Cheap 29" (in Sydney)

[Rik]

I want a 29" MTB. And I want one pretty soon (impulse buy).
Why? Purely for commuting, something cheap and dedicated to having the life beaten out of it. As soon as I buy one tough slicks, full mudguards, permanent lights, mount for u-lock and all the rest will be installed on it and I'll be locking it up in dodgy areas at dodgy times of night. Actually, as soon as I buy one it'll be stripped and 5 layers of cheap spraypaint will be thrown on it then purposely scuffed/sanded/chipped to give a "don't look twice 'cause it's not very nice" look to hopefully deter thieves.
Because of this I'm after something cheap and big wheeled, but still tough enough to handle belting around. A converted roadie was considered but I like fatter tyres, hybrid bikes were thought about too but I reckon I'd trash one in about 3 months time - somehow I kill commuters. So far I've seen that Redline, GT and Raleigh do bikes that come in around what I'd like to spend but it's hard to search for specific models as google doesn't like their ambiguous names.

The possibility of riding it offroad will be considered but is far from a priority. Disc brake mounts would be nice but caliper mounts are more than ample for now, if the desire for discs takes hold I'd have a mount retrofitted. It'll be SS and whilst tensioning system is an issue close to my heart usually (sliding verts FTW) I'm not going to be fussy on a budget bike.
After having brief look around the GT seems to be the best value for money, approx $800 RRP but I'm yet to find out what the other two sell for.
This is where you guys can help me, can you give your advice and experience on these bikes and inform me of other options if they exist. And if anyone knows where I could find such a bike in a store (perferably innerwest to city area, and in a medium size) I'd be grateful, I feel like rushing in to an unnecessary purchase :rolleyes:

Help me commute without drawing so much attention to myself, I need a fast tough beater bike!

[n plus one]

There's a Redline 29er in the for sale section, if that's any use.

[jaseh]

You can get the redline monocog 29er the same as mine (http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=90990) for under $800. There were only a couple left when I ordered mine on monday. Only sizes available are 17 and 19.
Pm me if you want more details.

[GrubNut]

Maybe an old cyclocross bike?

[Sumgy]

Maybe wait a little while.
I am informed by someone in the know that there will be some new options turn up fairly soon including something from Avanti that will be better specced but cheaper than the GT Peace.
Also a couple of models from Specialized.

Actually just read the 2nd paragraph of your post and cannot understand for the life of me why you would not just find a beater roadie with forward facing dropouts and convert it to SS. Seems dumb to me to spend as much ass you will have to on a 29er just to ghetto and slick it up for commuting purposes.

[DW-1]

KHS Solo One.

Available for test ride at the next 8hr. July 8th. Yarramundi.

Elvis.

[...jim]

Seems dumb to me to spend as much ass you will have to on a 29er just to ghetto and slick it up for commuting purposes.

Depends on your definition of commute.

I cover quite a lot of rough ground on my commute - on a crap looking rigid mtb with old knobbies on it. It's a 15 year old evolution that would likely only be improved with 29 inch tyres. It looks crap so I can lock it up at the movies and not worry about it not being there - and it's a mountain bike because a road bike (or even a cyclocross bike) would be less robust.

[GrubNut]

Maybe wait a little while.
Actually just read the 2nd paragraph of your post and cannot understand for the life of me why you would not just find a beater roadie with forward facing dropouts and convert it to SS. Seems dumb to me to spend as much ass you will have to on a 29er just to ghetto and slick it up for commuting purposes.

That's the advice that I would give. It's what I've been doing for years and ride my roadie very hard. If youre worried about strength just find 36 spoke wheels. spend $200 on ebay for a complete 80s reynolds roadie, or something, on ebay. Fit the fattest tyres you can, SS, and maybe bullhorns or mtb bars and canti levers (get larger frame for mtb bars).

[Sumgy]

- and it's a mountain bike because a road bike (or even a cyclocross bike) would be less robust.

Doubtful.
A steel roadie will be as robust as you will need unless your definition of rough ground and mine are 2 different things.
Pricewise you can buy 3 old steel roadies for the price you will pay for the cheapest 29er (probably 4 by the time you spend $ on paint, slicks etc for the 29er).
They are the OP's $'s but your argument does not make sense no matter how you try to justify the 29er.

[Mr Pants]

KHS Solo One.

Available for test ride at the next 8hr. July 8th. Yarramundi.

