Getting new bike?

[falconlover]

Hi I'm just wondering what bike I should get since my Big W Repco bike's disc brakes don't work and makes creaking noises. My budget for this new bike is between $200 and $400 and I want it to have strong v style brakes.
I live in Qld Brisbane Australia.

Please help!

[stryker84]

ooh boy, okay...

200-400 will get you a very, very basic mountain bike, which will come with these so called v-brakes, that is, a side pull cantilever... whether it's a good v-brake, i have no idea.

what do you plan on using it for? commuting? trail-bashing? downhill sorta riding? BMX? let us know, we'll be able to better help.

in general, look into your bike shop, let them know your budget and what you want, see what they say, most will likely try to tell you that you'll want a $400-600ish bike, but some will have the bottom of the market 200-400 range if that's what the price range you're looking at. this will be just a simple mtb, not for hard-wearing downhills/trails, but for the commuter/bikepath-goer.

if you're talking serious MTBing, then i'm sorry to say that budget won't cut it, at least not for a new bike.

[falconlover]

I will be commuting and doing the occasional dirt jump

[MountGower]

G'day

[falconlover]

Lol WT? I live in Birkdale! Yes I'm interested in it what are the specs and stuff like that?

[falconlover]

Just 1 question is it 26 inch?

[stryker84]

http://www2.trekbikes.com.au/catalogue.cgi?rm=product&product_id=38&category_id=4&subcategory_id=42

26-inch, you mean the tyres? well then, yes. most if not all commercially available MTBs will have 26".

also, this will be easy since you're in the same area, but check the sizing, don't just bite cos it's cheap and nearby.

[falconlover]

Yep I ment the tyres 26 inch, hey person whos mother lives in Birkdale is the bike in good condition and what colour is it?

[MountGower]

F

[MountGower]

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[Kalgrm]

For your own safety, DO NOT do any dirt jumps on a bike which only costs $400. You will make the frame fail catastrophically and really hurt yourself. These bikes are only for riding on paved surfaces in a sedate manner.

Regards,
Graeme

[Bnej]

A new Trek 3700 is the minimum I'd get at $399. It will work off road, and it's a quality bike, but I wouldn't do any significant jumps on such a bike.

Anything cheaper I wouldn't take on any sort of off-road terrain. I see people take K-Mart bikes on trails and it's scary. You do not want to take a second-rate, "not for off road use" frame, on a rough trail and have something fall off while you're riding. Whatever you do don't be tempted by dual suspension at this price - you cannot get good, made for off-road, dual suspension for under about $2000.

If you can splash out a bit more, around $700 gets you a Giant Thermo, which is stronger, has better running gear, and decent disc brakes. At around $1,000 you can get a Giant Alias which has hydraulic disc brakes and an oil damped suspension fork with a lockout, and fantastic SRAM X.7 shifters - excellent bang for buck. Other brands offer similar mid-range mountain bikes.

Most important though, is to get a frame size that's right for you. Too small and you'll be cramped and develop wrist and forearm problems, too big and you risk bouncing on the top tube in the most unpleasant way. A good bike shop will help you select the correct sized bike.