[fmrock]

Hey Everyone,

This is my first post and i am just looking for a few suggestions.

I ride every weekend, mostly trails and on/off road areas.

So, right now im riding a wallmart special... and this past weekend it broke on the trail and i ended up on the ground.

I am a big guy... i am 6'4" 225ish. I have not had a chance to hit up any of the local bike shops until this weekend.

I started looking around here and have seen lots of suggestions on entry level bikes. I bought my wife a specialized entry level a few years back, and comparing that to my wallmart special its amazing. So i was going to hit up the same bike shop that i bought her bike from to see what specialized has in my size.

My question to you is, what size should i be looking at? With my roadmaster bike now.. my knees could hit the handel bars when riding.

I would say my budget is probally 400 or less. From the bit of reading the full suspension bikes are a waste in that price range.

The wifes bike has a suspension seat post even though its a hard tail. Is that something that is common in mens hard tails?

Any input would be great, I dont mind buying online or ebay, but would like to at least sit on one before i would buy.

Thanks for you help

 

[dogonfr]

Welcome to the wonderfull world of MTBR.com.

The options for a quality bike in your price range are probibly better then it has ever been. My favorite manufacture is Ibex Bikes, they have been working over time to bring a extreamly well spec'ed bike at a sweet price to the consumer. Check out the Alpine 550 at $499 + freight. I know you sugested $400 as your budget but i would recomend spending the extra for better components. At 6'4" your looking at a 21", my guess. Personally im not a fan of suspension seat post, but to each there own, you need the bike comfortable for you not for me. :cornut:

https://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-550-Details.html

 

[corleone]

You will def be in the 21 to 21.5 size area. You will get a lot more bike for the money going a bike company that lets you buy online. At 225lbs you will probably find that you blow through the travel on an 80mm fork pretty fast esp. given that the forks in this price range will be coil. A bike a bit below your price range:
http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7858/.f?sc=7&category=56#
and a bike a bit above your price range:
http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7932/.f?sc=7&category=56

Compare them to bike companies that don't let you sell online and you will see a rather large component difference:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22177&bikeTab=techspec
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/full_specs.asp?series=genesis&bike=Wahoo
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1022600&f=18

Bit of advise....Whatever you decide, stay away from RST shocks

 

[fmrock]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I am working on getting some of the weight off. I am actually down to 223 from 258 so i am well on my way.

I walked to sports authority today and they had one Iron Horse bike there. No price on it, but it was silver, hard tail and had front and rear disc breaks. No information on what size. I then got paged back to work so that concluded my looking around.

The gary fischer looks nice would you say thats a better bike then the iron horse or ibex?

 

[corleone]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I am working on getting some of the weight off. I am actually down to 223 from 258 so i am well on my way.

I walked to sports authority today and they had one Iron Horse bike there. No price on it, but it was silver, hard tail and had front and rear disc breaks. No information on what size. I then got paged back to work so that concluded my looking around.

The gary fischer looks nice would you say thats a better bike then the iron horse or ibex?

No, in fact all of the bikes are really equal in quality as far as the frame goes. The differences are going to be in the component level and the geometry. The fisher will use genesis geometry and make you sit farther back over the rear whell. Some people like it, some don't. You can always go to your lbs, test ride a couple and see which one "feels" the best to you then go home look up the geometry at the bikes website then compare it to the online companies. BTW great job on the weight loss.:thumbsup:

 

[fmrock]

Thanks guys... I will try stopping by a few shops on my lunch or this coming weekend.

Thanks for your help

 

[dogonfr]

The nice advantage with the Ibex 550 is that you get a air fork so it is multi adjustable without changing springs. :thumbsup:

 

[fmrock]

I was just checking out one of the local bike shops(http://trikesbikes.com/index.htm) website and saw they carry KHS.

How does this bike look for around $330?
http://www.khsbicycles.com/04_alite_150_07.htm

 

[corleone]

When I go to the site, the specs don't come up.:incazzato:

 

[dogonfr]

Dont waste your money, the big red rear derailleur pulley is a dead giveaway of bottom of the barrel. You have to go to Canada to get spec's.

http://www.khscanada.com/v3/bikeview.php?id=409

 

[fmrock]

Thanks...

I like the looks of the Specialized and the Fischer.

I just called a LBS and they said they would have a 21 Tarpon for around 320

 

[dogonfr]

Take a trip to Georgia & visit Ibex. The owner of the company will gladly invite you in to chat about fishing holes & stuff. Great people there. :cornut:

 

[fmrock]

Yea.. the Tarpon is out