Mountain bikes?

[ROC]

I'm gonna get a mountain bike.

I'd like to get one that'll perform well and I can ride for a while.

Some downhill, but, mostly riding around town and the local desert hills.

Now, in referrence to my "buy the best" vs buy on a budget thread.......I'd like to buy a nice mountain bike, not no $8,000.00 one. Nothing cheap by any means.

So, what do ya got?

Thanks in advance.

ROC

 

[TPC]

Specialized is my favorite.
All aluminum with suspension.
Can pick it up with one pinky.

Beware of bike shops.
They will try to sell you dead stock rather than what you may really want if you don't do your homework first.

 

[ROC]

Specialized is my favorite.
All aluminum with suspension.
Can pick it up with one pinky.

Beware of bike shops.
They will try to sell you dead stock rather than what you may really want if you don't do your homework first.

Copy that.

That's why I'm here for Mountain Bike 101 at RDP. :thumbsup

 

[BarryMac]

Coming to SD anytime soon? Have a buddy that owns a bikeshop in North County...

 

[HavasuHank]

i used to race bmx and spent many hours at my local bike shop. my brother even worked at one for a bit.

as said, do some research. go down to your local bike shop and talk to the guy there ... ask for info. tell them that you are on a budget and ask them what is necessary for just riding.

i think you should get something as close to stock as possible until you get more comfortable with your riding. then you can upgrade certain parts. there are some parts out there that you may not even need pertaining to your riding capabilities.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

My wife and I have GT's. older pre I-drive stuff. I also like Diamondback and Specialized......Since I moved to hill country, I prefer the motorized variety

 

[Deleted Account]

There's usually quite a bit of bikes at pretty bargain prices on Craigs List. Go see what frame size you need and look around a bit. Once you know what you want you can get a used one pretty cheap... You can always move up if you stay into it and get a better bike later.:thumbsup

 

[ROC]

Are there any components to stay away from?

I remember back when I rode XTR was the good stuff.

 

[Deleted Account]

Here's a good one for ya...

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/1451286375.html

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Are there any components to stay away from?

I remember back when I rode XTR was the good stuff.

I have not kept up with all of the gear like I used to, my bike is the mid level (at the time) LTS 2000 full suspension. I'm 215lbs and I put quite a few tough trail miles on it, besides folding 2 front rims and loosing a seal in the rear shock, it has been flawless and still rides like new. I have had it 9 or 10 years. A lot more reliable than my dirt bikes. Wife's bike is a Zaskar hard tail, with all xtr gear I have only changed tires and tubes on hers.

 

[WATERDOG]

Some downhill, but, mostly riding around town and the local desert hills.........

Just so you're for-warned, for every 10 minutes downhill, you'll be doing 20 uphill.:bash:

 

[essexjet]

I built mine mostly from on-line bike shops. Have a Haro xeon Worx frame and all Sram X-9 components, Fox front forks F-100 and Avid juicy ultimate brakes. All in all, I ended up spending around $2,000 including assembly by incycle.

 

[NickRoseInsurance]

I ride a Gary Fisher with a Carbon tail. $1500.00 The bike has been down Viper in Santa Clarita, Desert Bar, JPL. Been on it for about 6 years now. XTR components. Check Gary Fisher out pretty good bike.:drnkfr:drnkfr:drnkfr:bash::bash::bash::thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[mbrown2]

Brands to look at IBIS, Turner, Ellsworth, Yeti, Intense to start with....all these bikes hold their value very well....if you want a top of line used bike look at Craigslist, MTBR, Pinkbike, etc......carbon framed bikes from the makers above with XTR even used are going to be north of 2500 used if they are in nice shape....thing about a used mountain bike its like buying a dirt bike....how beat has it been....so if used make sure it was lightely used and is 2 yrs or less used. Stick with a cross country or all mountain (both fully suspended bikes) bike for the sort of riding you are looking to do..

If going new, the carbon framers will be way out there on price...but the top tier aluminum framed models from those above with XTR will be in the 4K to 5k range....that is from competitive online priced places....I say find a trusting bike shop that carries those above and get fitted and then figure out what you can afford...

mtbr.com to do some research...

I am not avid mtn biker, but I know a couple very well, have been researching myself and stayed at a holiday inn...

 

[ROC]

Just so you're for-warned, for every 10 minutes downhill, you'll be doing 20 uphill.:bash:

My friend, you give me way too much credit 10 minutes down hill will probably be in the range of 5 miles or so at a 6% grade, average?

Uphill at 5 miles per hour works out to 60 minutes.

That's why I used to go to Big Bear in the summer, take the ski lift up and ride down, all day long.

 

[WATERDOG]

My friend, you give me way too much credit 10 minutes down hill will probably be in the range of 5 miles or so at a 6% grade, average?

Uphill at 5 miles per hour works out to 60 minutes.

That's why I used to go to Big Bear in the summer, take the ski lift up and ride down, all day long.

Was gonna make the uphill time a bit longer, but I like coming to your place.

