What bikes should I be looking at?

[musicmatters]

Looking to get a mountain bike with and spend some of this free time.

I Just taught my 7 year old to ride a bike so I’d like to have something to ride around with her around the neighborhood, and on my own for exercising. There are some good Biking trails by my house also, nothing too crazy but some nice climbs and trails. I would like to have something to grow into if I wanted to start to take some trips on slightly more aggressive terrain.

I’d like to keep it between$1500-$2000

I’m 6’1”, 185lbs and 43 years old.

I’m open to buying used and get a better bike that way.
What are some good brand/model recomendatons? General features to look for? Size?

 

[John O]

These articles are 2 years old now, which might be perfect if you do look for something used. I think they do a great job at giving a high level overview of a good selection of trail bikes, bikes that I personally think of as a "one bike quiver".

27.5” Trail Bikes — A Guide + Comparisons | Blister

BLISTER | Bikes & Frames, Featured, Mountain Bike Reviews, Reviews | June 10, 2018 | The most honest & in-depth reviews of outdoor gear

blisterreview.com

29er Trail Bikes — A Guide + Comparisons | Blister

BLISTER | Bikes & Frames, Featured, Mountain Bike Reviews, Reviews | May 19, 2018 | The most honest & in-depth reviews of outdoor gear

blisterreview.com

 

[scott43]

There is another thread..you're in the same boat..prime hard-tail candidate with a good budget. I was just looking at the Trek X-Caliber 8 or 9 for myself the other night..Canadian price $1499-$1999. Those are both decent bikes for your typical easy riding.

X-Caliber 8 | Trek Bikes (CA)

Discover your next great ride with X-Caliber 8. See the bike and visit your local Trek retailer. Shop now!

www.trekbikes.com

 

[firebanex]

Last fall I was in a similar spot, I was looking for my first non fat bike "real" mountain bike. Local trails around here are pretty tame in the grand scheme of things, lots of single and gravel double track with the major technical features being slippery root gardens. I was limited to my local shop is a Trek dealer, REI, and Consumer direct brands like Canyon. With that in mind, the local hardtail is the 27.5" Trek Roscoe and the 29" Stash around here and I have not seen much of anything else out on the trails.

(I ended up buying a Top Fuel 8 full suspension.. it came in glittery purple)

 

[Tony Storaro]

A red one.
You need a red bike, they are fastest.




Seriously, there is another thread here just for this

 

[Erik Timmerman]

I's choose one of these:

Fuse

www.specialized.com

Or this:

Honzo

Perhaps it’s a purist’s dream, or maybe it’s the fact that they’re just so darn fun, but the Honzos have some serious staying power. They are the basis of many a dream build, the yang to the yin of a bigger bike, and they are the heart and soul of Kona. We offer a variety of Honzos from the...

konaworld.com

 

[musicmatters]

I's choose one of these:

Fuse

www.specialized.com

Or this:

Honzo

Perhaps it’s a purist’s dream, or maybe it’s the fact that they’re just so darn fun, but the Honzos have some serious staying power. They are the basis of many a dream build, the yang to the yin of a bigger bike, and they are the heart and soul of Kona. We offer a variety of Honzos from the...

konaworld.com

How does this one look? Looks like it’s a few hundred off the other Honzos out there

2019 Kona Honzo For Sale

2019 Kona Honzo For sale on Pinkbike buysell

www.pinkbike.com

 

[Erik Timmerman]

If you think it's your size, snag it.

 

[Bendu]

Where do you plan to ride this bike ?

 

[musicmatters]

If you think it's your size, snag it.

thanks. What’s the deal with pedals? Looks like I need to buy them? What should I look at?

reviews also mention that it doesn’t have tubeless tires. Should I get those? What’s a reasonable brand/model there?

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Odds are good that those tires can be converted to tubeless, so you won't need to spend loads of money there. As for pedals, is your bike shop "essential"? Can you just go n and get some? If not, I use Chainreactioncycles.com quite a bit. If you have used lipless pedals before, I'd get a pair of Shimano "endure" pedals that are in your price range. If not, get very spikes flat pedals. I am a fan of Hope pedals, but they will cost a lot of money.

 

[musicmatters]

Where do you plan to ride this bike ?

Around my neighborhood, and at the Sope Creek Bike trails. If you google image search that you can get a sense of the trails. I could see myself getting into it and taking trips for some slightly more challenging riding, but I not trying to go much beyond that

 

[Plai]

Sope Creek

Sope Creek is a singletrack mountain bike trail in Sandy Springs, Georgia. View maps, videos, photos, and reviews of Sope Creek bike trail in Sandy Springs.

www.singletracks.com

Sounds like a hardtail would be the ticket. +1 What the others above have mentioned.

 

[musicmatters]

Odds are good that those tires can be converted to tubeless, so you won't need to spend loads of money there. As for pedals, is your bike shop "essential"? Can you just go n and get some? If not, I use Chainreactioncycles.com quite a bit. If you have used lipless pedals before, I'd get a pair of Shimano "endure" pedals that are in your price range. If not, get very spikes flat pedals. I am a fan of Hope pedals, but they will cost a lot of money.

Can you send me a link to the Simano pedal you are refering to? Nothing really comes up when i search that

 

[Tom K.]

Even a week ago, I was in the group that would recommend a hardtail at your desired price point, and I might still be, but a friend of a friend recently bought a Giant Stance 1 full suspension bike at $1,800 MSRP, and I was surprised to find it perfectly acceptable.

 

[musicmatters]

Even a week ago, I was in the group that would recommend a hardtail at your desired price point, and I might still be, but a friend of a friend recently bought a Giant Stance 1 full suspension bike at $1,800 MSRP, and I was surprised to find it perfectly acceptable.

You arent making this any easier .

Ok. So thoughts on the $1200 New Kona Honzo or this 2 week old Giant Stance 1 for $1400?

2020 2 Week Old Giant Stance 1 For Sale For Sale

2020 2 Week Old Giant Stance 1 For Sale For sale on Pinkbike buysell

www.pinkbike.com

Aside from the rear suspension, how to the specs compare to the Honzo?

 

[Bendu]

and the Stance was one of the worst budget bikes Pinkbike just tested......

 

[Erik Timmerman]

I don't want to be too technical, but IMHO the Stance has one too few links in the rear suspension. Looks like an accident waiting to happen if you ask me.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Can you send me a link to the Simano pedal you are refering to? Nothing really comes up when i search that

DEORE XT SPD Pedal dual sided for Enduro / Trail / All Mountain | SHIMANO BIKE-US

bike.shimano.com

I didn't mean to type "endure" before, for some reason, the computer won't let me type enduro.

 

[musicmatters]

DEORE XT SPD Pedal dual sided for Enduro / Trail / All Mountain | SHIMANO BIKE-US

bike.shimano.com

I didn't mean to type "endure" before, for some reason, the computer won't let me type enduro.

Thanks,. Are those just normal pedals I step on a go? Or am I clipping into a special shoe?