Elvis.

Another vote for the Solo one or Tucson (geary). My solo is great and *cheap*!

[...jim]

Doubtful.
A steel roadie will be as robust as you will need unless your definition of rough ground and mine are 2 different things.
Pricewise you can buy 3 old steel roadies for the price you will pay for the cheapest 29er (probably 4 by the time you spend $ on paint, slicks etc for the 29er).
They are the OP's $'s but your argument does not make sense no matter how you try to justify the 29er.

I'm not trying to justify the 29er. (I have one, but don't use it for commuting) What I imply is that a 29inch wheel would be the only improvement needed over my current 26" mtb commuter - because of the inherant advantages of 29 inch wheels - but it ain't a difference I'm going to chase because that advantage would be fairly minimal - but an advantage none the less.

However, given my current commute (up gutters, down dirt tracks, over garden beds and through stormwater drains) I'm confident that 2.1 tyres are by far the right tool for the job cf road or cyclocross tyres.

Now were I to work 20km away and ride down cyclepaths/lanes, I'd pull out the roadie.

[dunk]

My solo is great and *cheap*!

But you know people in influential positions;)

[Sumgy]

I'm not trying to justify the 29er. (I have one, but don't use it for commuting) What I imply is that a 29inch wheel would be the only improvement needed over my current 26" mtb commuter - because of the inherant advantages of 29 inch wheels - but it ain't a difference I'm going to chase because that advantage would be fairly minimal - but an advantage none the less.

However, given my current commute (up gutters, down dirt tracks, over garden beds and through stormwater drains) I'm confident that 2.1 tyres are by far the right tool for the job cf road or cyclocross tyres.

Now were I to work 20km away and ride down cyclepaths/lanes, I'd pull out the roadie.

I would also wonder whether 29er geometry would be that great for commuting.
I have 2 29ers and at 6'3" my 21" frames have me perched up high on top of the seatpost. If I had to choose out of my existing bikes for any decent commute I think my fixie or my roadie would win out everytime. If I was to get a new bike specifically for commuting it would be a steel SS roadie.

[RCOH]

You all seem to be forgetting that is is Rik posting. He works in weird & wonderful ways.

And his garage is so full of old road bikes that I am sure he is sick of the sight of them.

[Rik]

Thanks for recommending what bike would be suitable for my riding style :p
Seriously, I will destroy a road bike pretty quickly... I've cracked a couple of frames and bent numerous parts just getting too and from work! I tend to ride my commute like an urban DH/4x race, hammering up/down/around everything and pushing my bike control to its limits.
Not only that, this bike will be used for getting around the city/inner west when going to gigs and pubs so it has to be capable of handling the idiocy riding home drunk brings ;)
At 90kgs of abuse and aggression (only on the bike though) skinny tyres and light frames just aren't an option. I have access to plenty of road gear (as Rod implied) and have done the beater roadie thing before but I'd rather spend a little bit of money -a grand is the limit- and do it properly ensuring I have a bike that'll work no matter what gets thrown at it.

It seems waiting would be the smartest option in terms of money but this is somewhat of an impulse buy... unfortunately noone has stock and all the new stuff is a month or two away! PMing Jaseh is about my only option for now, let's see what that can result in.

[DW-1]

unfortunately noone has stock and all the new stuff is a month or two away!
I did mention the KHS Solo One right? in stock. no waiting...

Elvis.

[Rik]

Oh, rrp of $969? That's crazy and might be the one to go for. I remember seeing these when they first came out but totally overlooked it (as evident in this thread).
If there's a store in Sydney that has a medium on the floor I'll buy it this weekend, otherwise I'll see about ordering one ASAP.

[DW-1]

Oh, rrp of $969? That's crazy and might be the one to go for. I remember seeing these when they first came out but totally overlooked it (as evident in this thread).
If there's a store in Sydney that has a medium on the floor I'll buy it this weekend, otherwise I'll see about ordering one ASAP.

Phantom has both large and Medium on their way... but won't arrive until Monday arvo'.

If you want to test ride one... catch up at the KHS 8 hour at Yarramundi...

Or get your local dealer to call.

Elvis.

[Rik]

KHS on the way, cheers Elvis. This is going to be a bit of a retarded project but worth the cost/effort for practicality.

[sambikeboy]

Im selling a basically new Haro mary 29er on ebay.com.au for $800...

18"s/tube

sammy.plymin@gmail.com