Touring - Upgrading My Cheap MTB

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macaroni steve
05-12-06, 09:04 PM
I Have a Trek 4100 MTB. Its a cheap bike ($270) with only the cheapest components. I'm looking at purchasing some good Shimano group sets and wondering if I should even bother. How would my biking experience differ by upgrading the components. I will probably purchase a decent frame in the future as well.

Or maybe should I do it the other way around? Get a good frame now and put my cheap components on it then get the quality components later?


Thanks.

Eatadonut
05-13-06, 10:00 AM
I Have a Trek 4100 MTB. Its a cheap bike ($270) with only the cheapest components. I'm looking at purchasing some good Shimano group sets and wondering if I should even bother. How would my biking experience differ by upgrading the components. I will probably purchase a decent frame in the future as well.

Or maybe should I do it the other way around? Get a good frame now and put my cheap components on it then get the quality components later?


Thanks.

If the components are all still working well, I'd upgrade the frame first. My experience with those bikes is that that "alpha aluminum" turns into a pretzel once you start giving it any sort of a pounding. Components are of course cheaper to buy in a groupset, but upgrading one piece at a time is easier. Of course, depending on your budget, you could probably pick up a cheap, decent frame from a lesser-known company, and still grab yourself an XT set.