Kma335

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in the search of a new bike. I am not looking for a professional-level bike, rather I would like something I can ride recreationally. I would like something I could ride 10+ miles comfortably in road and gravel. I like riding on the Lake front in Chicago, and I will probably ride mainly on roads. However, I do often like to venture onto tougher roads at my nearby forest preserve.

I figured I wanted something between a road and mountain bike with a steel frame. Any good hybrid recommendations that meet my following criteria?

Under $1,000
Steel frame
29er/700c tires

Thanks!

blakcloud

Jamis Coda Elite
Brodie Circuit
REI Co-op CTY

Hopefully others will chime in with their recommendations.

Phil_gretz

Save Up to 60% Off Disc Brake Cross Bikes SRAM Rival Cyclocross | Cross Bikes, Road Bikes - Motobecane Fantom Cross Pro

blakcloud

He asked for steel bike this one is aluminum and he suggests he wants a flat bar (hybrid), so this doesn't even come close.

Garilia

Flat bar, hydraulic disc brakes, Cro-mo frame and fork.
Motobecane Cafe Noir

I highly recommend Motobecane. On the other hand, I have a steel Jamis Quest road bike and love it, so the Jamis Coda Elite previously mentioned should be a great bike as well.

Maelochs

BikesDirect is still a good place to shop--Provided he can do minor assembly.

Garilia

You could also look for aluminum frames with carbon or cro-mo forks. But steel is real.

Phil_gretz

Thanks so much for correcting me. I appreciate the constructive input.


OP said "hybrid", but didn't specify bar type. Steel versus aluminum in this category is meaningless, btw. Tires matter more... I simply extrapolated from where the OP "was", to where the OP will be once the dust settles. I stand by my recommendation if one were to have $1K to spend for a general purpose bike into which one might grow.


Sometimes getting a few additional perspectives on a problem leads to a better solution overall. Don't you think?

Kma335

Thank you everyone for your input thus far!

I have always had a flat bar on my bikes, but I also wouldn't mind having a drop bar either. Since I'll probably end up using it more on roads, I might even end up adding a drop bar onto it.

I can do some minor assembly as well, and I am fortunate enough to have a few friends who have built their own bikes that can help me.

I was also looking at the Marin Muirwoods, not sure how that compares to what has already been mentioned, but any input on this bike would be great as well.

Keep the recommendations coming in! I will be checking in with my local shops to see if they have these in stock to test ride them

jefnvk

If you think you want drop bars, buy one with drop bars. Conversion is more involved than just changing the bars, you generally need to change controls too.

Maelochs

I have been looking at the Marin 4-corners as a replacement for my touring frame. Might be a little heavy and heavy-duty for your needs, though. The New 2017 Marin Four Corners Touring Bikes - CyclingAbout

Maelochs

What he means is, it will cost about $300 if not more to go To drop bars and at most a third of that to go drops to flat.

FestinaLente

Before I bit the bullet and got my bike last year I was looking for something that sounds very similar to what you're looking for, except I was pretty sure I wanted drop bars. I knew I'd be spending more than $1000 but I wanted to get the best bang for my buck without spending too much. I tried out Surly, Trek, Giant, Salsa, Cannondale, and Kona. I wanted a bike that could handle road, off road riding (nothing intense though), and was comfortable. Essentially I wanted to have one "do everything bike."

These are some suggestions based on what I tried out at the time, and based on what I've seen at some local shops and when I've been online. Please note, these suggestions are pushing right up to the $1000 mark if not over for the base models. Most likely you'll have to find last year's model on sale somewhere or purchase a used bike. That being said, I have seen these bikes for sale for less than $1000 in bike shops and online:

Surly Crosscheck (straggler would be better but the Crosscheck seemed more affordable)
Kona Rove St (I'm pretty sure I remember seeing a Kona Rove for sale under $1000 at a local bike shop but I can't remember if it was the steel frame or not)

Personally if you were able to find a deal on one I'd highly recommend the Salsa Marrakesh. During my search for a bike I eventually narrowed my search down to 3 bikes, the Surly Straggler, the Salsa Marrakesh, and the Salsa Vaya. In the end I went with the Salsa Vaya because the bike just fit me better. Of these three I've seen the Marrakesh with a flatbar more often.

Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for

skids929

I second Jamis...Take a look at the Renegade series. If you were open to AL there would be alot more options.

Maelochs

The Marakesh is tough, I guess, but it weighs about 30 lbs for s mall, as I recall.

I want I bike I can use for road touring, not trans-Asia goat-track touring. And whole I mas loaded for touring three pounds makes no difference, but for thr whole rest of y life three or five pounds is weight I'd just as soon Not lug uphill.

Unless OP plans to use front racks, I would suggest he look for AL frame/carbon fork bikes as well ... and may be even if he is. After all, they build MTB frames out of CF ... we joke a lot (and some folks relieve believe the jokes) but CF is far from fragile.

mstateglfr 

https://www.rei.com/product/109339/c...v-31-bike-2017 under $1000 using the current sale coupon or wait for a few months for the next sale.

https://www.raleighusa.com/willard-349
$730 with free corporate discount signup. Aluminum frame, carbon fork, sora drivetrain.

https://www.raleighusa.com/tamland-351
$1130 with corp discount, but its excellent quality steel tubing, great 105 drivetrain, carbon fork, and solid level disc brakes.

Mihail C.

[QUOTE=Garilia;19619291]Flat bar, hydraulic disc brakes, Cro-mo frame and fork.
Motobecane Cafe Noir

Damn, that Motobecane is hot!

Reynolds frame, triple eyelets on the fork for Touring, WTB rims and saddle, FSA Crank, Deore drivetrain, 10 speed, and hydraulic disc brakes ?!? Oh, mama, why didn't they made this 3 years ago when I bought my steel hybrid ??

All for under $700... courtesy of China!

Garilia

[QUOTE=Mihail C.;19621363]I don't have it, but I have my eye on it as my +1. It is definitely hot. My 2010 Motobecane Fantom 29 from bikesdirect is great. Deore XT gruppo, Rock Shox front suspension. Still going strong.

Maelochs

If it weren't flat-bar i'd jump on the Motobecane right now. `10-speed Deore, full rack mounts, tubeless and discs? for That price? Why not?

fietsbob

Pick the bike shop you like, then get a bike there, if you go bikes direct And are new to bike mechanics,
you can bring it, in the shipping carton, to the shop and have them set it up, for a fee,

But any warranty issues are between you and the bikes direct company, not that convenient, retailer.




....

Kma335

[QUOTE=

I highly recommend Motobecane. On the other hand, I have a steel Jamis Quest road bike and love it, so the Jamis Coda Elite previously mentioned should be a great bike as well.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the recommendation! I wasn't able to find the Motobecane Cafe Noir in any of my local shops, do you by any chance know what size I would need for someone 5'9-5'11 range?

Thanks!

Maelochs

These guys might: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/S...latorBike.jsp?

Phil_gretz

The Motobecane name is exclusively distributed through Bikes Direct and its scratch 'n' dent outlet, Bike Island.


For sizing, look at the provided link, above. I've cut and pasted the info from that link:


Sizing Guide
fits most as follows:
50cm - 5'5" to 5'7"
53cm - 5'7" to 5'9"
55cm - 5'9" to 5'11"
58cm - 5'11" to 6'1"
61cm - 6'1" to 6'3

Kma335

Ahh.I missed that part. Thanks!

I've also been thinking more about having a drop bar, and although it's NOT a deal breaker for me, I looked around at the Jamis Quest. I saw that it was mentioned earlier in this thread by Garilia, but how does this compare to the Cafe Noir? I know very little about bike parts, so I wasn't sure which would be the best "bang-per-buck"

My apologies, but as of now I can't post any links due to forum rules, but the bikes I'd like to throw out for comparison are the Jamis Quest Sport and the Motobecane Cafe Noir mentioned earlier. Both bikes are currently going for the same price.

Any other recommendations for bikes with drop bars that still fall under my requirements are welcome!

Thanks!

Kma335

I was also able to find another Motobecane on Bikesdirect that appears to be very similar to the Cafe Noir, but has Drop bars.

Will attach a link below for the three bikes I'd like to compare.

Thanks!