whats a good buy for a mountan bike ?
I would like one for around $250.00 > $800.00
have no idea what to look at if I go into the shop , so what a good buy in a mens mountain bike Please , cheers seagull

It sort of depends what you want to do with the bike really.
ill asume your looking at hardtails and not dual suspensions as that is another topic alltogether...

- if your just after the sunday ride on flat track and not really into dirt then you could look at two types. One is the hybrid style bike, which is a mountain bike frame but with 29" wheels and a more upright seating position. (designed more as a comfort style bike), or the traditional 26" wheeled bike which puts you in a more forward position.

-if more aggressive riding is on the agenda then a 26" style is probably best looked at.

-pricing...
250 > 400 range are mostly steel frame bikes, whaich means more weight.
--they either have bottom end shimano (or equivalent) derailuers and shifters, usually in metal not alloy and only 7-8 speeds on the rear +3 on the front.
--single wall rims - which mean if you took a cross section of the rim, there would only be one piece of metal between the tube and the outside world(hope that makes sense), generally means a lower strengh wheel more prone to buckling.
--you cannot really call the shocks that come with these bikes shocks so i shall call them pogosticks.
--this price bracket only really good for the casual sundays

401>600 range
you start to see alloy frames appearing and a higher spec in the running gear. Still generally only 24 speed but better rear derailuers and levers
--rims are more than likely single wall alloy still

601>800
there is quite alot to pick from in this range.
--double wall rims become standard and are all alloy and alot less prone to buckles because of it.
--27 speeds become the norm around the 700 mark.
--better derailuers (smoother operation)
--cable disc brakes come in around 650
--there are significant upgrades to the front forks and most actually do some sort of job in the dampening stakes.

I hope that has made some sort of sense, but i`ve only just really scratched the surface.

check out
avanti
http://www.avantibikes.com/bikes.asp?t=8 

GT - awsome spec at the moment - great value for money
http://www.gtbicycles.com/mountain/catalog/category.php?catid=221&country=aus...

Mongoose
http://www.mongoosebikes.com.au 

grab some catalogues and prices from your LBS and compare.:P

sounds like habbit knows a lot about bikes.
you've given yourself a very big price range.
the more you can afford to spend, the better you will get.
Kinda like building a car really, get the best stuff, get the best result.

I'd personally recommend different brands though.
Not wanting to slag off other brands, but, my shop used to be a Mongoose dealer until a few years ago, when we had big warranty issues with frames splitting along the tubes, and Mongoose not warranting them. Their entry level bikes are average, their top end bikes are very good, but above the price range you specified.
GT used to be a very good brand, until they went through the wringer a couple of years back. They've been picked up by the same company who do Mongoose, and are now pimping the name on low end product. Again, you have to spend decent $$ to get a good GT. Some of the brands that GT own, such as Dyno are now being sold in supermarkets. Mongoose do similar with their MGX brand, and you see a lot of Mongoose clothing in Target.

I'd reccomend a Trek or a Haro.
Read the review in this months Australiam mountain bike magazine on the Haro V4.
You can see that just because it's an entry level bike, it's not just a slapped together rig.
They actually use decent frame geometry similar to that used on a proper cross country mountain bike, but for the recreational rider, use a tall head stem and handlebar for comfort.

Trek Bikes have had a huge winfall with Lance Armstrong winning 6 Tours de France in a row. I know he rides a Roady, but the amount of revenue he has created has gone practically straight into R&D across the whole Trek Range..

Anyway, do your homework before you buy anything, test ride other peoples bikes if you can, and think about what you want the bike to do.
Hopefully thids helps.
Please ask as many questions as you need.
Cheers.

K mart has a mountain bikefor $169.00 all frame duel supension , ally frame >rims , looks ok ?

Dual suspension is a loose term - to test rear susp wind the spring off and watch the 'shockie' collapse - they are a gimmick on the cheapies !

Im looking for an entry level MB atm - having a road racing history i know nout about MB's - so im taking my time! will probably be a second hand jobby... :blah

be careful with second hand bikes too, someone like me may have ridden it.

if you are using your bike for commuting (like me!!) definitely stay away from full suspension bikes, but make sure you DO get one with a decent amount of suspension travel in the front (makes stopping in the wet that much easier)
the reason i say stay away from full suspension is that my friend uses his foes weasel downhill bike to get around town (its the only one hes got!) and i have been commuting for a much longer time than he has... needless to say i found the huge amounts of travel both front and rear an absolute bitch to get up hills!!

tp2 - yeah im targetting the gumbies who think they need a $3000 bike to ride to the shops...get over it and the thing sits there - they are out there, and ill find a goodn! Im certainly aware of a 'used' bike

Cheers

does anyone here carry a DH bike on their beetle? Any rack recommendations?

