New bicycle

Joker said:
Necro'ing this thead:

Anyone have any suggestions for a nice starter MTB, around 5-10k? Hardtails and rear shocks.

This is over budget but seems quite nice: http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/merida-120-500-d-26-mountain-bike.html
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That is quite an open ended question :)

You are looking at the right time though as many shops will be clearing out their 2012 stock to make space for the 2013 models. Keep your eyes and ears open for clearance sales. I picked up a brand new 2011 model in November last year for R4.5k for a bike valued at R7k.

Components are what affect the bike price so although to the "untrained" eye all bikes may look similar at first the difference in components can have a major effect on the price. There is a hierarchy to Shimano and SRAM components and you'd do well to familiarise yourself with these before shopping. Entry level will have Tourney, Altus, Alivio or Acera components. As you move up you will get Deore and SLX. At the top you will find XT and XTR. I would suggest looking for at least Deore if you are serious about riding.

I would not be too concerned with going full suspension unless you are willing to spend a little more. A decent hardtail will serve you fine. I'd definitely recommend disc brakes over v-brakes. And go for hydraulic over mechanical discs preferably.

29" wheels are all the fad now but again because it is the fad you will pay more for a 29er. A 26" wheel will serve you just fine. If you find a 29er spec'ed the same as a 26" for a similar price then by all means grab it. To confuse matters the 27.5" bikes are also starting to make their presence felt.

As for actual bike brands, in that price range take a look at Silverback and Titan ranges.
 
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Not sure if you going to get a decent dual sus for R10k.
 
Recently got myself a Momsen AL129 for R6,750. It gets the job done. I'd recommend it :)

I am a tall guy and the 29er feels so good. As suggested above, you would get a better specced bike for a similar price in the 26 range.
 
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A 29er is definately not a fad. I have done close to 6000km on my GT Karakoram 3.0 and it cost me less than R5k last year. I will never ride anything but a 29er again, it is simply in a different class all together.

My suggestion would be a GT Karakoram 2.0 or if you can afford it a 1.0 since these are very strong bikes that will not let you down.

Try to avoid any bike that does not have disc brakes, a good shock and is not a 29er.
 
Rouxenator said:
A 29er is definately not a fad. I have done close to 6000km on my GT Karakoram 3.0 and it cost me less than R5k last year. I will never ride anything but a 29er again, it is simply in a different class all together.

My suggestion would be a GT Karakoram 2.0 or if you can afford it a 1.0 since these are very strong bikes that will not let you down.

Try to avoid any bike that does not have disc brakes, a good shock and is not a 29er.
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By definition, I say it is:

fad/fad/
Noun:
An intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, esp. one that is short-lived; a craze.
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Notice it needn't be short lived but the term fad is especially apt for one that is. Suddenly the buzz is 27.5" so perhaps the 29" "fad" will be short lived. But bottom line is every man and his dog suddenly thinks they NEED a 29er when 26" bikes have served thousands well for ages. Arguable for sure, but riding a 26" will probably also make you more technically proficient as you need to choose your line more carefully than just riding over things with your big wheels.

The chap is likely to get far more bike for his buck if he goes with a 26", that is my point. I openly said that if he can get the same spec 29er for the same price as a 26" then he should go for it. He does not NEED a 29" like you seem to imply. My opinion, and a perfectly valid one too.

As a side note, have you ridden 6000km in a year?!
 
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Roux, you may find this to be interesting reading the same way I did (apologies to those who are just wanting bike suggestions but you may find this interesting too :) ) :

http://mbaction.com/Main/News/26er_Versus_29er_The_Shootout_Youve_Been_Asking_Fo_4713.aspx


This is the conclusion they drew. They name the 29er the winner but they make comments that reflect why I am a fan of the 26" bikes. I ride for fun and the 26" is more fun in my opinion.

The Cannondale Trail SL 29 2 is our winner for two reasons. If you are new to mountain biking, the Trail SL 29 2 is the runaway winner. It is not even a close race. The 29er does not require the skill set that a 26er rider has to develop to have a good time. The wheels make for a far more forgiving bike and slow up the handling enough to make it harder to make a mistake. Experienced riders will have a tough time giving up their 26ers, because once you have developed the skills, the 26er is a lot more fun to ride. It responds to pumping the trail; it springs out of G-out situations; it bunny hops subconsciously, and it dances around the trail like a puppy let off its leash.

Our analogy is like surfing on a longboard versus a shortboard. The longboard floats the surfer better, is easier to paddle into the wave, and turns slower but with more stability. Once a surfer builds his skill, he is more likely to go to shorter boards that are harder to get into the wave and more skittish but far more fun.
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You guys have it all wrong, 650B is the only option :p

Now that Armstrong is guilty, the wheel debate must be the biggest in cycling ;)

But seriously, the Rocky Mountain 650B 'trail' bikes. *drool* These are what 650B were made for.

