Beer4Recovery Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 (edited) Hi Guys, I bought my first bike in 2008 (Trek 4500), this bike has served me well, i did a few competition races and some recreational. I guess it has less than 400km's. I am a total novice when it comes to the upgrading of the parts. My question is, is it worth upgrading my bike or am i better off buying a new one?? I paid R4800 back then for the bike, and i am willing to spend about R7500 on a new one. Please give your thoughts. Thanks! Here are the specs: FRAMESET Size LFrame Alpha Black Aluminum w/externally relieved head tube, hydroformed bi-axial down tube, monostay seat stays, forged disc ready dropoutsFront Suspension RockShox Dart 2 w/preload, lockout, 100mm WHEELSWheels Shimano M475 disc hubs; Bontrager Camino rimsTires Bontrager Jones ACX, 26x2.1"; 27 tpi DRIVETRAINShifters Shimano Deore, 9 speedFront Derailleur Shimano DeoreRear Derailleur Shimano DeoreCrank Shimano M442 Octalink 44/32/22 Cassette SRAM PG950 11-34, 9 speedPedals Alloy platform COMPONENTSSaddle Bontrager Race Basic LuxSeat Post Bontrager SportHandlebars Bontrager Crowbar Sport, 25mm riseStem Bontrager Sport, 10 degreeHeadset Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealedBrakeset Avid SD-3 w/alloy levers Edited March 1, 2011 by deftone
lost frog Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 If I were you I would sell the trek for maybe, R3000, and then spend the R10000 on a good 2nd hand bargain, you should be able to find something very decent that would be a HUGE upgrade, even a full suspension one...
vinylguy Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 i had one of these... i upgraded so far... wheels tubeless and shimano MT 15disc brake to juicy 3's and XTR rotorsfork to a reba air...flat carbon handle barthe front der to LX oh and i chucked the frame and got a scott scale 40 frame.. so to end i spent to much... just buy a new bike
Chip Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 I agree with lost frog, sell the bike and get a dual suspension bike, there are plenty of bargains on the hub.
Beer4Recovery Posted January 18, 2011 Author Posted January 18, 2011 thanks for the replies! i was just checking out the 2011 silverback bikes, there is a dual suspension (name:Slider), that looks quite good. don't know the price.
messenger Posted January 18, 2011 Posted January 18, 2011 Ill give you 1.5k for the bike and you can go get yourself something a little more suited to your ambitions....Where you based? PM me if you are interested.
Beer4Recovery Posted March 1, 2011 Author Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) OK. so i lost out on a deal for a dual suspension bike and am pretty peed off at the moment. So i have decided to upgrade my Trek 4500, and I am a total novice. So here goes.. What would you guys recommend for a first replacement/upgrade, looking at my current setup (in the first post)??? One thing that i would like to change is the wheels. I have V-brakes at the moment and that silver strip on the rims (where the brake pads touch) does not look nice at all & outdated. I would rather have black rims with disc brakes (like most of the new bikes with discs). What size do i look for or specs? Weight specs? I don't want to pay a fortune for new rims. If someone could point me in the right direction that would also help. This would be the first in a series of post & as the upgrade progress. I will post pics as well. I rely on the fellow Hubbers' advice on this one. Thank you in advance! (Attached is a picture of my bike) Edited March 1, 2011 by deftone
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Hi Deftone. I have been through the whole upgrade thing. You need to be careful. You cannot just (say) upgrade to Disk Brakes as your fork and frame will need mounting points for this. Same thing with wheels. If you want to upgrade, take your time, do your research, speak to people who know. As a general rule for upgrading - concentrate on the following: 1st - Tubeless tires.2nd - Better Wheelset - get a decent one and you can move it from bike to bike over the years.3rd - Fork and/or frame. Avoid upgrading: -Drivechain - these wear out after a while anyway.-Disk brakes - they are better but not thaat much better in the dry.-Cockpit items - Saddles, Pedals, Grips, Bar Ends, Handlebars - these are luxaries especially if you don't do longer distances (more than 40kms).
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 I can see the mounts for disk brakes on your Dart. Good stuff. Check the back and we will take it from there.
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Consider buying your upgrade parts from CRC or CWC online. You get free shipping from CRC on orders of R3000. You must pay inmport duty (bargain for 16%) from CRC. I would buy these brakes to make your money go further. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31347
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Value for money I recommend this wheelset. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30822 The description says not available outside the EU - if this is the case then buy Shimano SLX. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40565
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Finally - I would consider this fork: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54593 Forks are more difficult to install yourself so you will have to get a bikeshop to do it for you. Expect to pay them up to R300.
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Oops: forgot - you will probably want UST tubless tires and Stans/Joes (the Shimano SLX don't need rim strips - don't know about the Mavics). This will set you back over R1000 so you might want to reconsider not getting the fork. On second thoughts - the Fork might be 'over upgrading' your bike.
Just Keep Pedaling Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 A good front tire with more grip and less rolling resistance. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19162
Beer4Recovery Posted March 1, 2011 Author Posted March 1, 2011 JKP - thanks alot for the usefull info!! There are mounting points on the shocks & frame for disc brakes.
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