Mountain Bikes?

hau_nguyen91 · 01-18-2016, 10:15 PM

I am deciding to upgrade from a $300 Wal-Mart bikes to below:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...lin-7/p/519059

Anyone got any recommendation? I am doing trails.

5'8 @ 165 lbs.

MNoob · 01-18-2016, 10:26 PM

Switching from a $300 Walmart bike I'm sure you'll be happy with this one if you get it. Treks tend to run high in price for what you get. Maybe cross shop for a similar bike (front suspension, aluminum frame, 29er) to see if you can get something at a similar price point with better components (shifters, brakes, etc). That's where this bike is saving $. This time of the year you can sometimes find last year's model at a significant discount.

08njSTEP · 01-18-2016, 10:38 PM

If your trails are smooth and/or relatively flat get 29" if twisty and steep go 27.5 or 26". I love 26" wheels and would always choose them. Hydraulic disc brakes fade less than cable disc but cost more. I like fox forks but any of the big names are good(manitou,rockshox,etc.) Tires are the most critical part of bike. Find what is popular on your local trails and go with that. Tubeless is best option. Get as light a bike as you can afford. I like 3 ring front and would advise against the new trend of 1x. IMO it's a fad. Make sure you go to a good bike shop and try the model you want. I fell in love with a bike that ended up unrideable for me
Didn't buy it but had dreams about it for 9 months. I like shimano drive train and have broken a lot of SRAM gear(chains,rear derailures). I have a trek fuel ex and a Klein attitude, and had a specialized epic. Trek makes really good mountain bikes now. I hope this helps, I've been riding for 19 years and love rocks and roots and going fast. My last bit of caution is bikes can get retarded expensive once you get the itch. Good luck.

hau_nguyen91 · 01-18-2016, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08njSTEP

If your trails are smooth and/or relatively flat get 29" if twisty and steep go 27.5 or 26". I love 26" wheels and would always choose them. Hydraulic disc brakes fade less than cable disc but cost more. I like fox forks but any of the big names are good(manitou,rockshox,etc.) Tires are the most critical part of bike. Find what is popular on your local trails and go with that. Tubeless is best option. Get as light a bike as you can afford. I like 3 ring front and would advise against the new trend of 1x. IMO it's a fad. Make sure you go to a good bike shop and try the model you want. I fell in love with a bike that ended up unrideable for me
Didn't buy it but had dreams about it for 9 months. I like shimano drive train and have broken a lot of SRAM gear(chains,rear derailures). I have a trek fuel ex and a Klein attitude, and had a specialized epic. Trek makes really good mountain bikes now. I hope this helps, I've been riding for 19 years and love rocks and roots and going fast. My last bit of caution is bikes can get retarded expensive once you get the itch. Good luck.

Thanks! I think I'll start out with a Marlin 7 and upgrade as needed!

I was just trying to check what are the options out there.

1smokehouse · 01-18-2016, 11:09 PM

There's a lot of good bikes out there. I have a Giant Talon and had a Specialized Rockhopper before that. Best advice? Pick up last years model at a discount and upgrade to the parts you want. I picked up the Talon for $549 on sale, retailed new at $1300 so shop around before you pay full price...

hau_nguyen91 · 01-18-2016, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1smokehouse

There's a lot of good bikes out there. I have a Giant Talon and had a Specialized Rockhopper before that. Best advice? Pick up last years model at a discount and upgrade to the parts you want. I picked up the Talon for $549 on sale, retailed new at $1300 so shop around before you pay full price...

Is there a recommended online site for me to look for discount bikes?

I don't want to be too cheap..I want to at least have this bike last for years.

Mr Tonka · 01-18-2016, 11:46 PM

I cut my mtn bike teeth on a Trek and loved it but my second mtn bike and every one since has been a Specialized. This started in 1991 though, when Trek and specialized weren't over priced. I picked up my latest mtn bike in 2012 and it was also a specialized. BUT.... if i were to buy a mtn bike today, i'd be looking long and hard at what Giant has to offer. I'd estimate that you get about $300 more bike for every $1000 spent with Giant over Trek and Specialized.