I was gonna also recommend an excise bike be set up in the kitchen. Two birds with one stone kinda thing.

 

[Cigalert]

www.mtbr.com
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/

Shitloads of info.

Shimano makes some good stuff but I made the switch to SRAM and I have to say...for the money no comparison to XTR of yesteryear.

So many complete bikes for so cheap right now. I let my Turner 5 spot go for $1800. My neighbor just picked up a rigid complete for under a grand. Take advantage of the used market...you'll get a lot more bike for the money.

 

[Tom Brown]

High end bikes are an ego tax. They provide no additional value to the vast majority riders, except for the prestige they bring.

I'm of the opinion that any decent alloy frame and a decent set of derailers/brakes (Shimano Diore and up or pretty much anything from SRAM and Avid Juicy 7 brakes or better) will roll more miles than the average human body is capable of and perform very well doing it.

In the Shimano line, from Diore and up, the only difference is weight. The higher end, the lighter.

It's nice to have a light bike but the trails are full of young shits with steel legs who could ride a 45 pound Stumpjumper FSR up a hill faster than I can get my 22 pound Kona. I'm not arguing that weight isn't relevant. I'm just saying if you are not racing (or even if you are) in the serious classes, if you're over 180 pounds, and if you don't care about always having the latest and greatest, get something decent ($1000~2000) and run it for the rest of your life. It's just a bike.

If you're a big guy (over 6'), I would check out a bike with 29" wheels.

I see lots of crazy bikes on the trails but I can say with confidence that no one has more fun than I do on my Kona. It's decent but there's nothing botique about it. In other words, perfect for me.

I don't recommend Kona as a brand, nor do I suggest to stay away from it. Get a decen bike rack like a Thule T2 (or whatever fits your needs), get out there, and ride.

 

[racerden]

I'm gonna get a mountain bike.

I'd like to get one that'll perform well and I can ride for a while.

Some downhill, but, mostly riding around town and the local desert hills.

Now, in referrence to my "buy the best" vs buy on a budget thread.......I'd like to buy a nice mountain bike, not no $8,000.00 one. Nothing cheap by any means.

So, what do ya got?

Thanks in advance.

ROC

I ride a 2003 Cannondale Jeykel (lefty). Believe I paid around 3K new; have tons of saddle time & haven't busted it yet (althoght it's busted me a few times). For the dough, it's been an all around great mountain bike that's very well balanced.
________
Nexium death

 

[SKIA36]

Santa Cruz Superlight full XTR ,22#

Wife, Santa Cruz Julianna, XT

 

[WTRR]

Trek Fuel 100 21.5 inch frame. Chris King hubs and headset and a few other upgrades. I like it...

 

[kgt]

I have a trex fuel ex9, nice bike, light and not tons of money .My wife has a cannondale f2, another fine bike...imo of course..

 

[scjohn]

Fischer 29er of your choice, hard tail or soft you cant go wrong. make sure to get full hydraulic brakes.

RE: carbon bikes. 95% of carbon bikes, even the very high end ones are made by one of two factories in China. CF is overhyped. a good midrange aluminum bike will serve you well for years.

I am 250lbs and have been riding the same GT LTS-1 for 13 years with no major issues

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

So.. If I buy one of these bikes from Target for 250 bucks.. and use it for street riding and maybe some flat dirt trails in the desert.. what kind of headache am I looking at?

A neighbor of mine bought one and it was hideous. Heavy, noisy, poor brakes and derailers. You would be MUCH better off buying a 10 year old low level bike shop grade bike for the same $$ or less. My bike is at least 10 years old pre disk brakes even, and not even in the same neighborhood quality wise. Just my .02

 

[Cigalert]

A neighbor of mine bought one and it was hideous. Heavy, noisy, poor brakes and derailers. You would be MUCH better off buying a 10 year old low level bike shop grade bike for the same $$ or less. My bike is at least 10 years old pre disk brakes even, and not even in the same neighborhood quality wise. Just my .02

On the contrary...I'd buy it and start smoking guys up hills. Bring some beers with you to crack at the top and start taunting the big money guys with smack talk like "I got this thing for $12 and I've passed you twice". Make sure you wear jean shorts...mountain bikers love getting hosed by guys in trashy lounge chair garb.

 

[cakemoto]

just buy something that is made here....like foes:moon:
I can get you a good deal,if you ever come this way:thumbsup

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

Brown is right. No need to go full high end, especially on your first bike. I have had great luck with Trek and Specialized. Good quality and geometry without breaking the bank. Don't go out and buy a low end bike either though. You will just end up wanting to upgrade in a month or two. Get something mid level to start with and then upgrade to better components as you wear the stock ones out.
One thing a lot of people don't think about when they start out mountain biking is that it is going to hurt and not be much fun for the first two weeks to a month (depending on your condition), but stick with it and I promise you will enjoy it! Once you get to the point where you can comfortably do 10 or so miles it becomes really fun and addicting :thumbsup