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So I decided to buy my first mountain bike recently after going on a few trips abd renting one. I found a 2004 rocky Mountai switch free ride for 600. Would I be better off getting that vs spending the same amount on a new bike?
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It is 10 years old, but that was a very sweet bike for its day. For even the lowest entry level new full suspension bike you will have do more than double $600. Not sure how up-gradable the shock is but you could certainly change to a more modern fork down the road, if it needed it. Unless it needs serious maintenance/repair I would think that is a good place to start.
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Unless you can verify that the bike is in REALLY good shape, I would advise against buying a 10-year old full suspension.
Also, what kind of riding are you doing? That bike is going to be heavy and overkill for general trail riding.
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I’m definitely not an expert so I have no way to verify how good of shape it’s in. I looked at in person and it appears to be in fine shape. The owner claims they only used it ligtly and only on basic trails. I’ve only been riding for a few months so I’ll be doing fairly basic stuff. Definitely no jumps or anything of that nature.
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For people new to riding, I suggest getting a hard tail. There are a few reasons:
1. They’re less expensive so if you decide riding isn’t really your thing, you’re not out too much.
2. They’re less complicated than full suspensions. Less to worry about, so you can focus more on riding.
3. They will teach you better fundamental skills that will transfer over to any bike.
4. Better value than a full suspension. You will get much better components on a hard tail when compared to a similarly-priced full suspension.
5. A hard tail is going to be lighter
Here’s a brand new bike in your price range:
http://www.jensonusa.com/Sale/Complete-Bikes/Diamondback-Hook-Bike-2016
Also, if you go the used route, you should be able to find a nicer, newer hard tail for $600. Look for 26″-wheeled bikes. I bet you can find a screaming deal on one.
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I agree with the hardtail pro’s and cons but that Diamond Back is a 1×8 for one, that can make for some miserable climbs for a newbie, and it weighs 30 pounds, that is 4 pounds heavier than my full suspension…..
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Awesome man, I rreally appreciate the advice!
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Hey Kane I sent you a message if you could check it and reply that would be great
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I don’t know if I need to but I will further argue that hardtail is the best option. My first full suspension bike was a 1999 gt xcr-3000 which I thought I could build for cheap using parts on ebay, but I ended up spending a lot more than I wanted to. My hardtail I built for about $300 and I was the best bike I ever owned.
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Well, I personally ride full suspension and love it, I can’t see me ever going back to a hard tail for anything.
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Many might think 29ers are wagon wheels but for hardtails they are great and a lot better than a 26er.
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Many might think 29ers are wagon wheels but for hardtails they are great and a lot better than a 26er.
It’s so funny to me that wheel size is still a point of contention for people. I’ve got bikes with 26″, 27.5″, 29″, and 700c wheels, and I like to ride them all. True, a lot of early 29″ bikes did suck, but so did a lot of early 26″ bikes, and for a whole lot longer. It’s safe to say they’ve got things figured out by now. 29ers had a much shorter learning curve than 26″ bikes.
I suggested looking for a 26″ on the used market because people are practically giving those things away right now.
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Th beginning of last spring I was right where you are now. I saw a new full suspension at REI and was in love. I was all for dumping my 2003 Giant Warp DS3 I had done some upgrades to in favor of the shiny new bike that cost $1500. After talking it over with my wife, I decided to upgrade or basically rebuild my Giant. So I replaced everything but the Shimano XT groupo I had upgraded a few years earlier. New rear shock (Manitou Revox Pro), crankset, disk wheel set, mechanical disk brakes, Manitou Match comp 130mm front fork, Truvative T20 stem, Azonic Agile riser bars, and WTB grips. I chose everything on the bike and I could not be happier with the final result. It is truly a one of a kind bike and for less than half of what the new bike would have cost. Every time I ride a trail some one asks me about my bike and they are shocked to find out it is 13 years old, well the frame is anyways.
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Almost 5 years ago, I started looking round for a new MTB. I had purchased a K2 Zed 3.0 back in 2001. It had Shimano Deore components, Rock Jett Coil/Spring shock, rim brakes and a 3×8 drive train. I looked at 29ers, Full suspension models and everything in between. But it was going to cost me over 2 grand to get into a hard tail with upgrades across the board. I was operating on a budget. So I did research and realized I could keep what I had, rebuild the bike and save a grand. So that is what I did. Penny pinched and scoured the net for deals. I tore the bike down to the bare aluminum and built it back up in they way I wanted it. Since then it has had few more upgrades and another grand dumped into it,mainly upgrading to the Judy RLT by Rock Shox (year and a half ago) and the 1×10 drive train (this winter).
For what it is worth, while buying something new is always nice and good for you local bike shop, you can find good deals on used bikes like the Rocky Mountain you looked at. People will unload used bikes for a lot less than they have in them. You can then replace parts and do upgrades as you go once you find out what you like and don’t like about the bike. Another thing I have found, is at sometime or another the bike and parts you are looking at has been reviewed by somebody somewhere on the world wide web. Doesn’t hurt to do a search and see what was written about them.
As far as buying a 29er vs a 26er… I get all the positives of going to a 29″ wheel. All I have ridden have been 26″ bikes so when I got on a bike with 29″ tires I didn’t like it at first. I felt like it really affected my hill climbing… but I am sure if I had stuck with it I would have adapted ok. I don’t race or try to set land speed records. So I doesn’t bother me that I don’t ride a bike with 29″ tires. I do know that I do more passing than I get passed regardless of bike type. Could I maximize my ability by upgrading both tire and suspension… probably… but it doesn’t keep me up at night. 🙂 I do find it interesting a 27.5 inch bike niche has formed… I think that is because there are people who aren’t thrilled with their 29ers. JMHO.
The original Zed 3.0
Zeds Dead today.
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