What bike to buy (or should I even buy one)

[hansi06]

Hi guys, the forum has been a wealth of information, so I appreciate you all.

So, my kids and their cousins have really gotten into mountain biking (aged maybe 7-12) and I've been taking them on some trails around Durban every weekend or so for the last few months. I'm currently keeping up with them on a trusty old Trek 4100 (maybe 20 years old) while they all have some decent junior Titans/Signal bikes, so I'm feeling slightly left out😆

I briefly did road biking about 10 years ago, and did the argus, but I'm really enjoying the technical trails and (smaller) jumps in mountain biking. I'm not planning to compete, but I do hope it will become a long-term hobby. I'm about 177 cm tall so usually between a large and a medium, so any advice on that would be appreciated too.

That being said, I think I have 3 options

Option 1) Service the current bike properly and continue with it. (may be a waste of money or a saving depending how you look at it)

Option 2) Buy a new bike (budget would be 10-15k). Probably best to look at just hardtails. 

Thoughts on these? I may just wait for Black Friday though

https://solomonscycles.co.za/product/merida-big-nine-500-aluminum-frame-mountain-bike-2022/

https://solomonscycles.co.za/product/signal-s930-6061-alloy-tubing-29-mountain-bike-shimano-deore-1-x-11-2023/

https://solomonscycles.co.za/product/silverback-stride-elite-29-6061-aluminium-frame-mountain-bike-2022/

https://cyclezone.co.za/products/merida-big-nine-slx-edition

Option 3) buy a second-hand bike. Durban has relatively few listings, and I don't think I'm clued up enough to check for issues buying second hand, let alone without viewing them in person. But there do appear to be really good deals. Again, looking at just hard tails with a budget of 10-15k.

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/768308/trek-marlin-29er-medium

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/765781/silverback-stride-elite-2022

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/748022/signal-elite-l-gx12spd-fox32

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/761879/merida-big-9-nx-edt-sram-nx-1-x12-manitou-air

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/708696/titan-drone-pro

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/762784/scott-scale-965-slx-1-x-12-rockshox-air

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/678431/silverback-sola-1

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/762652/trek-x-caliber-8-m

Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated! 😊

[Dexter-morgan]

Merida and Silverback is good options, buy the new bike, you know you want to, enjoy riding with the boys.

[117]

Tech trails and small jumps.... then this will be a better buy for you: 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/767241/pre-owned-canyon-torque-l-bm10069-2018

Im not far from them and happy to go take more photos for you 

[thebob]

33 minutes ago, 117 said:

Tech trails and small jumps.... then this will be a better buy for you: 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/767241/pre-owned-canyon-torque-l-bm10069-2018

Im not far from them and happy to go take more photos for you 

That is a proper freeride bike, definitely not for small jumps and "technical trails". It will be a pig to pedal around and completely overkill for following the kids around

Edited November 13 by thebob

[Ispeed_V]

My 2c worth:

KTM Ultra Comp *ROCKSHOX* 2x11SPD*(L) | Hardtail Mountain Bikes | Bike Hub

[hansi06]

2 hours ago, Ispeed_V said:

My 2c worth:

KTM Ultra Comp *ROCKSHOX* 2x11SPD*(L) | Hardtail Mountain Bikes | Bike Hub

Thanks! Excuse my ignorance, what would be the main advantage of this compared to:

https://solomonscycles.co.za/product/merida-big-nine-500-aluminum-frame-mountain-bike-2022/

 

Edited November 13 by hansi06

[Jensie]

17 minutes ago, hansi06 said:

Thanks! what would be the main advantage of this compared to:

https://solomonscycles.co.za/product/merida-big-nine-500-aluminum-frame-mountain-bike-2022/

These looks about the same... component wise

[ajnkzn]

Hansi, it will definitely be worth an upgrade for a few reasons;

 

1) Geometry - modern bike will be "longer" and slacker (450 - 470mm reach and 67 - 69 degree head angle - definitely go large) which will make a handling / confidence difference that you can't believe compared to your older Trek with a reach likely closer to 420mm reach and a 69-71 degree head angle.

 

2) 1 x drivetrain - simpler, generally less maintenance

 

3) tubeless, larger tyres and 29 inch wheels - massively improved rollover compared to 26 inch wheels, 2.4 inch tyres compared to 2.1 will also make a massive difference to grip / comfort and tubeless is a non negotiable.

 

Under R 15k - go hardtail as any dual sus at that price will either have very low end components or be old / abused.

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/766121/specialized-chisel?referrer=top

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/762784/scott-scale-965-slx-1-x-12-rockshox-air

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/762706/2022-scott-scale-960-large

 

[Jensie]

This looks like a nice bargain. 12speed shimano and air fork for R15k. Nearest price I could find is R18k

https://cyclezone.co.za/products/merida-big-nine-slx-edition

[Ruben101]

@hansi06I would personally go for a Merida. The Big Nine 500 is a very good deal with all Shimano components. With Merida, you get a lifetime warranty on the frame if you are the original owner.

Try and stay away from Sram 12 speed SX and NX drivetrains. The Silverback Stride has problems with the brakes leaking/ feeling spongy and rims cracking way to easily. The components like the wheels and brakes are just bad quality.

[PappaWatTrap]

41 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

 

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/762784/scott-scale-965-slx-1-x-12-rockshox-air

 

 

 

This I would say is your best option, shimano 12 speed. Set and forget about the gears, cheap to maintain. Rockshox air for the win and the bike looks cool. 
 

 

[ajnkzn]

Agree 100% - I'm riding on Deore at the moment and it's flawless so SLX should be even better.

 

I'd say that (apart from weight) Deore is as just good as GX on the SRAM side...

 

 

[Bike Dewing]

I love that.. 

(or should i even buy one)🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[ChrisF]

33 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

Agree 100% - I'm riding on Deore at the moment and it's flawless so SLX should be even better.

 

I'd say that (apart from weight) Deore is as just good as GX on the SRAM side...

 

 

 

Okay, I will take the bait ...

 

I had two bikes with GX.

 

Back to Shimano.  One with Deore, the other with SLX.

 

I am staying with Shimano.

 

Frankly, 1x11 is more than sufficient for most riders.

[Frosty]

5 hours ago, hansi06 said:

Thanks! Excuse my ignorance, what would be the main advantage of this compared to:

https://solomonscycles.co.za/product/merida-big-nine-500-aluminum-frame-mountain-bike-2022/

 

My first MTB was the 26” wheel version of this same model, and I still have it. In 2007 I paid R5k, so 17years later at R12k for a bigger wheel version, the new bike price has aged well (8.5% inflation per year compared to higher spec bikes.

[hansi06]

5 hours ago, Bike Dewing said:

I love that.. 

(or should i even buy one)🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

But it's true...😅