[glazer1972]

I am trying to figure out which is the best route for me to go. I am 6.1” 245 lbs. My measured inseam is 32”. I have been riding a 2010 Giant Boulder since 2010. I mostly ride dirt/paved path, fire roads in The Davy Crockett National Forest. There are a couple of actual mountain bike trails in a couple of parks close by that I would like to get on more. I have also been riding back and forth to work. 3 miles round trip on road. I am obviously looking to get a 29er. I know I could probably get by with a cheaper bike this time like I did the first time but I figured if I went ahead and got better this time it would last me a while with minimal changing. What do you all think of these options?

2014 Trek X-Caliber 9 17.5 or 18.5” $1428 OTD @ LBS includes 6 months of free tune-ups.
Colors Trek Black/Team Green
Frame Alpha Gold Aluminum w/semi-integrated head tube, mechanically formed & butted tubing, race geometry, internal front derailleur routing, G2 Geometry
Front suspension RockShox XC32 w/Solo Air spring, TurnKey lockout, custom G2 Geometry w/51mm offset, 100mm travel (14.5": 80mm travel)
Wheels Formula DC91 alloy front hub; Formula DC32 alloy rear hub w/Bontrager AT-850 32-hole double-walled rims
Tires Bontrager XR1 29x2.20"
Shifters Shimano Deore, 10 speed
Front derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear derailleur Shimano Deore XT Shadow
Crank Shimano M622, 40/30/22
Cassette Shimano HG62 11-36, 10 speed
Pedals Wellgo nylon platform
Saddle Bontrager Evoke 1.5
Seatpost Bontrager SSR, 27.2mm 12mm offset
Handlebar Bontrager Low Riser, 31.8mm, 15mm rise
Stem Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree
Headset 1-1/8" threadless, semi-integrated, semi-cartridge bearings
Brakeset Shimano M445 hydraulic disc brakes
Grips Bontrager Race

Airborne Goblin 18” $1275 Delivered + $33 for Pedals= $1308
Frame 6061 Hydroformed Aluminum Hardtail 29"
Fork RockShox Reba RL 29 w/Lock-Out, tapered steer, 100mm
Headset Ahead Sealed Cartridge 1 1/8" to 1.5" tapered
Brake Levers Avid Elixir 7
Brakes Avid Elixir 7 Hydraulic Disc
Rotors Avid 180mm front, 160mm rear
Shifters SRAM X-7 2x10
F Derailleur SRAM X-7 2x10
R Derailleur SRAM X-7 2x10 Mid-Cage
Cassette SRAM PG-1050 11-36T 10-Speed
Chain SRAM Powerchain 1051
Crank SRAM X-7 2x10, 38/24 rings
Bottom Bracket SRAM XR GXP Sealed BB
Pedals NONE
Rims WTB SpeedDisc I-19 Alloy Double-Walled with eyelets
Hubs KT HiFlange Sealed Bearing 32H
Spokes Black 14g Stainless
Tires GEAX AKA 2.2"
Handlebar AIRBORNE Alloy Flat, 640mm width
Stem AIRBORNE Alloy +/- 7 Degree Rise, size specific
Saddle Selle San Marco Ponza Power
Seat Post AIRBORNE Alloy 31.6mm Diameter, 350mm Length
Extras Owner's Manual, Clear Coat, H20 Bottle Mounts

Airborne Seeker 18” $1005 Delivered+ $33 for Pedals= $1038
Frame 6061-T6 Hydroformed Aluminum Hardtail 29er with tapered HT
Fork Rockshox Recon TK GOLD solo Air w/Lock-Out, 100mm, TAPERED
Headset Ahead Sealed Cartridge 1 1/8" to 1.5" tapered
Brake Levers Avid Elixir 1 Hydraulic
Brakes Avid Elixir 1 Hydraulic
Rotors Avid 160mm
Shifters SRAM X5 2x10
F Derailleur SRAM X5 2x10
R Derailleur SRAM X5 2x10
Cassette PG-1030 11-36T
Chain SRAM Powerchain 1031
Crank X5 2x10 crank, 175mm length, GXP
Bottom Bracket SRAM GXP (outboard bearings)
Pedals NONE
Rims Weinmann Disc Bull Double-Walled with Eyelets, 32H
Hubs KT HiFlange Sealed Bearing 32H
Spokes Black 14g Stainless
Tires GEAX AKA 2.2"
Handlebar Alloy Riser Bar, 660mm width, 15 degree rise,5 degree sweep
Stem AIRBORNE Alloy +/- 7 Degree Rise, size specific
Saddle Selle San Marco SPID Black
Seat Post AIRBORNE Alloy 31.6mm Diameter, 350mm Length
Extras Owner's Manual, Clear Coat, H20 Bottle Mounts

