Need help buying my first mountain bike!

kma335

Hi all, I've been trying to find the best mountain bike I could find under my budget. I don't want to spend over 900, and I already have a few bikes in mind. I just want to know which bike has the best parts, and which is the best bang per buck. I don't know much about parts, so I was hoping the forums could help me out I will be using this bike for bike trails, city riding, and maybe some trail riding. I plan to go biking quite often as well.

These are the choices I have so far:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/talon.29er/18770/76227/#specifications

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/rockhopper/rockhopper-sport-29#specs

http://www.diamondback.com/bikes-mountain-trail-hardtail-overdrive-sport

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/sport/marlin/marlin_7/#

http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/bikes/mountain/trail-hardtails/trail/trail-5


I do prefer the 29 inch wheels, and please help me list them in order from best to worst, or atleast in terms of parts and worth.

Thanks for your time!

rockmonkeysc

Why do you want 29" wheels? Not all 29ers ride the same.
I would avoid big brands at this price. Boardman, Canyon and Radon bikes are loads better

kma335

I like the big size of them, and 27.5's look small to me. I also like to ride fast, and from my past experiences, my pedals on 27.5 bikes always skid the ground when turning. Not saying it's the case for all 27.5's, but that's why 29ers are my preference. Which bikes would you recommend from those brands and why are they better?

I only chose those brands because they seem to be the most well known, and I figured they'd have the best quality. I could be wrong!

codfather

Well known brands such as those you have listen will often produce entry level bikes with high quality frames built up with lower spec components such as forks and wheels, which will make a big difference at this price point.

Direct sales brands such as Canyon and Radon forego any costs of dealers and distributors, so you end up getting more spec for your money. Furthermore, they've been around for long enough now to also have frame design pretty much dialled too. The only drawback is that without dealers, you can't try the bikes before committing to purchasing them.

rockmonkeysc

If anything you will get better cornering from 27.5" wheels. 29ers tend to be slower to turn and not good in tight turns.
The advantage of 29" wheels is they are marginally better over rough (but not too rough) ground. 29" wheels can flex a lot unless they are very good.

kajjal

Have a look at a voodoo bizango for £600 or less in the sales. Check the reviews and it will leave some money for tools and bike clothing. The drawback of direct sales is you can't try the bike for size and don't get a free service.

Even better value is second hand.

kajjal

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19645651#p19645651]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

If anything you will get better cornering from 27.5" wheels. 29ers tend to be slower to turn and not good in tight turns.
The advantage of 29" wheels is they are marginally better over rough (but not too rough) ground. 29" wheels can flex a lot unless they are very good.

It does depend how and where you ride. Most trails are fine for either.

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19645654#p19645654]Kajjal[/url] wrote:

Have a look at a voodoo bizango for £600 or less in the sales. Check the reviews and it will leave some money for tools and bike clothing. The drawback of direct sales is you can't try the bike for size and don't get a free service.

Even better value is second hand.

That Voodoo is as good as any of the bikes in the links from the OP and considerably cheaper.

codfather

+1 on the Bizango. I have last year's model and it's a superb bike, this year's is even better spec. Must be said though, it's not as much of a looker as the old one

kma335

I'd like to stick to the ones I've already laid out. I think they are good enough for what I need them for. I just need help on figuring out which bike is the best out of the ones I listed.

Thanks again for the input

cooldad

None offer very good bang per buck, as you put it, so just pick the prettiest one.

rockmonkeysc

They are all poor bikes for the money, you pay for the names. You can get much better bikes for a lot less money .

kma335

Hmm okay. So other than the voodoo, what other bikes are around my price range that are well built? How is this canyon grand canyon al 29 5.9?

Thanks

rockmonkeysc

Look at Canyon, Radon, Rose and Boardman hardtails.

The Rookie

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19645640#p19645640]kma335[/url] wrote:

, my pedals on 27.5 bikes always skid the ground when turning.!

The BB height on 29ers is the same (or at least not necessarily different - they run more BB drop from axle height to compensate for the bigger wheels) as 26 or 27 bikes, so learn to ride properly as a 29er won't fix poor technique for you.

The Rookie

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19645645#p19645645]Codfather[/url] wrote:

Well known brands such as those you have listen will often produce entry level bikes with high quality frames

Nope, they use cheaper frames on cheaper bikes, compare a Rockhopper frame to a Carrera one (made in the same factory on the same line by the same people) and it's pretty much identical in terms of geometry, weight and riding feel, if anything the Carrera frame is the better of the two.

codfather

Poor wording on my part there; was trying to emphasize the use of lower spec components than the frame warrants rather than suggest that the frames are anything particularly magical. With brands like these^^^ many of your hard earned pounds go towards the name painted on the downtube, hence why you're better off with direct sales, smaller brands (occasionally) or even better, second hand.