Help with a new 29er to be an 'all round" MTB

[Kert]

Greetings all,

First post and new to the world of MTB after spending years on the road.

I am looking to purchase a 29er as my first MTB in a long time since my old hardtail 26. I am looking at a duel suspension 29er bike and am just getting back into MTB after nearly ten years and spending the last few years on the road (which I will continue).

I am really after a MTB to "do everything" as far a a dually 29er can do. I live in the Geelong region and will be riding the You Yangs, Anglesea etc. I will mainly just be riding with mates but plan to ride some endurance events such as 100km, 12hour and 24hour enduro's.

Which duelly 29er best fits this bio?

I am leaning toward the Trek Superfly 100 AL Pro. But have also considered the Giant Antherm XO (nothing against them, just not a Giant person - but they are good value), Specialised Epic and Camber, and the Trek Rumblefish. I am looking at Aluminium to keep the costs down and need to spend under $4000.

Any experiences on the Superfly and opinions on the other bikes (and any that I have not considered) would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Kert.

 

[Refreshinglygood]

don't forget to look at Avanti, Norco and Kona. They have some good packages this year.


I'm not a giant fan either but the dually is very good value

 

[JP]

I have a mate with the Superfly and he loves it. He uses it for exactly what you plan to, just in a different state.

 

[SuiKiwi]

All rounder 29er

Take a look at the Rocky Mountain Altitude 970 - fits into your budget and i haven't found anything it can't handle up here.

 

[cam-o]

I'm curious why you are looking only at 29?
Don't get me wrong there's lots of great ones out there, but if I was in the market for all round bikes there's also plenty of 26ers I'd check out too.

Edit: but to answer your original Question I'd look at Pivot Mach 429 or Turner Sultan, I like DW link bikes. They will push your budget though, dunno if 2nd hand is on your radar.

 

[rearviewmirror]

On that list I'd go with the Rumblefish, there are also plenty of other brands that you could explore in that price range. (Ellsworth, Ventana, Turner, Santa Cruz, and so forth..)

 

[Sumgy]

On that list I'd go with the Rumblefish,

And this is why you need to ride them yourself and make a choice.
I would disagree with this entirely.
Yes for trail riding.
No for endurance racing.
Also no because it is a Gary Fisher/trek.

Do agree with the Tallboy suggestion though.

 

[Big JD]

And this is why you need to ride them yourself and make a choice.
I would disagree with this entirely.
Yes for trail riding.
No for endurance racing.
Also no because it is a Gary Fisher/trek.

Do agree with the Tallboy suggestion though.

Tallboy is the most capable XC/enduro/trail bike mentioned but out of your price range. I would add a Lenz Lev to that list and perhaps a Niner RDO (though I havent ridden one) - all out of your price range.
If you havent been in the sport for 10 years and used to the road why not start with a nice complient hard tail. You can get alot of bike for 4 grand. Bikes have change a fair bit in ten years and if you are just getting back into it then you will apprieciate the simplicity, light weight and effeciency of a solid HT. I would go a light steel like Niner, Singular or Ritchey (or a Yeti Big Top) with a good fork and killer parts spec - price range $3000 - 4000.
You will keep up with your mates on the weekend as you fitness improves (your bike might be lighter too) - have a great bike for enduros and not be lugging around pivots,shocks,complexity,weight,shock pumps, and mud in the wet.
Just a thought. Let me know if you would like more details on this.
JD

 

[wintortree]

Bandit 29

You gotta get a bandit 29. everything from xc to am/enduro. Mine is so good. So fast in single track yet can take the abuse you through at it. Open my eyes to 29ers. Someone finally made a 29er that doesn't feel like a xc race bike.

Check mine out.
http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?237959-Bandit-29

140mm from and 130mm rear.

 

[bunchie34]

You gotta get a Yeti Big Top. everything from xc to am/enduro. Mine is so good. So fast in single track yet can take the abuse you through at it. Open my eyes to 29ers. Someone finally made a 29er that doesn't feel like a xc race bike.

Check mine out etc....

