[nayrb]

Hey all! I am a beginner rider, just bought a Giant Revel 3. I am too advanced for the bike already but dont have the $ or talent for anything in the $1500 + range quite yet. I would like to upgrade to disc brakes, and wheels of course to fit. Also a new fork, 120mm preferably. Any suggestions? I am trying to stay within a 400-500 budget. Thanks!

Here are my bike specs:
Large

Frame	ALUXX-Grade Aluminum
Fork	SR Suntour XCT V4, 100mm Travel
Shock	N/A

Components
Handlebar	High Tensile Steel, Mid-Rise, 25.4
Stem	Giant Sport
Seatpost	Giant Sport, 30.9
Saddle	Giant Sport Trail
Pedals	Nylon Platform

Drivetrain
Shifters	SRAM X3, 3x7 Speed
Front Derailleur	Shimano M191
Rear Derailleur	SRAM X3
Brakes	Alloy Linear Pull
Brake Levers	Tektro, 2-Finger
Cassette	Shimano TZ31 14x34, 7-Speed
Chain	KMC Z51
Crankset	SR Suntour NEX w/Chainguard, 24/34/42
Bottom Bracket	Suntour, Sealed Cartridge

Wheels
Rims	Giant Alloy, Double Wall
Hubs	Alloy, 32h
Spokes	Stainless Steel, 14g
Tires	Giant Sport, 26x2.1

 

[SkaredShtles]

Don't do it. Continue to ride the bike until you save enough to upgrade to a new ride. Put the $500 you plan to use for upgrades into the "new bike fund"...

For $4-500 for disc brakes, wheels, and a fork the *best* you can hope for are a bunch of mediocre components.

 

[nayrb]

I found These forks, what do you think?

Rock Shox Recon Gold TK 80 100 120mm 26" MTB Suspension Fork 1 5" Head Tube | eBay

Fox 32 Series RLC Mountain Bike Suspension Fork 1 1 8in 140mm 26in 15mm Thru | eBay

 

[SkaredShtles]

I found These forks, what do you think?

Rock Shox Recon Gold TK 80 100 120mm 26" MTB Suspension Fork 1 5" Head Tube | eBay

Fox 32 Series RLC Mountain Bike Suspension Fork 1 1 8in 140mm 26in 15mm Thru | eBay

Recon won't fit (1.5" steerer) and the Fox will throw your geometry out of whack significantly. Figure in the cost of installation (unless you're going to do all this work yourself?).

Seriously - for $500 it's not worth upgrading a bunch of stuff. It just isn't. Isn't that more than the cost of the bike?

 

[Silentfoe]

That fox also has a 15mm thru-axle. You'll need a new front hub/wheel rebuild for that one. Save your money and buy a nicer bike.

 

[jk025]

I started with a revel 1 29er and did the suntour upgrade for the fork. It improve my ride a lot but less than a year later upgraded to a trance 27.5 3. The difference is amazing and I wish I would have just saved my money to begin with. Don't upgrade and save it for something better even if its an older used bike it'll be better than spending money to upgrade your revel

 

[Cotharyus]

You're getting some good advice. Save your money, continue to ride the bike you have and refine your skills, and when you get the cash for a new bike and pull the trigger, it will be that much sweeter.

 

[nayrb]

Thanks for the help guys! True, not worth putting more money into the bike than the bike is worth. I wear out my V-brakes very quickly and really want to get disc brakes. What would be a good bike to get with a budget of 800-900$?

 

[thegock]

Thanks for the help guys! True, not worth putting more money into the bike than the bike is worth. I wear out my V-brakes very quickly and really want to get disc brakes. What would be a good bike to get with a budget of 800-900$?

Talon 3 maybe.

I was at my LBS last night and the manager was telling a girl buying a road bike that Giant's prices are 5-10% lower than the rest of the bike companies.

He said later that the same was true for mtb. Best of luck.

 

[Silentfoe]

True, Giant just dropped prices on quite a few of their bikes.

 

[thrash_273]

yup. save the money and get a real stud bike later

 

[psquared]

If you can hold out there until the end of the season there are deals to be had on leftover/previous model year bikes. I got my Reign for over 30% off.
You can also check out the buy/sell section on Pinkbike. Lots of bikes for sale there.