Mountain bike recommendations

[Koa Man]

Shopping around for a bike that will probably see 90% street useage and occaisional dirt trail riding. The trails do not have jumps and can be negotiated with most any vehicle with a LSD. I would like full suspension and a MSRP of $1800 or less. Specialized BigHit Comp is on my list. Cannondale dealer will give me 20% discount off list, but don't know which model Cannondale is good. Cannondale's choices are overwhelming. Any mtn bikers out there with experience on these bikes?? Other suggestions??

 

[fkovalski]

I just recently got into mountain biking after cracking the frame on my road bike. Also, because of my location I opted for the off road capabilities and the opportunities it affords. I am not too familiar with Cannondale and Specialized brands, but do know them as reputable. I chose the Gary Fischer Tassajara model. I won’t be doing serious downhill ventures so rear suspension is not needed by me. I would think again about spending extra $ for rear suspension when you plan on using it 90% on road. The front shocks are great. I would recommend an aluminum frame though. Lightweight was a factor for me. With the prices you quote, I am sure that they are aluminum. I have medium grade components on mine but will upgrade when required. My price= $460. 00 I did have a sports oriented trainer set the bike up for my stature as I was used to the road bike and only had to change out the stem for one of a different angle. I would recommend this unless you are familiar with bike to rider geometries. I have a rack with side saddles and have done several 2-3 day camping jaunts in the back hills. I also ride it to work and with the price, it is everything I need in a mountain bike. Hope this helps and good luck. -frank

 

[Got Smoke?]

Talk to WadePatton he is really into mountain biking or if you like I can PM you my cousins email addy because he lives, breaths, and sleeps mountin bikes.

 

[Koa Man]

I will PM Wade. One of my friends told me to get two bikes. He said around $900 each should get me a decent road bike and a decent mtn bike, since I won't be doing jumps. I would prefer getting just one bike... storage space in the garage is at a premium with the kid's bikes and other stuff.

 

[LSMITH]

I have been in the Cannondale manufacturing plant, I can tell you that the product is amazingly well built. I was there about a year ago, after one of their bikes had been banned from competition for being and unfair advantage . I would buy Cannondale in a second, I highly doubt one could be made better.



I have a Ti alloy schwinn, it was a dang fortune 10 years ago, but is still a great bike.

 

[WadePatton]

Here's what I PM'ed KOA:



I've been riding for many years and started racing last year. So I guess I qualify as avid. A few generalizations first. I don't like Cannondale. I've owned 4 of them including road bikes. They're just too big and trendy -like GM. It's okay if you're going to trade every two years (like GM) but if you want a bike to hang on to, get something a little more standard. I'm a Marzocchi fan too.



Otherwise just ride as many different bikes as you can, because they're way different when it comes to FS. Absolutely no need for discs on the street. I have a SCHWEET bike and I don't even have discs on it--actually I have several.



WhatEVER you do GO TO A BIKE SHOP! Don't be a peckerhead and buy an internet/warehouse deal and then expect the Local Bike Shop to fix it with a smile on their face.



But don't be a slave to the LBS either. It's cool to buy SOME stuff elsewhere and they know that.



The more bike you buy, the easier it is for them to dicker on the price. Check out the local bike club-- that's where you can get a steal on a 2-year-old bike.



Also if you have to choose between two similar bikes and one has XT on it and the other has the other crap but maybe a better fork--go with the XT. It's real easy to replace a fork compared to all the other stuff.



90% street and 1800?! You could get a STOOPER SCHWEET hardtail for that money. Used Ti maybe.



HAY, and go check out MTBR.com (mountain bike review) Great place, I've written many reviews there. That's why I'm not recommending anything specific. I haven't been to the shop in a while and have no idea what's current.



Summary: Street 90% --High-end Aluminum hardtail with Semi-slicks and Marzocchi fork. If you must have FS--look at the Trek Fuel line--it's a 4-bar (Horst) style bike like the Turner that I ride, but mucho less expensive.