 

[Hugor]

I kind agree with JD here.
4G will buy you a entry level but capable duelly or pretty well specced out hardtail.
If you want a duelly then forget pivot, santa cruz, lenz, niner, transition cause you'll use up most of your budget on the frame alone.
You'd be better off looking at the more popular brands like specialized, trek/gf, avanti, norco.
At your price range you'd get a reasonably specced out giant anthem, that will arguably perform just as good as any other bike out mentioned so far, which is the reason they are so popular.
Out of the mentioned bikes above my choice would be a specializee Camber. Haven't ridden one but I've read lots of good reviews about them.
Good luck with your purchase anyway.
This research part for me is always so much fun.

 

[Mtb1speed]

I kind agree with JD here.
4G will buy you a entry level but capable duelly or pretty well specced out hardtail.
If you want a duelly then forget pivot, santa cruz, lenz, niner, transition cause you'll use up most of your budget on the frame alone.
You'd be better off looking at the more popular brands like specialized, trek/gf, avanti, norco.
At your price range you'd get a reasonably specced out giant anthem, that will arguably perform just as good as any other bike out mentioned so far, which is the reason they are so popular.
Out of the mentioned bikes above my choice would be a specializee Camber. Haven't ridden one but I've read lots of good reviews about them.
Good luck with your purchase anyway.
This research part for me is always so much fun.

4G will buy you an entry level dually? Crap have I been fooled for the last few years.... I wouldn't call a Anthem x0 29er an entry level dually and it can be had for 2599 on a Giant factory backed sale at the moment. If you throw the other 1400 hundred at it you could also be running it with ZTR race gold 29er rims and XTR rear mech. That is far from entry level and would be a sweet sweet bike. Anyway, I'll just get back to my 26" yeti now.

 

[Kert]

Thanks for the replies - I will try to answer a few of yourt posts in the one hit.

JP - Your mate with the Superfly, does he find it's ride position aggressive or 'race' ?, or does he find it quite comfortable and manageable without being twitchey? I have read reviews that call it 'racey' and others that say despite being a race bike, you could ride it all day.

Cam-o and JD - I am looking at a 29er and not other hardtail options (as you suggessted JD), as I am after a competant bike that is as complient as possible. I have numerous injuries (back, knees etc. etc.) that need 'looking after' as much as I can. That is why I have decided on a 29er duelly. Saying that though, I need a bike that is competant, that is, be able to climb well and be resposive when i want to give it a good push. That is why I am thinking bikes with heaps of travel and a more relaxed geometry might not be for me (ie. Trek Rumblefish and Specialised Stumjumper and Camber). Yes they are more complient but lose some of their competance when climbed or pushed hard.

All - You have given me many more options to look at. I liked the Pivot and in particular the Santa Cruz Tallboy, (everyone seems to love the Tallboy). But unfortunately they are well out of my price range. When I say $4000, I am talking the price that bikes are listed as the RRP. I am expecting that i can get at least $500 (or even more) off the RRP of a bike that costs this much.

There is no doubting the Giant Anthrm XO is good value at $2600. If finances fail me - that may be the direction I head. However having a Trek road bike, I must admit I am leaning that way.

I do enjoy the research and you have led me to manufacturers that I have not even heard of before. I will continue searching and more advice and opinions are always welcome.

Cheers,
Kert.

 

[Big JD]

keep an eye out for the bike you really want secondhand

Thanks for the replies - I will try to answer a few of yourt posts in the one hit.

JP - Your mate with the Superfly, does he find it's ride position aggressive or 'race' ?, or does he find it quite comfortable and manageable without being twitchey? I have read reviews that call it 'racey' and others that say despite being a race bike, you could ride it all day.

Cam-o and JD - I am looking at a 29er and not other hardtail options (as you suggessted JD), as I am after a competant bike that is as complient as possible. I have numerous injuries (back, knees etc. etc.) that need 'looking after' as much as I can. That is why I have decided on a 29er duelly. Saying that though, I need a bike that is competant, that is, be able to climb well and be resposive when i want to give it a good push. That is why I am thinking bikes with heaps of travel and a more relaxed geometry might not be for me (ie. Trek Rumblefish and Specialised Stumjumper and Camber). Yes they are more complient but lose some of their competance when climbed or pushed hard.

