HELP - MTB education needed - new bike
Discussion
I last rode MTB's 20yrs ago, used to build my own... Last bike I rode was a GT Zaskar (hardtail) with 4 inch triple-clamp Rockshoxx and magura brakes - loved that bike! :-)
I'm looking to buy a new/second hand bike, but feel clueless! Ideally a hardtail, it will be something I use for many purposes, rare trails blast, commuting, ride with kids (5 & 7 yrs old)...
Which brands offer good bang for buck? I'm 20yrs out of date! Help appreciated
I'm looking to buy a new/second hand bike, but feel clueless! Ideally a hardtail, it will be something I use for many purposes, rare trails blast, commuting, ride with kids (5 & 7 yrs old)...
Which brands offer good bang for buck? I'm 20yrs out of date! Help appreciated
My god, there's a customer in the bike industry!
The good news is it's a very good time to buy a bike, discounts everywhere right now. 20 years is a long time in MTB development, I think you'll like what's gone on. Main points I suppose is the rise of carbon frames, disc brakes are normal, suspension is very plush now if you go with the main brands, drivetrains are mostly one by now, often see 12 speed cassettes & single chainring.
Dropper posts are a great development. Geometry is a big one, bikes now are longer, slacker & lower. Wheels are bigger, 29" is standard on MTB, but mixed wheel is also common I.e. 29" front wheeel, 27.5" real wheel, known as a mullet. Value wise, on the quality big brands, Spesh are up there, Giant, Trek all safe bets. There are a good few direct to consumer brands I'd entertain that cut out dealers & compete well on price - Canyon, YT, Commencal & loads more.
It's pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days if you look above the Halfords price level & the other thing to mention is segmentation, loads of categories around now for different purposes, Cross country bikes I.e. very light mile eaters, down country, trail, enduro, DH. Some of it is marketing BS but generally that list runs light to beefy in order. 90% of riders probably suit a do it all trail bike, they're about the biggest selling category. Typically, one of those will have 29" wheels, 150mm suspension travel, two piston disc brakes, 11 or 12 speed drive train & a dropper post to give you an idea.
By comparison, an xc bike might have 100mm travel suspension, no dropper, 10 speed or higher, essentially all about lightness. Enduro bikes, beefy frame, 170/180mm suspension, four piston brakes - you get the idea.
The good news is it's a very good time to buy a bike, discounts everywhere right now. 20 years is a long time in MTB development, I think you'll like what's gone on. Main points I suppose is the rise of carbon frames, disc brakes are normal, suspension is very plush now if you go with the main brands, drivetrains are mostly one by now, often see 12 speed cassettes & single chainring.
Dropper posts are a great development. Geometry is a big one, bikes now are longer, slacker & lower. Wheels are bigger, 29" is standard on MTB, but mixed wheel is also common I.e. 29" front wheeel, 27.5" real wheel, known as a mullet. Value wise, on the quality big brands, Spesh are up there, Giant, Trek all safe bets. There are a good few direct to consumer brands I'd entertain that cut out dealers & compete well on price - Canyon, YT, Commencal & loads more.
It's pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days if you look above the Halfords price level & the other thing to mention is segmentation, loads of categories around now for different purposes, Cross country bikes I.e. very light mile eaters, down country, trail, enduro, DH. Some of it is marketing BS but generally that list runs light to beefy in order. 90% of riders probably suit a do it all trail bike, they're about the biggest selling category. Typically, one of those will have 29" wheels, 150mm suspension travel, two piston disc brakes, 11 or 12 speed drive train & a dropper post to give you an idea.
By comparison, an xc bike might have 100mm travel suspension, no dropper, 10 speed or higher, essentially all about lightness. Enduro bikes, beefy frame, 170/180mm suspension, four piston brakes - you get the idea.
I was fortunate enough to buy exactly this bike late last year with a grand off it in the CRC 'panic' sale - £1,400.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes...
It's brilliant, though I would not have bought it at full price.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes...
It's brilliant, though I would not have bought it at full price.
President Merkin said:
My god, there's a customer in the bike industry!
The good news is it's a very good time to buy a bike, discounts everywhere right now. 20 years is a long time in MTB development, I think you'll like what's gone on. Main points I suppose is the rise of carbon frames, disc brakes are normal, suspension is very plush now if you go with the main brands, drivetrains are mostly one by now, often see 12 speed cassettes & single chainring.
Dropper posts are a great development. Geometry is a big one, bikes now are longer, slacker & lower. Wheels are bigger, 29" is standard on MTB, but mixed wheel is also common I.e. 29" front wheeel, 27.5" real wheel, known as a mullet. Value wise, on the quality big brands, Spesh are up there, Giant, Trek all safe bets. There are a good few direct to consumer brands I'd entertain that cut out dealers & compete well on price - Canyon, YT, Commencal & loads more.
It's pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days if you look above the Halfords price level & the other thing to mention is segmentation, loads of categories around now for different purposes, Cross country bikes I.e. very light mile eaters, down country, trail, enduro, DH. Some of it is marketing BS but generally that list runs light to beefy in order. 90% of riders probably suit a do it all trail bike, they're about the biggest selling category. Typically, one of those will have 29" wheels, 150mm suspension travel, two piston disc brakes, 11 or 12 speed drive train & a dropper post to give you an idea.