Bikes Direct Gravity 29.6 19” 1299 Delivered.
Frame ALLOY 6061 Aluminum with TrailTested Design. D-Section, Hydroformed Downtube with reinforced Gusset, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, water bottle mount
Fork 29" SUSPENSION FORK, Rockshox Reba RL 29 100mm Long Travel, Dual-Air, Lockout threshold damping, MaxleLite Thru-Axle
Crankset FSA AfterBurner 22Tx32Tx42T(for 30-SP)x175mm, ALLOY BLACK CRANK arms
Bottom Bracket FSA MegaEXO Sealed external bearing, 68mm
Pedals Mountain Platform
Front Derailleur SHIMANO XT, 31.8mm clamp
Rear Derailleur Shimano DynaSys XTR long cage, for 30 Speed
Shifters Shimano DynaSys XT, 30 speed, trigger shift
Cassette Cassette CS-HG 11-36t 10 speed
Chain KMC DX10, for 30 Speed
Hubs Gravity by Formula Sealed Ball Bearing Disc with Quick Release
Spokes Stainless steel
Rims WTB SPEED DISC 29x32H, Black anodized Aluminum
Tires WTB PROWLER SL RACE, 29x2.1
Brakes Avid Elixir 7 Hydraulic Disc Brake, 180mm Rotor frt and rear
Brake Levers Avid Elixir 7, Hydraulic Brake Levers
Headset CaneCreek VP-A42E Sealed Bearing threadless 1 1/8 in
Handlebar Black Finish Aluminum 6061 T6, 610MM x 31.8mm
Stem Black Finish Aluminum threadless EXT:90MM(15.5"~17.5")/110MM(19"~21")x10 DEGREES
Tape/Grip WTB DualCompound
Saddle WTB SpeedV
Seat Post Black Finish Aluminum Mountain 27.2mm x 400mm
Seat Post Clamp Super Light Alloy with Quick Release
Colors Matte Silver

Bikes Direct Gravity 29.5 19” $1191 Delivered.
Frame ALLOY 6061 Aluminum with TrailTested Design. D-Section, Hydroformed Downtube with reinforced Gusset, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, water bottle mount
Fork 29" SUSPENSION FORK, Rockshox Reba RL 29 100mm Long Travel, Lockout threshold damping
Some forks will have new updated graphics (no choice, cannot choose)
Crankset FSA V-Drive 24Tx32Tx42T(for 30-SP)x175mm, ALLOY BLACK CRANK arms
Bottom Bracket FSA MegaEXO Sealed external bearing, 68mm
Pedals Mountain Platform
Front Derailleur SHIMANO SLX FDM662, 31.8mm clamp
Rear Derailleur SRAM X9 long cage, for 30 Speed
Shifters SRAM X9, 30 speed, trigger shift
Cassette Cassette 11-36t 10 speed
Chain KMC DX10, for 30 Speed
Hubs Gravity by Formula Sealed Ball Bearing Disc with Quick Release
Spokes Stainless steel
Rims WTB SPEED DISC 29x32H, Black anodized Aluminum
Tires WTB PROWLER SL RACE, 29x2.1
Brakes Avid Elixir 5 Hydraulic Disc Brake, 185mm Rotor frt and rear
Brake Levers Avid Elixir 5, Hydraulic Brake Levers
Headset CaneCreek VP-A42E Sealed Bearing threadless 1 1/8 in
Handlebar Black Finish Aluminum 6061 T6, 610MM x 31.8mm
Stem Black Finish Aluminum threadless EXT:90MM(15.5"~17.5")/110MM(19"~21")x10 DEGREES
Tape/Grip WTB DualCompound
Saddle WTB SpeedV
Seat Post Black Finish Aluminum Mountain 27.2mm x 400mm
Seat Post Clamp Super Light Alloy with Quick Release
Colors Matte Black

 

[eb1888]

The Grav6 is the best spec'ed except for the brakes. SLX would be $123 cost as an upgrade.
Trek Fest is on and with negotiating you can get 15 off the sticker. The Superfly 5 is the bike I would like in that price range.
But you have been riding for a while. You may want to take a bigger jump for a bike you will use for a number of years.
Superfly 9.6 with 15 off will be 2100 or so and give you great rear compliance and handling. A broad range of terrain will not be a problem. This is the first year for this carbon model, as it comes out of the Apollo Project collaboration with the road bike carbon frame engineering group. I'm almost 5'11"/32 inseam and take an 18.5. I would look at the 19.5 to start.

 

[BigVaz]

With Trek fest you can currently find some pretty good deals & get some free gear. Plus you'll have a LBS to go to if there is any warranty issues. Better than mailing it back imo...

You typically get what you pay for & I like the backing of a large company. That's why i bought a Trek instead of any others. Plus I got a great deal with Trek Fest. Also got the $200 in free gear.

 

[boilernole]

Plus I got a great deal with Trek Fest. Also got the $200 in free gear.

What kind of "great deal" did you get? My LBS is offering the $50 or $100 in accessories, but that's it. I'd much rather $50 or $100 off of the bike's cost, but they didn't seem willing to negotiate. Just curious what others are getting.

 

[BigVaz]

I got $200 in free gear & I was also at a trek demo day, so I got a $100 rebate for demo-ing a bike. I got $500 of the msrp for the Fuel ex8 too. So, I think I did pretty good...

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

 

[boilernole]

I got $200 in free gear & I was also at a trek demo day, so I got a $100 rebate for demo-ing a bike. I got $500 of the msrp for the Fuel ex8 too. So, I think I did pretty good...

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Definitely! Especially considering my LBS wouldn't budge on the price!

 

[BigVaz]

Definitely! Especially considering my LBS wouldn't budge on the price!

I'm pretty good at negotiating so that helped.

If your lbs won't negotiate, go somewhere that will. Pretty stupid on their part.

This was the second bike I've bought from this dealer and I'll buy more.

 

[glazer1972]

My LBS did budge once when i bought the in stock Giant Boulder. When sales were specially slow. IE in winter early spring.