BARGAIN or not???!

[Solstice]

I know Silverback has their detractors, but you have to decide for yourself.

We can only provide opinion. I'd buy the Silverback although I have been looking around at the Specialized...

 

[vanniri]

I would usually agree with frame first, components later. But at the price of the Silverback I?ll go with it.

 

On comparing the two frames - I guess both are alu - I have no experience with any of the two, but the Silverback?s looks get my vote.

 

 

[Yang]

Look at it this way. Reba fork:R5000' date=' XTR groupset:R12000, Wheels:R8000. So you are are getting the frame + RP23, the stem, handle bar, seatpost, saddle, grips, tires and trimmings FOR FREE.[/quote']

First time in recorded history a manufacturer has given away a frame with a build kit.... Very interesting market strategy!

But seriously, when you look at it that way, that's a lot of kit for the money

 

Or else you buy the GT Marathon for 14k, sell the SLX brand new for say 7k, then buy the XT (NOT XTR!!!) for R11000. You've paid R18,000 for a good GT bike that will end up with XT. Or ask the dealer to do a deal for you for the GT. That Marathon GT with I drive is a good bike. I have one with XT components, but I can't comment whether its better that the Silverback. I bought my GT Marathon 1 in April last year for about 17k. The XTR is overrated, and the XT is just as good and probably more durable.

[Daxiet]

The Mercury 1 is a very heavy bike with pretty trimmings. The frame is too heavy! I think the Tata vs Toyota was well put. Silverback have excellent pricing, but their DS's are just very heavy by design.

 

Rather go GT, or look at the Giant Anthem X1. 11.5 kgs, very descent kit. You don't need XTR, XT with an SLX crank is more than sufficient. Especially when an XT/SLX bike weighs far less than a full XTR bike.