Recommend me a Beginner Mountain Bike

Korvanica

Hi,

I'm looking into starting Mountain Biking, but before I go spending a load on a top notch Bike I want to get a starter bike to see if I like the sport.

Can anyone recommend me a decent full suspension bike? Budget is around 350 - 400.

Spotted this one on adverts: http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/mountain-bike-for-sale/535432 - any thoughts on it?

Also this one : http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/mountain-bike/587409 but from the looks of it itll be a bit small, as i'm 6 3.. So ill probably need a 22 inch frame...

Thanks

Rew

You would do much better with something like http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/trek-6000/565459

or

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/giant-terrago-mountain-bike/602069

Tenzor07

Korvanica wrote: »

Can anyone recommend me a decent full suspension bike? Budget is around 350 - 400.

A decent Full suspension mountain bike would be at least €1,500 new...

....anything less than that would be like trying to pedal a tank with couch springs for shock absorbers!

As mentioned, stick with a basic hardtail bike, 2nd hand would be best for your budget, keep an eye on the for sale forum..

fatbhoy

Korvanica wrote: »

Spotted this one on adverts: http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/mountain-bike-for-sale/535432 - any thoughts on it?

:pac:

Korvanica wrote: »

Also this one : http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/mountain-bike/587409 but from the looks of it itll be a bit small, as i'm 6 3.. So ill probably need a 22 inch frame...

:pac:

Korvanica wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking into starting Mountain Biking, but before I go spending a load on a top notch Bike I want to get a starter bike to see if I like the sport.

Can anyone recommend me a decent full suspension bike? Budget is around 350 - 400.

Seriously, those two bikes are total pieces of sh*t. You can buy those new for about €150 each. I wouldn't bring them near a road, let alone a trail: you'd and it'd get broken up in a very short space of time.

You may get good full-suss bikes here and here from time to time, but your budget may need to double. You definitely won't get a decent full suspension bike for 350 - 400. Maybe you should look for a hard-tail with a decent fork, brakes, and wheels. Such a bike appears from time to time on the forums I mentioned for between 400 and 600. You may need patience. :pac:

A top-notch bike would be between €2000 and €3000, so a buget of €500 - €1000 or so would get you a decent second-hand hard-tail or full-suss, which you can always sell eventually if you discover you like the sport (and want a better bike) or if you want to exit the sport. In my opinion, it's a good, cheap investment in a healthy, exciting sport. Get into it.

Korvanica

Cool thanks, although i've been told its a bit unwise to start mountain biking with a hardtail though?

Tenzor07

Korvanica wrote: »

Cool thanks, although i've been told its a bit unwise to start mountain biking with a hardtail though?

Completely not true! It is in fact the best way, will teach you to pick your lines on the trail correctly as a full sus would make you lazy and trundle over rocks etc due to having the suspension...

All the best bikers out there would have started on bikes with no suspension front or rear, no disc brakes either...

So pick up a decent second hand and work on the most important thing on a Mountain bike... Having fun!

Korvanica

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Completely not true! It is in fact the best way, will teach you to pick your lines on the trail correctly as a full sus would make you lazy and trundle over rocks etc due to having the suspension...

All the best bikers out there would have started on bikes with no suspension front or rear, no disc brakes either...

So pick up a decent second hand and work on the most important thing on a Mountain bike... Having fun!

Ok cool, so ill look out for a decent hard tail... any of the two posted earlier by Rew decent..?

Tenzor07

Korvanica wrote: »

Ok cool, so ill look out for a decent hard tail... any of the two posted earlier by Rew decent..?

Would be fairly decent, but you would need a 20-21" Frame..

Rew

22" how tall are you?

Edit:

Just saw it in the OP. I'm 5'10 and an 18" does me, you may have trouble getting a 2nd hand one, less common. Try a few shops that do trade ins maybe?

Icyseanfitz

yeah what the lads said, start out with a HT and try to buy second hand (if doing so try to get someone with you to check the bike out as you wont really have any idea what your looking at, no offence but i was in a similar position half a year ago), also keep an eye on the boardman range in halfords, some good deals to be got there from time to time.

As for why you should be going for a HT over a FS as a beginner, some of it has to do with honing your skills but i personally think it has to do with the fact that they cost a fair bit less second hand or new and there is a good bit less that can go wrong with a HT over a FS (rear shock,swingarm pivots, bearings etc.) trust me id know

best of luck with it anyway its a great sport to get into just a little bit daunting at first

Tenzor07

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

As for why you should be going for a HT over a FS as a beginner, some of it has to do with honing your skills but i personally think it has to do with the fact that they cost a fair bit less second hand or new and there is a good bit less that can go wrong with a HT over a FS (rear shock,swingarm pivots, bearings etc.) trust me id know

You should read all Iciseanz posts and then do the exact opposite!

Korvanica

Is it true that a smaller frame would be better off for more technical sections?

And a larger for climbing and for faster sections yea?

Icyseanfitz

Tenzor07 wrote: »

You should read all Iciseanz posts and then do the exact opposite!

ah come on now enough of that , i like to think i know a nice bit about mtb's now seeing as i had such a traumatic start into it (everything bar suspension went arse ways up for me when i got my bike second hand and ive been there with my mechanic learning how to fix every little thing) and ive actually learned a whole lot from it.

tc dont get a bike too small or too big, get one the right size, if you dont know what that is go to your local bike shop and ask them to help out, a bike that is the wrong size can lead to all kinds of problems (back, hands random pains etc.)

