To upgrade or to sell n buy new?

[Saffer]

Hi all. I did my first ride in ages this weekend and quickly came to realize that the shocks i have on my bike could probably be a bit better.

They are SUN TOUR something or other. (They came standard) on the bike i used, a Silverback Reno).

1: What shocks would be better than these and not too expensive?

2: Is it really worth changing them or would i be better off buying a new bike?

3: what would a decent entry level bike with a decent group set and shocks set me back?

 

[AndreZA]

You're not gonna find a bike with better fork for R3000. You're not gonna get much for your bike. So replace the fork, but keep the other one. Then start replacing everything but keep everything you replace. At the end of the day you will have two bikes, not missed a single day of riding and sell the old bike for more because the prices in 09 is gonna sky rocket and everybody will be looking for second hand bikes.

 

 

[Saffer]

That sounds like an awesome plan. Thanks Mampara. You said i'll not find a better bike for less than 3k but what would a better fork alone set me back? and what am i looking at? (Remember i am new to this...) name and model would help greatly

 

 

[AndreZA]

Somebody on here was selling Rock Shoc Sid forks for R3200 new. They are the top Rock shox. And there has beend very ggod condition Foxes for R2000. So don't be too hasty, they do appear.

 

 

[LazyTrailRider]

Saffer, look at something like a RockShox Dart (around 1.5-2k). Unfortunately, a fork is one of the most expensive components on your bike, but fortunately they usually last a long time.

 

Also, you'll feel the difference right away.

 

Hope that helps!

[Saffer]

Thanks Martin and Mampara. I will keep my eyes peeled. I am sure one wll come around. I now just have to buy this bike from my mate and then i can actually start riding more often.

[Slave]

Lotsa bike shopswill tell you to buy new 'cause you can't upgrade.

 

Suckers tol me I'd have to upgrade all sortsa stuff on my roadie if i wanted to go faster.

 

Took a chance and bought 2nd hand wheelset from fellow hubber and presto, I have an upgrade. Upgrade from six speed to 8 and I didn't even change my downshifters to the STI's bike shps tol'me I'd not be able to get away with.

 

So, in my not at all humble opinion, upgrade. I took Mamparas advice and ride a metal bike. Can't do the beer thing, but the metal bike works. 

[jroux]

Hey slave, you are so right. Bike shops always try to sell you the most expensive stuff. I was looking for a cheap set of mtb rims(under R1000) and the best one shop could offer me was R2500!! Which is bull**** because they have bikes on the floor for just over R3k. Does that mean the bike cost R1000?!! I dont think so. Why do they always try to convince you that you need to fork out a lot of cash? Do the sales people in bikeshops work for commission?

 

[Saffer]

I have found that Alex from Northcliff Cycles is brilliant.

He has never tried to extract excessive money from me.

I have asked him the same questions i have asked the hubbers and got pretty much the same answers. He seems to value me as a client more than the quick buck he can get. Give him a try. I am sure he would be able to assist with your rims jroux. I think is understands that we are not all made of lots of money but that lots of money can come from lots of small amounts.

 

 

[Wernervdmerwe]

Dunno if this is hijacking or assisting...

 

 

 

I have a Giant Alias (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/mountain/1131/28948/) frame with a Dart 2 fork avail. The alias is a better frame than the Reno, but not as good as for example the xtc's. It is classed as a "sport" frame.

 

 

 

Also have a spare Giant Boulder (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/mountain/714/22612/) complete (with bar ends!) we keep for the people wanting to ride without bikes that my wife wants to sell, as we now have yet another spare bike as I upgraded mine.

 

 

 

The Boulder is not as good as the Alias, will not recommend the Boulder is you want to do any sort of jump

 

 

 

Guess the boulder (2007) is worth around R1500?

 

I would presume the Alias (2008) and Dart2 maybe also R1500?

 

 

 

Both medium. Not sure if the prices are right, so the more knowledgeable guys might be able to give some input on that.

[Slave]

Hey slave' date=' you are so right. Bike shops always try to sell you the most expensive stuff. I was looking for a cheap set of mtb rims(under R1000) and the best one shop could offer me was R2500!! Which is bull**** because they have bikes on the floor for just over R3k. Does that mean the bike cost R1000?!! I dont think so. Why do they always try to convince you that you need to fork out a lot of cash? Do the sales people in bikeshops work for commission?
[/quote']

 

Really funny story this (I guess you had to be there but here goes).

 

Teeny (my teenager) got a MTB (el cheapo Ralleigh from Game, Dions) 'bout 9 years ago. Dragged it through his butt, he did, but at some stage he asked me to look at the bike 'cause it wasn't going well. Took the crank apart and he had managed to Flatten one of the bb's.

 

Bliksem, I was impressed. Been riddin bikes my whole life and I never got that one right. Not that I tried, but bliksem. (Note, I'm suitably impressed). So I fixed it and he dragged it through his butt again.

 

Got given a Mongoose trick bike a few years after the MTB was no longer able to be revived without a major miracle. Dragged that one down the same road, swapped frames for some piece-a-junk. Then to boot, my boet was getting rid of his MTB when he got divorced. I battled for custody 'cause then I would have an MTB and a roadie (Instant upgrade from poefter status) but alas, teeny got hold of MTB before I could bat an eyelid.

 

Histrory repeats, he did it again. Bliksem, he can break bikes faster than they can be manufactured.

