A observation after a long MTB break

Coopz

Likes Dirt
Hey I'm getting back into MTB's after a 6+ year hiatus after switching to road riding I have the offroad bug again and I'm looking around at a new bike. After looking at around 8 bike shops one thing that stands out that I never noticed 10 years ago when I bought my last MTB and that is bikes seem to cost a lot more for what you get (inflation factored in) yet the equipment seems vastly inferior.

One brand name bike I looked at that was close to $1000 had nearly the same (if not identical) Shimano gear system that a $150 Repco bike at BigW was using..
Some salesmen gave me rolled eyes when I said I wanted to keep my budget under $1000 (well under if possible), telling me you get what you pay for and its better to spend more now so you save money in the long run ect as he tried to guide me to some $1900 setup. That maybe true but a $890 bike is a $890 bike, that''s a fair bit of money and I would like something that will last. I know the hardcore guys would spend that on a new set of wheels but I'm just a recreational rider who still mainly does 80% road riding. Just seemed back in 2000 that you had a lot more bike for your $. I bought my Giant SE Boulder back then and it had a great mid range gear set, quality crank and the bars and grips were solid and comfortable, I sold the bike in 2008 and not a single issue had occurred with it. the similar spec bike these days around the same price now has cheap gears (well they feel cheap), $2 hand grips and other parts bolted on that have no hint of quality.

Might be just me... I'm still going to buy a bike in the next week or so (probably the BH Lynx 29er).
 

C0na

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Hey I'm getting back into MTB's after a 6+ year hiatus after switching to road riding I have the offroad bug again and I'm looking around at a new bike. After looking at around 8 bike shops one thing that stands out that I never noticed 10 years ago when I bought my last MTB and that is bikes seem to cost a lot more for what you get (inflation factored in) yet the equipment seems vastly inferior.

One brand name bike I looked at that was close to $1000 had nearly the same (if not identical) Shimano gear system that a $150 Repco bike at BigW was using..
Some salesmen gave me rolled eyes when I said I wanted to keep my budget under $1000 (well under if possible), telling me you get what you pay for and its better to spend more now so you save money in the long run ect as he tried to guide me to some $1900 setup. That maybe true but a $890 bike is a $890 bike, that''s a fair bit of money and I would like something that will last. I know the hardcore guys would spend that on a new set of wheels but I'm just a recreational rider who still mainly does 80% road riding. Just seemed back in 2000 that you had a lot more bike for your $. I bought my Giant SE Boulder back then and it had a great mid range gear set, quality crank and the bars and grips were solid and comfortable, I sold the bike in 2008 and not a single issue had occurred with it. the similar spec bike these days around the same price now has cheap gears (well they feel cheap), $2 hand grips and other parts bolted on that have no hint of quality.

Might be just me... I'm still going to buy a bike in the next week or so (probably the BH Lynx 29er).
Have you not noticed the price increase in almost everything in Australia in the last 10 or so years? why would bikes be any different?
Dont want to pay a premium price? By online from International stores.
 

cleeshoy

Eats Squid
errrr, have you heard of inflation?

$1000 is not going to get you much bike. The second hand market is flooded with bikes. With a bit of research you'll probably be able to get your hands on a bike with high end components that way.
 

wombat

Lives in a hole
One brand name bike I looked at that was close to $1000 had nearly the same (if not identical) Shimano gear system that a $150 Repco bike at BigW was using..
I'd love to see some verification of this.
 
Er.. What?
when the value of the goods entering the country is $1000 or more they hit you with 25% customs duty

I had this when the $150 end of season wetsuit I purchased had an incorrect value on the commercial invoice and was listed at $1500 !!!

