Looking at a new bike - Any comments about my list?

[justinb]

Hi all,

Looking at buying a new bike soon.. I've sort of narrowed it down to the following list based on what I told the various bike shops what I want to use it for and this suggestions. Thoughts, comments appreciated.

I am leaning toward the Giant XTC 1 or 2 (although the 1 is a little outside the budget...)

Cheers

GT Avalanche Expert 2006
http://www.gtbikes.com/mountain/cata...aus&brand=moun

Giant XTC 2 2008 (Have to wait)
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/...ain/165/22675/

Giant XTC 1 2008 (Have to wait)
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/...ain/165/22674/

Trek 6700 2007
http://www2.trekbikes.com.au/catalog...category_id=40

Gary Fisher Big Sur
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bik...bike=Big_Sur_E

Scott Scale 40
http://www.cycleworks.com.au/pages/d...d=31429#171387

[n plus one]

Hi all,

Looking at buying a new bike soon.. I've sort of narrowed it down to the following list based on what I told the various bike shops what I want to use it for and this suggestions. Thoughts, comments appreciated.

I am leaning toward the Giant XTC 1 or 2 (although the 1 is a little outside the budget...)

Cheers

GT Avalanche Expert 2006
http://www.gtbikes.com/mountain/cata...aus&brand=moun

Giant XTC 2 2008 (Have to wait)
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/...ain/165/22675/

Giant XTC 1 2008 (Have to wait)
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/...ain/165/22674/

Trek 6700 2007
http://www2.trekbikes.com.au/catalog...category_id=40

Gary Fisher Big Sur
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bik...bike=Big_Sur_E

Scott Scale 40
http://www.cycleworks.com.au/pages/d...d=31429#171387


What about 2007 clearouts? you can get an 07 xtc 1 for a smidge ove two grand, might be worth a look?

How big are you?


Edit: none of your links are working for me? Anyone else?

[alchemist]

Edit: none of your links are working for me? Anyone else?

Nope, they've been copied from another forum which contracts the links

[n plus one]

Ahh, that would kinda' be my fault in a round about way........

[BM Epic]

What about 2007 clearouts? you can get an 07 xtc 1 for a smidge ove two grand, might be worth a look?

How big are you?


Edit: none of your links are working for me? Anyone else?

mine aint working either!!!

[justinb]

mine aint working either!!!

Me fix :)

Narrowed down to three I think

Scott Scale 40
http://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=9709

Giant XTC 2
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/mountain/165/22675/

Giant XTC 1
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/mountain/165/22674/

[n plus one]

I like the Scale over the XTC 2, but it's price dependant. Personally I would be reluctant to own a carbon mtb, other than as a race-only bike, I'm not a neo-luddite but carbon is a bit too suceptable to crash damage as a general-use frame material for my liking.

[k3n!f]

The Scale 40 is an Aluminum frame I believe (if thats what you were talking about n plus one).

Also the XTC 1 link just posted is actually a link to the C1, the carbon (and pricey) version. Can you post the XTC 1 link?

I really like the spec list on the Scott, with the Fox forks being particularly sexy. My friend has the 50 and it feels a bit steep with 80mm of travel, with the 100mm Fox it will be much friendlier on the downhills.

At the end of the day you really have to ride them and pick the one that feels the best. Are you able to test ride any of them?

[DaGonz]

Personally I would be reluctant to own a carbon mtb, other than as a race-only bike, I'm not a neo-luddite but carbon is a bit too suceptable to crash damage as a general-use frame material for my liking.

Lucky the scale 40 is an alloy jobbie then 'eh? :)

Cheers
Gonz

[n plus one]

Yeah I know it's alu, that's why I recommended it or the xtc 2, and not the carbon xtc 1........:p

I like the fork and the wheels (or at least the hubs) on the Scott better than the Giant's, can't call the brakes, never really used either.

As far as spec goes 1st comes frame, then fork, then wheels and brakes, the rest is largley consumables, which are unfortunately easily recognizable and used as selling points.

Course' that's all less important than a good frame fit. Anyone got prices?

[tu plang]

can't call the brakes, never really used either.

I'd go shimano anything over juicies. I see too many juicies that feel average, and am starting to see too many early ones with seal problems. On the other hand, ive installed shimano brakes that are still going without a bleed years down the track.

