Official Mountain bike Thread!

Originally Posted by NFRs2000nyc

Their bike frames are exactly the same as most mid market bikes, including Trek as they are made by the same company. Furthermore, it's not an extra $100. It's an extra $500 at the MINIMUM.

My opinion is bikesdirect are not selling a bike that lists for 1k for $400. That FS bike will be heavy and will have cheap parts. If I were in your shoes, I would take $500 and buy that a Hardtail Trek or Specialized online or in a shop. I would also browse your local Craigslist for a good used bike too.

If you're truly looking for a deal and want to control your budget, build your bike with a slightly used frame.

Originally Posted by NFRs2000nyc

Their bike frames are exactly the same as most mid market bikes, including Trek as they are made by the same company. Furthermore, it's not an extra $100. It's an extra $500 at the MINIMUM.

Again, you're free to spend your $$ as you wish, but I need to to clear up a few things for the benefit of other new riders who might be reading this thread in the future.


1)Please stop saying that a Motobecane frame from Bikesdirect is the same quality as a Trek or Specialized (whoever told you that is lying to you). Just stop.

2)The frames I showed you had similar MSRPs as the bikesdirect bikes, but I personally don't know anyone who pays MSRP. Most bike shops are willing to deal a little, and you certainly won't pay $500 more for a quality hardtail (not to mention all the free sh!t they might throw in). Please explain to us how the Trek 3500 for example would cost you $500 more, when the MSRP is $479 vs $$449 for the Motobecane you posted.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...es/3500_disc/#


3)All the frames I showed you are available for purchase online as well, so you can still save $$ that way....except you'd be getting a quality frame that will last you for years

I'm done with this topic.

Originally Posted by Ghostie

Again, you're free to spend your $$ as you wish, but I need to to clear up a few things for the benefit of other new riders who might be reading this thread in the future.


1)Please stop saying that a Motobecane frame from Bikesdirect is the same quality as a Trek or Specialized (whoever told you that is lying to you). Just stop.

2)The frames I showed you had similar MSRPs as the bikesdirect bikes, but I personally don't know anyone who pays MSRP. Most bike shops are willing to deal a little, and you certainly won't pay $500 more for a quality hardtail (not to mention all the free sh!t they might throw in). Please explain to us how the Trek 3500 for example would cost you $500 more, when the MSRP is $479 vs $$449 for the Motobecane you posted.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...es/3500_disc/#


3)All the frames I showed you are available for purchase online as well, so you can still save $$ that way....except you'd be getting a quality frame that will last you for years

I'm done with this topic.

I was repeating what I read on the bike forums. The motobecane frames are built by the same company, by the same welders, in the same building, in the same country (Taiwan) as Trek, Gary Fischer, Giant, and a few others I can't remember.) If this is wrong, no problem. This is what I read on all the biking forums.


I will go back to the store today (local shop) and see if they play ball with the Trek.

I would rather have a Trek than a motobecane all things being almost equal.

Originally Posted by Xcelratr

Why you no post pics of trick ass bikes ITT? Or did you and I just missed them?

Heh, well I've been on this forum for ages and only posted a few pics of one of my E46s, and I don't give much thought to the bike stable. The Superlight is a blast, but not much too look at as its just anodized gunmetal grey.

I have a cool Nishiki Alien (super old school) that I've converted to single speed, and a Nashbar Flashback that I built as a 1x9, before it was chic. Both of those are better looking, imo.

I'm out of town but will post a few snaps soon.

Sent from my HTC Flyer P512 using Bimmer App

My Voodoo Titanium 29er. Don't know if I've posted this yet. Size 20. Came in at around 20 lbs.

Originally Posted by Breyton-BMW

I would rather have a Trek than a motobecane all things being almost equal.

I am trying to see if they are indeed equal. The trek is $480.

Here is the bike I am strongly considering.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/hay1500xi.htm

I tried to look up the components on the Trek, and can't find it. A friend of mine who bikes told me to try and get a bike with at least Deore line Derailleurs. The bike above seems to have good components for the money. The Trek, I can't tell what line they use. The price is the same ($480) but which bike is TECHNICALLY superior (ignoring the brand names for a second)....

Originally Posted by Green_Shine

My opinion is bikesdirect are not selling a bike that lists for 1k for $400. That FS bike will be heavy and will have cheap parts. If I were in your shoes, I would take $500 and buy that a Hardtail Trek or Specialized online or in a shop. I would also browse your local Craigslist for a good used bike too.

If you're truly looking for a deal and want to control your budget, build your bike with a slightly used frame.

+1. $500 buys a nice hardtail at a LBS, along with nice post- purchase support. "Hi, I bought a bike from bd.com a month ago and now it shifts like crap. I watched a YouTube DIY video and tried to adjust it, but its still skipping." Most shops will take care of this for free, but a non-shop purchased bike service is automatically a $30-$60 repair.

The "list"/ comparable prices on bd.com are heavily inflated and often not accurate, comparable bikes.

