Help me send it!

Garto

Likes Bikes
Hi there!!

I'm mark, and my brother in law has finally caught my attention for mountain biking and I'm taking the plunge!

I am currently in Sydney's inner west and I need everything. Trying to wrap my head around bikes and what I want to ride for my personality and available tracks around here. Pretty sure I'm looking for a trail/enduro at around $4 - 5k (I've got some bonus cash) + the extras.

Suggestions so far have been:




I just want to get a bike and get out there, I figure first bike I dont know heaps but if it's good I won't need to get a new one so soon (seems to be a common theme among people who start is that they wish they bought a better bike straight up). I also like the look of the YT bikes and Scott also, but to be perfectly honest I'm just picking on aesthetics.

I wanted some guidance also on the best way to start, do any of you guys take newbs out and show them the ropes or do you recommend a clinic or course?

Cheers guys!
Thanks for having me and thanks for the advice, cant bloody wait!!
 

Oddjob

Merry fucking Xmas to you assholes
The depreciation on new bikes is brutal so I would go a good secondhand bike to begin with. Just make sure you have an experienced mtber with you and take your time to check for damage, suspension working, wheels straight etc. Also avoid proprietry suspension like Scott, Canyon, Yeti, Specialised.

Out of the mainline brands Norco would be what I would look at. Solid suspension hardware, no proprietry parts, good alloy models. And if you are looking at secondhand you don't have to deal with 99 bikes.

Happy to take newbs out. Hornsby and Wylde are the easiest access from the inner west. I usually head out on Sat afternoons or Fri or Sat nights for Manly dam laps. Pm me.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
 

droenn

Fat Man's XC President
4-5K gets you something decent new from a lot of brands, with the addition of warranty.

At that price range, and being new to it, pretty much any bike you sit on will feel great. Its actually pretty hard to be disappointed in that price range - you'll develop personal preference over time, but at the start, they are all pretty neat. Go visit a few shops and see which ones you can sit on/ take for a spin. Agree that Norco is good value at that price IMO - and a lot of people happy on Giant Trances as well. Kona has some good offerings as well.

However, its a big outlay for something you are just starting and not sure if you'll keep going for years, so secondhand provides a good way of testing it out with a decent rig for much cheaper..
 

Nambra

Definitely should have gone to specsavers
Welcome Mark, nice budget to be playing with. Tons of good buys in that range, if you do buy new try not to pay full price and hunt down a bargain if you can. I think Trek and Giant have ~20% off sales at present (as you’ve linked above). Other brands may as well.

I’ve seen a few Banshee Spitfires for sale recently as a second hand option; they also rate well with folks on this forum as very capable trail bikes.

If you’re completely new to mtb my only advice is don’t get put off because you’re not fit. It only takes a couple of solid weeks to get the legs and lungs conditioned enough for you to actually enjoy riding, as opposed to feeling like you wanna puke after a tough climb!

Also suggest watching a few YT channels like GMBN and Seth’s Bike Hacks for some good pointers on technique.
 

Mr Crudley

Glock in your sock
The depreciation on new bikes is brutal so I would go a good secondhand bike to begin with. Just make sure you have an experienced mtber with you and take your time to check for damage, suspension working, wheels straight etc. Also avoid proprietry suspension like Scott, Canyon, Yeti, Specialised.
All good points. Best bang for buck if chosen wisely.
 

Garto

Likes Bikes
Hey thanks so much guys!! So confusing ... I cannot believe there are so many brands out there!! When I'm on break I'll be down to the bike shop to start feeling my way through. ABC bikes looks like a good joint with a heap of stock to choose from.

Might start googling banshee...
 

downunderdallas

Likes Bikes and Dirt
One advantage of buying new is most decent bike shops will let you test ride, this would be ideal if you have done very little riding before. Sounds lie you have some idea, sounds like you have also worked out trail/enduro vs XC. Something like a Trance 29er you have noted will do most things especially for someone new. If your brother in law is into it can he help you get a bike?
 

hellmansam

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I'm a few months into my new bike (Trek Fuel EX) coming back to MTB after a long time (last century) I was pretty clueless about what made a Trail bike different to XC vs Endurobro etc. Stoked with the bike, 130mm travel is great for the riding I have access to.

Bargains can be had on last years models, as well as on used bikes when people update to this years model. Like a used car there is some risk for the buyer if they don't know their stuff re wear and tear, replacement parts costs, spotting cracked or bent bits etc.

Demo hire bikes are worth trying, some shops will take whatever you've spent with them on demo hires, off the price of a bike bought from them.

I liked the YT Jeffsy but wanted the chance to have a good try out of the bike I ended up buying, three days riding two different spec versions, in two different spots and I was convinced.

Banshee looked interesting but no chance for me to demo. I probably don't ride hard enough to need the extra burliness anyway.
 

Garto

Likes Bikes
One advantage of buying new is most decent bike shops will let you test ride, this would be ideal if you have done very little riding before. Sounds lie you have some idea, sounds like you have also worked out trail/enduro vs XC. Something like a Trance 29er you have noted will do most things especially for someone new. If your brother in law is into it can he help you get a bike?
Yeah hes doing a heap for me but hes in Brisbane and I'm in Sydney so as much as we can over the phone!!
 

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Bicycles Online also have some good value options if you are keen for new. Some of them are supremely ugly too! You might even get some change out of your budget for a sweet helmet+gloves+pants+shoes...

Just he prepared to blow a lot of cash with alarming regularity.
 

safreek

*******
Hi there!!

I'm mark, and my brother in law has finally caught my attention for mountain biking and I'm taking the plunge!

I am currently in Sydney's inner west and I need everything. Trying to wrap my head around bikes and what I want to ride for my personality and available tracks around here. Pretty sure I'm looking for a trail/enduro at around $4 - 5k (I've got some bonus cash) + the extras.

Suggestions so far have been:




I just want to get a bike and get out there, I figure first bike I dont know heaps but if it's good I won't need to get a new one so soon (seems to be a common theme among people who start is that they wish they bought a better bike straight up). I also like the look of the YT bikes and Scott also, but to be perfectly honest I'm just picking on aesthetics.

I wanted some guidance also on the best way to start, do any of you guys take newbs out and show them the ropes or do you recommend a clinic or course?

Cheers guys!
Thanks for having me and thanks for the advice, cant bloody wait!!
Best guidance I can give is, don't buy new bikes. Buy vintage dh bikes and have S blast.
Man, you could buy a collection of class, think Schwinn, Cannondale, karpiel.
You will want and need them all
 

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Best guidance I can give is, don't buy new bikes. Buy vintage dh bikes and have S blast.
Man, you could buy a collection of class, think Schwinn, Cannondale, karpiel.
You will want and need them all
Just avoid 1 1/8 head tubes.
 

born-again-biker

Is looking for a 16" bar
The depreciation on new bikes is brutal so I would go a good secondhand bike to begin with. Just make sure you have an experienced mtber with you and take your time to check for damage, suspension working, wheels straight etc. Also avoid proprietry suspension like Scott, Canyon, Yeti, Specialised.

Out of the mainline brands Norco would be what I would look at. Solid suspension hardware, no proprietry parts, good alloy models. And if you are looking at secondhand you don't have to deal with 99 bikes.

Happy to take newbs out. Hornsby and Wylde are the easiest access from the inner west. I usually head out on Sat afternoons or Fri or Sat nights for Manly dam laps. Pm me.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
^This.

Sent from my LG-H870DS using Tapatalk
 

Oddjob

Merry fucking Xmas to you assholes
Top