[Peramoure]

My friend of mine wants to go riding.. I bout a midlevel IBEX for about 400 a few months ago and haven't really paid attention to products etc since then. Anyway, he's 5'7, 140, and has about a 30-31 inseam. He's looking to spend as little as possible; he might buy used.. anyway - what size frame should he need, anything that he should take into consideration.. let me know. Thanks so much and I'll check back soon.

Dave

 

[AusMTB Orienteer]

I guess the first question would be, what does he intend to use it for. there are a ton of entry level MTB's out there aimed at different styles. ie specialized, trek, gary fisher, probably giant. it all depends on how much he wants spend and what he wants to get out of his bike. does he want to upgrade parts in the future etc.
but a quick whiz around LBS would pay well. I have just bought a specialized XCpro and am currently paying off a gary fisher cake 3 dlx but whilst wandering around the stores i had a look at the not lower end but entry lever bikes and most are a pretty decent quality these days. I bought my G/F a trek 4500 cost $1000 aus (about 450 american) and she is more than happy with it. riding streets and the occasional firetrail.
Best of luck and happy trails.

 

[kylejohn4543]

Frame size would be about 18-19". I would look at a Trek 820 or 3700. Fisher Tarpon or Mako. That's coming from the Trek/Fisher side of things, dogonfr would recommend more ibex.

 

[normdzn]

Actually, I ride a 07 Trek 3700, local trails, dirt, single track, bike path I ride them all. SoCal is not woodsy at all so I cannot comment on how this bike would perform on large roots and mossy rocks. One more thing, I am 5'7" and ride a 16.5" Trek, make sure you ride it and test it out. I think I could've fitted on an 18" but the 16" just felt easier to throw and muscle around.

Mind you the kickstand has been gone, since I got a boatload of suggestions to take it off since I started off-road riding!! Cheers.

 

[Eric Hoefer]

Wow for an entry level bike I like the geometry on that 3700 normdzn. (I would reccomend removing the reflectors too if they havnt been removed yet)

A new hardtail can be had for fairly cheap these days and still be very trailworthy such as this ibex alpine 350 for $300 http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-350-Details.html

The only problem with this is bike sizing is very much in the preference of the rider and its impossible to try out an Ibex before you get it. I would reccomend him going to a bike shop and throwing his leg over a few bikes to get a general idea of what feels right. I personally like a smaller frame I'm 5'9" and my hardtail is a 14" frame with a rather long seatpost and stem I prefer a more nimble bike.

 

[cratz2]

I'm 5'7" and have a 30" inseam. Usually 16" or 17" bikes fit me best. My main bikes are both KHS. A 17" rigid and an 18" hardtail. Stock, the 18" was a bit too big to get really comfortable, but I switched to a shorter stem and a mild riser bar and it fits great.

Actually, I tried a 16" or 16.5" 3700 and it fit me absolutely perfectly. I tend to almost always buy slightly used, but if I had to buy a new bike next week, there's a very good chance it would be the 3700.

 

[normdzn]

Wow for an entry level bike I like the geometry on that 3700 normdzn. (I would reccomend removing the reflectors too if they havnt been removed yet)

A new hardtail can be had for fairly cheap these days and still be very trailworthy such as this ibex alpine 350 for $300 https://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-350-Details.html

The only problem with this is bike sizing is very much in the preference of the rider and its impossible to try out an Ibex before you get it. I would reccomend him going to a bike shop and throwing his leg over a few bikes to get a general idea of what feels right. I personally like a smaller frame I'm 5'9" and my hardtail is a 14" frame with a rather long seatpost and stem I prefer a more nimble bike.

Yeah, the 3700 is working perfectly for me and my budget, I'm sure you'd be able to get better bikes at a more expensive cost. It seems like the ibex alpine 350 has similar if not identical comp specs compared to my 3700. It could be just a matter of feel and taste in color and graphics. Cheers.

And oh, about the reflectors, I can but this is my multipurpose bike, I ride it on the road a lot at night. You should see it with the head and tail lights and all the gadgets I put on it. Maybe I can remove them and just put some reflector tape on the bike.

 

[normdzn]

Here is the stock photo of my bike—finally made it available—so, if we are comparing apples to apples, which we are in this case comp-wise, I'd rather pick the Trek since it looks sweeter, IMHO of course!