And customs tell you to eat a dick, pay up or no stuff
 

wavike

Likes Dirt
My first entry bike was a giant 2007 alais with Hayes sole brakes, X7 shifters and deore cranks. Alex wheels, it's still going as a commuter / mud bike. Retail $1000. The talon 2 2014 would be close with specs etc. Retail $1150. 15% increase in 6.5 years. You won't find much with that little increase around, around 2% inflation per year. A recreational bike is just that, as is entry level and so on.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/talon.27.5.2/14926/66836/#specifications
 

MARKL

Eats Squid
IMO the value you get on bikes these days is incredible compared to years past. In 1997/8 I bought my first good bike a $3,500 Specialised FSR Ground Control Comp. V brakes, RST fork (elastomers), spring shock, LX spec mainly with a DX rear derailleur and bars that narrow that brushing trees on single track was never an option...You can get a better bike now for less before you even factor in 15 years of inflation
 

scblack

Leucocholic
IMO the value you get on bikes these days is incredible compared to years past. In 1997/8 I bought my first good bike a $3,500 Specialised FSR Ground Control Comp. V brakes, RST fork (elastomers), spring shock, LX spec mainly with a DX rear derailleur and bars that narrow that brushing trees on single track was never an option...You can get a better bike now for less before you even factor in 15 years of inflation
I agree completely with this.

If I think of the 2002? Kona Stinky Deluxe that cost me $4,600, with

  • 6 inch rear travel.
  • 5 inch single crown fork
  • triple front rings
  • I cant remember if it was LX or XT drivetrain.

For that money now, you get a WHOLE new level of DH bike.
 
if you have a cheap bike then you can blame it if you are shit

if you have an awesomely expensive bike and you are still shit what will you blame ? God ???
 

pharmaboy

Eats Squid
My bike in 2000 I bought as a discontinued model - avanti adx450 - $2500, manitou spring fork, v brakes, lx drivetrain - around 15kg xc bike. In 2012 fro the same money I bought a giant anthem 29er, air SIDS, xt drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes 12kg and twice the bike.

Bikes are a veritable bargain these days. Every single component is better than they were for less money
 

moorey

call me Mia
Some stuff is a bargain now. In 2000, I paid something like $350 for a set of armour hydro discs...the cheapest, nastiest brake available almost, and half the price of cool hayes, which were about $650 memory. I bought a single XT 4 pot front at about the same time for about $350. Compare that to $200 for a full set of XT delivered now.
My Orange 222 with floating brake was something like $9k retail in 2002.....you can get a hell of a lot more than that in a DH bike for the same money, due to the dollar partly, but mainly because of competition driving price down.
Get the repco with the same spec...and enjoy....:crazy:
 

cramhobart

Likes Dirt
If you can, test ride a few of the bikes on your short list- I reakon you'll find them vastly superior than similarly priced bikes from 13 years ago- My 1997 giant atx 870 is still going with original(STI rc) drivetrain including chain, and I doubt you'd get 16 years out of a drivetrain on a bike at a similar price point today. Having said that theres no way I'd ride it off road today. The advice you got from the salesman is pretty good- a 2k bike is a frigging good investment, you'll wonder why you didn't get one years ago.Shop around and you'll get a pretty awesome bike for 2k, that will make you want to ride off road more often.
IMO a 1k bike will have you reaching for the roadie more often than not.

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles/giant/bikes-mountain-dual-suspension/trance-x-advanced-1/bendigo/vic/102210998
 
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marc.r

Likes Dirt
if you shop around and are willing to have the bike posted/not choose your favourite frame you can get killer deals

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicy...l-suspension/fluid-3/wangaratta/vic/102295916

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicy...al-suspension/fluid-6-3/duncraig/wa/102240785

sure you dont get great kit and they will be circa 15kg but I know id rather that then a 13.5kg giant boulder with crap kit too.

if you can even stretch to $1500 you can get heaps for your money. you just dont get to choose your favourite you have to take whats available. most big brands past 2008 models didnt make bad bikes.

the entry level hard tail is going to get tedious fast and will result in one of two things. 1) you giving up mtb and going back to road. 2) loving mtb despite it and upgrading.


$1100 this avanti vapour is ridiculous low entry. I dont see how you could spend 800 you would kick yourself for not stumping up 300 extra

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicy...dual-suspension/vapour-1/nerang/qld/102132704

$1500 gets you a trek fuel or an entry level giant trance or anthem. same frames as the $3500 models.

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicy...suspension/fuel-ex-5/wollongong/nsw/102258361
 
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