[floz]

As an owner of an XTC 2, all I can say is that the hubs & spokes leave a lot to be desired. They will be among the first things you will upgrade out of necessity if you weigh more than 75kg.
Scott Scale 40 looks the goods to me. Roughly speaking, how does its price compare between the 3 bikes?

[FlyingOff]

As an owner of a Scale 40. I have to say the bike performs excellently over most the XC tracks, the bike feels great on the downhill tracks around majura aswell. The bike does feel like a XC racer type of bike, with its longer toptube.

The Fox fork is a wonder, plush and very reliable, wheelset is great, brakes do its job, although mine do squeal sometimes on long rides. I purchased the bike fairly cheap around the 2,000 mark.

[Purt]

i would go with the scott, but thats just me.

[bazza]

just to give the usual plug

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/dragonpro.html

mmmmmmm reynolds 853

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/dakotaelite.html

i got the comp, and can't wait to trash it. pretty mad spec for the price and the carbon end should be just that little bit more forgiving than a full allu set up.

[jaseh]

just to give the usual plug

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/dragonpro.html

mmmmmmm reynolds 853

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/dakotaelite.html

i got the comp, and can't wait to trash it. pretty mad spec for the price and the carbon end should be just that little bit more forgiving than a full allu set up.
Best 2 bikes in that price range ^^^^. Got a guy on a Dragon team (same frame as pro) that came from an XTC C1 and he's convinced steel is the go, more forgiving than alloy and more durable than carbon. First race he had he went OTB and the bikes toptube landed on a rock, only a paint chip on the steel frame if it was the C1 it would've been a new frame. And after riding my Dakota comp, carbon stays on an alloy frame are the best. all the stiffness of the alloy and the give in the carbon to help your ass and traction. Best of both worlds.

[bazza]

Best 2 bikes in that price range ^^^^. Got a guy on a Dragon team (same frame as pro) that came from an XTC C1 and he's convinced steel is the go, more forgiving than alloy and more durable than carbon. First race he had he went OTB and the bikes toptube landed on a rock, only a paint chip on the steel frame if it was the C1 it would've been a new frame. And after riding my Dakota comp, carbon stays on an alloy frame are the best. all the stiffness of the alloy and the give in the carbon to help your ass and traction. Best of both worlds.

yeah i can't wait to give my dakota comp a decent riding. if the rain goes away...........ever. its supposed to be the dry season up here! i now have 3 customers on dragons as well as know someone that has been riding his since the last gen xtr (the one before the one just been and gone 02 or 03??) and its still in perfect shape after many a crash. anyway im off to go see how wet these trails are!

[Matty_P]

I'll continue the recommendations for Jamis Dragon's & steel frames. I have a Dragon Comp. Nice. Was very pleased with the price I got it for, the spec, & nowdays how it rides, & how I ride it too!

Will be getting around Lysterfield taking it on it's first endure on July 1st.

Matt

[n plus one]

Three cheers for steel frames, don't know much about Jamis bikes but if you can get a decent spec, good quality, steel frame for a similar price to those other bikes I'd give it a long hard looking at.

Not trying to hijack but as we seem to have a bit of Jamis knowledge gathered here I thought I'd ask - can you get the Eclipse roadie here in OZ, and if so, how many bikkies?

[jaseh]

Three cheers for steel frames, don't know much about Jamis bikes but if you can get a decent spec, good quality, steel frame for a similar price to those other bikes I'd give it a long hard looking at.

Not trying to hijack but as we seem to have a bit of Jamis knowledge gathered here I thought I'd ask - can you get the Eclipse roadie here in OZ, and if so, how many bikkies?
Eclipse isn't available, nice bike, might be here in 08. The only steel roadie they bring in is the Quest.

[n plus one]

Eclipse isn't available, nice bike, might be here in 08. The only steel roadie they bring in is the Quest.


Cheers mate, 08 might just be perfect timing for me.

And now back to your irregularly scheduled program........

[Corty]

Not wanting to incite violence here:o, but I personally feel Giant bikes have no soul. Sure they're great value, well built and when you're into your umpteenth lap in a 24hr you couldn't give a $h!t. But still there's just that little something extra in bikes like Jamis, Scott, Santa Cruz, Trek and others - besides your wallet feeling a little lighter:D

For the record - yes I own a Scott, which I carefully weighed up against the Giant.