 

Then he complained about walking to school and we felt sorry for the poor soul and bought him a Hotrock (MTB frame) with allu wheels and looked like it might outlast the MTB with plastic brake levers etc.)

 

After one too may bunny hops, he damaged the forks, wrecked the wheels I had rebuilt eleveteen times and I cried "enough!".

 

So, for a few years he walked and I felt nada (as in niks, zero). Then he tells me his big plan to fix the bike. 'K dude, I tell him, how you gonna fix the forks?

 

"Nah, no problemo with forks", (ijit), he tells me, they aren't broken. Really, I know I'm just a dumbass parent, but hey I know broke forks when I see 'em. We make a few plans, get another set of forks, I buy wheelset from fellow hubber and I give him my wheels.

 

Why is this so imprtant? 'k, the answer is, a new Hotrock will cost R1300. A cheap wheel build will cost R1500 at LBS. In this case replacement was the cheaper option but he would have just ended up with another piece-a-junk.

 

In the end it cost about 800 bucks to sort out everything and he has better wheels than he ever had and bliksem, the little fart can make that Hotrock move. He is really quick and I struggle to keep anywhere close to him.

 

Subsequently got hold of an old Alpina which he is in love with.

 

 

 

 

[jroux]

Hey saffer. Sounds great but I live in Durbanville(Cape Town), So Northcliff LBS is out of the question. I am going out to Table View This weekend to check out two more bike shops that would try and help me rather then make a quick sale. I like bicycles, not just riding them, but also working on them, but the technologies change so fast so you need to talk to informative people to better understand your choices. But ussualy they think you are a dumbass and try to use big words and lots of abbreviations to confuse you, but I do mt research before I go for help, and when they start with that crap, I just turn around and walk out, because I know they dont want to help, they just want to sell. Luckily the trusty Hub and its followers are there to assist or mock, lol!

 

To slave, sounds like you have future bike tester there. You should call one of the big brands and tell them you have somebody that will REALLY give their bikes a test!

 

[Wernervdmerwe]

Hey saffer. Sounds great but I live in Durbanville(Cape Town)' date=' So Northcliff LBS is out of the question. I am going out to Table View This weekend to check out two more bike shops that would try and help me rather then make a quick sale. I like bicycles, not just riding them, but also working on them, but the technologies change so fast so you need to talk to informative people to better understand your choices. But ussualy they think you are a dumbass and try to use big words and lots of abbreviations to confuse you, but I do mt research before I go for help, and when they start with that crap, I just turn around and walk out, because I know they dont want to help, they just want to sell. Luckily the trusty Hub and its followers are there to assist or mock, lol! To slave, sounds like you have future bike tester there. You should call one of the big brands and tell them you have somebody that will REALLY give their bikes a test!

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

Hi jroux, if you come this way, try Cycles Direct, Lifecycle, Cycle Tecnix and Cycle Factory. I love bike shops and talking to the people and not at one of these have I ever felt pressurized to spend, on the contrary, Cycle Factory went out of their way to give me options on how not to spend bucks when I wanted to.

 

 

 

 

[jroux]

Thanks Werner. Will do. I got the addresses of cycle direct and cycle factory off the internet and will be checking them out this weekend. Will have a look at the others as well.

[MacPhisto]

Hi all. I did my first ride in ages this weekend and quickly came to realize that the shocks i have on my bike could probably be a bit better.
They are SUN TOUR something or other. (They came standard) on the bike i used' date=' a Silverback Reno).
1: What shocks would be better than these and not too expensive?
2: Is it really worth changing them or would i be better off buying a new bike?
3: what would a decent entry level bike with a decent group set and shocks set me back?
[/quote']

 

Saffer - I invested in an old 2nd hand bike with a good, solid frame but really old components on it, and gradually upgraded.

 

Still remember the first time I went out on it with a new R6k fork, after having replaced the RST Capa T6 that was on the bike. The Capa T6 is about as entry-level as you can get - think it retailed for about R500 at the time.

 

The ride difference was, quit frankly, RIDICULOUS!  I couldn't actually get my head around how much difference a new, decent fork made. The world suddenly went flat. All sorts of aches and pains in the hands, wrists and forearms disappeared. My riding, in a phrase, suddenly became fun!

 

The advice given here is all good and sound - but just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth. The fork can definitely be the most expensive part on your bike - but provided you don't go and spend too much on it, out of line with what your frame is worth - I'd definitely recommend it.

 

I upgraded my wheels and all the componentry as well. Apart from the massive difference in gear changing, when I swapped up from Shimano LX to XTR with XTR cables, the fork-upgrade remains the most tangible upgrade you can make, or feel!

 

Good luck!

 

  

[Daxiet]

May be too late to throw my 2 cents in, but the Reno is not a bike I would invest upgrades on. The frame does not have mounts for Rear disc brakes. So you'll never be in a position to upgrade to a disc setup. Furtermore you will spend a couple K on shocks, which is like digging yourself deeper into a hole. I would recommend looking for a 2nd hand bike eg. Silverback Dakota, Raleigh Namib, or similar which have ok forks, disc brakes, a weight reduction on the Reno. They also have 9 speed Deore or better setup (Dakota LX rear derailleur).

 

The Reno is the entry level of Silverback and is just not worth upgrading.

 

Another thought because the Reno is V-brake, you'll need to hunt down a new fork that supports V-brake, which is limiting.