29er to be or not to be?
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29er to be or not to be?
Postby OrangeJuiceMan » Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:03 pm
Well i've finally become hooked on mtbing after my visit to Eagle on the Hill here in Adelaide. I have been using my old mtb I have had since i was 14 and with 4 months of uni holidays starting in a couple weeks I thought what a better way to kick them off than to buy a new bike . Being a roadie, my knowledge on mountain bikes is very little so I am hoping you guys can lend some advice.
I have been doing a little research and looking into what kind of bike I can get roughly for $1 - 1.5k. I've decided to go with a hard tail although unsure whether to go with a 29er or not. Being a pretty lanky lad (6ft, 63kg) i'm unsure if a 29er would be ideal for me. I have read mixed views on them, varying from giving you a softer ride to not being very ideal for single tracks.
I have had a look at a couple stores and have a found a couple bikes: Orbea - Satelite, about $1100 and also some GT bikes which are 29ers around $1300.
If any of you guys have any recommendations on bikes, or shops in Adelaide which specify in mtb's that would be great.
Thanks,
OJ
p.s. apologies for another 'what bike to buy' thread
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby zero » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:08 am
You are tall enough that toe overlap shouldn't be a problem (unless you have real short arms) - ie there should be no problem riding a 29er.
I don't think there is much point/advantage to a full suspension 29er myself, and thus see no reason to change my bike, but if I was buying a HT or a rigid bike, it would be a 29er for sure. Once the wheel is hard attached to the frame the weight difference has less effect but the size advantage doesn't change.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby Mugglechops » Tue Nov 01, 2011 12:03 pm
I rode a mates XTC 29er on singletrack and it turned fine, much faster than my Reign on the same track.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby OrangeJuiceMan » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:17 pm
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby ozdavo » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:30 pm
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:45 am
My personal choice however would be the 3.0. Whilst it's 8spd, a mix of Alivio/Acera and a Suntour fork (instead of basic Rockshox)...it's the same frame, cockpit & wheels as the others. And just $850. It'll certainly do the job!! Drive the driveline components into the ground and then replace with 10spd Deore group and hyd brakes for less than $400. If you want/need a better fork then a runout RS Reba or Fox F29 (both better than the stock RS XC28 or XC32 forks) can go for less than $400 - an X-Fusion or high spec Suntour is even cheaper.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby steve-waters » Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:55 pm
Merida also do some good stuff for really good prices not sure about price
Jump on BikeExchange and a do a search and see what comes up for that much money.
You could even get lucky and snare a good second hand bike for that much - I know over budget but by example there was an Anthem X 29 that sold for $1900 bucks on eBay.
But why not just get a custom Ti made by Moots or Baum? (just joking but it seems whenever someone asks about a bike on a budget someone has to suggest something that is four times the budget so thought it could be me this time)
MTB:TWE 29er, Fox Terralogic, XT, 3T and TWE wheels
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:20 am
They've got the Talon for around $1,200 and I think the base XTC can be had for close to $1,500...steve-waters wrote:What have Ginat got in the 29er range for that much - they seem to be value plus these days.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby OrangeJuiceMan » Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:57 pm
This is what I've come down to:
Trek Cobia 29er - $1300 http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /100386102
Merida Big Nine - $1400 http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102007876
Giant Talon - $1200 http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /100386567
Giant XTC - $1500 http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /100385998
GT Karakoram 1.0 or maybe the 2.0 - $1500 http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /100280001
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby trailgumby » Mon Nov 07, 2011 1:03 pm
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby steve-waters » Mon Nov 07, 2011 1:05 pm
MTB:TWE 29er, Fox Terralogic, XT, 3T and TWE wheels
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby Mugglechops » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:25 pm
I am looking at the TREK Superfly AL which I can get for $1800
I took the cheaper one for a ride today and I liked it a lot.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby OrangeJuiceMan » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:07 pm
Im no expert on mtb components so if u guys could shed some light on the area that would be great. The cobia comes with sram x5 whilst the xtc is made up of shimano alivio and deore.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:02 pm
Of the three....the XTC has probably the weakest drivetrain spec. But a fine front end with a tapered headtube and a 15 QR hub. Still not worth the extra $300 unless it is demonstrably better ride.
On specs alone....sorry....but I'd go for the Merida.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby lucifuge » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:58 pm
I've been riding a 26er dually for 3 months or so, and wanted to 29er HT as a backup bike and to mix things up. I managed to score a 2nd hand Trek Rig, which is a single speed (which is my preference). I have to say that the 29er is AMAZING. Climbs like you wouldn't believe and is not that bouncy etc on descends, actually its very quick. So, my first point here is definitely go a 29er, its fantastic. I think my dually is about to become my backup bike!!
My 2nd point is your price point/ bike lists you've come up with. The Trek Cobia is an entry level 29er HT and unfortunately your'e not really going to get a great fork/brakes etc. If I were you and you maximum is $1500 to spend, I would await a 2nd hand Trek X-Caliber or Paragon on EBAY (or equivalent). You should get it for around that price and and they are WAY better than the Cobia. I'm just worried your going want to upgrade fairly soon with something like the Cobia.
OrangeJuiceMan wrote:Well i've finally been able to narrow it down to two bikes, the Giant XTC and the Trek Cobia. I went into one of my LBS and he said the Trek out specs the merida easily, although its slightly less attractive . Now im just stuck on if its worth paying an extra $200 for an xtc or not...
Im no expert on mtb components so if u guys could shed some light on the area that would be great. The cobia comes with sram x5 whilst the xtc is made up of shimano alivio and deore.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby OrangeJuiceMan » Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:37 pm
Thanks for the advice mate, yea I have decided to rule out the Cobia took it for a test ride yesterday and wasn't anything flash. I also test rode the Merida and preferred that. Although as you said eBay is the other option and I have been keeping my eye on it to see if there is anything decent, just a matter of waiting, until something pops upThe Trek Cobia is an entry level 29er HT and unfortunately your'e not really going to get a great fork/brakes etc.
I'd have a good look at the GT Karakoram 1.0 or 2.0.
I have also been having a look at the GT bikes and they seem to be great value for money compared to what other bikes are on the retail market for that price. So hopefully might go take the karakoram 1.0 or 2.0 for a test ride in the next couple days at the LBS
http://www.gtbicycles.com/aus/2012/bike ... akoram-1-0
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby DarrylH » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:21 pm
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby trailgumby » Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:52 pm
Better still would be a Lefty-equipped Cannondale.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby steve-waters » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:33 pm
MTB:TWE 29er, Fox Terralogic, XT, 3T and TWE wheels
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby OrangeJuiceMan » Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:31 pm
p.s. will post some pics eventually on the other thread.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby Mugglechops » Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:33 pm
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby trailgumby » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:19 pm
Yair, c'mon, hurry up, pics or it didn't happenOrangeJuiceMan wrote:p.s. will post some pics eventually on the other thread.
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Mon Nov 21, 2011 8:47 am
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby bardynt » Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:39 pm
same as that guy looking at different models same as him
is talon 0 for 29 for 1100 better to get or is xtc 26 1500 wheels better to get
i had offer of getting xt ice cool shimano brakes and rotors for 300
also what do people think about the treak 6000 its like 1200
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Re: 29er to be or not to be?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:06 pm
Upgrade to the Icetech brakes on either is only sensible if you get trade-in money for the existing brakes...
Trek 6000 is well priced for the equipment level...
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