Game and Makro. (Low End)

Major Manufacturers like Merida and Spez and Others don't make them anymore.

I still got one but I don't Ride It anymore as It feels Weird.

I would not advise anyone to buy one for MTB Use on the Track.

To Ride around the Hood it's OK.

[Steady Spin]

21 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

At 167cm ... would be interesting to see what size works for your GF.

157cm