REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Help selecting my first serious bike!

1922 Views 28 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Ken in KC, Jan 3, 2010

throwfar

Discussion Starter · Dec 31, 2009

I currently ride a lower end full suspension Iron Horse with 6" of travel. The bike has been fun and a great intro into the sport but definitely has its flaws(heavy, derailleurs suck, fork is leaking oil, etc). After riding for a year doing mainly downhill and some light XC here in AZ, I want to invest in a good bike. I like all-mountain bikes with 5+" of travel but I need something lighter than my 40lber I have now... maybe then I can do some legitimate climbs.

I'm willing to spend 2-3k. I'm a large rider too, 6'4 240lbs.

Please give me your suggestions!! Thanks

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

Ken in KC

· #2 · Dec 31, 2009

Well....

throwfar said:
I currently ride a lower end full suspension Iron Horse with 6" of travel. The bike has been fun and a great intro into the sport but definitely has its flaws(heavy, derailleurs suck, fork is leaking oil, etc). After riding for a year doing mainly downhill and some light XC here in AZ, I want to invest in a good bike. I like all-mountain bikes with 5+" of travel but I need something lighter than my 40lber I have now... maybe then I can do some legitimate climbs.

I'm willing to spend 2-3k. I'm a large rider too, 6'4 240lbs.

Please give me your suggestions!! Thanks

If you're willing to adjust your budget up a little bit, you can get yourself in to the rarified air of bikes. Turner, Titus, Yeti are a few. I'd also consider looking at a 29er. Head over to the 29er forum and ask about AM 29ers.

You're getting ready to drop some decent coin on a bike. You really need to ride a couple different, high end bikes on singletrack to determine which bike is the right one for you. You may have to travel a little bit to find bike shops that will let you rent upper end bikes. Check out Absolute Bikes in Sedona and Flag.

AZ

· #3 · Dec 31, 2009

Post in the Az. forum also , plenty of folks willing to help .

d365

· #4 · Dec 31, 2009

Giant Reign, maybe a Trance X. I'm a fan of the maestro suspension, it's frame stiffness, and it's hard to beat Giant on the spec/price comparison. good warranty too.

Fit is always key, though, so your best bet is always to go sit on a bunch of bikes, 'til you find one you like the most. It's your money.

throwfar

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 31, 2009

Ken in KC said:
If you're willing to adjust your budget up a little bit, you can get yourself in to the rarified air of bikes. Turner, Titus, Yeti are a few. I'd also consider looking at a 29er. Head over to the 29er forum and ask about AM 29ers.

You're getting ready to drop some decent coin on a bike. You really need to ride a couple different, high end bikes on singletrack to determine which bike is the right one for you. You may have to travel a little bit to find bike shops that will let you rent upper end bikes. Check out Absolute Bikes in Sedona and Flag.

I was looking through the bike reviews last night and it seems like the best rated bikes that have a good number of reviews are just a tad more than I wanted to spend. Giant seems to be the only brand that looks more affordable, although a new Reign XO is pricey as well.

Don't know much about 29er's but I'm going to check out the forum and see what I can find. How much do bike shops usually charge for demo's if you are seriously interested in a bike? Also, will they have XL frames for me to try... it seems hard to come by bikes that bike, even on ebay/craigslist?

Thanks for the replies!

d365

· #6 · Dec 31, 2009

throwfar said:
I was looking through the bike reviews last night and it seems like the best rated bikes that have a good number of reviews are just a tad more than I wanted to spend. Giant seems to be the only brand that looks more affordable, although a new Reign XO is pricey as well.

Don't know much about 29er's but I'm going to check out the forum and see what I can find. How much do bike shops usually charge for demo's if you are seriously interested in a bike? Also, will they have XL frames for me to try... it seems hard to come by bikes that bike, even on ebay/craigslist?

Thanks for the replies!

I'd venture to say, you might have a hard time finding an XL demo, but you could always call around. Shops charge anywhere from free demo, to $50 a day and up. Most manufacturer websites have dealer and demo locators.

Right now is a great time to find deals on some '09 bikes, but you better hurry.

fesch

· #7 · Dec 31, 2009

Check out a Gary Fisher HiFi 29. You should be able to roll over curbs and baby head sized rocks with this bike without even feeling them.

A few years ago, HiFi's had frame problems with heavy riders like you. But they replaced them all and improved the frames.

throwfar

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 1, 2010

d365 said:
I'd venture to say, you might have a hard time finding an XL demo, but you could always call around. Shops charge anywhere from free demo, to $50 a day and up. Most manufacturer websites have dealer and demo locators.

Right now is a great time to find deals on some '09 bikes, but you better hurry.

Yea I think its prudent to get out on some demos... I'll call around this weekend and see what I can find. Thanks!

