|   what to buy? | MPH74
May 29, 2003 12:12 PM | | Hoping for suggestions.... I'd like to spend less than $1400 on a mountain bike. Should I buy a used one or go for a new one? If used, any suggestions? I'd like disc brakes (but not essential) and full-suspension. LX or XT (or even XTR) components. I tried looking on ebay but there are so many bikes that it's overwhelming. I figured I'd get some suggestions on brands and models and then i'd search just for those. I was thinking that since I want a full-suspension bike, I may be better off buying new because of the great leaps in such bikes in recent years in both price and technology (i.e., i'd miss too much by buying used). But then again, will $1400 only get me a crappy full suspension bike? Thanks a lot.
- Mark |
| re: what to buy? | konajay
May 29, 2003 12:15 PM | | 1400$ u.s.?? and what is the bike for?? |
| If you're talking about an XC bike... | pimpbot
May 29, 2003 2:03 PM | | There are lots of good bikes out there in your range, but I strongly suggest that you don't buy a bike you can't ride first. There are no real set standards for how bikes are sized, not to mention some folks like slow steering bikes for downhill, and some like fast steering for tight trail stuff. The thing is, if you are unsure, you can get stuck with a $1400 bike you hate, and then you won't ride it. You will have set fire to 1400 of your favorite dollars and will be SOL.
Please, whatever you do, don't 'Jedi mind trick' yourself into liking a bike, cause reality will creep in eventually, probably after you have been riding it too long to return it. You will be amazed at how easy it is to do this.
That said...
Pay your LBSes a visit and see what they have in your range. There are lots of mid-range FS bikes and some really sweet hardtails for under $1400.
Also keep in mind that components are easily changed out and less important than getting a frame that fits you in size and riding style. For $1400 you will get decent parts at the very least that will serve you well. You may not end up with XTR, but you will at least end up with solid stuff you won't be disasisfied with. Parts are cheap and easy to change out after the fact if needed.
Hype is fine, but it's just hype. Some buddy or salesperson who swears on a stack of bibles that his whiz-bang bike is the end all be all for you may be wrong. It may only be the end all be all for him/her. Do your own research and test rides and develop your own opinions. Check out what owners are saying on the reviews on this site as a loose guideline, but keep in mind that folks tend to believe that their stuff is the best, cause the alternative would be admitting to themselves that they bought into crap.
I'm not going to tell you what bikes to look at, cause you know all the brands, but in your price range, they are all good at something. You would be hard pressed to find a poorly made bike these days unless you shop at WalMart for bikes. |
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