MTB Dirt Mountain Bike Forums forum - Topic - Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

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Poll: Which Bike

Results from 44 votes

Trek Fuel Ex9: 20% 9 votes
Trek Remedy8: 2% 1 votes
Giant Trance 1: 14% 6 votes
Specialized Enduro: 23% 10 votes
Other (please specify): 41% 18 votes

andy

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 05, 2010 08:48pm

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Quote: ZepinAtor

All this talk about Yeti, Pivot, etc sounds very exciting but, I would like to know where you mainly ride which could determine your bike choice rather than the "brand name" challenge. In the past I've found most bikes I've owned have had just" too much" bike for my riding style (Blur LT 2, Stumpjumper, Epic). Now only ride hard tails with big squishy tires.

Have also settled for far simpler bikes without the big brand name tag & saved heaps of $$. Riding has been more enjoyable as well.

It is not were you ride the bike but how you ride the bike. I ride a 4 inch Turner flux with 20mm Reba teams. I think I ride it to the limits of what the frame it made for in Brisbane. One of my best mates has had a couple of big crashes that have seen him needing major medical attention over the last two years since I have had the flux. He rides a Hardtail that is set up very similar to my bike. He very rarely crashes on the DH rig and has been sunshine series overall Vet Champ last two years running. Yet at Daisy, he smashed his face up, recently has done a grade 2 tear in his elbow at Gap Creek. All because he has been trying to chase the duelly. At Castle and Nerang he finds no matter what he just can't keep up with the four inch bike. I haven't beaten him in a DH race for a couple years, so it obviously isn't that I am faster than him.

So to answer your question, if you ride harder and take the faster lines then a duelly is going to be faster than a hardtail. (I still have a Cove Handjob that I usually ride when riding Daisy as the Flux sometimes actually feels slower there.).

kalkkuna

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 05, 2010 09:22pm

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Quote: andy

Quote: ZepinAtor

All this talk about Yeti, Pivot, etc sounds very exciting but, I would like to know where you mainly ride which could determine your bike choice rather than the "brand name" challenge. In the past I've found most bikes I've owned have had just" too much" bike for my riding style (Blur LT 2, Stumpjumper, Epic). Now only ride hard tails with big squishy tires.

Have also settled for far simpler bikes without the big brand name tag & saved heaps of $$. Riding has been more enjoyable as well.

It is not were you ride the bike but how you ride the bike. I ride a 4 inch Turner flux with 20mm Reba teams. I think I ride it to the limits of what the frame it made for in Brisbane. One of my best mates has had a couple of big crashes that have seen him needing major medical attention over the last two years since I have had the flux. He rides a Hardtail that is set up very similar to my bike. He very rarely crashes on the DH rig and has been sunshine series overall Vet Champ last two years running. Yet at Daisy, he smashed his face up, recently has done a grade 2 tear in his elbow at Gap Creek. All because he has been trying to chase the duelly. At Castle and Nerang he finds no matter what he just can't keep up with the four inch bike. I haven't beaten him in a DH race for a couple years, so it obviously isn't that I am faster than him.

So to answer your question, if you ride harder and take the faster lines then a duelly is going to be faster than a hardtail. (I still have a Cove Handjob that I usually ride when riding Daisy as the Flux sometimes actually feels slower there.).

Dan?

Paulie

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 06, 2010 01:04pm

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A custom build with good quality (not mega bling) components will get you a really nice bike that is maybe 500g heavier than a mega dollar bling bike on the same frame and fork. And you will save an absolute packet.

I have always ridden XC on hardtail bikes (except for the odd race on a borrowed small travel duallie) and next purchase will be a nice small travel duallie frame which all my current components will be put onto. The challenge will be finding a nice light one that doesn't mind the more jump bike moments I put my current XC frame through. Find one with a lifetime or good long warranty and as long as it has XC level components (ie not boxxers) then you really wont run the risk of voiding warranty for good hard XC riding.

Sadly I will probably just go by brand as I am yet to ride a decent bike that is terrible, you just need to work out how to ride them.

Bangers

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 06, 2010 01:36pm

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http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bikes/show/100073537-pivot-pivot-mach-5-x9-large

The extra $400 could probably upgrade some of the components, although not really necessary.

Chase that feeling.

djt_91

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 11, 2010 12:59pm

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Quote: Cooch

Dude, you could build the hottest custom bike for $5000! Go get a frame that is something unique and build up a killer from there! e.g. Intense 5.5, Banshee Rune, Ellsworth Moment... The bike world is your oyster.

If you feel like riding a bike with only one wheel or rigid forks. Most of those frames listed will use almost all of the $5000. you will have to be prepared to fork out some of your own cash as well. Complete bikes are a much more economical way to go. If you have the extra cash lying around though fantastic idea

djt_91

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 11, 2010 01:04pm

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Quote: Paulie

I. Find one with a lifetime or good long warranty and as long as it has XC level components (ie not boxxers) then you really wont run the risk of voiding warranty for good hard XC riding.

Sadly I will probably just go by brand as I am yet to ride a decent bike that is terrible, you just need to work out how to ride them.

TREK, GIANT and Cannondale are the only brands that will offer lifetime warranties. Go the giant anthem

Tempest

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 11, 2010 01:07pm

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Quote: djt_91

Quote: Cooch

Dude, you could build the hottest custom bike for $5000! Go get a frame that is something unique and build up a killer from there! e.g. Intense 5.5, Banshee Rune, Ellsworth Moment... The bike world is your oyster.

