Buying new mb

[Brad]

Guys need some guidance as I am a novice but starting at the top. Looking to do some adventure races which involve mountain biking and some road work apart from the running, kayaking etc. I have been told Specialised epic range is the best but have also looked at Trek Fuel EX 8 and EX6 as well as Giant Trance 1. I am comfortable at the $3K price tag but some are going higher but I cannot tell the difference.
Any suggestions would be welcome.

Regards

Brad

[McPete]

Welcome to the forums!

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

[Kalgrm]

The Epics are pure XC race machines, which sound just right for the riding you've described. I don't know if they are "The Best", however as a racing beast, they are mighty fine animals. Their design is well tested and they do not have much pedal-bob, especially when you get to the top end ones.

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

[rider06]

The giant anthem is a pure race machine - will take bumps pretty well and not heavy if you're talking about longer race riding. I would say that if you have the $ for this sort of bike, go for something like this or the Epic (or other XC race bikes) The dirt jump style bike will certainly absorb big hits, but then you also have to consider whether or not you want to ride the extra weight around - the Apollo is about 15kg before you get yourself and your gear on it whilst a race bike (dual suspension) will be considerably less especially in the price range you are talking about. The best thing you can do is get around to as many bike shops as you can and talk to them about what you want the bike for - then decipher the sales talk from the good advice - if you give a location someone from your area might be able to recommend a good shop.

[Kalgrm]

I am biased towards the Anthem because I believe the geometry of the suspension linkages is the key to its good suspension, rahter than the rear shock technology of the Epic.

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

[alchemist]

Unless you're doing the very long adventure races (multiple days), I'd be going with the kick-arse HT. Lighter weight (you're just as likely to be carrying your bike as riding it) and less to go wrong.

[Mulger bill]

G'Day Brad, welcome to the outside of the nuthouse

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

[MountGower]

http

[europa]

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

[Kalgrm]

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 .....)

[MountGower]

Columbus

[Kalgrm]

I came "this close" to buying one of these Ti framesearlier this year. You can get them directly from the maker in China for about US$100 less than the eBay auction in the link above, freight is about US$80 and frame is US$495 (I'll find the link for the maker tomorrow). I was going to swap out all the good stuff on my XtC onto the Ti frame. Ended up getting the 'bent instead ..... but a Ti HT would be my dream MTB bike.

One day .....

Cheers,
Graeme

[LuckyPierre]

A couple of guys in my Club ride road frames that I am fairly sure came from the same manufacturer, ie. the Chinese one, not Thylacine. I chased one (well, worked with one until about 2kms from the finish) of our road race on Saturday. They are both very happy with them.
As for the Thylacine frames - I want one!

[Mulger bill]

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...