MTB advice needed.
Discussion
Anyone fancy giving a roadie a few pointers towards MTBs?
I’m looking for a half decent, second hand bike for upto £300. Want to do some light trail/off road stuff, nothing mental just more than I can off the cyclo cross. I’m thinking front suspension hard tail.
Any suggestions or pointers as to what to look for? I’d rather have a slightly battered older bike than a new piece of poo. Gearing, suspension etc. Like I say I’m a roadie so understand the ranges in cranksets etc for road bike, not a clue on MTB.
Also, what size frame should I be looking for, I’m 6’2” (32/33” inside leg), just this will help the classified searching.
Cheers,
Cramman.
I’m looking for a half decent, second hand bike for upto £300. Want to do some light trail/off road stuff, nothing mental just more than I can off the cyclo cross. I’m thinking front suspension hard tail.
Any suggestions or pointers as to what to look for? I’d rather have a slightly battered older bike than a new piece of poo. Gearing, suspension etc. Like I say I’m a roadie so understand the ranges in cranksets etc for road bike, not a clue on MTB.
Also, what size frame should I be looking for, I’m 6’2” (32/33” inside leg), just this will help the classified searching.
Cheers,
Cramman.
at 6ft 2" you want to be looking towards a Larger frame, 20" or 21". Im always very wary of buying second hand off road stuff because you just dont know how much abuse it has had. If you sift through what is local to you in your frame size on ebay, go and have a look at a few and assess the owner, how well it's been looked after and what kind of riding they do.
It will also give you an opportunity to try for fit and geometry.
As far as gearing is concerned you should be looking at sram x5, x7 or higher or the equivalent shimano (im not up to speed with shimano stuff im afraid). Rockshox tora forks at minimumum or Marzocchi. Try to avoid RST and suntour although some of the higher end modern suntour stuff is meant to be quite good.
I wouldnt go for anything too old as more stuff will need replacing sooner and it is likely to have had more abuse. I personally wouldnt go much more than a 2006 bike.
Of course, this is all my opinion and no doubt someone will come along and disagree, but i think its largely good advice and you shouldn't go too far wrong.
It will also give you an opportunity to try for fit and geometry.
As far as gearing is concerned you should be looking at sram x5, x7 or higher or the equivalent shimano (im not up to speed with shimano stuff im afraid). Rockshox tora forks at minimumum or Marzocchi. Try to avoid RST and suntour although some of the higher end modern suntour stuff is meant to be quite good.
I wouldnt go for anything too old as more stuff will need replacing sooner and it is likely to have had more abuse. I personally wouldnt go much more than a 2006 bike.
Of course, this is all my opinion and no doubt someone will come along and disagree, but i think its largely good advice and you shouldn't go too far wrong.
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