For the record:

MTN (FS)#1 Turner O2 with Z2 BAM XT/XTR

MTN (HT)#2 VooDoo Bokor with Z2 BAM XT



Roadie-- Vail Cycle Works (Columbus Steel) Carbon Fork/ Ultegra Triple



Had a Litespeed Ocoee (Ti HT), but sold it to buy the Turner.



Had 2 'dale mtns and 2 'dale roadies before that--never again.

 

[Koa Man]

Wade,,

Thanks for the suggestions. After buying one bicycle from Costco a few years ago, I decided I would always buy a bike from a bike shop. Bikes from department stores etc. are not set up and fine tuned like the ones from a regular bike shop. Road tested 2 Cannondales yesterday and did not like them as much as a Kona, which was a bike I did not even consider. The Specialized model I had at the top of the list wasn't very good on the the street, it is pretty much a off road bike only. Found out what I am really looking for is what they call a hybrid. I guess I need to keep road testing different models until I find one that I'm real happy with. If I had to make a choice right now it would be the Kona.

 

[WadePatton]

Koa on a Kona--KOOL!



I'd stay away from hybrids. They're a compromise bike. And while they'll do both things they're not real good at either. They're generally built to lesser standards and outfitted poorly because it's first timers that buy them the most.



I'd go with your other friend here. I'd much rather see a fella with two bikes than one hybrid.



But if that's what you really want, go for it. I'd just rather have semi-slicks on a full MTN rig for under 5-mile commutering- over that and I go roadie.



Good deal about the bike shops.



And Dept/Discount store bikes are absolute junk. They're also dangerous because they're assembled by folks who are NOT bike techs. I "won" a bike from the local Pepsi bottler once. It arrived assembled. Steering was tight--somebody had left out one set of the headset bearings!



And don't overlook high-end Steel. It's plum nearly as light as Al and rides a little different and is more durable. Columbus or Reynolds 853 type stuff.



One of the main differences you're feeling on test rides is the twitchiness or lack thereof. That's mainly due to headtube angles. Racey bikes are more twitchy for nimble handling, but it does get tiresome if your not used to it. You can find out the headtube angle numbers and compare them to what I say. "Police" model bikes have different angles to accomodate riders with gear belts.



yadda yadda I could ramble forever RIDE HARD

 

[Alan Reagan]

I've got a Cannondale. Love it. Trails or street, it is a tough bike.

 

[illflem]

Koa, keep in mind the tires on the bike when you give them a test drive. A knobby off road tire on the pavement will be like riding into a headwind.

 

[WadePatton]

Semi-slicks are the best all around tire. Almost smooth in the middle and knobby on the sides.





And what do you know CANNONDALE filed bankruptcy!

 

[John L]

Hey Wadepatton-

Why don't you like Cannondales? The components aren't the best but the frames are nice. I'll take a Caad7 any day.

and why the triple?



John



for the record



Titus Racer X, Fox Float, full xtr

Dean Scout Ti, Marzo, xt/xtr

Bianchi road bike

 

[Alan Reagan]

The components on Cannondale aren't the best but I put on what I wanted anyway..... from hydraulic disc brakes, composite bars, race face cranks... ..... you know..... a BOMBed mountain bike.

 

[WadePatton]

I don't like Cannondale after owning 2 road bikes and 2 mountain bikes they made. I don't like Cannondale because they're too big and too trendy.



I prefer to do business with smaller companies. The ones where you can call 'em up and talk to the people in charge. I don't like the trendiness because their "styles" come and go too quickly. I owned an early Delta V with the air/oil headshok--what a disaster. Never happier than the day I sold that, only regrets was that I kept it too long.



I moved on to Lightspeed and got a smaller company with a fantastic product. Only sold the Lightspeed to get a Turner and a Vail Cycle Works--both are 1-man shows (well I think David Turner hired a welder).



I'm real happy with those bikes-they'll be with me for a while.



I also have a Voodoo racing HT- it's my knock around-ride it in the rain bike. And a darn nice one.



