Who knows their mountain bikes?

[Blackshear]

I've got a 2002 specialized bighit FSRIII, full suspension jobby and an ally frame (Still weighs in at 22kg). Paid $1400 for it 4 years ago and have since spent a few more $$$ (Most notably 2x bottom bearings, one was old, the replacement got lime shit and grit in it somehow, latest going 3 years strong) and urgent attention needed on the fork seals and rear bushing ($$$$$).

I would like to think that a Giant STP1 would be a great entry into the jack-of-all-trades race. Just bring a clued up mate should you most likely go second hand.

[sil3nt]

Forgot i had been looking at the GT Chucker a few months ago. Can't find a whole lot of info about it though. I understand its a jump bike but not sure how this is different from a XC bike?

http://www.gtbicycles.com/nzl/chucker-1-0

[sil3nt]

Alright went off to cycle time but the GT Chuckers were all gone. No biggie was more curious than anything. Guy there suggested the Giant Talon or he said he could bring a full suspension Haro (must have been shift R1) down to around $1000.

Now the question is whether i need full suspension or just a hardtail.

So the bike list so far is

Giant Talon
Haro Shift R1
Avanti Montari
Avanti Aggressor
and a GT Avalanche 2.0 if i can find one.

All bikes within a hundred dollars or so of a grand.

[steve_t]

FS can be a pain in the butt if you're riding up hill a lot. As much as they say it won't bounce, it will and it'll sap your energy quickly. I wish my rear susp had a lockout too!!
The Haro Shift R1 looks like good value apart from the mechanical disc brakes.
If you can get the Talon for $1000, I'd say that's the best of the bunch cos it's got the Rockshox forks and hydraulic discs

[sil3nt]

Yeah FS does not really appeal to me. Now to find some money.

[MisterD]

If you can get the Talon for $1000, I'd say that's the best of the bunch cos it's got the Rockshox forks and hydraulic discs

As do all the Aggressor family...

Another thing to consider - ask your LBS about swapping the tyres to something decent. Most bikes at this level come with multipurpose kind of things which are no real use offroad - I swapped out the standard Kenda Karma on my Aggressor 29 for Nevegals otherwise I'd have been going straight on at every corner around Woodhill. Dunno what your tracks in the Tron are like but Woodhill gets real slippy sandy when it's dry.

I'd highly recommend running a fatter tyre in the front (I go 2.2 up front and 1.9 or 2.0 at the rear)

[Drunken Monkey]

Forgot i had been looking at the GT Chucker a few months ago. Can't find a whole lot of info about it though. I understand its a jump bike but not sure how this is different from a XC bike?

http://www.gtbicycles.com/nzl/chucker-1-0

The frame will be a lot stronger on a jump bike than XC.

[MisterD]

The frame will be a lot stronger on a jump bike than XC.

Geometry will be different as well - the jump bike will be shorter and slacker angles. The Chucker has a head angle of 68 deg versus 70.5 for the Avanti Aggressor. Comparing @ similar seat tube lengths (383mm for the GT, 380 for the Avanti) the Avanti has an extra 10mm in the effective top tube length and then a 90mm stem versus the GT's 60mm.

Basically means you can get bigger air for fun and stand a chance of riding away with an intact bike but on a twisty singletrack trail you'll struggle to carry anywhere near as much speed through corners or climb as efficiently.

In my book DJ = for kids, XC = for grown ups

[sil3nt]

In my book DJ = for kids, XC = for grown ups

I'm somewhere in the middle

A few years ago i read about a possible track going to be made in Pirongia. I see they are now making said track. Would give quite a few options close to home for riding.

[Drunken Monkey]

In my book DJ = for kids, XC = for grown ups

You're just saying that cos you can't get big air. :P

That's my excuse for having a XC, anyway...

[MisterD]

You're just saying that cos you can't get big air. :P

That's my excuse for having a XC, anyway...

Not so much "can't" as "too scared to"

Plus I'm an old school "no right to enjoy the downhill, if you haven't ridden up the hill in the first place" MTB'er.

***Edit***

Did I say how much I love the 29er? I think I need to singlespeed it though....

[k14]

For 1k I would be careful in buying a FS bike. For that price they will usually be crap. To get a decent FS you need to spend closer to 2k for something that won't be a step backwards compared to a 1k hardtail.

Go with Giant, I'm biased having a Trance X1 for a few years now. Love it to bits and even though it cost me $3k I would happily spend it again. You have different terrain up there though, down here a FS is nearly compulsory. Up there you will be fine with a hardtail.

[sil3nt]

The FS bike that was offered to me for close to a grand had a normal retail price of $1800.

What is the advantage of a single speed? I can only think of weight saving.

[k14]

The FS bike that was offered to me for close to a grand had a normal retail price of $1800.

What is the advantage of a single speed? I can only think of weight saving.

There is virtually no advantage of a single speed. People do them more for the challenge involved in riding one, they have special races just for people on single speeds. Anyone riding one is a nutter in my books

[sil3nt]

Awhile ago my bike wouldn't change gears (and i have zero idea on how to fix them even though people say its easy) so i set it on the hardest gear and rode everywhere like that. Good way to get fit. And probably break the bike faster.

Can't say i fully understand why a MTB needs 27 speeds.