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Buying new mb
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Buying new mb
Postby Brad » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:05 pm
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Regards
Brad
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Postby McPete » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:19 pm
You want a bike that does a bit of everything, I take it?
The first, biggest choice to make would be between a Dual suspension bike, or a hardtail (front suspension only), and from there, you find the equipment level that suits your needs and budget.
At your $3K level, you can get some decent stuff in Dual suspension bikes, but to be honest... for what you want to do, I think a hardtail would be more than sufficient, and you'll appreciate not having the tail sag every time you pedal on the road.
So, based on that, and to my personal brand bias, I'd be sending you toward an Apollo Raceline series Gravity. It's what's referred to as a dirt jump bike. It's fine for moderate trail work, but getting into the REALLY rough stuff, big drops and full-tilt downhill runs, you're at the far end of it's powers. But for firetrails, medium-duty offroading and the odd run on the black stuff, the Apollo and bikes like it are right where you want to be. And not being a big-name brand like Giant or Specialized, it's quite affordable by the scale of such things. But almost every brand does a similar machine, so your choice is wide! Giant does some particularly high specced ones in this category.
Please bear in mind though, I'm more of a road bike person, so better advice will come from others here, but I hope that I've been able to put forward a valid suggestion!
Peter
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Postby Kalgrm » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:35 pm
The Trance is not a race machine - it's more a trail bike for tooling around the track with your mates. Capable, but not race-bred. Giant makes a bike called the Anthem, and it is indeed a thoroughbred. Look closely at these machines because the XC racers love them. (Stable rear suspension without "pedal-bob" when set up well). If I were into racing and wanted a well-specced full suss bike, it's the one I'd buy.
Can't help you with the trek bikes - they don't seem to get a lot of wraps in the circles I've been associated with.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby rider06 » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:46 pm
- Kalgrm
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Postby Kalgrm » Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:30 pm
The Epic uses a proprietry shock absorber to ensure hardtail like performance. It doesn't compress until it feels a bump from the ground (as opposed to one from the rider pedalling) so you can push as hard as you want knowing the bike will handle like a HT until you NEED the suspension. Trouble is, you don't get that "proprietry shock" until you fork out for the upper end of the range: in the price range you're looking at you get the lower end shock that allows pedal bob to some degree.
On the other hand, the Anthem uses a common shock on all but the very top end of the range and uses a superior design in the linkage system to prevent pedal bob.
In the price range you're looking at, you'll get a really good, race-ready Anthem or a medium range, entry racer Epic. (Or a kick-@rse HT!)
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Mulger bill » Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:23 pm

I don't race but I do MTB...
What sort of trails are you talking? IMO the added weight and complexity of a dually isn't needed unless you're talking really rough, fast and loose. They will be more comfortable for your back and can make life easier as you tire at the far end of a long day.
Being Giant biased, I'd look at an XTC2 hardtail or an Anthem or Trance if you must have some bounce, I agree Giants' "Maestro" system relies on efficient design to minimise bob where many makers are still reliant on clever shocks.
However, no matter how much or how good the advice we can give you here, there really is no substitute for finding a good LBS and testing as many different bikes as you can. If you and the bike don't feel right together you might as well be on a unicycle

Good luck

Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Postby europa » Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:31 pm
Mulger bill wrote:G'Day Brad, welcome to the outside of the nuthouse![]()
Hang on, we're talking mtbs ... oh, that's right, it's mountain bikers talking mtbs, of COURSE they're confused **pokes tongue out**
Richard
resident heretic
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Postby Kalgrm » Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:37 pm
MountGower wrote:http://www.thylacinecycles.com/frame.php?model=arete&colour=gold
Beautiful frames from Thylacine, but you'd better have deep pockets (full of cash). I asked him for a quote but never took it any further once I found out how much I would be up for. Pity though, because I would dearly love one of his frames.
Cheers,
Graeme
(Pointedly ignores peanuts being thrown from the gallery .....)

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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Kalgrm » Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:58 pm
One day .....
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby LuckyPierre » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:06 pm
As for the Thylacine frames - I want one!

Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
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Postby Mulger bill » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:31 pm
europa wrote:Mulger bill wrote:G'Day Brad, welcome to the outside of the nuthouse![]()
Hang on, we're talking mtbs ... oh, that's right, it's mountain bikers talking mtbs, of COURSE they're confused **pokes tongue out**
Richard
resident heretic
No confusion, you enter the nuthouse when you log off here or otherwise deal in things non bike

Shaun
It's a hitchhiker thing...
London Boy 29/12/2011
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