MTB recomendation

Quoted post said:

What should I look out for on a MTB ?

That depends on what you want from the MTB.

Joe

Quoted message said:

Hi I am looking at getting a MTB. I want to spend around the $500 mark. Can I get something decent for this price ?

Honestly? No, nothing worth taking on dirt.
If it's for town, get a town bike - lighter and faster.

Donga

Joe

Quoted message said:

Hi I am looking at getting a MTB. I want to spend around the $500 mark. Can I get something decent for this price ?

Honestly? No, nothing worth taking on dirt.
If it's for town, get a town bike - lighter and faster.

Donga

Donga said:

Joe

Quoted message said:

Hi I am looking at getting a MTB. I want to spend around the $500 mark. Can I get something decent for this price ?

Honestly? No, nothing worth taking on dirt.
If it's for town, get a town bike - lighter and faster.

Donga

Several years ago I would have agreed with you - but nowadays there are some reasonable offerings. OK - not race bikes but quite adequate for general offroad trail exploration and such...

I bought my wife a GT Avalanche 1.0 a year ago for about that price and it works fine with reliable, simple components, and a frame that would handle some upgrades as things wore out. Yes, it was only 24 speed with no discs and a fork with no compression damping, but then I've ridden plenty of offroad trails on less and had an awesome time. Reliability and safety are key...

However, at $500 you do run the risk of getting something inappropriate. So, for example, don't even consider dual suspension. Don't get tempted by disc brakes if the frame or more important components are compromised. Make sure it doesn't way a ton. Make sure the frame and wheels are up to the task - they're the most expensive things to replace. And of course, make sure it fits and the store knows that they're doing!

Eddiec's helpful hint for the day: Buy last year's model. Much better value for money.

Joe said:

Hi I am looking at getting a MTB.
I want to spend around the $500 mark.
Can I get something decent for this price ?
What should I look out for on a MTB ?

The Trek 3900 retails for $499 and is a good begginin MTB

Quoted message said:

Thanks heaps for any advice.
Joe

Donga said:

Honestly? No, nothing worth taking on dirt. If it's for town, get a town
bike - lighter and faster.

I think you can get a half decent bike for $500. Look at the low end GT
stuff (I think the Avalanche 3 comes in at $550 or so), and especially the
Schwinn stuff you can get from Rebel when it's on special. I have a couple
of mates with Mesa GSs that cost sub $400 (stupid special) and have been
serving them well for around 18 months. One has just upgraded to a "real"
bike, but his original is still alive.

To give them their due, Rebel also have a workshop on site if they're
selling bikes. So it's a bit more than your usual department store
special. However, a real bike shop will probably be able to offer a lot
more in after sales service.

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
"Soon we will be able to harness the rotational energy from Orwell's
grave to solve all world energy problems" - GigsVT

"Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hi I am looking at getting a MTB.
I want to spend around the $500 mark.
Can I get something decent for this price ?
What should I look out for on a MTB ?
Thanks heaps for any advice.
Joe

We bought my wife a Giant Rincon - 06, same frame as the Yukon, Shimano
discs, basic Suntour forks, and paid just over $500. I think RRP was $699,
but we bought two bikes at the same time and got a discount on each - or
heaps off one, and nothing off the other... ;^) The 05 model was going for
around $500 RRP.

Now, it's not a d00d hucker bike, but it doesn't have "this bike is not
suitable for off road use" stickers which means Giant have some faith, I
*think* there's lifetime frame warranty (it was pretty good anyway, if not),
and let's face it, it's a damn sight better bike than my first Giant (ATX
760), which cost twice as much way back in 94. Lighter, better brakes,
better suspension, more gears. That Giant suffered many years use and
abuse, thousands of kilometres, and gave me lots of joy - it was the bike
that really got me deeply into mtbs - before going to that great smelter in
the sky, so I'd say that you *can* get a decent bike for that money. Run-out
models are always better value, and sometimes you might be able to pick up
up good second hand - but be careful!

You won't get a great bike, but you'll get something good enough to enjoy
and upgrade or replace if you decide you really want to get into mtbs. For a
few dollars more you could get something a lot better, but for a few dollars
more than that, then a few dollars mor... you get the picture. Spend more,
and you'll generally get a better bike - whether it's better value for *you*
or not, you have to decide!

If you've got some mtbing mates, ask them for a burn on their bikes, so you
can see how different types of bikes feel. Be really good if one of them has
a similar "low end" model - or they spent a similar amount. Avoid duallies
at that price - look at hardtails only. Don't buy anything from a
supermarket.

Tony F
http://www.thefathippy.com