Learn me budget mountain bikes

I just got my bike from Bikes direct. They have screamin good deals!

I know you should support your LBS (I used to be a head mechanic). They aren't making squat off of a bike in this price range.

Buy all of your accesories at your LBS and tehy will be much happier.

Check this out: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/5ht_new_xi.htm

They have other similarly good deals. They have cheaper bikes too if cost is really that big of a concern.

I just got this one: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_29_fs_xo30.htm

Let the flaming begin!

Rob R.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: In reply to DILYSI Dave: I use to race as well. I had a Robinson with Profile 3 piece cranks, S&M sprocket and S&M Slam bars, Primo meat tenderizer pedals. I want to get back into BMX again, really want this frame from a decade ago, called "Cheetah". Cant find em anywhere

I'll just leave this right here...

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

Looks like a moderned up PK ripper.

EastCoastMojo wrote:

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: In reply to DILYSI Dave: I use to race as well. I had a Robinson with Profile 3 piece cranks, S&M sprocket and S&M Slam bars, Primo meat tenderizer pedals. I want to get back into BMX again, really want this frame from a decade ago, called "Cheetah". Cant find em anywhere

I'll just leave this right here...

They were nice frames. I may be wrong but I think they were Canadian made. That eBay seller is selling that one at a premium, they tend to pop up used sporadically and at much more reasonable prices. That expert size would also be too small for you, you would need a pro if not a pro xl size.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cheeta-Bmx-Frame-Pro-/140658704798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bfe9819e#ht_500wt_1287

/hijack

wvumtnbkr wrote: I just got my bike from Bikes direct. They have screamin good deals! I know you should support your LBS (I used to be a head mechanic). They aren't making squat off of a bike in this price range. Buy all of your accesories at your LBS and tehy will be much happier. Check this out: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/5ht_new_xi.htm They have other similarly good deals. They have cheaper bikes too if cost is really that big of a concern. I just got this one: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_29_fs_xo30.htm Let the flaming begin! Rob R.

Looks promising. I'm going to try to hook up with the seller of the CL Diamondback. If that works out, cool. If not, something like you linked to might be plan B, though they don't have the 21" anymore, so I'd need to find something different.

wvumtnbkr wrote: I just got my bike from Bikes direct. They have screamin good deals! Check this out: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/5ht_new_xi.htm

Wow. That is a seriously well put together bike for $350.

Keith wrote: If you've got wrist discomfort, check out the Ergon grips. I've been using them for a year or so, I like 'em.

my last time in greenville, i borrowed my B-I-L's spare bike, which has these grips.

they.
are.
awesome.

definitely the first thing i'm changing on my bike this spring.

Back in the mid-90's I had a Bianchi cromoly framed MTB that was fantastic. The geometry was just right and I credit my getting out of a couple bad situations with the bike doing it for me.

I think I still have the frame somehwhere but he drivetrain has since become part of a homemade windmill.

Dave,

There are a bunch of good suggestions here. I'd look for a bike in the heyday of Mtn. Biking. (when it first really took off-- early 90s) Since that time a bunch of the big players have been bought out and quality suffered. Bikes I'd look at:

Specialized Stumpjumper--- $1K new, cheap fantastic bikes now. Rockhoppers are also decent, but heavier.

Bridgestone MB-1, MB-2 or MB-3-- solid, great bikes. (I've had an MB-3 for 20 years and love it still) MB-1 is best and very light for a chromoly bike. (hard to find though)

Bianchi--- Great road bikes and good Mtn. bikes too.

Gary Fisher--- like Keith said, get an older one before they were bought out. (Actually all of Keith's advice is spot-on--- listen to the Colorado boy!)

Old American made Treks are good solid bikes and bound to be cheap if you can find one.

If you find a bike with elastomer suspended fork, take it to your local dealer. They should be able to set it up for you. Front suspension can be awfully handy if getting air / fast downhill runs appeal to you. I wouldn't bother with a fully suspended bike.

Good luck!

In reply to DILYSI Dave:

The bike I linked is one of about 15 bikes in that price range that have similar equipment.

Check out this page:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mountain_bikes.htm

Click on anything you like. The further down the page you go, the better equiped and more expensive the bikes get.

So, um - the wife stunned me this morning with my birthday present -

You picked the right wife, I'd say. Nice bike, now go out and abuse it!

I would agree.

Nice!

Good deal

I was about to chime in about being cautious about used metal framed bikes, but it looks like you don't have to worry about it!

