To upgrade a 10 year old bike or buy a newer modern geo bike

[NoirBiker01]

So I got back into mountain biking last year having stopped since 2014. I got myself what I can only say a very nice do it all full sus. A 2015 Trek remedy 27.5 with 150mm front and 140mm rear travel. I've enjoyed the bike quite a lot but two main issues among others, 1st is Trek's proprietary DRCV Re:activ shock and 2nd is the non boost frame. It has become very apparent that there's little to no options for future upgrades. With some of you guys having a wealth of experience in mountain biking, would you say it's better I keep the bike and stay up rest with maintaining and replacing its already aging parts(some are proving very hard to find) or should I get a newer bike with modern geo and current standards. At what point does it get too expensive to keep an older bike with older standards and proprietary parts V.S buying a newer much more expensive modern bike with current standards and unlimited future upgrade options?

 

[ajnkzn]

I think something like a Giant Stance will be better to upgrade to. 
 

Geometry and future proofness will be far better. 
 

And they’re very affordable, as these things go - R 16 - R 25 k will get you into a nearly new bike with all the normal “standards” and easier serviceability. 

[RobynE]

It’s a tough one because you’ve got a pretty lekker bike there. I guess it boils down to what you can find within your budget that will give you the same riding joy while removing the parts risk.

I ride a ~2014 Giant XTC carbon hardtail and I’m really hard-pressed to find anything new that can compare within my price range. Being a hardtail I don’t have the rear suspension risks but being non-boost is starting to creep in as a problem now - though thankfully you can get non-boost Novatec hubs brand new, which are serviceable, so that negates most of the boost risk. But I still feel like I’d rather fumble on than settle on something new to replace it with. 

[Headshot]

I think wheels and hubs aren't really an issue, just keep the hubs maintained and tyres can still be found. The shock is another thing though. One of my bikes is a non boost steel HT on 26 wheels. I can still find rims and tyres...you just have to shop around 

[droo]

Upgrading will be a bit of a waste IMO. Maintain it and ride it, or flog it and get something newer.

Geometry and suspension in particular have come a long way since 2015, so rather put the upgrade fund towards something more up-to-date.

[Paul Ruinaard]

As they all said the lowest cost option is maintain and ride it if its in reasoable condition. Clusters, chains, etc are all available.  Unless you are doing some radical stuff and are pro level the bike is probably more competent than the rider (i dont know you) and when you get to the point you are being held back by the bike then you are probably ready for a new bike. Sticker prices are falling in bike land, so maybe somehting you see makes sense. 

Unless you have cash burning holes in your pockets and an urge to go N+1. Thats a different discussion.

[thebob]

Pretty sure the shock on that bike can be replaced by a "regular" one of the correct stoke and fitting length. The MTBR forums or good old Google can confirm

[NoirBiker01]

  On 3/27/2025 at 7:49 AM, thebob said:

Pretty sure the shock on that bike can be replaced by a "regular" one of the correct stoke and fitting length. The MTBR forums or good old Google can confirm

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Pinkbike forums says I'd need eccentric spacers to fit certain shocks. The sizing of the shock is 197x57, hard to find modern shocks with that sizing me thinks. RS made a non Re:activ damper shock for the bike in 2015/16 but extremely difficult to come across in SA. Had the shock recently fully rebuilt by Cogent industries and it's been buttery smooth. 

[Shebeen]

  On 3/27/2025 at 6:18 AM, NoirBiker01 said:

 two main issues among others, 1st is Trek's proprietary DRCV Re:activ shock and 2nd is the non boost frame. It has become very apparent that there's little to no options for future upgrades. 

 

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thought I'd do a sanity check on this for my own peace of mind since I'm on a 2013 non boost carbon hardtail that I'm still very happy with, but upgraditis always a thing!

now this is just a filter selection on bike24.com wheel with 27.5 selected.

 

 

While it is covered mainly in boost, I'd be more worried if my frame and fork were QR.

 

 

 

[RobynE]

  On 3/27/2025 at 10:57 AM, Shebeen said:

While it is covered mainly in boost, I'd be more worried if my frame and fork were QR.

 

 

 

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You get TA to QR and vice-versa converters/adapters, but I’m not sure if they work for all axle widths. I bought a hub for my bike which was boost and TA - the TA could have been sorted with the adapter (bike is QR) but the length of the axle itself was a problem and would have resulted in brake misalignment if we shortened the axle. 

My current strategy: realistically to get a new sub 11kg bike that feels SO good and easy to ride would be like a 70k exercise, which I definitely can’t afford. I can buy a lot of good quality “old” parts for that money so I’ll keep mine going as long as I can. 

[Flemish Lion]

  On 3/27/2025 at 7:17 AM, RobynE said:

It’s a tough one because you’ve got a pretty lekker bike there. I guess it boils down to what you can find within your budget that will give you the same riding joy while removing the parts risk.

I ride a ~2014 Giant XTC carbon hardtail and I’m really hard-pressed to find anything new that can compare within my price range. Being a hardtail I don’t have the rear suspension risks but being non-boost is starting to creep in as a problem now - though thankfully you can get non-boost Novatec hubs brand new, which are serviceable, so that negates most of the boost risk. But I still feel like I’d rather fumble on than settle on something new to replace it with. 

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I've got the 2014 Giant Anthem Advanced and converted it to a 1 x 12 last month... wasn't worth replacing it with a > R100k similar 'modern' bike!

I had the Alu Giant XTC hardtail for commuting but sadly the frame got kinked after a 'minor' 😁 accident at 65 km/h else I would still be using it!

Edited Thursday at 01:03 PM by Flemish Lion

[RobynE]

  On 3/27/2025 at 1:01 PM, Flemish Lion said:

I've got the 2014 Giant Anthem Advanced and converted it to a 1 x 12 last month... wasn't worth replacing it with a > R100k similar 'modern' bike!

I had the Alu Giant XTC hardtail for commuting but sadly the frame got kinked after a 'minor' 😁 accident at 65 km/h else I would still be using it!

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They are such cool bikes! To many people I guess they’re old, boring, upright, etc., but if they make you happy and they’re reliable, why not.