Imagine a friend has $5,000 to spend on a mountain bike and wants to know which bike you would choose. Five thousand dollars is a lot of money, thought you’ll still need to make some tough choices to maximize the value. Carbon frame, or top-end suspension? A premium drivetrain, or lightweight wheels? Decisions, decisions!
Feel free to post your choice and why you chose it in the comments below. In about a week or so we’ll present the summarized results.
Jenson has a Jet9 RDO 3 star build in beautiful emerald green for $4,959.94. Saving 20% off MSRP by getting a leftover from last model year is a no-brainer for me. I’m a pedally kind of rider, and have always been a fan of Niner’s suspension design. My old 2013 aluminum Jet9 is still going strong, but a lot of changes have happened since then. For instance, my frame doesn’t have routing for an internal dropper. The trails I ride don’t need any more than , but do require an efficient climber – lots of rolling terrain.
Norco Fluid FS A1
I’d be looking at an all-mountain ebike. The YT Decoy29 Core 2 is one of the few options I’ve seen for a full suspension ebike under $5,000.
If I got a free $5000 then a vintage SM800 Cannondale Beast of the East. 13” high BB, top mount shifters, roller cam brakes and give the rest of the money to a charity that gives bike to kids
At $5000 there are fantastic options. You can get a brilliant suspension platform, great components… all you have to do is stay away from carbon.
I would be interested in a plastic frame but the cost is a jumbo loan to pay for the custom mold and such. Homey don’t play dat!
I’m looking at a Scott Spark RC Team. Carbon frame/ swingarm, Fox 34 fork, complete Shimano XT group…$4999.
Had to go look… no dropper at that price!
Dammit, Jeff! The wabbit hole question of the year??
Frankly, I’ll go custom on the next bike. I’ve had enough of the stupid steep STA’s, BB drops to China.
Plastic need not apply cause custom is not an option or is a mortgage…
Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp alloy. You can adjust the geometry anyway you like, the build kit is fine and upgrade-able when you wear it out, and internal frame storage is a nice plus. Speaking of pluses you’ll have money left in yr pocket.
$4k on a bike and the rest on proper mtb skills training so I can go faster on my fancy new rig!
Being disabled I’d have to go with an e-bike. Trek E-Caliber 9.6 Gen 2 just slips under $5K on sale as of this writing.
I’d have to sell one of my bikes and add the proceeds to the $5000. Unfortunately any bike I’d want as an “upgrade” to the one I have is over $5k.