i used to race a norco team DH series 01 (2001 model) back in 03, cost the team $5,000 and it was a beast, with 200mm of travel in the soft tail and marzocchi forks, hydraulic disc brakes, a frame that weighed next to nothing and 9 gears (remember, downhill doesnt need low range gears as much), it was an absolute monster. you can check out how the canadians are making bikes at http://www.norco.com 

my advice for roof racking a bike on a beetle: don't.
unless you plan to buy a bike rack for the top of an average shaped car, bend it to shape a beetle roof and then stick a bike on top, its not worth it. and i wouldnt risk strapping a decent DH bike to a cal look roofrack either. buy a kombi or type 3 wagon, nice flat roofs and plenty of storage in the rear for your spares.

back to the original question: don't buy norco. their retail bikes are lame. nice meaty frames, but the running gear (brakes, deraillers, forks) are below par.

go for a 2005 range giant methinks.

[ Edited on 4-11-2005 by Kroozin_Kikko ]

yep, no rack required. the bumper brackets are the same width as the wheel base on my rig.
just sit it on the bumper irons, and strap it to the wheel arches.

Thanks for the feed back guys :thumb

What are Merida's like?

Merida bikes are pretty good recreational bikes.
Just hope that nothing goes wrong with it, as the wholesalers can be tricky to deal with.

Yes, that's me doing the road gap on my Trek Session 7. I love it.
I've also had Haro, Diamondback, G.T., and Cannondale Bikes.
I rate Trek the highest in my personal experience.
Their entry level bikes aren't ecxeptional value for money, I'd lean towards the Diamondback or Haro, but their upper end bikes are awesome.

I wouldn't reccomend against a 2nd hand bike, just be careful.
I sold a 2nd hand Mongoose Nx 9.7 today with all LX and XT and manitou forks for $300.
absollute bargain. The guy who used to own it only sold it to get a bike with disc brakes.

here's a pic of me on my ORYX DH bike.

So summary on best bike in the 600-900 range, for some light off road but more tracks and gutters etc...but will do 10-20ks 5 times a week

thanks , seagull

check these out.
these would be my recommendations.

http://www.harobikes.com/atb/v3.php 

http://www.harobikes.com/atb/v4.php 

http://www.trekbikes.com.au/catalogue.cgi?rm=product&subcategory_id=2&product...

http://www.trekbikes.com.au/catalogue.cgi?rm=product&subcategory_id=2&product...

rrp on the haro's is in $US.
rrp on the Treks is in Aussie Pesos

[ Edited on 6-11-2005 by vwtyp2 ]

What do you think of the GT 2005 idrive 5 2.0? What sort of dollars is reasonable for this bike?

http://www.gtbicycles.com/mountain/catalog/detail.php?id=1440&country=aus&bra...

here is the link

forget about a GT.
GT Australia closed their doors this week.
a bit of bike industry gossip for you.


have a look at a Trek Remedy 5
http://www2.trekbikes.com.au/catalogue.cgi?rm=product&product_id=192&category...

or for the $$ a Raceline extreme expert 1
http://www.apollobikes.com/racelineproducts/cid/5/parent/0/t/racelineproducts 

What sort of dollars?

The GT im looking at is in stock at the local bike shop for $2000

the raceline is under $2k

check out the tref fuel 70 as well for under $2k.
we've got some '05 models in store, 17.5" frame and 19.5" frame for $1500.

personally at that end of the market Im a big fan of the Norco's. Canadian made, it was a few years back now, but i have a kockanee, alloy frame, alivio/altus groupset, decent alloy brakes and rims, Ive beaten that bike pretty bad, twisted the front wheel into the shape of an S but never damaged the frame. i ride alot of bikes from different eras and styles and the Norco is by far the most comfortable and best to ride that i have ridden. the fact that i got a $900 bike for under $500 because it was last years stock (and better equipped then the new model) just makes it sweeter.

I like the fuel 90...the GT has great components for 2k...I want something with similar components, i dont mind if its an 05 model, seems some models only changed colour from 05 - 06...

vwtype2, let me know what deals you can do on the TREK 90...
i'll go and speak to the boys at Free to Ride in Byron. I would like to use my local and faithful bike shop Sunrise Cycles in Ballina as they've always looked after me...

Also, should i be spending more than 2-3k?
I only want to do some light DH and single track rides, maybe an endurance type event...

I ride 10-15ks a day, mainly light offroad...
I have a Merida hardtail that i want to put road tyres on for more training and less off road...

kona dawg range. good all round bikes.

http://www.konaworld.com 

sorry Byron, we're out of stock of the 90's.
can do you an 80 for $1900.
if you wanna spend that kind of $$ then look at a Trek Remedy, especially if you wanna do some light DH and enduro type riding.

Forget the gears and bounce go single speed!

What about Scott bikes?