Cant see the wood for the trees, Help!!

Re-Cycle

Hi,
New to the forum after hovering as a guest. I was hoping to get some advice I currently have a Boardman Team H/T but am looking to venture into the world of full suspension. I ride mainly trails and cross country, venturing into parks every now and again but whilst I may do a little jump here on there and the odd steep drop in, I don't need anything that will be able to clear 10 double decker buses or anything that will go downhill at light speed without falling to bits. I have read some of the magazines and read the trail bike of the year 2013 reviews but I am trying to make the jump into full sus as wallet friendly as possible. I have been looking at flee bay and cycle shops for last years models etc but the problem is they all seem to be 26ers, and ideally id like either a 650b or 29er. Has anyone any suggestions what could start to look at. I am not to concerned about the spec of the gears or brakes as I have a set of juicy carbons and a 2 x 10 speed SRAM gear set up that I can use as an upgrade. I also have a dropper post so in the main I am looking for is a decent frame, forks and sus.
Any suggestions greatly received.

supersonic

Depends on your budget - how much have you to spend? You'll get much more for your money witha 26er though.

Re-Cycle

supersonic wrote:

Depends on your budget - how much have you to spend? You'll get much more for your money witha 26er though.

Yes I know what you mean about more for your money with a 26er and to be honest I don't know if i'm getting a bit swept up in all this new tyre size hype. Ideally I don't want to spend more than 1500 but know I could get a good used 26er full sus for less than 1k.

It all used to be so simple!!! :shock: :?:

supersonic

I just can't see any decent 29er full sussers for this money. The Specialized Camber is ok, but still an awful spec:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Cam ... _56026.htm

The Trance X is a little better:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Trance-X- ... _56343.htm

Personally for a capable trail bike I'd be looking at this:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-92 ... ctFeatures

felix.london

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b4s154p4372/GIANT-ANTHEM-X-29ER-2-2012

...only showing Small (16") in stock though

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

Personally for a capable trail bike I'd be looking at this:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-92 ... ctFeatures

That looks like a good bike for the price.

supersonic

Is a cracking a bike, its less well specced sibling did very well in a WMB test.

A lot of 29ers are shooting themselves in the foot with pricing: they promise all this smoother rolling and better performance (questionable anyway), then saddle them with heavy parts and basic forks. 26ers can be got for less, are lighter, have better parts and that little bit more suspension on some will smooth bumps out anyway.

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

Is a cracking a bike, its less well specced sibling did very well in a WMB test.

A lot of 29ers are shooting themselves in the foot with pricing: they promise all this smoother rolling and better performance (questionable anyway), then saddle them with heavy parts and basic forks. 26ers can be got for less, are lighter, have better parts and that little bit more suspension on some will smooth bumps out anyway.

It does look a good buy for that price, assuming the frame's decent. I've been doing a lot of window shopping recently and come to the same conclusion - seems you have to spend about £500 more for a 29er in comparable spec to an entry level 26er.

supersonic

I would like to say prices will come down - but they won't. As manufacturers push the new stuff on us, 26ers will become more obscure in the higher end spectrum, and their prices will simply rise to match.

danlightbulb

Been drooling over these recently:

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3039

Depends if your dropper post fits though I guess or you can add £200 to that price.


They do a 29er which is over your budget but you could maybe sell the drive train bits and brakes if you have your own to put on?

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3035#tab-reiter2

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

I would like to say prices will come down - but they won't. As manufacturers push the new stuff on us, 26ers will become more obscure in the higher end spectrum, and their prices will simply rise to match.

You're probably right.

Kowalski675

danlightbulb wrote:

Been drooling over these recently:

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3039

I've been drooling over that very same one myself a bit lately (not that I'd know what to do with it)- love the colourscheme, and those Canyons do seem very well specced for their prices.

Re-Cycle

danlightbulb wrote:

Been drooling over these recently:

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3039

Depends if your dropper post fits though I guess or you can add £200 to that price.


They do a 29er which is over your budget but you could maybe sell the drive train bits and brakes if you have your own to put on?

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3035#tab-reiter2

I do like the canyons myself, I def want to make the jump to a full sus and on flee bay there are some great spec 26ers for under a grand, couple of norcos and moondraykers etc. I'm going to have to have a look today at some bikes I just hope I'm not to tempted by the interest free never never as I'm pretty sure the wife would divorce me! I might just try some deep channeled tryes on a 26er as I have read that they then come pretty close to a 650b anyway? I mean how long will it be before they stop making decent 26 tryes anyway? As I'm not fused about resale as this will be my last bike anyway.

The Rookie

If a tall 26" tyre will fit in the frame and/or forks you could swap to a 650B wheel and tyre anyway!

EH_Rob

they won't stop making 26 inch components. dont factor that into your decision.

wheel choice really isn't the be all and end all. find the bikes with the best spec for your money instead.

Re-Cycle

The Beginner wrote:

If a tall 26" tyre will fit in the frame and/or forks you could swap to a 650B wheel and tyre anyway!

Ok I not overly tech savey is it just the overall circumference of the wheel plus trye that matters with the set up? I thought putting a 650b wheel on would mess up the geometry of the bike? Even if with a short trye it was the same as a 26 with a tall trye? If that makes any sense at all :shock: