Who knows their mountain bikes?

[sil3nt]

I just hit the local MTB track on my no suspension bike. I will kill it if i keep riding it like i do so i would like something more appropriate. Can anyone recommend a good bike for less than $1000? There are so many out there and and salesman in a cycle shop is just going to sell me anything they can.

Have been doing a bit of research but again so many different bikes hard to tell whats going to be crap and what isnt.

[Bald Eagle]

GN250 oughta do it

[neels]

I just hit the local MTB track on my no suspension bike. I will kill it if i keep riding it like i do so i would like something more appropriate. Can anyone recommend a good bike for less than $1000? There are so many out there and and salesman in a cycle shop is just going to sell me anything they can.

You should be able to get something decidedly reasonable for up to $1k if you're only after front suspension.

Not all sales people at bikes shops are crap, when I bought my last bike they had a chat to find out what I was after, then put together a custom build for less than a lower spec bike they had on the shop floor.

Just do the rounds of the shops and you'll soon get an idea of who's looking after you and who's ripping you off, and the sales pitch will probably educate you a bit on what's good and what's not.

[MisterD]

Can anyone recommend a good bike for less than $1000? There are so many out there and and salesman in a cycle shop is just going to sell me anything they can.

Just like buying a bike with an engine, look at everything and don't buy anything you haven't ridden.

I've just been through the process and added an Avanti Aggressor 29'er to the fleet basically because it's running better componentry than the other brands I looked at (I've got 100mm travel Rockshox air forks versus the 80mm Rockshox spring jobs that the equivalent Specialized had as an example) plus I only have to suffer Shimano hubs, everything else is SRAM

If you end up with an Avanti, Scott, Specialized, Giant, Marin, Kona... at a just sub $1k price point you'll have a decent bike that'll last a long time.

[Headbanger]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-357639182.htm

[avgas]

When buying a mountain bike is it s good idea to buy reasonable quality frame. It is also a good idea to put good quality fuel in the engine.

I think Avanti is the best "middle-of-the-road" brand. And being a NZ product have a guess where they test it.

[Okey Dokey]

I am stoked with my Avanti mtb- great quality and shimano components. Plus there are shops eveywhere if you need help/service.

[scissorhands]

Doesn't really matter what you get from the top 5 makers as most components are interchangeable and the frames prolly come from the same factory.

I like jump bikes, strong frames that are a little heavy and grunty forks. Or trials I have always liked but never had a proper trials bike.

You'll get heaps second hand for $1000, reading online reviews for a model will reveal weak and good points of any bikes you consider

from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news...ectid=10712245

Cycling: Kiwi BMX stars shine at international pro event

New Zealand BMX cycling stars Sarah Walker and Marc Willers made it a double-double celebration when they took out the finals of the international meet at Pukekohe yesterday.

After winning the finals of the UCI Oceania continental championship on Saturday, the pair completed a successful weekend in winning yesterday's professional event involving leading riders from Australia and the United States at the Supercross track in Puni, near Pukekohe.

The 22-year-old Walker won all three motos and the final to complete an unbeaten weekend in her first competitive racing for five months.

"I tried to be aggressive and really concentrate on my own race and on my own game plan," Walker said. "While I have practised hard on and off the bike, you don't know how you will go until you get out and race.

"Now I am looking forward to the first World Cup Supercross in South Africa. This weekend has been a good boost for my confidence."

The 25-year-old Willers, rated among the top five riders in theworld this year, also showed hisclass.

After winning all three motos, Willers was drawn between leading Americans Nic Long and Dave Herman and New Zealander Kurt Pickard, who beat the Cambridge rider at the nationals on the same track last year.

"I am happy to come home and get the two wins. It's been a good start to the season and now I head back tonight to prepare for the next round of the American championship and then on to South Africa," said Willers, who is based in Southern California.

Pickard, who has been added to the squad to compete in South Africa, finished second ahead of American Corben Sharrah.

Pukekohe rider Trent Woodcock-Takarua topped the qualifiers and won the final to win the junior men's division from Saturday's winner Daniel Franks, of Christchurch.

- NZPA

[steve_t]

If you're looking to buy new, go see Dave at Cycletime, Kahikatea Drive. He's a good guy and has given me fairly sizeable discounts

[sil3nt]

Went into RR sport. Dude there was very helpful. Pointed me towards the Giant Talon and Boulder. Didn't ride them but it gives me a few models to research. Told him i liked the GT Avalanche 2.0 (after doing a bit of reading about them) but they have none in my size.

Went off to cycology where the salesman threw me on a Scott Something (Aspect maybe?). Didnt really like it.

Then he got me on an Avanti Montari (dont remember which one). This felt better than the scott and they told me it had a few better components. Asked what the next level was from these bikes (they were around $750) and he showed me the Aggressor (don't remember which number). This was $1599 but he said he could take $500 off.

Will check out other stores this week. Got no money so will have to start selling stuff to afford a new bike.

[MisterD]

Scott Aspect and Avanti Montari are pretty comparable bikes - designed to be a bit crusier and more comfortable. Aggressors and the Scott Scale family are more XC race oriented geometry - a bit more stretched out and carrying a bit more weight on your hands.

I'd sort that area of thinking out first - what type of bike are you after?

[steve_t]

Cool. There are a few different Montari models. The base model doesn't have hydraulic disc brakes. Hydraulic brakes are WAY better than mechanic ones.

The Aggressor looks like a nice step up. Does it have the Rockshox Poploc handlebar mounted lockout switch? It must do, but thought I'd better ask.

Spec-wise, the Talon and the Aggressor seem very similar so it'd be interesting to hear how far apart they are re price.

Sweet. Good luck with selling your stuff. Pukete Farm Park is convenient and close and they regularly change the track so you don't get too bored too quickly

[sil3nt]

I'd sort that area of thinking out first - what type of bike are you after?

Not really sure. I don't need a bike for commuting as my current bike fits that purpose well (and i have 2 more back home if anything breaks).

So i guess i am after something that is really focused for offroad. Plan is to use the Pukete park mtb track and head off to the redwoods in rotovegas when i can (and maybe even woodhill).

I really don't know anything about bikes. Anything i do know is from research on the internet.

So the different types there are and how they perform and feel are complete unknowns to me.

[sil3nt]

Pukete Farm Park is convenient and close and they regularly change the track so you don't get too bored too quickly

I have been meaning to go there for years just never got around to it. Yesterday i decided to go ride the river walks so set off from the Uni down to Ham East and rode across cobham drive until the walk ended. Then i thought the pukete farm park isn't too far from here so rode down the road around the waste water treatment plant and came in the front. Rode the inner loop and loved it. Then went back and rode the full thing. Took what seemed like hours! Then i realised i could get in a back way by waste water plant and didn't have to ride around like i did

Then i had to ride back to the uni. Took about 3 hours total. Loved it all except the brutal ride thanks to no suspension.

[scissorhands]

........So the different types there are and how they perform and feel are complete unknowns to me.

Downhill, freeride, cross country, dirt jump, trials and all the combinations/hybrid designs of these 5 basic types of MTB

Keep your commuters for the road, they wont get stolen. Try riding some friends bikes first if you can. I always try different surfboards and it really improves the relationship with your steed