If you feel like riding a bike with only one wheel or rigid forks. Most of those frames listed will use almost all of the $5000. you will have to be prepared to fork out some of your own cash as well. Complete bikes are a much more economical way to go. If you have the extra cash lying around though fantastic idea

I reckon Cooch might know the cost of building up a Banshee or two.

And I call bull*** on those 3 brands being the ONLY ones to offer lifetime warranty.

all du haaters kan sukk my baallenhoffers!!!!

Boris

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 11:14am

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Either of the two dual suspension frames at the top of this page are just amazing value. They will arrive delivered for less than the AU$1000 tax free cut off. The recomended retail price locally is $3300. Both get absolute rave reviews on mtbr. http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=7&major=2&minor=1

Bangers

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 12:15pm

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Quote: Boris

Either of the two dual suspension frames at the top of this page are just amazing value. They will arrive delivered for less than the AU$1000 tax free cut off. The recomended retail price locally is $3300. Both get absolute rave reviews on mtbr. http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=7&major=2&minor=1

Can you elaborate on this boris? I'm after a new frame but I have no idea which two you are talking about - and your link doesn't work.

Boris

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 12:31pm Updated 12-03-2010 12:33 pm by Boris

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Cut and paste it in to your browser. Either of the two dual suspension frames at the top of this page: http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=7&major=2&minor=1 It seems to work fine for me. Not sure I have ever seen better value, particularly given the requirements of the OP.

Bangers

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 12:43pm

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Quote: Boris

Cut and paste it in to your browser. Either of the two dual suspension frames at the top of this page: http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=7&major=2&minor=1 It seems to work fine for me. Not sure I have ever seen better value, particularly given the requirements of the OP.

Gees - that looks pretty good to me too. I'd be sold with an RP23.

Peace

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 01:23pm

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At that price it may also be worth looking at the Marin Mt Vision.

cranksnapper

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 02:50pm

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good bikes the marins, but pretty heavy in recent years. trek or giant all the way!

kazmeistyr

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 12, 2010 10:29pm

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Just rock up to your favourite LBS ( I recommend the guys at Chain Gang in Jindalee - worth a trip if out of your way), offer them the 5k and ask them to build your bike based on what you need ( want!). You should be able to get something cool, and customized with that sort of wad.

We all like our bling, but at the end of the day, you have to be happy with the ride. You can have yer "boutique" brands, but go for something that when you ride it, you get wood. The "cookie cutter" brands often offer performance on par, or even better, than the boutique stuff.

5k is a lot of moolah in anyone's terms. You should be nothing short of wetting yourself for that sort of coin. The diff between 5k and 10k is a few grams and about 0.25 points on the *insert term referring to something unsavoury here* factor scale.

You can ask all you like in forums, and you will recieve some worthwhile info, but best advice I can give is to spend a weekend searching shops and asking around - find a shop you can trust and stick with 'em. ( forums can be handy to educate oneself to a degree, i.e. enough to be caught out, but you'll only find folk that are justifying their big spends!)

Boris

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 13, 2010 10:49am Updated 13-03-2010 11:00 am by Boris

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Sorry Kaz, but "Just rock up to your favourite LBS ....... offer them the 5k " Are you sure? Yeah, 5 grand is a lot of moolah and definately not to be wasted at the discretion of any bike shop when you can do twice as well else where or get the same thing for half the moolah. I'd qualify that by saying it's just my opinion, but based on genuine personal experience I'd have to suggest that it'd be pretty hard to disprove.

finch

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 13, 2010 11:15am

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Quote: Boris

Sorry Kaz, but "Just rock up to your favourite LBS ....... offer them the 5k " Are you sure? Yeah, 5 grand is a lot of moolah and definately not to be wasted at the discretion of any bike shop when you can do twice as well else where or get the same thing for half the moolah. I'd qualify that by saying it's just my opinion, but based on genuine personal experience I'd have to suggest that it'd be pretty hard to disprove.

yeah I agree with you to a point. If the OP is wanting a simple transaction esp for a total reciept for insurance, and also the after sales service and knowlegde and warrantee, then a good lbs is a good choice. It depends on what mechanical or parts knoweldge the OP has and what he is after....+1 for chain gang. They are very knowlegeable with all high end and will do their best to pimp you out for your $$, and tune the ride to your intended use.

1*14*29*2.1

kazmeistyr

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 13, 2010 12:12pm

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Probably a bad choice of words.

What I really meant was to give them the budget of 5k + your wants and needs and tell 'em to do their best. Try multiple shops to find the best deal if you don't have much faith in the stores you deal with.

Boris

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 13, 2010 05:52pm

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No doubt that most often the best value lies with a complete bike from a shop. It's also true that you'll get a better price from a seller who knows you are serious about buying. They also need to know your no fool and prepared to walk. I hope you didn't take my post personally or as a rebuff towards the particular bike shop you mentioned. I wouldn't know them. Also please feel free to keep using that recent photo of me in your avatar. Always a favourite of mine.

top_dog

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Advice on $5000 trail/AM bike

March 13, 2010 08:51pm Updated 13-03-2010 08:52 pm by top_dog

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Orange Five always wins trail bike tests in Dirt mag, though they are English.

I'm super happy with my Specialized Stumpy, and so is everybody who rides it. I think Specialized, Giant and Trek have the biggest R&D budgets which does show in their products. The detail engineering in the Stumpy is incredible, on a different level to any of my other (admittedly boutique) frames.