Best budget MTB in Australia

countryteen

I am a Australian teenager looking for a entry level mountian bike. What would you suggest under $1000? What do you think about these: 2015 Giant Talon 27.5 4, Avanti Montari 9.2, Trek Marlin 7 or maybe Cell Stromlo 2.0.
Thanks in advance.

raldat

Hello fellow Aussie (although I am Europe based now) and welcome to the forum. This is a predominatly UK based forum so they sort won't be familiar with the Aussie specs and bikes. The Stromlo for example sounds Australian. Post links and that will help folks reply.

All the best..

countryteen

Here are some links.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/talon.27.5.4/19000/76614/
http://www.cellbikes.com.au/Cell-Stromlo-2-0
http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/mountain/sport/marlin/marlin_7/#
http://www.avantibikes.com/au/bikes/off-road/sport-mountain/montari-9-2/?section=specifications#tab_menu

Antm81

Not sure what the frames are like on the avanti or cell, but the most important single component is the forks and on that, whilst non are brilliant the, avanti has the best fork followed by the cell as long as the avanti has hydraulic lock out (I'd expect it to as the XCR is the model up from the XCM).

The Rookie

I'd be very surprised if the Avanti has variable rebound damping, but if it does it has the best fork by far, if it hasn't, you need to test it by locking out, if you can then compress the forks at all by leaning on the bars (even a few mm) it has a hydraulic lockout not mechanical and is certainly the best option.

countryteen

The Avanti only has mechanical lock out. I really like the Talon but may be a bit biased towards Giant. I am not really fussed on the Cell I suppose because it isn't really a common brand. I would really only like to spend about $700 and the Avanti is $869... I suppose I can hardly expect anything decent for $700... If the forks are the most important part what forks would you suggest?

countryteen

I just found this bike it is basically the same as the Avanti Montari 9.2 except it has 27.5 wheels and the fork has hydraulic lock out... and it $629... http://www.bikesuperstore.com.au/montari-7-3/

countryteen

My closest bike shop is about 100km away, and there is support for all the bikes mentioned except the Cell.

countryteen

They are a bike superstore in Canberra, so hopefully I can go and get an already assembled one. The only thing I don't really like about it but is easily fixed is the pedals are nylon.

countryteen

I had the wrong Avanti link above. Here are the two I am looking at.
http://www.avantibikes.com/au/bikes/off-road/sport-mountain/montari-7-3/?section=specifications#tab_menu
http://www.avantibikes.com/au/bikes/off-road/sport-mountain/montari-9-2/?section=specifications#tab_menu

Man Of Lard

Pedals are a matter of personal choice - nylon pedals are like a kind of "get you home" consumable in my experience... I'd not discount a bike on the basis of the pedals (since they're so cheap & simple to replace with your own preference, whether that's flats, SPD/SPD-SL, strap ons...)

As for the bike choice - go try them - and decide which one excites you most (and make sure that you can get it serviced & warranted "locally" - whatever locally means to you)

countryteen

I went and tried the Avanti Montari 27.3 today. I really like it. From what I can see the fork on the montari 29.2 is better than the 27.3 is that true? I haven't tried the 29.2 yet but if it has a better fork then I will probably go for that one.

countryteen

The 9.2 has preload adjust. I did some research on them (on another forum) and apparently the suntours are lubricated with grease compared to the rockshox which are lubricated with oil, th eey seemed to say that the rockshox was better. I know they are both cheap forks and if want to do any major singletrack etc it would probably better if the fork was uprgaded.

Man Of Lard

Gut feeling is that the Rockshox is the better fork, but if the bike feels wrong on a test ride the point is moot.

The Rookie

The 9.2 has the better fork, yes it uses fork oil not grease for slider lubrication, but that's not the real benefit, the XC28 has better damping.

countryteen

What do you think of this one? http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/2011/archive/trek/8000/#/au/en/archive-model/details?url=au/en/bikes/2011/archive/trek/8000