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Help with new bike selection
Hi
Am just returning to mountain biking and in the process of bike selection.
Have been away from the sport for 8 years. I used to ride a hard tail Klein with Marzocchi shocks which I loved but it got stolen. For various reasons I didn't buy another bike. However am now dead keen to get back into it and looking to buy a solid cross country dual suspension mainly for riding around Sydney Northern Beaches trails.
Have narrowed it down to a 2009 Scott Spark 50 ($3100) or a 2008 Mongoose Team Canaan ($3299). Mongoose seems to be higher spec but love the lock out feature on the Rock Shox rear shock on the Scott as will be using the bike for some commuting as well and don't want to be bouncing all over the place.
Has anyone ridden one or both of these bikes and could pass on their feedback. Alternatively does anyone know of other dual suspension cross country style bikes for around $3000 that are worth investigating.
Thanks
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Im selling my GT force 1 for 3000 or best offer( make one!). 5 inch travel so not exactly cross country but it has served me well and has the idrive which helps minimise bobbing and climbs well.Its the cross country bike for any terrain.
I'd go the 'goose out of that choice.
How tall are you ?
I have a Giant Trance Advanced bought just over a year ago (full carbon with XTR). Was $7,200 new and I am looking for $3,000 for the bike, so if you are interested then let me know. If it fits, I am pretty sure you will come nowhere close to this level of bike for anywhere near the amount of cash. Weight is just under 12kg I think.
See bike details at http://nobmob.com/node/7178
Surely the trance advanced is well under 12kg Chitts?
My 2008 Trance X0 (aluminium) weighed in at 11.7kg at the Dirtworks weigh in.
.... weight is per 15yr old bathroom scale (not digital). Also has bar ends, tubeless tyres and a hefty dose of Stan's sealant (add about 500 gramsin total I guess), so pretty easy to drop that weight a good bit.... also, a bike scale may help
I'm seriously considering selling my much loved and upgraded Turner 5 spot frame and parts.
It is the last of the Horst link models, has RP23 shock, and 5.5 rockers (for 5.5" rear travel).
It is available as a complete bike less forks and brakes. (I want to keep them for my next frame).
Ideal forks are 125-140mm fox Talas or Float, or similar.
Parts include:
Turner 5 spot frame, Large with Fox RP23 and also a spare Romic coil shock
Wheelset: Stans tubeless rims on Hope Pro II hubs - see here: http://nobmob.com/node/7387
XT crank and rear cluster
SRAM X9 rear derailleur and shifters
XTR front derailleur
Choice of quality seat, seatpost and stem to suit your fit if needed
This is been an amazing bike for Sydney trails and has consistently good reviews by all the press and forums. MTBR Review: http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/allmtn-full-suspen... (this is for the non-horst bike, the horst version is even better imho.)
It is a wonderfully balanced bike to ride, climbs well (efficiently), descends brilliantly and is made by one of the respected boutique makers in the USA (Not a Taiwan build). Current build is around 12.5-12.7 kg.
Reason for sale: I'm looking at upgrading to a new carbon frame for racing this year, and one of the bikes 'has to go'. It has been my weekend 'fun' bike, just a bit too heavy to have as a second race bike, although was excellent as my 'night' bike at the Scott24 this year. Price negotiable depending on the parts included in the deal, but looking around $1750 as above.
Frame alone was $3000 before the addition of new rockers and RP23 shock.
If interested PM or call me for more info, a test ride or to discuss further.
W.
James, with the rise of prices in bikes I would strongly suggest purchasing an used bike. The Scott Spark 50 is quite sub-specced for the price.
By the way Cycleworld currently have some stumpjumpers on sale.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Turner make great bikes - visit any of the forums in Oz or OS
And this one is owned by someone who is fanatical about bike maintenence
Might be a bit more hassle than buying new, but I'm sure Steve would help you set it up
This would be my choice for the money without question