choosing my first mtb

[J_T_Magnino]

Hi all!

I'm from italy and i am to buy my first mtb: you all know how difficult
it can be! Expecially, if you haven't so much money to spend, that's my
case.

I really like this one, the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 (you can see it and
the full specs at www.decathloncycle.com/competition mtb). Basically,
it's a good front with hydraulic brakes at about 700 euro.

I've been very obsessed about front or dual suspended. I'm not going to
do downhill, i'll surely be for XC, so i hope that a good front will be
the good choice. The fact is that i had to stop jogging due to backache
(hernia) and if a full suspended could prevent some blows to my bottom
it wouldn't be a bad idea... but a good full is above what i can spend
(even the bike i indicated is a bit too much!).

Every advice would be very very appreciated!!

Thanks very much

Alberto

 

[doki]

J_T_Magnino wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> I'm from italy and i am to buy my first mtb: you all know how
> difficult it can be! Expecially, if you haven't so much money to
> spend, that's my case.
>
> I really like this one, the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 (you can see it
> and the full specs at www.decathloncycle.com/competition mtb).
> Basically, it's a good front with hydraulic brakes at about 700 euro.
>
> I've been very obsessed about front or dual suspended. I'm not going
> to do downhill, i'll surely be for XC, so i hope that a good front
> will be the good choice. The fact is that i had to stop jogging due
> to backache (hernia) and if a full suspended could prevent some blows
> to my bottom it wouldn't be a bad idea... but a good full is above
> what i can spend (even the bike i indicated is a bit too much!).
>
> Every advice would be very very appreciated!!

Front suspension only at that price. Not sure what else is available at that
price range, but it looks a light and well specced bike for the price to me.
Only question for me would be the forks - what are they? Decent forks make a
big difference, but **** ones are easy to replace.

 

[Phil, Squid-in-Training]

doki wrote:
> J_T_Magnino wrote:
>> Hi all!
>>
>> I'm from italy and i am to buy my first mtb: you all know how
>> difficult it can be! Expecially, if you haven't so much money to
>> spend, that's my case.
>>
>> I really like this one, the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 (you can see it
>> and the full specs at www.decathloncycle.com/competition mtb).
>> Basically, it's a good front with hydraulic brakes at about 700 euro.
>>
>> I've been very obsessed about front or dual suspended. I'm not going
>> to do downhill, i'll surely be for XC, so i hope that a good front
>> will be the good choice. The fact is that i had to stop jogging due
>> to backache (hernia) and if a full suspended could prevent some blows
>> to my bottom it wouldn't be a bad idea... but a good full is above
>> what i can spend (even the bike i indicated is a bit too much!).
>>
>> Every advice would be very very appreciated!!
>
> Front suspension only at that price. Not sure what else is available
> at that price range, but it looks a light and well specced bike for
> the price to me. Only question for me would be the forks - what are
> they? Decent forks make a big difference, but **** ones are easy to
> replace.

It looks to be a Manitou Axel.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

 

[doki]

Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> doki wrote:
>> J_T_Magnino wrote:
>>> Hi all!
>>>
>>> I'm from italy and i am to buy my first mtb: you all know how
>>> difficult it can be! Expecially, if you haven't so much money to
>>> spend, that's my case.
>>>
>>> I really like this one, the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 (you can see it
>>> and the full specs at www.decathloncycle.com/competition mtb).
>>> Basically, it's a good front with hydraulic brakes at about 700
>>> euro.
>>>
>>> I've been very obsessed about front or dual suspended. I'm not going
>>> to do downhill, i'll surely be for XC, so i hope that a good front
>>> will be the good choice. The fact is that i had to stop jogging due
>>> to backache (hernia) and if a full suspended could prevent some
>>> blows to my bottom it wouldn't be a bad idea... but a good full is
>>> above what i can spend (even the bike i indicated is a bit too
>>> much!).
>>>
>>> Every advice would be very very appreciated!!
>>
>> Front suspension only at that price. Not sure what else is available
>> at that price range, but it looks a light and well specced bike for
>> the price to me. Only question for me would be the forks - what are
>> they? Decent forks make a big difference, but **** ones are easy to
>> replace.
>
> It looks to be a Manitou Axel.

Sell em and get some Marzocchis .

 

[J_T_Magnino]

Thanks all!
I've bought it and i think it's quite good!

Why do you think that the manitou axel fork is not good?

 

[Phil, Squid-in-Training]

J_T_Magnino wrote:
> Thanks all!
> I've bought it and i think it's quite good!
>
> Why do you think that the manitou axel fork is not good?

The Axel regular spring is tuned for a rider weight around 100 lbs. I am
135lbs, and I can bottom out the fork braking hard. That kind of ****-poor
spring rate is unacceptable, even if there is a ride kit available. Keep in
mind that these forks come on 19" and 21" bikes, whose riders weigh
sometimes more than double what the spring seems to be rated for.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training