Korvanica

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

ah come on now enough of that , i like to think i know a nice bit about mtb's now seeing as i had such a traumatic start into it (everything bar suspension went arse ways up for me when i got my bike second hand and ive been there with my mechanic learning how to fix every little thing) and ive actually learned a whole lot from it.

Must have been a good learning process.....

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

tc dont get a bike too small or too big, get one the right size, if you dont know what that is go to your local bike shop and ask them to help out, a bike that is the wrong size can lead to all kinds of problems (back, hands random pains etc.)

Ok cool thanks...

Tenzor07

Korvanica wrote: »

Is it true that a smaller frame would be better off for more technical sections?

And a larger for climbing and for faster sections yea?

No and no, not unless you want to have a separate bike for XC and one for Downhill..

any size bike from 21 to 23" will suit, best to visit your local bike shop and hop on a few bikes till you get a feel for which size is best..

C3PO

Korvanica wrote: »

Is it true that a smaller frame would be better off for more technical sections?

And a larger for climbing and for faster sections yea?

You are better off with a frame that's a bit small rather than too big - much easier to handle in technical sections. For some reason bike shops tend to push people into bikes that are on the large size.

Icyseanfitz

yeah ive seen similar tbh my friend who is 5'8 has a large framed felt :rolleyes: stupid shop

Korvanica

So i decided im probably better off buying new as none of the classified sites seem to have any frames in my size... (21 inch)

What are Felt bikes like?

I spotted these at EuroCycles...

FELT Q520 2011 €499

and

FELT Q620 2011 €699

seems like the gear system is the main difference here. And the disk breaks seem to be a little better on the 620 too...

Im also looking at a Cube, currently have my eye on an Analog Disk as ive heard some good things about them.

Analog Disk..

I'm thinking I'll probably goto a local bike shop instead of buying online. As i need a few other things anyway...

Whats your opinion on the Felt Q520 ?

The others are about 700 and would be a bit of a stretch but i'd probably manage it....

gman2k

Don't forget to budget for clothing, helmet, gloves, glasses, hydration, shoes, spares, pump, toolkit etc.

Korvanica

Good point,

I already have gloves,pads & helmet from trial biking. Ill need clothes and a pump, have tools already..

Think I might go for the 520 and some gear, unless I can blag a very good deal on the 620 and gear...

Korvanica

Can i get Opinions on this bike please..?


http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/giant-terrago-disc-2009/614308

EDIT: online reviews seem ok for an entry level bike...

EDIT AGAIN: 19 inch frame... ...

So can nobody give me any feedback on the bikes I posted the other day?

mr lee

congrats,your doin well on this thread into your second page,i had a thread almost identical to yours and it was locked after about 6 or 7 replies,best of luck finding a suitable bike it not easy make a decision when your a novice like me, lots of choices out there its hard to know what to go for.

Korvanica

mr lee wrote: »

congrats,your doin well on this thread into your second page,i had a thread almost identical to yours and it was locked after about 6 or 7 replies,best of luck finding a suitable bike it not easy make a decision when your a novice like me, lots of choices out there its hard to know what to go for.

Thanks ... You manage to decide on a bike yourself?

mr lee

i cant really afford a decent new bike so im on the look out for a decent secondhand one,i really like cube bikes not too many of them secondhand though ,plenty of secondhand treks and giants out there,most of them in really good nic aswell so thats probably what ill end up with,not too fussy what i get as long as it does the job until i get the money together for a nice shiney new cube.

gman2k

Mr. Lee - it's all about the price range and not the brand. There's be no difference generally speaking between a Cube, Trek or Giant at the €600 level. It will boil down to aesthetics at that level.
You should give some of the suburb shops a ring regarding second hand. They are more likely to have something than city centre.

Korvanica

Will probabyl stop by Fitzcycles on my way home to have a look at these... anyone have any experience with them?

Forme Element

Forme Raid

Whitehawk

Korvanica wrote: »

Will probabyl stop by Fitzcycles on my way home to have a look at these... anyone have any experience with them?

Forme Element

Forme Raid

Check out buildabike in dublin they do lots of bikes, id go get the cube Analog Diskv nice bike, also lats in there will do you a great deal on all the kit you need with the bike!

mr lee

gman2k wrote: »

Mr. Lee - it's all about the price range and not the brand. There's be no difference generally speaking between a Cube, Trek or Giant at the €600 level. It will boil down to aesthetics at that level.
You should give some of the suburb shops a ring regarding second hand. They are more likely to have something than city centre.

im down in tipp so i would'nt really know of any bikes shops around dublin,if you culd name a few it would be helpful ,i seen that carbon frame bike your rebuilding on another thread,it looks really nice,are you gonna advertise it on boards when its finished,i might be interested.

Korvanica

Ended up settling on a Carrera Vulcan Disk as I got a decent price on it. Its something to start off on anyway.

300 for it with new mudguards, a San Marco saddle, and new handlebar grips.