Buying next week-need informed opinions
taffyracer
Posts: 52
I've sorted out a ride to work scheme and i'm going to be the 1st exponent, my LBS has quite a large range I need some advice. I want a bike to be light, the frame quality is most important to me as I plan to upgrade the bits as I go on anyway so can live with cheaper bits for a while. I want to do XC and have 1k to spend, here are my options, i've ridden most but don't have the experience to really tell the difference, they all feel odd! Here are my options
Specialized FSR xc
Specialized FSR xc comp
Giant XTC1 (also seen a 2007.5- is this is a model refresh?)
Specialized Rockhopper pro disc
Trek fuel ex5
Trek 6700 disc
Scott reflex fx35
Scott scale 40
Felt RXC elite
I like the Giant but just unsure if i need rear suspension, used to have an Enduro pro and that was huge overkill, so please advise away
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future
Specialized FSR xc
Specialized FSR xc comp
Giant XTC1 (also seen a 2007.5- is this is a model refresh?)
Specialized Rockhopper pro disc
Trek fuel ex5
Trek 6700 disc
Scott reflex fx35
Scott scale 40
Felt RXC elite
I like the Giant but just unsure if i need rear suspension, used to have an Enduro pro and that was huge overkill, so please advise away
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future
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Comments
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For 1k, I'd go for a really nice hardtail. I'm Giant biased, and yes, have never owned a FS, so am hardtail biased.
If I had œ1000 to spend on a light bike with a quality frame and with sorted spec, it would be a Merlin Malt 4 with Reba SL upgrade from www.merlincycles.com
<font color="blue">Giant XTC SX '06</font id="blue">0 -
I would also go for a hardtail at this price if its pure XC you want to do. Will be 5 lbs lighter than an FS on average. Fit is vital, so at least go and sit on them.
<center><font size="1"><font color="red">GT Zaskar LE</font id="red">
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<font color="red">Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</font id="red"></font id="size1"></center>0 -
So are we saying that the xc full sussers frame are not as good as the hardtail frames, this is what I'm most concerned about as I will be upgrading wheels and brakes and stuff like that as I go along but want something I can keep for 5 years and really ride, only those on my list are available to me as I want to stick with this shop as I can try them out and I know they're a good shop
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future0 -
The frames are ok, its just that the budget is sucked up by them, so the rest of the parts are heavier. Sometimes the shocks not too hot either. This money buys a superb hardtail frame, and an average full sus. But it depends on you long term plans as you say. prob looking at an average frame weight of a full sus xc bike of 7lbs plus - not light to keep upgrading imho for pure XC riding.
<center><font size="1"><font color="red">GT Zaskar LE</font id="red">
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<font color="red">Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</font id="red"></font id="size1"></center>0 -
the FSR xc is a good bike though - gets good reviews - but try before you buy
My Bike
http://angelafung.net/my_bike.jpg0 -
Yes i've read a few and it appears to be pretty light for what it is, it seems as if it's an inbetween of my Enduro pro and a HT and I like that. Anyone know where I can find the weights of various bikes, i'm amazed manufacturers don't list them
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future0 -
Many manufacturers won't, insisting they are specced for performance rather than weight, which is total bull**** because they continually strive to drop weight! OK its not the most important factor, but it helps to know where the weight is, and if the frame is a lardbucket. I wish this mag would weigh more frames when they strip them.
FSR XC is good for what it is, about 30lbs with potential to knock some more off with future upgrades. 900 quid will buy you something like this though:
Zaskar Pro
6lbs lighter will blow the Spesh away on most XC rides.
<center><font size="1"><font color="red">GT Zaskar LE</font id="red">
<font color="red">GT Ruckus</font id="red">
<font color="red">Me!</font id="red">
<font color="purple">MYSPACE</font id="purple"><hr noshade size="1"><font color="red">Park Tools - help and instructions for all general bike fixes</font id="red">
<font color="red">Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</font id="red"></font id="size1"></center>0 -
oooh...tuff to choose...(sometimes is better to have less options)
Hardtail...Scott Scale...very good looking bike with nice specs. The Rockhopper is nice too (better frame warranty), but the Scott has better components.
Full suss...either the FSR xc comp or the Trek Ex5 are good bikes to up-grade...
But maybe i would go for the Scale...ive been reading a lot about that bike (as i was going to buy one) and everyone talks wonders about it...And imagine with a few extra upgrades later
gbcgbc0 -
I think i'm leaning towards the FSR xc comp, going to ride one in a bit, anyone know the difference in weights between the FSR and the Scale or the Trek?
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future0 -
Woodsymi has an FSR XC - maybe he can give you some advise.
My Bike
http://angelafung.net/my_bike.jpg0 -
I'd be tempted by the Specialized FSR xc comp if FS was the way forwards.0
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OK, been to my LBS and i've ridden the FSR XC and the comp version, Rockhopper Pro, Stumpjumper FSR comp, Giant XTC 1 and Stumpjumper HT, the FSR was ok, better than expected actually but the front shock felt really bouncy not a patch on the fox front fork on the stumpjumpers, so in the end I opted for the Stumpjumper HT and it's a done deal. Really liked the no nonsense approach of the Stumpjumper HT and it was light and i'm told a peach of a frame, which is what i'm after. Can't wait to get out on it and start thrashing about
So thank everyone for your help, I also have some other questions so will start a new thread for that!
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future0 -
Excellent! Stumpy is a superb hardtail, and yep, the frame is beaut. No doubt the weight difference was noticable too.
<center><font size="1"><font color="red">GT Zaskar LE</font id="red">
<font color="red">GT Ruckus</font id="red">
<font color="red">Me!</font id="red">
<font color="purple">MYSPACE</font id="purple"><hr noshade size="1"><font color="red">Park Tools - help and instructions for all general bike fixes</font id="red">
<font color="red">Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</font id="red"></font id="size1"></center>0 -
Glad to hear it, it is a very nice bike and i'm looking forward to improving it and getting fit again, cheers for your help
http://www.xlmotorsport.com Racing into the future0