All - You have given me many more options to look at. I liked the Pivot and in particular the Santa Cruz Tallboy, (everyone seems to love the Tallboy). But unfortunately they are well out of my price range. When I say $4000, I am talking the price that bikes are listed as the RRP. I am expecting that i can get at least $500 (or even more) off the RRP of a bike that costs this much.

There is no doubting the Giant Anthrm XO is good value at $2600. If finances fail me - that may be the direction I head. However having a Trek road bike, I must admit I am leaning that way.

I do enjoy the research and you have led me to manufacturers that I have not even heard of before. I will continue searching and more advice and opinions are always welcome.

Cheers,
Kert.

dont settle for less. Decide what you want then put it out there. I dont know how tall you are but I know I have sold 5 XL FS 29er bikes/frames in the past three years. Make sure you get what you want and dont settle on something. Yes you can wheel and deal on RRP with your bike shop and shop around - there is room to move mate - goodluck (yes Pivot and Tallboy are great options). There was an XL Pivot on bicycle exchange a month ago with full XT build / fox fork for $1800 and Gripper was selling a medium tallboy for 2+ grand here as well

 

[Sumgy]

I would also be looking 2nd hand.
You just missed out on my Tallboy (Carbon XL) .
I sold the frame only for $2k and was willing to sell it complete for around the price you are talking.
It would have had less than 3,000km on it and was in great condition.

 

[ssjgogeta]

Whatever you buy, always buy new. Warranty is piece of mind. Especially when you're spending the best part of $4K!

 

[frensham]

Whatever you buy, always buy new. Warranty is piece of mind. Especially when you're spending the best part of $4K!

Amen to that! There is no way I would ever consider spending $4000 of my hard earned cash on a bike (especially one with 3000km on it) wich had absolutely no warranty.

 

[Big JD]

Amen to that! There is no way I would ever consider spending $4000 of my hard earned cash on a bike (especially one with 3000km on it) wich had absolutely no warranty.

How else can you get $9000 worth of bike and stuff - your dream bike? I fully apprieciate the whole warrenty / support bit but if you buy quality and something goes wrong - you simply contact the company and discuss your options. I have been beautifully looked after by various boutique brands on the other side of the planet because they have their reputation on the line. If something f*C*s upwith their product (true warrenty issue) they want to know about it. They will do their best to get you back on their bikes. The companies I have dealt with that have absolutely blown me away with CS are Turner, Ventana, Cane Creek, Yeti (here in OZ), Blacksheep and Titus/Pivot (here in OZ). Customer service is more important to me than a peice of paper with a well writen script of legal jumbo. I wont list the companies that have the CS of a 24 hour kebab stand but I assure you they would not get my $$$$ and there are many.
Of course it is a gamble buying secondhand but it has been my experience over the past 20 years that the MTB community are exceptionally trustworthy and some simple investigation pays off. If it is too good to be true and the seller knows nothing about the bike, MTBing, Trails in the area - step away. But a fully built, lightly used, cutting edge frame with quality parts, from a rider and frequent racer and poster for under 4 grand - priceless. 3000 kms is light use for a year and a half. It takes experience to search down , investigate , research and deal with people - that is half the fun.
There is no way in the world I could have owned all the bikes I have if I had brought new. If that means buying secondhand, sometimes sight unseen, from the other side of the planet - to get exactly what i want. You will need to invest time to ensure the bike and person is legit.

 

[Sumgy]

Amen to that! There is no way I would ever consider spending $4000 of my hard earned cash on a bike (especially one with 3000km on it) wich had absolutely no warranty.

?????
3000km is bugger all.
I do that much on my Moots road bike every 3-4 months.
I do think I have over-estimated though.
It is probably only 2000 - 2500km over 2 years or so.

 

[Mike95]

+ 1 on buying 2nd hand

2nd hand is a gamble for sure, but it's also a way to own a bike you might only get to dream about.