Nothing wrong with the C-dale road bikes, but I wanted steel and better components. The Dales can get a bit worrysome on 60+ mile rides.



Why the trip? Cause I'm a FRED and the hills are steep around here--some are just chip-n-tarred goat paths. I get fat all Fall/Winter and ride all Spring/early Summer. I'm also 36, so I like to keep the heart rate down when training. Besides all my ATB's have trips why not 27 gears on the road bike?



Although I don't ride everyday, I've been at it since about 1986. I've turned the crank a few times.



Marzocchi--the original BOMBER!

 

[WadePatton]

Hey Alan Reagan, you ever get up to Tsali or Chattanooga area or Bear Creek? I'd be willing to meet you over there for a ride or race. I'll be doing the Knobscorcher again this year and maybe some other SE TN races.



I'm not competitive but usually SOMEBODY finishes behind me.

 

[Diesel Freak]

My first mountain bike was a Trek 930... big mistake! I folded the frame in half (seriously)



I then picked up a Specialized Rockhopper. I had a blast on this bike. I taco'd a couple wheels, but the frame and front fork (early Manitou 3) held up great. It was stolen



The last bike I purchased was a Cannondale SuperV 700. The frame has held up fine, but when I bought the bike it had a lower spec component group... Shimano Alivio derailers and brakes, RockShock quadra5 fork, and Fox Vanilla rear shock.



I traded the Quadra 5 for a Manitou EFC. The Alivio stuff eventually was replaced with XTR goodies. I blew the valving out in the Vanilla shock and went with a Riesse (sp) rear shock. The wheels held up fine untill I went on a ride by Mt Rainier. (Suntop) rebuilt the front wheel, and added a Ringle superdooper bubba hub... no problems since. I added Magura Hydraulic brakes to keep my downhill endeavers under control... ... I still have the bike... . I am very happy with it.



I am partial to Cannondale, but I recomend that you stay away from the Headshock, and Lefty front forks... ... I just do not like the design, and it is too proprietary.



If you honestly just want a bike for 90% road time... . I would suggest the F300 or Jekyll400 When you feel the need to venture on to the nearest dirt path, either one should suit you well.

 

[WadePatton]

See Cannondales aren't ALL bad, Diesel Freak made his into a nice bike with just a few thousand $ in upgrades.



Really I don't care what YOU ride, just get out there and do it. And do some trail work whenever you can.



Speaking of hubs, get Kings first chance you get, nothing like 'em.

 

[Diesel Freak]

Originally posted by WadePatton

See Cannondales aren't ALL bad, Diesel Freak made his into a nice bike with just a few thousand $ in upgrades.



Really I don't care what YOU ride, just get out there and do it. And do some trail work whenever you can.

hehe... almost... I am actually afraid to total it up... I would guess it is close to $2500 including the initial putchace price of the bike when I bought it back in 1996.



But like WadePatton said... ... . no one cares what you ride (unless it is a Trek )... . as long as you are riding!

 

[John L]

Koaman-

I may get roasted for this suggestion but look at Giant bicycles. They are probably one of the better buys for the buck. A friend rides 95 percent off-road on his NRS full suspension and hasn't had any major problems. The craftmanship, material & weld on the frames may not be the best but for the cost value you can't beat it. .



John

 

[Koa Man]

Actually I already bought a bike. , on Dec. 31. I was at the Specialized dealer and they had a 2002 model Rockhopper, suspension front with hardtail on closeout for $454. 00. Normally that bike sells for $650. Could not pass up that deal. Had LX components and was going to upgrade it to XT, but the salesman told me he wouldn't spend the extra $$ yet and try it out first. I did have them put on a suspension seat post and changed to all terrain tires instead of the knobbies. I like it for all around riding. Shifting is much more precise than my daughter's Mongoose with the Alivio components. I am thinking of getting a street bike also. Looking at Colnago, but those bikes start at $2500 and up. There are no cheap Colnagos. I love the Giant carbon fiber road bike, but that is $3800. I need to save money for a few more months before I can afford the luxury of having a high end road bike.