STT GUY

· #9 · Jan 1, 2010

Zion Cycles in Springdale Utah has some nice Trek and Gary Fisher Demos for sale that are mint and will leave you well under your budget. Also Over the Edge Sports in Hurricane Utah has some nice deals on demos as well. Both have some XL's

louisssss

· #10 · Jan 1, 2010

how about the Pitch Pro for $2000? http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10Pitch&eid=4344&menuItemId=9249

the Pike fork will surely handle your weight. meets your budget, and can easily be found at most bike shops.

beenee98

· #11 · Jan 1, 2010

If you are considering a Reign/Reign X, be sure to test ride it. The frame size only goes up to 20" which may be on the small side for you (i have a friend who is 6' 6" and that's the only reason he hasn't got one - plus he thinks Giant bikes have no soul, but that's a different story). Also the large volume air shocks apparently can have trouble with heavier folk. At 240 pounds i would think you'd be getting pretty close to maxing out the dhx air shock that those bikes come with, again, based on what my friend has gone/is going through currently

throwfar

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 1, 2010

beenee98 said:
If you are considering a Reign/Reign X, be sure to test ride it. The frame size only goes up to 20" which may be on the small side for you (i have a friend who is 6' 6" and that's the only reason he hasn't got one - plus he thinks Giant bikes have no soul, but that's a different story). Also the large volume air shocks apparently can have trouble with heavier folk. At 240 pounds i would think you'd be getting pretty close to maxing out the dhx air shock that those bikes come with, again, based on what my friend has gone/is going through currently

Thanks, definitely going to keep that in mind! I found the clydesdale forum pretty helpful too, they have a thread going with everyone talking about their bikes and how they hold up.

mudlover71

· #13 · Jan 2, 2010

louisssss said:
how about the Pitch Pro for $2000? http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10Pitch&eid=4344&menuItemId=9249

the Pike fork will surely handle your weight. meets your budget, and can easily be found at most bike shops.

Have you ever ridden one? How much do you weigh? Dude you are such a Specialized homer.

louisssss

· #14 · Jan 2, 2010

mudlover71 said:
Have you ever ridden one? How much do you weigh? Dude you are such a Specialized homer.

yes i've ridden one, and i weigh about 220 lbs. and please find a bike from CD or Trek that looks as good and has better specs/money. i'd gladly take a look at one of those.

GoBuffs

· #15 · Jan 2, 2010

louisssss said:
yes i've ridden one, and i weigh about 220 lbs. and please find a bike from CD or Trek that looks as good and has better specs/money. i'd gladly take a look at one of those.[/QUO????????

GoBuffs

· #16 · Jan 2, 2010

GoBuffs said:
louisssss said:

yes i've ridden one, and i weigh about 220 lbs. and please find a bike from CD or Trek that looks as good and has better specs/money. i'd gladly take a look at one of those.[/QUO

Click to expand...

5'6" and 220 lbs. sounds like somebody should stay off of the doughnuts. BTW people like you are what's wrong with this forum. Giving advice on products which you clearly have no experience with. The OP or anybody else can search the net for any bike out there, but they come here to find people with real world experience.

STT GUY

· #17 · Jan 2, 2010

GoBuffs said:
GoBuffs said:

5'6" and 220 lbs. sounds like somebody should stay off of the doughnuts. BTW people like you are what's wrong with this forum. Giving advice on products which you clearly have no experience with. The OP or anybody else can search the net for any bike out there, but they come here to find people with real world experience.

Click to expand...

Hey... hey... no reason to be a dick and attack the guy personally.. What if you're butt effing ugly.. at least he can lose weight..

GoBuffs

· #18 · Jan 2, 2010

STT GUY said:
GoBuffs said:

Hey... hey... no reason to be a dick and attack the guy personally.. What if you're butt effing ugly.. at least he can lose weight..

Click to expand...

Well I am butt effing ugly. That's not the point. Last week he was 5'6" 160. I'm new here and only would give advice on things I know about. Dude gives all kind off advice on sh!t he knows nothing about just to up his post count. Stick around for awhile you'll see.

louisssss

· #19 · Jan 2, 2010

Pitch
5" of travel
full suspension
$2000-3000
lighter than 40 lbs

looks like the pitch is pretty close to what he's looking for. it has nothing to do with what i've ridden.

theres plenty of people giving suggestions on bikes, doesn't mean they need to own one.

edit: pitch: 5-6" travel, which meets what he's looking for

STT GUY

· #20 · Jan 2, 2010

GoBuffs said:
STT GUY said:

Well I am butt effing ugly. That's not the point. Last week he was 5'6" 160. .

Click to expand...

Oh man.. that is funny, I almost spit my drink out. That would indeed be some pretty over teh top weight gain. I mean you'ld have to be mainlining that muscle milk stuff and then some! LOL!!!

I run a forum and an used to people spouting off about stuff they know little, nothing or just plain make shite up about!

You're good in my book.:thumbsup:

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