OP, please excuse the major OT. I've heard good things about the Axis brand, they are also well priced.
 
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So for I have had Giant, Gary Fisher and GT. Nothing rides like a GT, especially the very affordable Karakoram range. If you are on a budget this is the one 29er hardtail that is worth going for. I clock up a lot of kilos on mine - have a look : http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/view_profile/rouxenator

Some noteworthy rides I did on my 3.0 was the TransKaroo 240km ride in 14 hours 10 minutes and two Karoo2Coasts, the last one was in the elite group with a finishing time of 4 hours 30 minutes. I do not mind abusing my bike if I have to and I don't want to sing my own praise but I started out at the back and earned a B-seeding in MTB with PPA in the 2012/2013 season.

I have had no problems with the entry level Acera/Alivio parts fitted to my 3.0 as they last for about 2000km and are cheap to replace. I am on my 3rd chain, cassette & brake pads, 2nd crank & jockey, the rest is still all original. If I have about R12k to blow I'll get a Karakoram 1.0 or a Zaskar 9R.
 
...this thread suddenly seems to have become a bit more about bragging about achievements and less about advice...
 
Silverback, GT, etc. good bikes. dont be fooled into thinking you need a top of the line trek. im more road orientated, but have read time and time again that its better to start with a hard tail than a ful sus. with the hard tail you learn valuable skills. with the full sus the bike makes up for your low skill level.

ClintZA's advice is solid.
 
Also, im sure this is the same off road as on road. get the best groupset you can afford. low weight is important on a bike, but theres nothing worse than needing to change to another gear,but having the cheap gears crunching. then you need to let up on the power for it to change. /puke. sorry, i cant recommend a specific bike, but prefer to give you the tools to find the right one for YOU.
 
Silverback Alpine 1, for just under R7k, is great value. Deore in the front, XT at the back and a Rock Shox Recon air fork.
 
Quantum Theory said:
Silverback Alpine 1, for just under R7k, is great value. Deore in the front, XT at the back and a Rock Shox Recon air fork.
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They discontinued the Apline, its not in the 2013 product portfolio. Plus its a 26er so I would not bother with it. You can get a pretty sweet 29er for that money.
 
Rouxenator said:
They discontinued the Apline, its not in the 2013 product portfolio. Plus its a 26er so I would not bother with it. You can get a pretty sweet 29er for that money.
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You can still get them at under R7k, which is a great price in my books. You get more value for money with a 26er, if you are a beginner... For the same money, you will be getting quite a low spec 29er.
 
I'm sure we can find many examples that show various things but after chatting about the possibility of getting better spec, or the same spec for lower price, when getting a 26" I thought I'd take a peek at a local site to check. CWC is a big local one so I tried to find a bike from the same maker in the two sizes that had similar specs. Here's is what I found:

MERIDA MATTS TFS 500 26"
R8,200

Speeds 30
Size- [14.5]-16-18-20-22-[24]""
Frame: Matts TFS Comp-D
Color1: [1]Black[White/Red]
Fork :Rock Shox XC30 100 Poploc
Derailleur Front: Shimano Deore-10
Derailleur Rear :Shimano Deore XT-10
Shifter:Shimano Deore Rapidfire
Brake Lever : attached
Brake:Shimano M446 180/160
Chainwheel:Shimano M522-10 42-32-24
Bbset :Shimano Octalink
Chain : KMC X10 10s
Hub : Shimano M435 Cen
Rim : Merida Comp D
Freewheel : Shimano CS-HG62-10 11-36
Spokes: Black stainless
Tire: Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance 2.1 Wire
Handlebar : Merida Comp OS 640 R25
Handlebar Stem : Merida Comp 1 OS
Headset : A-Head OS
Seat Post :Merida Comp 31.6
Saddle : Merida Sport
Pedal :Shimano M505

MERIDA BIG NINE TFS 500 29"
R9,499

Speeds 30
Size [15]-17-19-21-23""
Frame Big Nine EG TFS-D
Color1 Black [Red/White]
Fork SR Suntour 29 XCR-RL 100
Derailleur Front Shimano Deore-10
Derailleur Rear Shimano Deore XT-10
Shifter Shimano Deore Rapidfire
Brake Lever attached
Brake Shimano M446 180
Chainwheel Shimano M522-10 42-32-24
Bbset Shimano Octalink
Chain KMC X10 10s
Hub Shimano M435 Cen
Rim Big Nine Pro D
Freewheel Shimano CS-HG62-10 11-36
Spokes Black stainless
Tire Maxxis Ardent 29er 2.25 Wire
Handlebar Merida Pro OS 660 Flat
Handlebar Stem Merida Pro OS
Headset A-Head OS
Seat Post Merida Comp 27.2
Saddle Merida Sport
Pedal Shimano M505


The only difference I can find, besides frame size, is the handlebars, shocks and the tyres. I'd love to find a totally identical build but they are not so easy to find. But I think that is what some of us are saying.
 
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