By comparison, an xc bike might have 100mm travel suspension, no dropper, 10 speed or higher, essentially all about lightness. Enduro bikes, beefy frame, 170/180mm suspension, four piston brakes - you get the idea.
The good news is it's a very good time to buy a bike, discounts everywhere right now. 20 years is a long time in MTB development, I think you'll like what's gone on. Main points I suppose is the rise of carbon frames, disc brakes are normal, suspension is very plush now if you go with the main brands, drivetrains are mostly one by now, often see 12 speed cassettes & single chainring.
Dropper posts are a great development. Geometry is a big one, bikes now are longer, slacker & lower. Wheels are bigger, 29" is standard on MTB, but mixed wheel is also common I.e. 29" front wheeel, 27.5" real wheel, known as a mullet. Value wise, on the quality big brands, Spesh are up there, Giant, Trek all safe bets. There are a good few direct to consumer brands I'd entertain that cut out dealers & compete well on price - Canyon, YT, Commencal & loads more.
It's pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days if you look above the Halfords price level & the other thing to mention is segmentation, loads of categories around now for different purposes, Cross country bikes I.e. very light mile eaters, down country, trail, enduro, DH. Some of it is marketing BS but generally that list runs light to beefy in order. 90% of riders probably suit a do it all trail bike, they're about the biggest selling category. Typically, one of those will have 29" wheels, 150mm suspension travel, two piston disc brakes, 11 or 12 speed drive train & a dropper post to give you an idea.
By comparison, an xc bike might have 100mm travel suspension, no dropper, 10 speed or higher, essentially all about lightness. Enduro bikes, beefy frame, 170/180mm suspension, four piston brakes - you get the idea.
:-) Thank you, love PH, exactly the education I needed!
Lotobear said:
I was fortunate enough to buy exactly this bike late last year with a grand off it in the CRC 'panic' sale - £1,400.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes...
It's brilliant, though I would not have bought it at full price.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes...
It's brilliant, though I would not have bought it at full price.
That looks a bargain at 1400! Well done you!
Mezger said:
President Merkin said:
My god, there's a customer in the bike industry!
The good news is it's a very good time to buy a bike, discounts everywhere right now. 20 years is a long time in MTB development, I think you'll like what's gone on. Main points I suppose is the rise of carbon frames, disc brakes are normal, suspension is very plush now if you go with the main brands, drivetrains are mostly one by now, often see 12 speed cassettes & single chainring.
Dropper posts are a great development. Geometry is a big one, bikes now are longer, slacker & lower. Wheels are bigger, 29" is standard on MTB, but mixed wheel is also common I.e. 29" front wheeel, 27.5" real wheel, known as a mullet. Value wise, on the quality big brands, Spesh are up there, Giant, Trek all safe bets. There are a good few direct to consumer brands I'd entertain that cut out dealers & compete well on price - Canyon, YT, Commencal & loads more.
It's pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days if you look above the Halfords price level & the other thing to mention is segmentation, loads of categories around now for different purposes, Cross country bikes I.e. very light mile eaters, down country, trail, enduro, DH. Some of it is marketing BS but generally that list runs light to beefy in order. 90% of riders probably suit a do it all trail bike, they're about the biggest selling category. Typically, one of those will have 29" wheels, 150mm suspension travel, two piston disc brakes, 11 or 12 speed drive train & a dropper post to give you an idea.
By comparison, an xc bike might have 100mm travel suspension, no dropper, 10 speed or higher, essentially all about lightness. Enduro bikes, beefy frame, 170/180mm suspension, four piston brakes - you get the idea.
The good news is it's a very good time to buy a bike, discounts everywhere right now. 20 years is a long time in MTB development, I think you'll like what's gone on. Main points I suppose is the rise of carbon frames, disc brakes are normal, suspension is very plush now if you go with the main brands, drivetrains are mostly one by now, often see 12 speed cassettes & single chainring.
Dropper posts are a great development. Geometry is a big one, bikes now are longer, slacker & lower. Wheels are bigger, 29" is standard on MTB, but mixed wheel is also common I.e. 29" front wheeel, 27.5" real wheel, known as a mullet. Value wise, on the quality big brands, Spesh are up there, Giant, Trek all safe bets. There are a good few direct to consumer brands I'd entertain that cut out dealers & compete well on price - Canyon, YT, Commencal & loads more.
It's pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days if you look above the Halfords price level & the other thing to mention is segmentation, loads of categories around now for different purposes, Cross country bikes I.e. very light mile eaters, down country, trail, enduro, DH. Some of it is marketing BS but generally that list runs light to beefy in order. 90% of riders probably suit a do it all trail bike, they're about the biggest selling category. Typically, one of those will have 29" wheels, 150mm suspension travel, two piston disc brakes, 11 or 12 speed drive train & a dropper post to give you an idea.
By comparison, an xc bike might have 100mm travel suspension, no dropper, 10 speed or higher, essentially all about lightness. Enduro bikes, beefy frame, 170/180mm suspension, four piston brakes - you get the idea.
:-) Thank you, love PH, exactly the education I needed!
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