Buying an XC MTB???

number31 said:

Having bought myself a road bike in february (first punture last week 🙁 ) I have been bitten by the mtb bug. My friends started getting into it at the start of the year but only doing downhill. I have been a few times and ridden a friends bike which is a norco frame built up with spare parts he had after upgrading his banshee (it only has 1 gear). Being a roadie i dont see the point of walking for 15 mins up a hill only to spend 3-4 mins riding back down when i could just as easily ride up and down hills all day. To cut the story short im looking for a suitable full suspension XC MTB for around $1500-$1800. Any suggestion?

Up your budget. You'll need to spend more than that to get a decent fully.

SomeGuy said:

Up your budget. You'll need to spend more than that to get a decent fully.

Or buy used and spend less than $1500-$1800.

what about going for the hardtail option then? i was looking at the specialized rockhopper pro disc all mountain or something similar from giant/norco? anyone with experience with these bikes or suggest another bike?

I got a Learsport XTR hardtail recently; it is top spec'd an I am very happy with it. The frame is a Kinesis Kinesium - light as a feather but strong. (It is what is derisively called a beer can frame - the down tube is mighty thin. But it has a solid warranty.) The rest is all XT/XTR, with Mavic rims, Duke XC fork, Ritchey Pro kit and Rocket V saddle. Bike is 11kg. I got 25% off RRP but just a few days ago discovered that I could have gotten another $100 off if I used my Bicycle Victoria membership (I wasn't a member THEN, though). With BV membership it comes to $1400.

jur said:

I got a Learsport XTR hardtail recently; it is top spec'd an I am very happy with it. The frame is a Kinesis Kinesium - light as a feather but strong. (It is what is derisively called a beer can frame - the down tube is mighty thin. But it has a solid warranty.) The rest is all XT/XTR, with Mavic rims, Duke XC fork, Ritchey Pro kit and Rocket V saddle. Bike is 11kg. I got 25% off RRP but just a few days ago discovered that I could have gotten another $100 off if I used my Bicycle Victoria membership (I wasn't a member THEN, though). With BV membership it comes to $1400.

why not shuttle up with 4WDs? hehe

seriously, there are a few heavy duty hardtails around that are good for DH... in that price range there ain't much decent FS freeride bikes...

I got a giant VT3 but it ain't no good for DH tracks... or maybe my skills are lacking

Norco, Giant STP, Mongoose... etc all make some DH hardtails... you'll probably need to spend up on a full face helmet and armour

me? I like to descend but prefer singletrack....

jur said:

I got 25% off RRP but just a few days ago discovered that I could have gotten another $100 off if I used my Bicycle Victoria membership (I wasn't a member THEN, though). With BV membership it comes to $1400.

The conditions of that deal exclude haggling for a better price and then asking for another 10% off, so you may not have been able to.

SomeGuy said:

The conditions of that deal exclude haggling for a better price and then asking for another 10% off, so you may not have been able to.

No, it seems I didn't make it clear: The list price for BV members is $1399.

I don't know if you've bought one yet... but if you are looking for a Dual suspension MTB, then Cyclerama has an 05 Epic for around $1100.

It has a killer spec matching the same priced hardtails... Fox forks, fox shock, Avid v-brakes, Mavic rims, Shimano hubs, maybe even the top-of-the-line XTR rear derailleur.

Go check it out. You'd be hard-pressed to find a hardtail with that spec for that money!

AzzaC said:

I don't know if you've bought one yet... but if you are looking for a Dual suspension MTB, then Cyclerama has an 05 Epic for around $1100.

It has a killer spec matching the same priced hardtails... Fox forks, fox shock, Avid v-brakes, Mavic rims, Shimano hubs, maybe even the top-of-the-line XTR rear derailleur.

Go check it out. You'd be hard-pressed to find a hardtail with that spec for that money!

unfortunately the money isnt there atm. my 4 wheeled money bin decided it doesnt need pressure to operate the clutch so im a poor student now. 🙁

Will have to wait til tax time when the government gives me back all the money they owe me.

which cyclerama is it located at???
might be worth a look if its still there.

My bad,

Only 'glanced' at the price tag as I was walking past as I'm not in the market for a new bike.

They are having a big sale, and it is "Save $1100", so the bike is $2500. Still a very good buy at that price for that kind of gear!

number31 said:

which cyclerama is it located at???
might be worth a look if its still there.

There is only one Cyclerama. In Cannington, on Albany Hwy, near the Leach Hwy overpass.