Mountain Biking - Upgrading components

I'm a bit of a newb but I'm getting into off-road riding more and more. My question is, is it every really worthwhile to significantly upgrade your ride?

Here's my scenario: I bought a Rocky Mountain Fusion ($800 Canadian) last year because it has a great frame for the money (Easton Elite Aluminum) and entry-level components, figuring that I could upgrade components as I go. Now I find that it's just not worthwhile to upgrade to better components because if I take the money I was going to use to upgrade, add to that what I can sell my current ride for, I can turn around and buy a new bike which is altogether better.

For example, to either go to disc brakes, or to upgrade from 8-speed AceraX to 9-speed LX/XT will likely cost me about $500. I can probably sell my bike for around $500. For $1000 I could probably buy a bike with the upgrades I want with a better fork and just generally a better bike.

So is it every really worthwhile to upgrade components or are you just wasting money when for the same money out-of-pocket you can just get a better bike?

Sorry for being so long-winded :)

Yes and no. I would upgrade your components as they wear out or break. For example, I picked up a stick and it got wedged in between the jockey pulleys of my ESP 9.0 rear derailleur. It literally ripped the derailleur off my bike. To replace it, I bought a newer 9.0 SL for only a few dollars more. Same scenario when I tacoed my stock Sun DS-1 rim. I upgraded to a Mavic D521 rim.

To do a wholesale upgrade of components or switching to discs, you are correct. It would be more economical to sell your bike and buy new!

L8R

Wow. Nice job on the lightning fast response :)

I would have to agree, that (upgrading as you break stuff) does seem to be the most reasonable way to go. The problem arises, however, when I break something that is 8-speed specific (e.g. shifter/lever, cranks/chain rings etc.). When that happens, I either sink more money into 8-speed replacement parts, or I do a wholesale conversion to 9-speed, which costs mucho $$ and brings me back to my original dilemna.

Agreed, switching from 8 to 9 speed components does get costly. The thing to remember, there is no difference with regards to the rear derailleur. An 8 will work with 9. There is a slight difference in the front derailleur. A 9 is slightly more narrow than an 8. I've used each back and forth and will work, just not as well as the appropriate derailleur. i.e., I've used an 8 F-der in 9-groupo, and also a 9 F-der in an 8-groupo. It's not optimum, but it'll work!

The Rear Shifters will give you a problem, b/c that's what dictates the amount of cable pull for each shift. The front is the same for 8 or 9.

Chains and chainrings will also be your nemisis. You can use an 8 speed chain on 9 speed rings, but not the other way around.

Arrgggghhh, this is getting complicated. If you want to upgrade to 9 speed get a new bike!

I just had this same dilema last week. I was looking into upgrading my 7-speed (Gary Fisher 98) to a 8-speed and new fork, at the least. But for just $250 more I got a whole new bike with even better components, plus a 9-speed. The majority of the components were better than my husband's $850 Stumpjumper, to our surprise. (It's a Diamondback Apex, I don't race so it's perfect for my level of riding, and a great deal from the bike shop I got it at.) The geometry of the frame is even better than my old bike. I'm happy with my purchase.

I opted to sell my old Gary Fisher. But realistically I'd get about $250 for it. So I've kept it, and now it has slick tires, a bike pannier rack and it's my commuter bike.

New bike!

Keep the frame...get discs though...i like upgrading stuff...but that is just me...

I thought for a while I was in the same situation as you McGuillicuddy... I own a 02 Trailhead, quite close to the Fusion differences being fork, shifters, crank and perhaps a couple of others. For a while I was all hung up and replacing just about everything, main reason being I was being left in the dust by top local riders. I had it all speced, XT everything, Deore hydros, Mavic 223 rims, MXComp ETA fork, RF stem, bar and cranks, etc etc etc.

Then last week something cool happened... I had my best race thus far. I was tearing up the course, leaving riders on high $ bikes in my wake. Ended up finishing first in the middle lap category! Suddenly I don't need lots of high buck components, only more training! With that in mind I still want the Marz fork and would like to add the RF stem, bar and crank (because they look cool). Other than that I'm happy with what I've got.

:beer:

You don't need high end components to compete. That is training. But some things help. Wheels and a good fork were my saviour for speed and confidence. I don't seem to have issues shifting with LX level stuff (heck even deore) :)