[justinb]

As an owner of an XTC 2, all I can say is that the hubs & spokes leave a lot to be desired. They will be among the first things you will upgrade out of necessity if you weigh more than 75kg.
Scott Scale 40 looks the goods to me. Roughly speaking, how does its price compare between the 3 bikes?

Can you expand on that? XTC 2 is an option and I weight 100 kg's...

Justin

[n plus one]

Can you expand on that? XTC 2 is an option and I weight 100 kg's...

Justin

I'll expand on it for you if you want. I split an xtc 2 for parts a while ago when I was building up my Yeti - we put the xtc 2 wheels (deore hubs/mav 117 rims at that time) on my fiance's bike and she toasted them. Couldn't keep em' straight, and the hubs were notchy no matter how you tweaked from new.

They're not utter rubbish, but there weren't much chop either. If I wasn't such a lazy bastard I'd check the current xtc 2 spec right now but from memory the hubs haven't improved much.

PS it is absolutely tragic I can roughly recall bike specs from memory................


Edit: yep they're still dodge.......

[Mattydv]

I'm possibly coming into this a little late but...

I'm giving another thumbs up for a Jamis Dragon Comp/Dakota Elite.

I'm riding a Dragon Team and it's absolutely awesome. The steel is unreal and the bike just feels awesome underneath you. It's forgiving, durable and it has a lot more 'soul' than a mass produced carbon blob in the shape of a bike frame.

I used to ride a XTC C1, and when I switched to the steel frame Jamis (or any Jamis i've ridden for that matter :p) I wouldn't go back to it.

[bazza]

I'm possibly coming into this a little late but...

I'm giving another thumbs up for a Jamis Dragon Comp/Dakota Elite.

I'm riding a Dragon Team and it's absolutely awesome. The steel is unreal and the bike just feels awesome underneath you. It's forgiving, durable and it has a lot more 'soul' than a mass produced carbon blob in the shape of a bike frame.

I used to ride a XTC C1, and when I switched to the steel frame Jamis (or any Jamis i've ridden for that matter :p) I wouldn't go back to it.

i swear someone from cardiff is constantly on farkin posting hahaha.
we had an 06 eclipse up here and its now under one very happy customer, theres another one in town as well and the guy loves it. reynolds 853 yea boi. btw also very happy with my dakota comp even though the sizing was a bit weird for me, the girls in a 19 inch would of been perfect but ah well. kind of wish i went with the steel frame now but ah well, the value for money in the dakotas with the decent enough frame was just too good for me.

on another note just set a customer up on a dragon team and can't wait for it to arrive. going to be so nice, about 6 for that one.

[justinb]

for those interested I decided today to buy the Scott Scale 40 . Hoping to have it before the weekend.

Please tell me there is a trail that I can ride that isn't too wet!!! (Sydney area) ideas?

I've got to christen the thing!!

[floz]

Sorry, I should have backed up my claim. Spokes are straight 15 gauge and the heads (at the hub end) keep snapping off, despite adjusting tension. They are just too brittle and are no where near as strong as 14 gauge or 14/15 double butted DT spokes. As mentioned above, hubs are anything but smooth (even when brand new) despite best efforts to keep them well serviced and properly adjusted, and they also flex a bit - ride hard, the discs start rubbing, ease off and all is quiet and perfectly aligned.

The XTC frame isn't bad, and I've enjoyed many hours riding one, but there are better options out there. I'm going back to a steel frame soon because they just feel nicer to ride I reckon.

[funky]

for those interested I decided today to buy the Scott Scale 40 . Hoping to have it before the weekend.

Please tell me there is a trail that I can ride that isn't too wet!!! (Sydney area) ideas?

I've got to christen the thing!!

Good choice. Scott makes great bikes, especially hard tails that are quick and handle the twisty stuff awesomely. Enjoy.

hmmm... probably not too many places you could try. Maybe Royal National Park? There will be some wet spots, but probably be better than most places.

[justinb]

Good choice. Scott makes great bikes, especially hard tails that are quick and handle the twisty stuff awesomely. Enjoy.

hmmm... probably not too many places you could try. Maybe Royal National Park? There will be some wet spots, but probably be better than most places.

Yea.. I think so.. could of got an 2008 Giant XTC 1 for the same money.. but everyone kept telling me FOX FORKS!!! FOX FORKS!!!! :)

11.7kg's :) lightest hard tail in my price range too!!!