Thread: Asking the brains trust - What MTB?

Whichever bike you buy, the rear shock will need revalving if you want it to work properly and last.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Whichever bike you buy, the rear shock will need revalving if you want it to work properly and last.

I'm guessing to suit my extra mass...

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Whichever bike you buy, the rear shock will need revalving if you want it to work properly and last.

Honestly most rear shocks are just going to suck themselves full of air under any normal hard use anyway.

So just ride the shock until it goes all slurpy, then get whoever services it for you to add another 100psi to the floating piston pressure when they're done.

Most fox shocks now are foregoing any useful shock valving to give more external modes. Like ctd. There is virtually nothing worth doing to them as far as revalving. They don't even have high speed rebound ports.

Asked a bloke at work who is into MTB in a big way. Giant Anthem 27.5 or Norco with similar spec is a good starting point. Rrp around 2600, negotiate at least 10 pc off; more at eoy / model year changeovers. Giant has lifetime on the frame.

Look up facebook for mountain bike buy / sell if looking for secondhand.

Why not a hard tail? I'm now very light, and I've had problem after problem with my dualie.

As someone who started out as a big guy, lots of people come to me for advice. I recommend 29er hard tails now. Cheap, and usually robust. I have recommended hybrids but they generally aren't built strong enough. Bikes seem to suffer exponentially as the rider increases in weight.

I think that whatever bike you buy now won't be the bike you'll want in 12 months. If you really stick at it your body will be very very different, and the bike probably worn out. So just go something cheap and durable for a starter and worry about what will suit you later - later.

Expect that whatever you buy will probably need attention to the wheels - and you may need custom wheels if you have troubles.

Hi, from your question you seem to be looking for a bike that will climb as well as descend, hence the trail/all mountain suggestions. I would also suggest the new(ish) wheel size of 275 (or 650. At present I don't think there is a bad bike on the market, all the bike companies are producing some truly awesome bits of kit. I would be looking at something with 140/150mm of travel a slacker head angle, 275 wheel set and possibly a slightly lower bottom bracket. The slacker head angle will help when things get gravity, with adjustable travel dropping the forks and rear shock will help climbing and 275 is a great compromise between 26 & 29" wheels. I
would suggest a Giant Trance, possibly Trance x. Giant produce some amazing bikes with excellent choice of components and well priced. Good luck with your search, check out the 2nd hand market for your first bike.Cheers, Phil

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Why not a hard tail? I'm now very light, and I've had problem after problem with my dualie.

As someone who started out as a big guy, lots of people come to me for advice. I recommend 29er hard tails now. Cheap, and usually robust. I have recommended hybrids but they generally aren't built strong enough. Bikes seem to suffer exponentially as the rider increases in weight.

I think that whatever bike you buy now won't be the bike you'll want in 12 months. If you really stick at it your body will be very very different, and the bike probably worn out. So just go something cheap and durable for a starter and worry about what will suit you later - later.

Expect that whatever you buy will probably need attention to the wheels - and you may need custom wheels if you have troubles.

Exactly what I was going to post!

I've been riding my 26" Cube hard tail now for 3 years. I wanted a dual suspension bike but a mate of mine suggested that for general/fitness riding a hard tail is perfect - he was absolutely correct.

Hard tails are cheaper and you should be able to get a good one second hand now that everyone is upgrading to 29". That will get you fitter and lighter. After that you will have a good idea about whether you need something new and what to get to suit your riding.

Incidentally, I bought my bike second hand (but as new) from a big bloke who went out and bought an expensive bike to lose weight and get fit ... and then gave up. eBay is full of similar stories!
Whatever you get, enjoy it and stick with it!

I would vote Giant, nothing against other brands but I have never had any problems with Giant frames. I had when I was in school an aluminium hard tail Giant, supposedly a cross country frame. I rode the hell out of it for years and years, over all manner of painful things, Pringled many a rim. Frame still good! I just got a 26" trance and I love it, I'm only small.
giant have thrown all their R and D into the 27.5" wheel size, I would go for that if it was around when I got mine. I reckon that will be the dominant size in coming years if the manufacturers have any knowledge of their market. giant Reign is good for bombing downhill but still not too bad to pedal back up, 6" of bOunce at rack end