If you enjoy riding trails and given your location, i'd encourage you to spend a little more. If your going to continue to ride, that Marlin won't carry you for too long before you find yourself wanting to upgrade again. It used to be that with bikes, you really do get what you pay for and I think that still holds true until you get over $2500. Seems that after $2500 you get less and less for that extra cash.

Mr Tonka · 01-18-2016, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hau_nguyen91

Is there a recommended online site for me to look for discount bikes?

I don't want to be too cheap..I want to at least have this bike last for years.

Not really a site for discount bikes. You can go to your LBS once you find a model bike you're interested in and see if they have any 2015 models. Or find the bike you want and see if you can find a nice used one.

This Giant is a sweet bike.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...4038/#overview

Santacruz makes a very nice bike, excellent build quality from what i've seen.
http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en/us/highball-29

Specialized still makes a great bike.
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...jumper-comp-29

This is a Trek that you can grow with and ride for a long time.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...p/2076600-2016

All of those will last a LONG time, years and years. I had a Specialized Stumpjumper for 13 years and only changed it because i wanted a full suspension bike. Still have the frame and am considering making a retro build out of it.

1smokehouse · 01-19-2016, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hau_nguyen91

Is there a recommended online site for me to look for discount bikes?

I don't want to be too cheap..I want to at least have this bike last for years.

You'll just have to check your local shops and see what they have. As MNoob said, many still have last years models in stock and will often sell them at a discount if pressed even if they are not advertising them. I also agree with Mr Tonka, Giant has come a long way and offer better components with their bikes. I absolutely love my Talon. I went with the 27.5 as its a bit more nimble for navigating our jungle trails here on Guam.

Here's a link to the bike I have if you want to see the specs.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...4/14783/66102/

MNoob · 01-19-2016, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hau_nguyen91

Is there a recommended online site for me to look for discount bikes?

If you do find a bike you like at a local bike shop, before you pull the trigger, definitely check on line to see if you can find a better deal.

MNoob · 01-19-2016, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08njSTEP

My last bit of caution is bikes can get retarded expensive once you get the itch.

Isn't that the truth. I have issues.

08njSTEP · 01-19-2016, 06:11 AM

I agree on buying year old at discount and giant makes a good bike also. Here's how I got my $3500 trek for $1500. Went to bike shop and rented a demo. Did that 3x with rental $ applied to future sale. In Aug when shop was paying for new year inventory they sold rental at their cost. I was only renter and had damaged derailure on last rental so they were worried if I kept renting it I would break something. So bought it and they repaired it, then 3 weeks later I ripped derailure off bike. So they were right. So if in your shoes I would look into demo and never pay full retail. Bike tech changes so fast that 1yr old bikes can be found at significant discount.

jimj911 · 01-19-2016, 06:45 AM

HAVE FUN! My best advice is learn to tuck and roll. Too many people freeze up when they crash and thats how body parts break. Be limber like a drunk guy! I agree with all the above, but get the best component package you can. I have always been a Shimano guy and the XT level of components holds up well but doesnt have the astronomical price like XTR to save weight. I ride SRAM stuff now because it came on the used Santa Cruz I bought. I would never buy new. Find a good quality unbeaten example of the model you like online. Ebay and Craigslist are your friend.

radiofrequency · 01-19-2016, 08:52 AM

I have been a cyclist for 30+ years, so my unsolicited advice to you is to buy for fit first, with quality being a close second. There are some really sexy looking bikes out there, and it's very tempting to buy something that looks good, but if the fit is off, you will never get to enjoy the bike to its full potential. The problem is that you'll never know if the fit is off I live in a ski resort town where we have 300+ miles of trails to ride in the summer, so having an all round (cross country) bike was important to me. I had a local retailer measure me for a Turner 5 Spot some years ago, the final build was in the $7 500 range. The bike is built by an American company with a stellar reputation for quality and superb handling. Coming off of a shitty bike, I simply could not believe how the Turner has allowed me to consistently ride beyond my abilities. Turner currently has a closeout sale on their Sultan model, a superb bike for the price; see here: http://www.turnerbikes.com/bike/models/turner/sultan