That said, if someone is going to rarely touch a trail, a bike from Walmart, Target, or Sports Authority will function just fine on city streets and paved paths.


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Originally Posted by NFRs2000nyc

I am trying to see if they are indeed equal. The trek is $480.

Here is the bike I am strongly considering.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/hay1500xi.htm

I tried to look up the components on the Trek, and can't find it. A friend of mine who bikes told me to try and get a bike with at least Deore line Derailleurs. The bike above seems to have good components for the money. The Trek, I can't tell what line they use. The price is the same ($480) but which bike is TECHNICALLY superior (ignoring the brand names for a second)....

Well there are about three sub classes of the Deore line at different price ranges so make sure you compare apples to apples.

Originally Posted by NFRs2000nyc

I was repeating what I read on the bike forums. The motobecane frames are built by the same company, by the same welders, in the same building, in the same country (Taiwan) as Trek, Gary Fischer, Giant, and a few others I can't remember.) If this is wrong, no problem. This is what I read on all the biking forums.


I will go back to the store today (local shop) and see if they play ball with the Trek.

Only at the low and low-mid range AND it doesn't necessarily mean each mfr submits the same specs.

Just like food manufacturing, certain plants may make "similar" foods in the same facility, but some Brand X may still taste like crap compared to Brand Y.

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Okay after looking at the parts of both the trek and the dawes bike in the links, the dawes wins in the parts department. Keep in mind though that although they are the same price, the trek is Msrp which could go down considerably unlike the dawes you posted which is purchase price online. You may be able to go to the next higher model trek if you check with the lbs.

Originally Posted by Breyton-BMW

Okay after looking at the parts of both the trek and the dawes bike in the links, the dawes wins in the parts department. Keep in mind though that although they are the same price, the trek is Msrp which could go down considerably unlike the dawes you posted which is purchase price online. You may be able to go to the next higher model trek if you check with the lbs.

Thank you. This is what I wanted to know. Going to go down to the bike shop and see if they will budge on the Trek. I don't pay MSRP for anything.

Originally Posted by Breyton-BMW

My Voodoo Titanium 29er. Don't know if I've posted this yet. Size 20. Came in at around 20 lbs.

Nice! What fork is that?

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^On One carbon.

What's a good inexpensive speedometer you guys can recommend? Any particular brands? I saw Garmin had bike units, just looking for some guidance. Wired, wireless, etc. I heard there are some that can upload/talk to iphones and keep track/graph your rides. Something like this maybe?
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=90675

Originally Posted by Breyton-BMW

Okay after looking at the parts of both the trek and the dawes bike in the links, the dawes wins in the parts department. Keep in mind though that although they are the same price, the trek is Msrp which could go down considerably unlike the dawes you posted which is purchase price online. You may be able to go to the next higher model trek if you check with the lbs.

Dawes? I missed that one. I'm pretty sure they're made in china, not Taiwan, resulting in inferior material quality. They use something called "aluminum x or z aluminum" or something. The x stands for whatever cheapest aluminum can be sourced. Yes, aluminum comes in various forms/qualities.

Trek and Giant have proprietary aluminum specs, which are 70 % marketing fluff, but they do put actual science and R&D into their frame materials.

Originally Posted by mtnbound

Dawes? I missed that one. I'm pretty sure they're made in china, not Taiwan, resulting in inferior material quality. They use something called "aluminum x or z aluminum" or something. The x stands for whatever cheapest aluminum can be sourced. Yes, aluminum comes in various forms/qualities.

Trek and Giant have proprietary aluminum specs, which are 70 % marketing fluff, but they do put actual science and R&D into their frame materials.

I was comparing the parts mounted on the frames.

Originally Posted by NFRs2000nyc

What's a good inexpensive speedometer you guys can recommend? Any particular brands? I saw Garmin had bike units, just looking for some guidance. Wired, wireless, etc. I heard there are some that can upload/talk to iphones and keep track/graph your rides. Something like this maybe?
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=90675

I use a Garmin 305 cycling comp seen on the pic posted above(+heart rate, cadence, altitude). I also use my iphone 4 motion x or sports tracker app sometimes. It uses a lot of power though. If you just want basic speed and distance, I would get a cateye velo wireless.

Originally Posted by Breyton-BMW

I was comparing the parts mounted on the frames.

Yeah, not commenting on your post, just the consideration of a Dawes bike. Fully agree with the component assessment.

Originally Posted by mtnbound

Dawes? I missed that one. I'm pretty sure they're made in china, not Taiwan, resulting in inferior material quality. They use something called "aluminum x or z aluminum" or something. The x stands for whatever cheapest aluminum can be sourced. Yes, aluminum comes in various forms/qualities.

Trek and Giant have proprietary aluminum specs, which are 70 % marketing fluff, but they do put actual science and R&D into their frame materials.

Take a look. Again, I am NOT arguing. However, good information is just that, good information. You wouldn't buy $10000 tv that you KNEW had a $1000 panel in it that you can get at costco right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesis_Industry