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Newbie needs help deciding on bike - current options listed
Hi all,
I'm just getting started with trail riding but love it so far. I'd really like to buy my own bike. I'm female, 170cm tall and was wondering what people thought of a few bikes I'm currently interested in. I'm a student - so i'd like a bike under ~1k. Currently considering:
2009 Giant Talon (need to save a little more for this one)
http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes/show/100108...
2009 Giant Yukon
http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes/show/100168...
2009 GT Chucker 1
http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes/show/100048...
2009 GT Avalanche 1
http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes/show/100048...
There seem to be some great deals on these brands at the moment, but if anyone has any other recs they would be very welcome. I also live in Melbourne's inner east and any recommendations on honest bike stores likely to, and interested in, giving me a good fit rather than simply make a sale and clear unwanted floor stock would be wonderful! Many thanks.
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Welcome to the club MJ,
it really depends on what riding you plan on doing
the first two and last one would be sport bikes - kind of like your basic all rounder (road,footpath,firetrail,cross country, grass)
example i am riding a Giant Alias (same level as the Yukon) and i am happily taking that on trails with decent rock garden (although i have beefed up the front suspension from standard)
a 2009/2010 Yukon/Alias should cost you more than about $800, also the Yukon is the better of the two Giant bikes IMHO.
the 3rd one is a street bike (not what you want if you are doing cross country) this is more for street tricks and things like that.
there are some good shops around, just take some time to ring around and find the best place, unfortunately i can't help as i am in Sydney.
but good luck
and ride safe!
Adz
go for the giant talon...
*edit meant the Talon is better (it has the air fork)
while the Gt Chuckers are seriously marked down at the moment they are a jump bike and not really suited to trail riding
The avalanches are seriously underrated as a bike. Some nice specials floating around on them too. It would be my pick
If you can stretch a little past the $1k the GT sensors can also be found at a great price for a good duallie
Aren't the 302's coil, i think the 318's are air. And yes go the talon it seems to have better kit then everything else. if you do carry on riding (which you will) you will probably want something that will last you.
As you mentioned buying a new bike and that you are of the Female persuasion perhaps you might need to identify your fit/size as seen here (click) generally your gender is/has different sizing to Males (probably why this choice is here -click) and seems more/most comfortable.
Shop selection: you mentioned that you wish to SAVE money and NOT get the old -get it out the door- stock seems self contradictory (no pun intended I too am monetarily challenged)
Sorry as I am too from Sydney I cannot assist in store locator however BNSW affiliated site (click here) could prove to be a useful source of info....
Roll-on, pun intended!
Thanks very much for the links. It does seem a bit contradictory to want to save money and not get the old stock as you say, it's more that I don't want to be taken for a ride (haha) no matter how much I choose to spend. Hopefully I can get something reliable under $1000 but still fits well!
This article http://www.ivanhoecycles.com.au/articles/what-wo... put me off a bit considering female frames. Do you think it should have? Are female frames on mtb all that important? Or is it just the clearance with the top tube no matter the frame that matters most?
are a little shorter in the top tube & seat tube can be ridden by males too if you are short in the upperbody & the colour was right ?
Hi,
You should be able to spend 600-700 on a bike that will last you a year or two. By then you will have the bug and know exactly what you want. Buying the first bike is tough, if you aren't already a know-it-all.
Looking at the Talon it looks great. It looks similiar to the Rincon that my wife brought and rode for several years till she got the bike she wanted.
Good to see your getting into MTB'ing! Welcome to a world of fun time ahead!
The article you've listed above is talking about the "old" women's bikes, like the "Women's Cruisers" you would see in the city, rather than women's MTB's. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/model/... is a good example of what the article is on about.
Many manufacturers make women's specific mountain bikes - Giant, Trek & Specialized off the top of my head. But that doesn't mean you need to buy a women's specific model. My GF bought a Giant Cypher (http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/women...) and she loves it. It has a shorter top-tube and shorter cranks (proportionally compared to the Trance-X), and it fits her really well.
Try a few bikes and see how they feel, and enjoy your riding!
cyclery now even have a specific women's store - next door to the "unisex" one. They may not be the cheapest option, but might be worth visiting to discuss with staff who presumably know a bit about fitting bikes and women together.
MJ is from Melbourne , LMAOH, I done it b4 too
hey MJ im a girl and i dont ride a female specific mtb i havent had any problems whatsoever i think as long as u find the bike comfortable, with quality components thats all that matters, i ride a giant and i can say they are awesome... i wouldnt stress over finding something woman specific... its all about fit, good luck with it all and have fun, give me a yell sometime if u want to go for a ride!
My girlfriend has a 2010 GT Avalance 1.0 that she is looking to sell. (happy to box and ship to melb)
Its an unwanted work Sales Incentive that she won.
Ridden once on a firetrail and in 'As New' condition. If you would like I can send you some pics and find out what size it it. (she is 170ish CM too)
Mark
Melbourne had northern beaches!
My first bike was a Giant Yukon 2002 I have replaced the rear hub, chain, cassette, grips and I still ride it.
A good bike will last. But over time, Parts will need replacing. I loved that bike and still ride it. I have just got myself a Giant TranceX 2011 and I'm loving the upgrade.
My advice is to shop around and find a good shop, build a relationship with the staff. Always negociate the price, and make sure you still shop around to keep them honest.
that she attached are in Victoria ? I have been home for too long on this damn computer , I need t oget back to work soon & especially get on the damn bike
Thanks so much to everyone who has commented so far, i sincerely appreciate it. As I said in the original post... I am from Melb so I can't really be riding with any of you soon as much as I would like to (big thanks and cheers to nix85
)....what you have around sydney looks amazing. Sorry for the confusion, it's a bit silly for a melby to be posting on a syd website but it's just so thorough and full of goodness.. i couldn't help myself. I'll get into a store soon and hopefully try some out...Talon is winning the race so far. And isn't it pretty? http://www.ivanhoecycles.com.au/bikes/mountain-b...
Don't worry Lach, a few people missed "the Melbourne" part
also to whoever mentioned the 302's being coil, there are different models of the 302 and the 09' Talon has Air forks (http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/mount...) not a bad bike IMHO
i had the coil springs on the 2009 Alias i purchased (i didn't have the $$ to go for the talon or the knowledge i have know about air forks
)
Good luck with it all MJ
Thanks very much, i'll be keen to test the yukon as well. Now I just need to quit uni and go riding
don't be shy asking about the Giant 29er for a few hundred more , leave it up too you , depends on how serious you are going to get into the sport
I bought my first bike off my brother in 2007 ( I think?!?). My brother convinced me to buy a Talon which was well over my $1,000 budget I had at the time. 12 months later when my bike got stolen I went back to buy another from him. I was annoyed by the Hayes brakes and I got a good deal on the Scott Scale 50. Six weeks later I came back for a free service and told him that I couldn't believe for $300 more a bike could be so good (or at least so much better).
12 months later I cracked my Scale 50 frame and after months of hassle it was finally replaced.
I am not sure the price on the Scale 50 model these days (or if it is even the same as before specifications wise). It is well worth a ride IMHO.
Andrew