[Reef_Raider]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in the process of trying to get a reasonable hardtail for my wife. She is 5'2" and if she attempts to use my 19" Jamis Durango again I don't think I'll be able to get her back on a bike again. Just as a little backstory the two bikes I currently own are a 19" 2008 Jamis Durango 2.0 and a 20" 2009 Jamis Dakota 29er ...both of which I have been very pleased with; however the LBS I have a relationship with is no longer carrying Jamis due to some management issues.

So long story short...I don't think my wife is ever going to get "ate up" with the sport like I've become, but she does want a bike that fits which will be atleast capable of riding some moderate singletrack. We started with a budget of about $600 and decided to up that budget to $800, but anymore is really going to be hard to justify with all our other time and monetary ventures.

Here a a few of the bikes that we have been looking at in that price range...

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/durango/10_durango2_spec.html

http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/Bikes/Mountain/Details/5882-G10AVA1DF-GTw-Avalanche-1.0-Disc

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6000wsd/\

http://www.specialized.com/zz/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45789&eid=4340&menuItemId=9253

Atleast in my limited knowledge....still learning everyday .....the GT seems to be the best deal atleast in regards to the fork. If you guys have any other suggestion or comments on the bikes I've listed either positive or negative...I would appreciate any input!

As another quick question...does Specialized not listed the MSRP on their website? I could not find it anywhere.

Thank you all and enjoy the upcoming weekend!!! :thumbsup:

 

[AZ]

Ask her , if she dosent like it she wont ride it .

 

[cobba]

Another couple of bikes that might be worth looking at:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/rainier/3879/36565/

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/marlin-disc-gs

.the GT seems to be the best deal atleast in regards to the fork

What fork actually comes on the GT, it's got a Suntour XCR in the photo but lists a Rockshox Tora 302 in specs.

As another quick question...does Specialized not listed the MSRP on their website? I could not find it anywhere.

The Specialized webpage you were on was a "Other Countries: English" version, the following "USA: English" version of the page has MSRP on it.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10Myka&eid=5457&menuItemId=12198

 

[billee]

I know a guy who got a bike for his wife. He said it was the best swap he ever made.

 

[Squash]

The bikes...

you have listed are pretty comparably speced. However I would advise steering clear of anything speced with an RST or Suntour fork. Some of their products are pretty good, but parts are hard to come by in the states, and some of their lower end stuff is absolute junk. At the price point you are looking at the Rock Shox Dart 3 will be the most common fork spec, and it is a reasonable entry level fork. As for the GT if they are specing a Tora on the bike they are likely down specing somewhere else by comparison. So check the specs very carefully. With all the "house brand" components being used these days it can be tough to tell though. The biggest thing is to track down dealers in your area for each of the bikes and let her test ride them. The go with the one SHE likes. A bike that you like, you'll ride. One that you don't will become a garage ornament.

Good Dirt

 

[CaveGiant]

I have just gone through the grief of getting bikes for my wife.

I learned the hard way that her priorities are different for mine.

TOP PRIORITY - Colour.
Seriously I paid £400 more for a bike that was teal and white, made a huge difference.

PRIORITY 2 - Comfort.
My wife would be more happy on a plush DH bike than a HT. She doesn't care about the weight, she does care that she is comfortable.

Priority 3 - safty
A slack angled squishy frame that wont throw her when she hits a root off angle is a must.

The main this is to ask her the kind of bike she likes and what is important to her.
It is better to spend $4000 on a bike she likes than $400 on one she won't use.

The one that ticked all my boxes was the mongoose teocali elite womens

1: It is very pretty
2: 6" FS makes it very comfortable.
3: slack angles make it very hard to crash

It also peddles very efficiently and the suspension is awesomly plush and efficient for a light rider.


really really ask her what she likes, I found out the hard way!!

 

[Reef_Raider]

Thanks for the replies!

I appreciate all of the information regarding the bikes and what she might like...also great catch on the GT fork (it does list the Tora on the page twice, but not in the picture). I will need to clarify that for sure.

The funny thing is that I have already brought her to my LBS and the first thing that she mentioned was the color of the bikes. As me and the guy from the LBS were talking specs...she just wanted to make sure it was a nice color. In her case that would be purple or a neutral color that she could wear anything in...to quote her. I would not have even thought that would have been an issue... lol

I understand about making it a comfortable ride for her, but she is also very aware of the amount of money invested in my bikes and our other hobbies and she is the one who does not want to spend any more money than about $800. Any more than that and I think the thought of the expense might be the reason she gets turned off...

Again thank you all for the replies! :thumbsup:

 

[JimC.]

From the Wimmin's forum - answers -

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=176458
Jim