Doubleplay

Hi Guys,
I am a long time roadie and after a long hiatus with mountain biking I decided to get back to it mainly for XC and endurance type events. I will also try to do some short track timed (30-45 minutes) local races.(Charlotte, NC)
My budget for a new bike is ~ $2500. I am very interested in HT 29er's from Felt(Nine race) and Gary Fischer(Paragon).
Tips, suggestions, reviews are welcomed.
Thanks for the help.

born2bahick

2500. buy's an awesome HT. Also buys a pretty good FS, Why beat your self up like that roadie?. Join us pot smokin super relaxed deviants, and just enjoy the mellow smoothness of the singletrack

reptilezs

2500 will buy you a nice full sus xc bike. goto the shop and test ride what you like

mystolenbikes

I'd get a full suspension with front and back lockout.

Doubleplay

I don't need a FS for the terrain that I will ride and I do not want to pay a weight and maintenance penalty.
Also for $2500 you can only get a mediocre FS bike not a nice one.

victim

For the riding your talking about, unless your above average height, I'd stay with 26" wheels. Hardtail with a 100mm fork max. I just think the 26 get up to speed and corner a little better. The 29" keep the momentum better and definitely handle the chunk better. Wish I could help more but that type of bike isn't my cup of tea. Good luck and lots of test rides!

Zephyr11

A Stumpjumper, Anthem, or Superlight would be mediocre? And a Racer X, AS-R, Epic, or Spider off Craigs is too heavy? I'd take the full suspension over the hardtail any day for that budget, but to each their own. Try out those bikes you have listed, and maybe add the Stumpjumper HT and XtC to the list. I know some people who ride them and like them, and they both come in 29ers.

mtnbiker66

Totally false!!!!!!!!

dejock

buy what fits you best

Doubleplay

Please help pointing me to one NEW FS with full XT and under 30lbs for $2500.00. I'll take it.
Sorry, but anything less than full XT or Sram 9 is mediocre in my book.

urbanknight

If this were a dating forum...
But whatever you call it, if you want XT, get XT. I personally can't tell much difference between Deore, LX, and XT. I also can't tell much difference between 105, Ultegra, and Dura Ace.

Anyway, do they still make high end bikes with V-brakes? I thought those were still lighter than disc brakes.


It had to be done. XTR, full suspension, and (alledgedly) 24 lb for under 2 grand.

Doubleplay

Thanks for pointing but I thought we were talking about bikes that you can buy from your LBS and have a decent warranty coverage.

craigcraigcraig

As the link was loading on my computer I was hoping it was BD, good call. with the extra 600 bucks you can but the xtr cranks so it all looks unison too.

urbanknight

Well, yeah, that link was more of a joke. I know that bike's nowhere near 24 lb.

The only thing I can say about your two choices is that Felt is fairly new to the world of Mountainbikes while Mr. Fisher practically invented them... not that he has anything to do with the brand anymore.

M_S

The dude doesn't want a full suspension, he wants a hardtail. I'll never understand this forum.

I might check out some of Cannondale's offerings. If you can find an 09 caffeine 29er, they were designed specifically for endurance XC with longer chainstays and a little slacker headtube angle. The new ones are nice too, though. The lefty has lots of fans.

Zephyr11

People are making points because of his reasoning for getting a hardtail, that's all.

If you're worried about weight, my mediocre FS that has entry level wheels and an LX front derailleur weighs 25 lbs. And shifts super crisply to boot. I bet if you were blindfolded and rode two bikes, one equipped with full XT and another with an XT-SLX mix, and both were properly adjusted, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

If you want a hardtail, get a hardtail. But do it as an informed consumer who realizes that your budget will also buy you a very nice full-suspension bike. One who chooses to get a hardtail because you want a hardtail, not because you can't buy a good full-suspension for the money you're willing to spend, which is a false assumption.

mtnbiker66

I'm sorry...but I just lol'd.......out loud!!!!!!!!

dminor 

Since you know so much, Doubleplay, why are you asking here? Just show up at a local bike shop, tell them you want to spend at least $2,500 - - and that you insist on it being a hardtail. I'll bet you a dollar to a dog turd that they'll figure out a way to make that happen

urbanknight

While I think Cannondale has some very innovative and nice concepts, my only qualms with their proprietary stuff is that they don't make sure the parts are available if and when the item stops being trendy. I saw too many people who couldn't find a replacement headset for their Head Shok equipped bike. Aside from that minor detail, they make great bikes that outperform most other bikes in the same price range.

Doubleplay

Thanks for the very meaningful addition to this thread. Really funny....

born2bahick

Is there a full XT hardtail, out there at the LBS for 2500? The Giant XTC carbon has full XT but is 3300.
The stumpy that fit's the budget is SLX and X9. I can't fit you over the internet, have you found something at your LBS with full XT for that price? if so, Did it feel good?

mtnbiker66

This thread is mediocre in my book........what you really want is a steel29rigidSS.

craigcraigcraig

you should go used, probably with a brooks saddle too for those long rides.

dminor 

What you really want is a rigid, steel, single-speed 29er. junkyard sez so, so it must be true.

mystolenbikes

I say go with a 29er full rigid fixie without the front brake.