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Tagged: Shimano, suspension, XT
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January 29, 2013 at 21:42 #116074
Hi I want to buy my first good bike but dont know where to start
Airborne Hobglobin XO
http://www.airbornebicycles.com/product … in-x0.aspx
the airborne only seem to need better brakes, swap them for shimanos XT.
Brakes – XT $260 ice tech rotorsMotobecane Fantom XTR
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mot … _xtr30.htm
Fantom needs crank and Brakes, I will upgrade those to shimano XT
crank – shimano XT $296
Brakes – XT $260 with ice tech rotorsTrek Rumblefish Elite
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mo … fish_elite
This one is mostly SLXGiant Anthem X29 1
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bik … ifications
also mostly SLX arguable less value than the rumblefish if this one dont come with 142×12 rear axle and less quality brakes
Brakes – XT $260 ice tech rotorso does shimano SLX feels like XT?
what about the suspension on those design and shocks/forks.
I left all others out since group for price are way to high.
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January 30, 2013 at 05:24 #116075
Why exactly do you need to upgrade the brakes to Shimano XT on all of these bikes? The Airborne, for instance. Sure, XT brakes might be nicer, but there are a dozen things that you could upgrade to be "nicer."
IMO, if budget is an issue, doing an aftermarket upgrade right after purchasing a brand new bike that already has a pretty awesome component spec is a bad idea. Maybe after you’ve ridden it for a couple of years and have some money burning a hole in your pocket, look at doing an upgrade then.
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January 30, 2013 at 08:16 #116076
Actually I can confirm that the OEM Elixir brakes are awful. However, for upgrading, go with the SLX. They work exactly the same as the XT’s, weigh only a couple of grams more, and are a LOT less money.
Airborne is a decent ride for the price.
For Motobecane, I have no issues with their hardtails but I’d probably avoid the FS … although that does look an awful lot like a Diamondback Sortie, minus the proprietary knucklebox suspension.
I own a 2011 Anthem X 29er 3 and I love it. The stock SLX drivetrain works great, but I have upgraded the wheels to XT and the brakes to SLX. (watch the blog for a review of both) This bike has given me no issues, and if you buy it new it carries a lifetime warranty on the frame.
And just to give you food for thought: check out the Felt Edict Nine 50. It’s the same price as the Anthem, carries slightly lesser drivetrain components, but has SLX brakes. (the non-icetech ones, but functionally the same) I rode the carbon version of this bike at Outerbike and it blew me away. If I was shopping now, I’d buy the Aluminum Felt over the Giant, and I am currently scheming to try to upgrade my Anthem to the carbon Felt. (anyone need a kidney?) 😆
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January 30, 2013 at 08:38 #116077Actually I can confirm that the OEM Elixir brakes are awful. However, for upgrading, go with the SLX. They work exactly the same as the XT’s, weigh only a couple of grams more, and are a LOT less money.
I disagree. It depends on the level of the Elixirs. Some of the lower Elixirs aren’t the greatest, and while I’ll grant you that I’d prefer XT over Elixir 9s, as a stock set of brakes the 9s are not too shabby. I own a bike with 9s and have put several thousand miles on it and have felt no compulsion to upgrade. While I have ridden with better brakes, they haven’t been good enough (and the 9s haven’t been bad enough) for me to plunk down the $$ to swap them out.
Now, if my 9s bit the dust, I would consider XT brakes (or at least SLX) for a replacement…
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January 30, 2013 at 08:46 #116078
Fair enough, my opinion is based solely on going from Formula -> Elixir 3 -> SLX. The 3’s are definitely the weak link in that line-up.
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January 30, 2013 at 08:51 #116079Formula -> Elixir 3 -> SLX. The 3’s are definitely the weak link in that line-up.
Yup I’d definitely agree there 😀
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