ReverendDexter wrote: Good deal I was about to chime in about being cautious about used metal framed bikes, but it looks like you don't have to worry about it!

When you say "metal", do you mean "steel"? Its unlikely that if a cromo frame was in bad enough shape to be structurally unstable, unless it was a well cared for higher end racing frame, the finish would really not be hiding this effectively.

Im thinking my next bike purchase will be a slightly higher end one...something along the lines of a Rigid version of this: a few years ago, I was at the redbull rampage event held at Rays MTB indoor park in Cleveland. (that place is friggin rad on a monumental scale). THe bike pictured above is a Doberman Fabrication Pinsher frame. They had some fully built on display, and you could take one through the park if you so chose...and I did choose. It was a lot of fun, and VERY SURPRISINGLY nimble...the big wheels didnt argue and went where I pointed them on the street course, and geometry lent itself to park riding quite well.

Not sure why Im posting this...I guess its the BMX frame posted earlier having me wax nostalgic for my sweaty, bleeding, pedal powered youth

In reply to DILYSI Dave:

Thats a good lookin bike!

I'll beg for advice here, too:

Back in the day I had a few Treks, the last being a Trek 850 I just sold for $50 not long ago because it has been sitting in my garage, pretty much unused for the past 7 years. I stopped using it because it was just geared too low for Raleigh, NC vs. where I used to live.

I am looking for a used hybrid bike that will take disk brakes and uses anything but twist shifters.

What are some good options?

Hybrids are generally considered entry level bikes, so even if they do have trigger shifts, they are of low quality.

A hybrid bicycle is a more upright 700c cyclocross bike with a lower stand over. You can accomplish the same thing with a mountain bike with road tires installed (i like beefy 2.3 cruiser tires), or take a flat bar road bike with compact geometry.

4cylndrfury wrote: Not sure why Im posting this...I guess its the BMX frame posted earlier having me wax nostalgic for my sweaty, bleeding, pedal powered youth

Folks get really nostalgic about BMX bikes. I know so many lazy, fat, inactive 30 and 40 year olds who scoff at the idea of owning a mountain bike because they aren't cool and they associate mountain bikers with spandex riding roadies.

They say "I'll never own a mountain bike, and if I do it'll be to ride with my kids on their ill-fitting BMX bikes."

Guess what, 26" BMX bikes can do anything a 20" can, and 26" dual suspension mountain bikes can do things 20" bikes will always dream of:

You don't need spend a mint on a Doberman either...there are oodles of excellent dirt jump oriented 26" bikes out there.

4cylndrfury wrote: When you say "metal", do you mean "steel"? Its unlikely that if a cromo frame was in bad enough shape to be structurally unstable, unless it was a well cared for higher end racing frame, the finish would really not be hiding this effectively.

Possibly. I don't know the specific metallurgy, but when I was looking for my current 2-wheeled transportation, my go-to buddy for bike knowledge warned me to avoid used non-carbon frames due to metal fatigue. He was of the opinion that a metal-framed bike had about a 10 year lifespan, though that may just be for racing bikes (he races semi-professionally).

RevDex

Depends completely only the style of build we're talking.

A custom, super light weight aluminum or steel frame with a heavy rider? Yea...the frame may have a lifespan. Those frames are pretty rare and only in the last couple of years have they'll been built light enough to affect structural integrity. We're talking 3-4lbs for a metal frame (on par with carbon fiber). In the 90's, frame builders like Klein, Cannondale, and Bontrager made some light frames, but they were so high quality I'd never worry about them failing during everyday riding.

Thing is, most bike frames are way overbuilt for just general flat surface riding.

In road bikes this can vary, for instance I had a Vitus 979 that had lightweight aluminum tube bonded together using glue...over time the glue deteriotes and the bonds fail...bad news, especially for a heavy guy like me.

But if all your doing is riding flat smooth trails, not doing jumps, and there isn't any visible amount of rust on the chainstays, you'll be alright.

For instance, I weigh 220lbs and I mash on a 1980 light weight steel road frame. No problems.

I also snapped a chainstay on cheap GT mountain bike when I was younger, that was after a summer of dropping 3-4' off concrete loading docks...

DILYSI Dave wrote: So, um - the wife stunned me this morning with my birthday present -

That is a sweet bike. Lightweight and fast, and best of all, it's got wagon wheels!

29ers are the best buy for the casual rider. Why? More smooth, better momentum, and when it comes time to sell them they'll bring more money (because they are "new" technology).