First time mountain biking or trail riding today and loved it! Used a borrowed Walmart special and actually had pieces flying off by the end of the ride. The rear wheel is bent and wobbles all over the place. It completely locked up after the lug nuts got loose and the wheel turned. Broke the rear break, seat post clamp broke, but still awesome! Any suggestions for a good, sturdy, entry level bike? Disc brakes? I am itching to buy. I am 5’9" and told I need a 17".
At the entry level I would actually be cautious of buying disc brakes, most of them are mechanical units that dont work as well as V-brakes and just add weight. I would make sure it comes with double wall rims, as the single wall rims used on some entry level bikes bend easily.
You can also go used, but mountain bikes often get used harder so you have to be carefull as the cost of fixing a $200 used bike can equal the cost of buying a new bike where at least you get a warranty and often a free service contract. You may be able to save a bit by picking up an 09 close out as the 10 models are coming out soon.
All major manufacturers Cannondale, Trek, Specialized etc make good bikes at the entry level and the differences between them are small.
Most likely a 17" would be fine.
Kein
Depending on what you are looking to do the Redline D440 may be up your alley. I don’t own one but I’ve test ridden it and if I could have a mountain bike that would probably be the one I’d go with.
It comes in around the same price as all the other entry level mountain bikes, and it basically comes down to giving up:
- a suspension fork for 29" wheels
- a second chainring for SRAM S5 components (as opposed to much lower end Shimano altus/acera, etc.)
Don’t take my suggestion and run with it. Do some research. I think you’ll find the Redline 29ers get great reviews.
Jamis makes some good entry level mountain bikes. Unless you plan to get really into it I would look at hard tails, you get more bang for your buck than a full suspension. Look at the Dakota Comp. I saw a 2008 model recently at a store near me for $1000.00 Great deal at that price. For full suspension they have the Dakar XCT 1 priced very well at $1700.
Another option would be to see if you can get a 2008 Iron Horse Azure Comp. Ironhorse went bankrupt last year so their bikes are pretty cheap where you can find them. Really nice bike, I ride the Expert version of the Azure and it’s a really nice bike.
Have fun.
Dave
Has anyone heard of Windsor bikes? I see them on ebay and the components look decent and the price doesn’t look bad either.
Buy the best bike you can afford. I’ve known way too many people who spent 1300$ and wished they spent more. It makes a huge difference.
I picked up a hardtail Trek 4500, w/o disc’s and am loving it! great price and value. Rides great as well!
Glad you enjoyed it, it’s a real blast.
The best thing you can do is find an avid mtn biker, preferrably someone that races cross country and have that person help you find a used bike in your price range. You will get far more bike for your money and at the entry level price range the difference between the cheap bikes and moderately good used ones is incredible.
Your first 2 questions should be;
- Full suspension or hard tail?
- 26 or 29 inch wheels?
For question 1: Chances are you’re going to go with hard tail simply because of price. If price was not a concern, then this decision is based on terrain. If you survived using a Walmart bike, a hard tail will suffice for your needs.
For question 2: I’d stick with the 26 inch wheels. 29’ers have advantages but the 26 is definitely easier to learn/handle. However this is based solely on my preference.
Everything else should be based on what you can squeeze into your price point. I’d skip the disc brakes since it’s more expensive and V brakes are easier to maintain.
Last but not least, talk to an avid MTB’er who can help you in person. Frankly, I would take a hard look at Specialized’s line of entry level hard tail. And yes, a 17" would fit.
My wife’s got a Specialized Hardrock Disc - which is their entry level hard tail w/ mechanical discs. They are very grippy brakes! Decent bike, but the RD started making some crappy spring noises after one race.
Depending on what your planing on riding on, you could look at a cyclocross bike too. A bit more money, a little bit more fragile, but it’s a road bike with v-brakes and wide tires - unfortunatly, they can be pretty pricey - they usually have 105 or better groups on them. If your planning on going hardcore, a cross bike might be too fragile. But if your riding fire trails and the like, its a decent choice too.
MTB racing is a whole different world. I did it once, got lapped multiple times, and that was that lol. It’s quite different from racing on pavement! If you plan on racing, I’m no help.