They only have X-Large in that model, so you would have to be over 6 ft tall to make that a reasonable choice. The Czar, while more expensive, would also be a fantastic bike for you, and it is available in are sizes. Just an FYI, if I had been able to save all of the money I spent on shitty, ill fitting bikes over the years, I could probably have a more glorious stable of bikes than I currently possess. I like American builders, at the high end of the market they build bikes that one only need to purchase once. I currently own four US bikes, a Borealis snow bike; a Moots road bike, a Santa Cruz XC bike and the Turner 5 Spot XC, the only foreign bike in my stable is a Time RXRS VIP, and the only reason for that is that it is built by hand in France, the only carbon bike manufactured in this manner (other than BMC), more importantly, it fits like a glove. You should also consider Niner, Moots or Ellsworth, three solid US builders. Hope this helps!

overcoil · 01-19-2016, 09:09 AM

I deleted my post was confusing Marin with Marlin

MaC-N54-E82 · 01-19-2016, 03:29 PM

Test ride, test ride, and test ride some more. Preferably on the terrain you plan to ride most frequently. Fit is the most important aspect of a bike. All good bike shops will allow you to demo. Take advantage of that and buy the one that's fits/feels best.

hau_nguyen91 · 01-19-2016, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNoob

Switching from a $300 Walmart bike I'm sure you'll be happy with this one if you get it. Treks tend to run high in price for what you get. Maybe cross shop for a similar bike (front suspension, aluminum frame, 29er) to see if you can get something at a similar price point with better components (shifters, brakes, etc). That's where this bike is saving $. This time of the year you can sometimes find last year's model at a significant discount.

I just found this for $550 at sport authority!

Huge saving from $800 MSRP

http://www.diamondback.com/bikes-mou...verdrive-sport

hau_nguyen91 · 01-20-2016, 04:24 PM

Ended up getting a Trek X-Caliber 7.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...p/2040600-2016

Mr Tonka · 01-20-2016, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hau_nguyen91

Ended up getting a Trek X-Caliber 7.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...p/2040600-2016

Good choice. Should get lots of bang for your buck with this one and the items that will likely fail first are the ones you'd want to replace the most anyway. Granted, depending on use, those components (drivetrain) may last you for years. But if they don't, they are the easiest and not very expensive to replace/upgrade.

My first good mtn bike was an aluminum framed Trek hard tail. Probably right in line with this one. It served me well.

Hope you enjoy it! The best feature any bike can have is it's ability to lure you out to ride it! May it always be calling your name.

08njSTEP · 01-20-2016, 05:58 PM

Do your drive train a favor and keep it 1. Clean 2.lubed 3. Adjusted 4. (Most important) replace your chain every spring if you ride a lot. Chains are cheap but will destroy your cassette and rings if allowed to wear out.
Congratulations on your new ride. Get some lights and check out night riding. A whole different experience.

01-18-2016, 10:15 PM	#1
hau_nguyen91 Lieutenant 202 Rep 574 Posts Drives: YMB 17 M3 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	Mountain Bikes? I am deciding to upgrade from a $300 Wal-Mart bikes to below: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...lin-7/p/519059 Anyone got any recommendation? I am doing trails. 5'8 @ 165 lbs.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-18-2016, 10:26 PM	#2
MNoob Grand Duke 1583 Rep 1,114 Posts Drives: 2023 M4CSL Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW X3MC [10.00] 2005 Lotus Elise [10.00] 2023 BMW M4 CSL [9.75]	Switching from a $300 Walmart bike I'm sure you'll be happy with this one if you get it. Treks tend to run high in price for what you get. Maybe cross shop for a similar bike (front suspension, aluminum frame, 29er) to see if you can get something at a similar price point with better components (shifters, brakes, etc). That's where this bike is saving $. This time of the year you can sometimes find last year's model at a significant discount. __________________ 2023 M4CSL 2005 Lotus Elise
	Appreciate 1 Quote

