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Gerst240
07-30-02, 11:01 PM
i am just gettin into the sport of mountain biking right now i am using a friends trek it is a nice bike but i am looking to buy something of my own so far i think the k2 zed 3.0 http://k2bikes.com/mountain/zed_3.html looks descent but im not really sure on all the parts i have been to mtbreview.com and i have looked throught some of the reviews but i am not totally sure on what to get i am looking to spend around or under 500 dollars please tell me if the k2 bike is junk or not or something is better for the price so far i have found it for around 4 hundred
Maelstrom
07-31-02, 12:04 AM
Have you figured out what type of riding you intend to do. The bike seems fine but is geared towards light xc. If you intend to go freeriding or out of bounds or even on some really hard trails you may want to look at some other options.
Also another thing you may want to do is test drive 5 or 6 different bikes from various companies. No matter what we say if you aren't comfortable on the bike it will suck.
a2psyklnut
07-31-02, 07:58 AM
Ditto, go to as many bike shops as you can. $500 is a good budget for a first bike. It'll be strong enough to handle the abuse of a new rider, and light enough to not kill you on the climbs. Spend more for a better frame, and less on the components. As you ride more and get better, you'll wear out (or break) the components. You can replace and upgrade as you go. You can spend a lot of money upgrading a bike over time, but if the frame is heavy or poorly made, it'll still be a crap bike!
My priorities when buying a new bike are as follows:
Best frame for the $$$. This is the core of the bike, if borderline between two models, get the one that has a lighter/stronger/whatever you want Frame.
Then the fork. A good fork will make your ride much better, the more you spend the more adjustments you can make. Longer travel isn't necessarily better. It takes a lot for me to bottom out my 80mm fork!
Wheels. Depending on whether you want to keep weight down or if strength is an issue. Rotating mass is critical to keep weight down, so a lightweight wheelset will make the bike "FEEL" lighter and faster. OR, a strong wheelset is critical for long term durability if jumping is what you enjoy.
Brakes. Slowing down is critical for control. Brakes that have good modulation and stop well will make the ride more enjoyable.
Shifters. I use XT, but even Alivio will shift, just the better components require less effort and do so in a smoother fashion.
Cranks/bottom bracket. A lot of weight can be taken off the bike in this area. Plus, you want cranks that are stiff and the chainrings shift smoothly.
Derailleurs- These are easily upgraded down the road, and the rear is subject to a lot of potential damage in rough trails. Heck, a lot of people claim an LX front is the best shifter available.
Stem/Handlebar. I usually switch to an aftermarket brand as soon as I buy a bike, so this is a non-issue regarding what comes stock. I like an aluminum riser bar like an Answer Alumilite. I wouldn't mind an Easton Monkey Lite Carbon (My next upgrade!)
Seat/Seatpost- Ditto. I'll only now use a Thomson Elite post! Seats don't really matter to me, I can get used to almost any, and they get beat up fast, so I'm constantly getting new ones anyhow.
Hope this helps.
L8R