Mountain Biking - Buying entry level.

Hey everyone, I finally registered, after attempting that image verification picture abotu 5 times, I'm REALLY bad at those -_-....

Anywho, Ill get to my question.
I used to have a BMX bike, I enjoyed trying a few tricks with it, but after 2 years of riding it, I find it to be MOST uncomfortable, plus it handles the trails I go on everyday like junk, (I know thats not the purpose of BMX). So I have decided to purchase a fairly entry level bike, for trails, and maybe a little jumps here or there, I was looking at a few, and this one stood out.

http://www.sportchek.ca/product_description.jhtml?id=prod2851584&fromSpecificCategory=true

I know hi-tensile steel people say isnt the best for mountain bikes, but Ive hade too much friends that had problems with aluminum, and I dont really have the money for carbon fiber, plus im a BIG durability freak.
I know this bike will be OK durability wise, and it is is mid of my price rage, and I couldnt find anything that I liked better in the MAX 350$ bike range.

I was just wondering if this bike will meet a |non-hardcore| MTBer expectations till I get to college (im in grade 10).

(PS: It comes with lifetime Warr. on the frame, and free tuneups for a year)

... So I have decided to purchase a fairly entry level bike, for trails, and maybe a little jumps here or there, I was looking at a few, and this one stood out.

http://www.sportchek.ca/product_description.jhtml?id=prod2851584&fromSpecificCategory=true

I was just wondering if this bike will meet a |non-hardcore| MTBer expectations till I get to college (im in grade 10).


My friend, the price is right, but it's not a great bike. Probably more comfortable than your BMX, but my guess is that it weighs in around 35 pounds... Not much fun on any hills. It may suit your purposes well, but I think you'd outgrow it within a year if you get into riding.

my 2¢.

My friend, the price is right, but it's not a great bike. Probably more comfortable than your BMX, but my guess is that it weighs in around 35 pounds... Not much fun on any hills. It may suit your purposes well, but I think you'd outgrow it within a year if you get into riding.

my 2¢.

Yea..I assumed the weight would be quite large, I picked it up in the store, and It is still lighter than my BMX, and I could get quite some air on that. I just hope when I outgrow it, I will have the money to upgrade.

Thx for your help, otherguy.

It is not a bike, it is a steaming pile of poo. It reeks. The forks are bottom end RST and thats pretty low, the cranks appear to be one piece items, the brakes dont even have a name, the RD is "shimano" yes its shimano but bottom of the range junk. If you get air with this it will self destruct within months if not sooner. More... the shop probably dosnt have a bike mechie, just some guy who fixes stuff, any stuff, hell he probably looks after the plumbing if trades slow, do you want him working on your bike? Not that plumbers are evil its just that they are not bike mechies. For another 30$ list price, you may get it cheaper you can have this, http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=11043 or for a few $ more....http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9345 . When you buy from a bike shop you get a wealth of experience, FREE . Am I ranting? :)

Look for a used bike. For $200 you could get a nice used MTB, something that cost around $400 - $500 new.

http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=86&parentid=182
looks like a good bike.

I personally was in the same dilema recently, and I got myself one of these bikes. I got a freeride bike.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Bruiser/Bruiser_1/index.php

You might want to look into Treks other bikes too. This is a very good entry level bike. I considered this momentarily but I decided on something a little more rugged and durable. This one is a XC bike.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Alpha_Aluminum/3900/index.php

I'm one of the few Diamondback fans on here. This is a good bike for less than $350 U.S.

http://www.diamondback.com/items.asp?deptid=14&itemid=135

This bike is hi-ten steel, wouldnt an aluminum bike self-destruct first?

Jamis makes a pretty good steel frame. A friend of mine rides a Dakota XC and he loves it.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/05_dakotaxc.html#

This bike is hi-ten steel, wouldnt an aluminum bike self-destruct first?

Hi-tensile steel is pretty inexpensive. Sure it could be made stronger and lighter, but that would then be considered Chromoly.

Hi-Tensile is probably the cheapest weakest material for bikes. Bends real easily.

There are several grades of aluminum. The stuff on entry level bikes is probably 7005 grade. And it probably as strong as Chromoly, but about as heavy.

Chromoly isn't used as much anymore. What a shame! A nice chromoly frame will ride like a dream. Probably the best grade for bike frames is 853. However, a bike made with quality Chromoly isn't going to be any cheaper, and it'll weigh a wee bit more.

Aluminum is not the preferred choice of most bike manufacturer's because of the technology available to extrude and manipulate the tubes. Plus, with the availability of using a higher grade, you can build two bikes with the same jig, using two different grades and have a huge difference in price. So, it helps out in manufacturing buy only changing the grade of tubing used.

The likleyhood of someone your size creating a failure on an alu. mtb frame from a quality manufacturer, using it in a non hardcore riding situation is slim to none. I ride a alu. MTB and I am 6'7" and weigh 230lbs I ride it very hard and have for at least 1500miles. with no problems, go Aluminum , check out a giant(brand) boulder se or rincon model both under 350.

Chromoly isn't used as much anymore. What a shame! A nice chromoly frame will ride like a dream.
.
You've got that right. My old Chromoly Hardrock will certainly out last my much newer Aluminum FS rig. Heck it will probably still be here for several other bikes to come :D

Jamis makes a pretty good steel frame. A friend of mine rides a Dakota XC and he loves it.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/05_dakotaxc.html#

Yes, but this guy's looking for entry level and that bike is $1500, far from entry level. That being said, it's one sweet ass bike. If I can save up enough within the next year I think it may be my next bike.

The likleyhood of someone your size creating a failure on an alu. mtb frame from a quality manufacturer, using it in a non hardcore riding situation is slim to none. I ride a alu. MTB and I am 6'7" and weigh 230lbs I ride it very hard and have for at least 1500miles. with no problems, go Aluminum , check out a giant(brand) boulder se or rincon model both under 350.

6'3" 280lbs.

I broke my Giant Yukon frame doing cross country cycling after a year of use. Maximum "loft" (no jumps) is probably 1-2 feet. This was a fatigue failure, not a "break". Aluminum is prone to this due to lower elasticity.

Fortunately, Giant makes everybody else's frames so they have lifetime warranties. My new frame came in, it's assembled and it works great.

So if it has a warranty, it's really not an issue. Giant can make the frame out of whatever they like. I don't care.

I would suggest the poster goes to his local specialized dealer and check out the Hardrocks. It's a sturdy frame with a lower top tube. If he's under 200 pounds, he's unlikely to EVER break that frame. Get the bottom level model and have fun on it. Don't worry about getting the "best" components because you don't know what those are yet. Upgrade as you go ;-)

Fortunately, Giant makes everybody else's frames so they have lifetime warranties.
They just changed that. It was 5 years

Wow, a bunch of newbies here, the frame you need is alpha alluminum it is Laser mitered and precision welded for lightweight performance, that means it would take a whole lot to break it, i know that to since i have taken my trek 3700 off 5 ft drops nothing happens. This bike is affordable and will last a long long time. http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Alpha_Aluminum/3700/index.php
btw bikes from sportchek and canadian tire etc... are all crap that literally fall apart while you ride them bad choice to buy one of them... :D

Go with the Specialized Hardrock Sport, in your price range, you won't be let down!