01-18-2016, 10:38 PM	#3
08njSTEP Captain 795 Rep 762 Posts Drives: '07 335i, '66 SS396 Chevelle Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Manchester, NH iTrader: (0)	If your trails are smooth and/or relatively flat get 29" if twisty and steep go 27.5 or 26". I love 26" wheels and would always choose them. Hydraulic disc brakes fade less than cable disc but cost more. I like fox forks but any of the big names are good(manitou,rockshox,etc.) Tires are the most critical part of bike. Find what is popular on your local trails and go with that. Tubeless is best option. Get as light a bike as you can afford. I like 3 ring front and would advise against the new trend of 1x. IMO it's a fad. Make sure you go to a good bike shop and try the model you want. I fell in love with a bike that ended up unrideable for me Didn't buy it but had dreams about it for 9 months. I like shimano drive train and have broken a lot of SRAM gear(chains,rear derailures). I have a trek fuel ex and a Klein attitude, and had a specialized epic. Trek makes really good mountain bikes now. I hope this helps, I've been riding for 19 years and love rocks and roots and going fast. My last bit of caution is bikes can get retarded expensive once you get the itch. Good luck.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-18-2016, 11:09 PM	#5
1smokehouse Second Lieutenant 138 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 2013 128i LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Guam iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 128i LE [9.00]	There's a lot of good bikes out there. I have a Giant Talon and had a Specialized Rockhopper before that. Best advice? Pick up last years model at a discount and upgrade to the parts you want. I picked up the Talon for $549 on sale, retailed new at $1300 so shop around before you pay full price... __________________ // '13 BSM 128i Limited Edition //
	Appreciate 1 Quote

