Opinions on Motobecane Elite Trail LTD?
01-17-20, 04:41 PM
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Opinions on Motobecane Elite Trail LTD?
After doing a bit of mountain biking in Colorado last summer on a rented bike, I've been kicking around the idea of getting a dedicated trail bike of my own. I wouldn't be doing jumps or drops or anything technical, just getting out there and mucking about on some singletrack. I debated getting an old school 80s/90s mountain bike without suspension and just upgrading the tires, as they're dirt cheap and a dime a dozen, but saw on Facebook today a guy near me selling a very nice looking Motobecane Elite Trail LTD in my size for $225. That's more than I was hoping to spend but it seemed like a bit of a deal, and I know BD bikes are held in fairly high esteem around here. Thoughts?
EDIT: Here's the Bikes Direct listing for the bike in question. Seller says it's a 2018 and wants $225 for it.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...disc-brake.htm
EDIT: Here's the Bikes Direct listing for the bike in question. Seller says it's a 2018 and wants $225 for it.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...disc-brake.htm
Last edited by Miradaman; 01-17-20 at 06:09 PM.
01-17-20, 04:48 PM
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It seems to get good reviews on the mtb specific forums.
If it fits you, and will do the type of riding you want to do, it can likely be a satisfactory purchase. That said, and to quote the Cajun carnival barker, "You pays you money and takes you chances."
If it fits you, and will do the type of riding you want to do, it can likely be a satisfactory purchase. That said, and to quote the Cajun carnival barker, "You pays you money and takes you chances."
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Current bikes: Unknown year Specialized (rigid F & R) Hardrock, '80's era Cannondale police bike; '03 Schwinn mongrel MTB; '03 Specialized Hard Rock (the wife's)
Gone away: '97 Diamondback Topanga SE, '97 Giant ATX 840 project bike; '01 Giant TCR1 SL; and a truckload of miscellaneous bikes used up by the kids and grand-kids
Status quo is the mental bastion of the intellectually lethargic...
01-17-20, 04:53 PM
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[QUOTE=BookFinder;21288749]
If it fits you, and will do the type of riding you want to do, it can likely be a satisfactory purchase.
I guess that's part of my question. It's billed as an "Adventure Hydrid" or some such thing. Does that mean its more of a wannabe mountain bike mean primarily for road use like a Walmart mtb, or is it actually purpose built for off-road riding?
If it fits you, and will do the type of riding you want to do, it can likely be a satisfactory purchase.
I guess that's part of my question. It's billed as an "Adventure Hydrid" or some such thing. Does that mean its more of a wannabe mountain bike mean primarily for road use like a Walmart mtb, or is it actually purpose built for off-road riding?
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01-18-20, 11:46 AM
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What grubetown said.It all boils down to how you plan to use it. The last time I bought a new bike was in 2003. Truth told, the only bikes I've owned that were ridden strictly as they were designed to be ridden were road bikes. Other than that (and design intentions notwithstanding), every bike I've owned has been treated like a hybrid.
So - will the bike you are looking at stand up to what you want to do?
If yes, snag it.
If not, keep looking!
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Current bikes: Unknown year Specialized (rigid F & R) Hardrock, '80's era Cannondale police bike; '03 Schwinn mongrel MTB; '03 Specialized Hard Rock (the wife's)
Gone away: '97 Diamondback Topanga SE, '97 Giant ATX 840 project bike; '01 Giant TCR1 SL; and a truckload of miscellaneous bikes used up by the kids and grand-kids
Status quo is the mental bastion of the intellectually lethargic...
Current bikes: Unknown year Specialized (rigid F & R) Hardrock, '80's era Cannondale police bike; '03 Schwinn mongrel MTB; '03 Specialized Hard Rock (the wife's)
Gone away: '97 Diamondback Topanga SE, '97 Giant ATX 840 project bike; '01 Giant TCR1 SL; and a truckload of miscellaneous bikes used up by the kids and grand-kids
Status quo is the mental bastion of the intellectually lethargic...
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01-18-20, 12:33 PM
#6
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Yeah, I was kind of suspecting that. "Adventure hybrid", relatively skinny tires, etc. I might just go through with my original plan and get an 80s/90s rigid mountain bike for $50 and upgrade the tires if need be...
