REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Beginner Bike

1453 Views 13 Replies 4 Participants Last post by repo_man, Nov 11, 2021

repo_man

Discussion Starter · Oct 28, 2021 (Edited)

Hi everyone. New to mtb’ing... My neighbor gave me an old Schwinn FS bike w/ 26in wheels and took me out of my first ride and I’m hooked. He’s pretty experienced and said I look like an elephant riding a flea on this bike and that I should really look into something in a large frame and that I’ll probably hurt myself on this bike before too long if I stick with it. I have to say, after my initial ride, I gotta go more! I feel like I want a FS bike for a smoother ride as I’m in my early 40’s and want something a little easier on my body. Having said that, I do not plan to take it easy. After watching a lot of youtube vids of ppl doing all kinds of fun stuff, I thought “yeah I want to do that!”… And I plan to once I have the experience. But I feel like with the stuff that I want to do and stuff that I did on my first ride, I want some shock dampening in the rear. I found Gt Sensor comp 9R (large frame) for sale local to me for $600 which is at the top if my budget. From the paint scheme, it looks like a 2013 model and it will need tires. I don’t mind upgrading it over time as I’ve been a mechanic (just for myself now) for years and know my way around tools, work, etc very well. The owner said it has been wall taken care of and I plan to go take a look at it in a week or so. I’m about 6ft’, 220 lbs (currently losing weight) and 31.5 inseam. My question is about the price… Does $600 seem like a good price for this if it’s in good condition?

Edit: I probably should have said that I also grew up on dirt (moto) bikes, 3, and 4 wheelers. Riding in the woods and dirt tracks and everything in between. Also I have been riding off and on ever since. I currently have a utility 4 wheeler that pulls 'around the house' duty.

Bicycle Tire Wheel Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Crankset

Bicycle Tire Wheel Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Bicycle frame

Tire Wheel Bicycle Bicycle wheel Bicycle frame

Tire Wheel Bicycle Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Bicycle frame

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #2 · Oct 28, 2021

I found some specs on the bike. It's the large frame. Thanks

Font Screenshot Rectangle Number Parallel

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eb1888

· #3 · Oct 28, 2021 (Edited)

How tall are you and what's your actual inseam with shoes. Not pants inseam.

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 28, 2021

I'm 6ft tall and inseam without shoes is 31.5. Thanks for the vid!

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eb1888

· #5 · Oct 28, 2021

You're going to be cramped on the L unless you use a longer stem(which it has) than currently normal. Otherwise it's a good bike for the price. Look at the suspension bushings and dogbone mentioned in the vid. Your inseam makes your torso longer. That's why you'll be cramped. Longer torso needs more cockpit reach. You can be a XL on older geo bikes. New bike geo has moved to longer reach with less steep head tube angle. Wider bars 760-800mm would help you fit.

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 29, 2021

eb1888 said:
You're going to be cramped on the L unless you use a longer stem(which it has) than currently normal. Otherwise it's a good bike for the price. Look at the suspension bushings and dogbone mentioned in the vid. Your inseam makes your torso longer. That's why you'll be cramped. Longer torso needs more cockpit reach. You can be a XL on older geo bikes. New bike geo has moved to longer reach with less steep head tube angle. Wider bars 760-800mm would help you fit.

Makes sense to me. Thank you so much.

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slapheadmofo

· #7 · Oct 29, 2021

eb1888 said:
You're going to be cramped on the L unless you use a longer stem(which it has) than currently normal. ....Your inseam makes your torso longer. That's why you'll be cramped. Longer torso needs more cockpit reach. You can be a XL on older geo bikes

Disagree.

I'm about the same dimensions as the OP, have owned and ridden many, many bikes over the bast 30+ years of MTBing and have never remotely considered an XL frame.
You can't determine things like 'you'll be cramped' based on the information given.

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Loll

· #8 · Oct 29, 2021

The bike doesn’t looked to have been care for, the pivots might be creaking while riding or climbing under your weight. Check. This might or might not matter as you are a mechanic.

I feel 600 for a not so well maintained 2013 bike might be much. New at one point was 999, in the lowest model of course. Talk the seller to 450-500, again mainly concerned about the pivots. You will find that creaks and clicking sound drives you crazy. Having to regrease after every other ride is a major turn off.

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 29, 2021

slapheadmofo said:
Disagree.

I'm about the same dimensions as the OP, have owned and ridden many, many bikes over the bast 30+ years of MTBing and have never remotely considered an XL frame.
You can't determine things like 'you'll be cramped' based on the information given.

I understand. Please let me know what other info I can provide to get the best answers. Thank you.

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slapheadmofo

· #10 · Oct 29, 2021

Loll said:
The bike doesn’t looked to have been care for, the pivots might be creaking while riding or climbing under your weight. Check. This might or might not matter as you are a mechanic.

I feel 600 for a not so well maintained 2013 bike might be much. New at one point was 999, in the lowest model of course. Talk the seller to 450-500, again mainly concerned about the pivots. You will find that creaks and clicking sound drives you crazy. Having to regrease after every other ride is a major turn off.

May or may not be. Aside from the crank wear, it looks like it could be in pretty good shape to me (from what I can see).
Almost looks like the cranks came off a different bike; it's odd to see that much rubbing on them without similar wear on the chainstays, particularly with so little wear on the tires (I'm assuming they're the stock ones, as they have the white versus yellow lettering which is common with OEM versions of Maxxis tires). That stuff and the blinky make me wonder if this bike actually saw more road miles than trail (which is good as far as wear and tear goes). Again, just the fact that someone kept those tires on the bike speaks to it not being typically ridden on any sort of 'aggressive' terrain.

Price seems close to reasonable as long as there aren't any major issues (which again, no one can tell from looking at a picture); looks like it was about $1700 new.
If it fits okay and looks to be in decent shape, I don't see why it wouldn't be worth $500ish.
Coming from a moto background, OP will have a pretty good idea of how well-worn it is once he sees it in person. Same general stuff applies.

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 29, 2021

Sounds good everyone. I'll post back with the outcome once I'm able to go look at it. Thank you all

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 9, 2021

So I wanted to post an update... I ended up getting a 2020 Giant Stance 29 2. I already had my maiden voyage on it and love it! Dropper post and new grips are on order already.

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eb1888

· #13 · Nov 9, 2021

If it has the 690mm bars you may like 760mm or wider risers bars as an upgrade.

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repo_man

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 11, 2021

eb1888 said:
If it has the 690mm bars you may like 760mm or wider risers bars as an upgrade.

Thanks for the info. Looks Iike it has 780mm bars on it. They feel great!

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