01-18-2016, 11:46 PM	#7
Mr Tonka is probably out riding. 6059 Rep 2,292 Posts Drives: Something Italian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sweatypeninsula iTrader: (0)	I cut my mtn bike teeth on a Trek and loved it but my second mtn bike and every one since has been a Specialized. This started in 1991 though, when Trek and specialized weren't over priced. I picked up my latest mtn bike in 2012 and it was also a specialized. BUT.... if i were to buy a mtn bike today, i'd be looking long and hard at what Giant has to offer. I'd estimate that you get about $300 more bike for every $1000 spent with Giant over Trek and Specialized. If you enjoy riding trails and given your location, i'd encourage you to spend a little more. If your going to continue to ride, that Marlin won't carry you for too long before you find yourself wanting to upgrade again. It used to be that with bikes, you really do get what you pay for and I think that still holds true until you get over $2500. Seems that after $2500 you get less and less for that extra cash. __________________ "There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice. -Charles de Secondat"
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-19-2016, 06:11 AM	#12
08njSTEP Captain 795 Rep 762 Posts Drives: '07 335i, '66 SS396 Chevelle Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Manchester, NH iTrader: (0)	I agree on buying year old at discount and giant makes a good bike also. Here's how I got my $3500 trek for $1500. Went to bike shop and rented a demo. Did that 3x with rental $ applied to future sale. In Aug when shop was paying for new year inventory they sold rental at their cost. I was only renter and had damaged derailure on last rental so they were worried if I kept renting it I would break something. So bought it and they repaired it, then 3 weeks later I ripped derailure off bike. So they were right. So if in your shoes I would look into demo and never pay full retail. Bike tech changes so fast that 1yr old bikes can be found at significant discount.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-19-2016, 06:45 AM	#13
jimj911 When the F#$% did we get ice cream? 149 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i (E92) Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Kintnersville, PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 535d Msport [0.00] 2014 Dodge 3500 dually [10.00] 2008 BMW 335i E92 [10.00] 1999 Jeep Wrangler [0.00]	HAVE FUN! My best advice is learn to tuck and roll. Too many people freeze up when they crash and thats how body parts break. Be limber like a drunk guy! I agree with all the above, but get the best component package you can. I have always been a Shimano guy and the XT level of components holds up well but doesnt have the astronomical price like XTR to save weight. I ride SRAM stuff now because it came on the used Santa Cruz I bought. I would never buy new. Find a good quality unbeaten example of the model you like online. Ebay and Craigslist are your friend. __________________ '08 BMW 335i, Dinan Stage 2 '14 BMW 535d Xdrive Msport, Stage 2 '14 Dodge 3500 Cummins Longhorn dually '15 BMW X5M
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-19-2016, 08:52 AM	#14
radiofrequency Field Marshall 306 Rep 515 Posts Drives: 2018 M4 ZCP, 2021 M2 Comp Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Somewhere in Africa iTrader: (0)	I have been a cyclist for 30+ years, so my unsolicited advice to you is to buy for fit first, with quality being a close second. There are some really sexy looking bikes out there, and it's very tempting to buy something that looks good, but if the fit is off, you will never get to enjoy the bike to its full potential. The problem is that you'll never know if the fit is off I live in a ski resort town where we have 300+ miles of trails to ride in the summer, so having an all round (cross country) bike was important to me. I had a local retailer measure me for a Turner 5 Spot some years ago, the final build was in the $7 500 range. The bike is built by an American company with a stellar reputation for quality and superb handling. Coming off of a shitty bike, I simply could not believe how the Turner has allowed me to consistently ride beyond my abilities. Turner currently has a closeout sale on their Sultan model, a superb bike for the price; see here: http://www.turnerbikes.com/bike/models/turner/sultan They only have X-Large in that model, so you would have to be over 6 ft tall to make that a reasonable choice. The Czar, while more expensive, would also be a fantastic bike for you, and it is available in are sizes. Just an FYI, if I had been able to save all of the money I spent on shitty, ill fitting bikes over the years, I could probably have a more glorious stable of bikes than I currently possess. I like American builders, at the high end of the market they build bikes that one only need to purchase once. I currently own four US bikes, a Borealis snow bike; a Moots road bike, a Santa Cruz XC bike and the Turner 5 Spot XC, the only foreign bike in my stable is a Time RXRS VIP, and the only reason for that is that it is built by hand in France, the only carbon bike manufactured in this manner (other than BMC), more importantly, it fits like a glove. You should also consider Niner, Moots or Ellsworth, three solid US builders. Hope this helps!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-19-2016, 09:09 AM	#15
overcoil Major General 3120 Rep 5,582 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	I deleted my post was confusing Marin with Marlin Last edited by overcoil; 01-19-2016 at 09:25 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-19-2016, 03:29 PM	#16
MaC-N54-E82 S58 Love 554 Rep 455 Posts Drives: 2023 M4 Competition xDrive Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M4 Competi ... [10.00]	Test ride, test ride, and test ride some more. Preferably on the terrain you plan to ride most frequently. Fit is the most important aspect of a bike. All good bike shops will allow you to demo. Take advantage of that and buy the one that's fits/feels best. __________________ MAC Current: 2023 G82\|BG over BLK Prior: 2008 N54 E82\|AW over CR Also: FJ60, Volvo Recharge
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2016, 04:24 PM	#18
hau_nguyen91 Lieutenant 202 Rep 574 Posts Drives: YMB 17 M3 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	Ended up getting a Trek X-Caliber 7. http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...p/2040600-2016
	Appreciate 1 Quote

01-20-2016, 05:58 PM	#20
08njSTEP Captain 795 Rep 762 Posts Drives: '07 335i, '66 SS396 Chevelle Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Manchester, NH iTrader: (0)	Do your drive train a favor and keep it 1. Clean 2.lubed 3. Adjusted 4. (Most important) replace your chain every spring if you ride a lot. Chains are cheap but will destroy your cassette and rings if allowed to wear out. Congratulations on your new ride. Get some lights and check out night riding. A whole different experience.
	Appreciate 1 Quote