[jawilli1s]

Greetings.

Details: 27 - 5'8" - 150lbs - riding for 10+years
I live in the Midwest between Chicago and St. Louis - Its mostly single track. Decent uphills, but everything you ride up, you ride down. Ive owned everything from a Norco Wolverine to a Specialized Enduro. The last bike I rode in this area was a 2007/8? Norco Wolverine. I jacked the seat up. I ride as hard as my little body can push, lol. Spent some time in Whistler and cant get the air out of my system. Ive just finished gradschool and am now unemployed. Ive decided to spend over half of the remaining funds to keep myself sane.

I am ballin on a budget - no more than $500 including shipping. Maybe $600 if i find a great deal.

After researching for a few weeks, ive come to be partial to the 2008 Jamis Komodos over at BicycleBananas - http://www.bicyclebananasstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=JA08_Komodo1&CartID=1

I know the Komodo 1 is more for trail/FR/DH/Am - I think, actually.

I was also considering a Marin Balonis Ridge over at Arts Cyclery - http://www.artscyclery.com/descpage-MB0BRDG.html?crumb=MTMBIKES

The only upgrade on either bike would be Low Riser Race Face xc Bars and a pair on CrankBros egg beaters.

Thanks in advance guys. I look forward to being apart of this community.

-j

Anyways, I was wondering if someone could please help guide me through this process, as I dont have the money to make a mistake.

 

[High Side]

The Marin you posted does not have what I consider AM level components.

 

[jawilli1s]

no no. Youre right. I dont consider it nothing but a trail riding xc beginner, at best. But, its in my budget.

I was just considering it compared to the Jamis Komodo, which isnt really an AM either....

Thanks for the response, though....

 

[qbert2000]

how about used?

 

[jawilli1s]

yeah, ive been following the used bike market for a few months now. Its crazy how much people are charging for used bikes. Its like, because the market is down, im going to gauge the price on my used bike. Ive seen 2004's and older going for more than $750 when the msrp was $1250. Bikes value drop drastically after the second year. It actually upsets me...

When I use to sell my used bikes, Id drop the price in order to "hook" someone up. Doesnt look like people are paying it forward.......

Any other ideas?

 

[bikevt]

http://wheelworld.com/product/kona-2009-five-o-7432.htm

 

[jawilli1s]

http://wheelworld.com/product/kona-2009-five-o-7432.htm

$150 shipping
$750 is too far out of my budget.

Thanks for the input though.

 

[jawilli1s]

any1 with advice today?


thanks

 

[2w4s]

any1 with advice today?

thanks

save another $150 and get the Kona. You get a lot more bike than the Jamis for not much more money and in a year you will be glad you spent the extra money that you will eventually need to spend anyway upgrading the Jamis' components. my $.02

 

[jawilli1s]

Kona is only available in 14"
I need 16" at the least...

Sorry, dont mean to be a pessimist.

 

[jawilli1s]

How about today. Anyone with suggestions?

 

[Blksocks]

Look into the Diamondback Response models? I am sure you can get a good deal on a sport or comp if you look.

 

[BaeckerX1]

yeah, ive been following the used bike market for a few months now. Its crazy how much people are charging for used bikes. Its like, because the market is down, im going to gauge the price on my used bike. Ive seen 2004's and older going for more than $750 when the msrp was $1250. Bikes value drop drastically after the second year. It actually upsets me...

When I use to sell my used bikes, Id drop the price in order to "hook" someone up. Doesnt look like people are paying it forward.......

Any other ideas?

Yeah, sometimes people are way overpriced. Sometimes they can be talked down quite a bit, sometimes they can't. Also, not everyone's bike is stock. For example one of my bikes is a 2009 Marin Hawk Hill I bought and upgraded everything on it. The only thing stock is the frame. It's got a lot of money in component upgrades, so I wouldn't be selling it as if it were stock if I ever sold it.

Still, depending on the area you live in you can sometimes find pretty good deals. It's tough to find any in a place like Colorado where I live. You don't have those clueless people who don't know what they have and sell it for peanuts. Everyone out here either knows what they have and what it's worth (and prices accordingly), or they think just because everybody bikes out here that their old beat up Schwinn or Huffy is worth 500 dollars.