nathan_k

I bought a Giant Iguana mountain bike years ago (like 2003/2004) and have just basically ridden it for fun and, later, with my kids. No off-roading ... just pavement and maybe some gravel/crushed limestone. Anyway, this year, my 13-year-old son and I started off-roading. Started on local trails and then, late this summer, went to Michigan and road on some more serious trails. So much fun!! Anyway, I knew my bike was crap (despite it's cheap front shock), and it became clear I'd reached the limit of the types of trails it could accommodate. I was at my local bike store yesterday and they showed me the $900 Orbea MX 30, which would be a huge upgrade from what I'm riding today. But in browsing these forums, I definitely get the sense that I would regret this purchase. What I saw the most was that it can't really be upgraded and its shock and cassette are sub-par. I don't know anything about shocks, really, or about what cassettes are better than others. That said, I saw a link here to the Niner SIR 9 2-Star NX Eagle on Bike Bling, which is currently on sale for just under $2k. I have some questions:

• As a casual rider, is this really going to be twice the bike for me/improve my experience that much?
• What benefits will I notice from the improved components? Why couldn't I just slowly put better components on the Orbea?
• Besides the components, are there other reasons to buy the more expensive bike?

Thanks in advance for your help!

fietsbob

Drop By Your Local Bike shop so she can try a couple bikes?

Orbea is a Spanish Basque company , but I suspect they , to be cost competitive,
use the big Taiwan Contract manufacturers, also, one of which is Giant..


Piece at a time at retail will always be more expensive,
than buying a complete bike, where they get truckload prices for each component at OEM end of the supply chain..





...

Darth Lefty 

On the Sir 9, I think you are paying extra for the pretty nice frame (which is $1200 MSRP). Everything else on it is good reliable stuff, but none of it is special. You'd have found it on a bike around $1500-2000 last year, with a dropper post. The discount reduces the sting, a lot.

c_m_shooter

The Orbea doesn't need better components. The limit will be the rider not the bike.

nathan_k

Great! I'd much rather spend $900. Thanks for the info.