Advice on buying a New MTB

chirpy9336

Hi guys, thought of sharing a problem that I cannot solve by myself. I am buying my third MTB, my first was a 26" Bianchi, my second was a Focus Raven 29r 3.0 and now I am stuck as I cannot make up my mind between the Focus Raven 29r lite 2017 and the Trek Procaliber 9.7 2x 2017. I am looking forward for any suggestions that might guide me to choose between the two. Thanks appreciate your comments!

cycleclinic

why are you buying this new bike? what do you want it to do. bikes need a purpose, that is probaby why you cant make up your mind.

The Rookie

Links to the bikes you are looking at helps.....

chirpy9336

thecycleclinic wrote:

why are you buying this new bike? what do you want it to do. bikes need a purpose, that is probaby why you cant make up your mind.

To reply "thecycleclinic", well I am buying this new bike as I sold my other bikes, and I am planning to upgrade to a better bike. The purpose for buying either of these two bikes is to enjoy rides in the country side, to keep healthy and most of all as I cannot live without riding a bike. My real problem to take a pick is as I like both bikes, but cannot afford to have them both.

I was thinking to seek for pro advise, that's why I joined this forum. Any suggestions which bike I should choose?

robertpb

Well you were asked what you are going to do with this bike, ie trail centers, bridlepaths and some links.

Then we might be able to tell if you are buying a pile of crock for what you want it for, for me I wouldn't buy either as I have no use for them.

GmA48

You seem to have attracted a number of unhelpful and negative replies to your very reasonable post, so here is one way of helping you home in on what might suit you best.

Make a comprehensive (the more you have the better the result) list of all the specifications and requirements that are important to you and for each bike identify how many items on the list are met. You can go a stage further and give each item a ranking and then see how many items in each rank are met.

Items could be :-
Price
Wheel size
Frame weight
Frame material
Chainset
Groupset
Fork travel
Etc
Etc

If you do this in a spreadsheet you can assign points to each item and then add up the points to give you a winner.

One important point on the list should be the result of reviews carried out by reputable sources such as the bike magazines and not by the vendors themselves.

I hope this helps you in your quest for the most suitable bike for your needs.

oxoman

As you can imagine loads of people ask the same question, in order to reply correctly the following simple information is required. Budget, Terrain to be ridden ie canal paths or trail centres / downhill courses etc also web links to bikes your already interested in. Personally can't see the point in spreadsheets just to choose a bike as its over complicating things. Therefore the posts above are not negative or unhelpful, they are just clear concise requests for further information.

bicycleriders0014

You mentioned that you have already used two bikes which are 26'' Bianchi & Focus Raven 29r 3.0. And now you have planned to buy another one. When you buy a bike you have to pay attention to the accessories which are Wheel size, Frame weight, height of the bike, Fork travel etc. Also you have to pay attention to your budget.

cooldad

Accessories? Inigo Montoya might say "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

The Rookie

GmA48 wrote:

Items could be :-
Price
Wheel size
Frame weight
Frame material
Chainset
Groupset
Fork travel
Etc
Etc

If you do this in a spreadsheet you can assign points to each item and then add up the points to give you a winner.

Hogwash, as even that convoluted and meaningless method won't give you the right bike for a type of riding.

Fork travel is much less important than the quality of its parts in terms of damping etc

Really you haven't a clue I think?

chirpy9336

GmA48 wrote:

You seem to have attracted a number of unhelpful and negative replies to your very reasonable post, so here is one way of helping you home in on what might suit you best.

Make a comprehensive (the more you have the better the result) list of all the specifications and requirements that are important to you and for each bike identify how many items on the list are met. You can go a stage further and give each item a ranking and then see how many items in each rank are met.

Items could be :-
Price
Wheel size
Frame weight
Frame material
Chainset
Groupset
Fork travel
Etc
Etc

If you do this in a spreadsheet you can assign points to each item and then add up the points to give you a winner.

One important point on the list should be the result of reviews carried out by reputable sources such as the bike magazines and not by the vendors themselves.

I hope this helps you in your quest for the most suitable bike for your needs.

Thanks mate, found your reply very helpful :-)

The Rookie

Then you'll end up with a hardtail XC bike as that will always have better components at the same price point, be pretty rubbish for enduro riding though.

Its easy to compare bikes of the same type without that convoluted madness, but first decide on what you want the bike to do.