I love my Moto - I replaced the wheel set with a good set of wheels and hubs and rode it another 600 or so miles. I finally had to replace the crank set because I stripped it out bashing my pedals on rocks and roots hundreds of times. So I ungraded from the Deore XT 2x10 drive train to a new Deore XT 1x11 drive train. The Rockshox have been excellent - no rebuilds required so far, and the bike rides plush. Six months ago, I wanted to try a different "better" bike, so bought a Specialized Carbon Camber 29" ... I've ridden it 5-6 times trying to get used to it, but the Moto is BY FAR, the bike I prefer to ride. It is more plush, more nimble, faster (with better/lighter wheelset), shifts crisper (Deore XT vs. SRAM GX), and has a full inch of better ground clearance between the ground and the bottom of the crank (less rock/root smashing). Recommendation - buy a Moto and then spend your money on good upgrades as the components wear out.
Pros Rugged, good components, excellent value for the money. Ready to ride after some simple assembly. I didn't have to take to the LBS for tuning - it was perfect.
Cons Original cheap Gravity hubs - the front one wore out after about 500 miles of heavy duty trail riding. May have had something to do with running into trees and such. ;-)
Note to builders of Moto bikes - provide with quality "off-brand" 6-paw hubs & wheels from the factory and blow your competition away!
If you are tight on your budget or are just getting into mountain biking you can do no wrong with Motobecane. Great value for price and the frame is much better than you would expect. As a beginner I put a beating on this bike and it has not let me down yet. With a few basic upgrades this bike is much more capable than its price suggests.
ProsThis is for the Phantom Comp 29er. Bike is relatively light, very good value for the price. It was $1200 shipped to my door in Texas. Cheaper if you are not in TX or FL. All good parts, front and rear lockouts, tubeless tire rims and hyd disc brakes. Just a really good bike for the money.ConsBike snobs don't like these because they are just as good as their bikes that cost $800 more. Find a local bike shop that doesn't care if you got it there or not.
The Fantom Comp is right at home in tight, twisty singletrack and can eat up some technical trails too. The Kinesis frame is very very light. A very nimble bike for the price.
Perfect for entry to intermediate. Good base for some upgrades. Overall good value for price. Mount the right tires for your terrain. Tora U turn solo or Reba would make this bike even sweeter with hydraulic brakes but, then that would be the fantom comp. But, probably only noticible to experienced riders. Wheels have taken the abuse of a 230lb rider. BB5's are nice and better than the Tektro Aquilas IMO.
Pros Price...Price...Price...Very solid feel, somewhat light frame,great components as is. Handling is superb and controlled.
Cons Motobecane controversy and bike snobs. V-brake bosses.
Good bike for the money. Bought mine for under 600.
Pros Bike has been good so far. Solid components from the deore to the rock shock dart3 w/ lock out and avid disc brakes. Took it into a LBS to have it tuned up and checked and they said it was a solid bike.
Really enjoy riding this bike, its taken everything I have thrown at it, I like the Deore components and the Avid disc brakes, sadly I bent the seat on my first fall which was kind of sad and I would really enjoy a lockout for the long climbs. All together its a great start out cross country bike for less than $700.
I love my Moto - I replaced the wheel set with a good set of wheels and hubs and rode it another 600 or so miles. I finally had to replace the crank set because I stripped it out bashing my pedals on rocks and roots hundreds of times. So I ungraded from the Deore XT 2x10 drive train to a new Deore XT 1x11 drive train. The Rockshox have been excellent - no rebuilds required so far, and the bike rides plush. Six months ago, I wanted to try a different "better" bike, so bought a Specialized Carbon Camber 29" ... I've ridden it 5-6 times trying to get used to it, but the Moto is BY FAR, the bike I prefer to ride. It is more plush, more nimble, faster (with better/lighter wheelset), shifts crisper (Deore XT vs. SRAM GX), and has a full inch of better ground clearance between the ground and the bottom of the crank (less rock/root smashing). Recommendation - buy a Moto and then spend your money on good upgrades as the components wear out.
Pros
Rugged, good components, excellent value for the money. Ready to ride after some simple assembly. I didn't have to take to the LBS for tuning - it was perfect.
Cons
| ThankOriginal cheap Gravity hubs - the front one wore out after about 500 miles of heavy duty trail riding. May have had something to do with running into trees and such. ;-)
Note to builders of Moto bikes - provide with quality "off-brand" 6-paw hubs & wheels from the factory and blow your competition away!
If you are tight on your budget or are just getting into mountain biking you can do no wrong with Motobecane. Great value for price and the frame is much better than you would expect. As a beginner I put a beating on this bike and it has not let me down yet. With a few basic upgrades this bike is much more capable than its price suggests.
Pros
| ThankLight. Great spec for the price.
ProsThis is for the Phantom Comp 29er. Bike is relatively light, very good value for the price. It was $1200 shipped to my door in Texas. Cheaper if you are not in TX or FL. All good parts, front and rear lockouts, tubeless tire rims and hyd disc brakes. Just a really good bike for the money.ConsBike snobs don't like these because they are just as good as their bikes that cost $800 more. Find a local bike shop that doesn't care if you got it there or not.
| ThankThe Fantom Comp is right at home in tight, twisty singletrack and can eat up some technical trails too. The Kinesis frame is very very light. A very nimble bike for the price.
Pros
Spirited climber, nimble, light
Cons
| ThankNope.
Perfect for entry to intermediate. Good base for some upgrades. Overall good value for price. Mount the right tires for your terrain. Tora U turn solo or Reba would make this bike even sweeter with hydraulic brakes but, then that would be the fantom comp. But, probably only noticible to experienced riders. Wheels have taken the abuse of a 230lb rider. BB5's are nice and better than the Tektro Aquilas IMO.
Pros
Price...Price...Price...Very solid feel, somewhat light frame,great components as is. Handling is superb and controlled.
Cons
| ThankMotobecane controversy and bike snobs. V-brake bosses.
Good bike for the money. Bought mine for under 600.
Pros
Bike has been good so far. Solid components from the deore to the rock shock dart3 w/ lock out and avid disc brakes. Took it into a LBS to have it tuned up and checked and they said it was a solid bike.
Cons
| ThankNothing as of yet,
Really enjoy riding this bike, its taken everything I have thrown at it, I like the Deore components and the Avid disc brakes, sadly I bent the seat on my first fall which was kind of sad and I would really enjoy a lockout for the long climbs. All together its a great start out cross country bike for less than $700.
Pros
Affordable (paid 695), good components, pretty light, avid disc brakes
Cons
| Thankno lockout on Tora fork would have been nice, seat