Hi guys, I am ready for a new bike, my current bike is a Raleigh Mojave 2.0 Frame with Rockshox Dart 2 fork and Shimano LX components from the late 90's. (This was my 2nd Raleigh Frame and my last per the Raleigh rep.) I had this frame for about 5 years and I am ready for an upgrade.
I'm willing to spend around $1,500 or less on a bike (preferably less). I am most likely going to try to by an older model brand new bike, i.e. left over 2012 or 2013 bike that way I can get a better bike for the money. I am looking at mainly Trek and Cannondale, but I am open to other brands as well. Preformance Bike Shop who sells GT and Diamondback bikes has a great warranty, basically your money back for a whole year or a lifetime warranty i.e. store credit on a bike, they'll also do minor adjustments for free on their bikes, they're a chain and have a over hundred stores in the US, so buying a GT or Diamondback from them seems like a good deal because of this warranty.
For $1,500 or less I think I am better off buying a Hard Tail bike because I'll get a better bike, but of course I'd love to have a full suspension bike. My dream bike is a Cannondale Scalpel however, they're around $4000 although I can get a 2012 model for $2,200 at a local bike shop. Anyway that same bike shop the guy has a brand new 2010 Cannondale F2 Lefty for $1,350 that I'm thinking of buying.
I will not be doing any races on my bike, just fun leasure riding, however, I grew up riding in NJ and love technical trails, and beat up my bikes. I am now living in Michigan and the trails here aren't as technical (at least the ones I've been on). I'll be doing a lot of riding in the Ann Arbor area for the next two summers.
Anyway what's a great bike for that price? Is it as simple as just comparing the compenents on different bike brands and going with the bike with the best components?
Thanks a lot for you help in advance.
I'm willing to spend around $1,500 or less on a bike (preferably less). I am most likely going to try to by an older model brand new bike, i.e. left over 2012 or 2013 bike that way I can get a better bike for the money. I am looking at mainly Trek and Cannondale, but I am open to other brands as well. Preformance Bike Shop who sells GT and Diamondback bikes has a great warranty, basically your money back for a whole year or a lifetime warranty i.e. store credit on a bike, they'll also do minor adjustments for free on their bikes, they're a chain and have a over hundred stores in the US, so buying a GT or Diamondback from them seems like a good deal because of this warranty.
For $1,500 or less I think I am better off buying a Hard Tail bike because I'll get a better bike, but of course I'd love to have a full suspension bike. My dream bike is a Cannondale Scalpel however, they're around $4000 although I can get a 2012 model for $2,200 at a local bike shop. Anyway that same bike shop the guy has a brand new 2010 Cannondale F2 Lefty for $1,350 that I'm thinking of buying.
I will not be doing any races on my bike, just fun leasure riding, however, I grew up riding in NJ and love technical trails, and beat up my bikes. I am now living in Michigan and the trails here aren't as technical (at least the ones I've been on). I'll be doing a lot of riding in the Ann Arbor area for the next two summers.
Anyway what's a great bike for that price? Is it as simple as just comparing the compenents on different bike brands and going with the bike with the best components?
Thanks a lot for you help in advance.
