Mountain Biking - Upgrading a Wal-Mart Bike (yes...I know, but read it anyway)

In 2003 I got a Schwinn Aluminum Comp from Wal-Mart and used it mainly for pavement riding...it's been tuned pretty well, and all of the parts still work like new (wheels are true, brakes stop well, derailleurs shift niecely)...I know it's a dept. store bike, but read on...

Earlier this year, one of my friends took me mountain biking. He was in a $600+ GT Full Suspension Bike, but I kept up pretty well on my cheap Schwinn. Afterwards, I inspected the bike and found that everything was working perfectly. I went biking on the local 7.5 mile trail pretty frequently after that (about 2-3x a week for the last couple of months)...even though lots of the riders are on full suspension, disc brake and XTR equipped bikes, I don't feel like my inexpensive bike is letting me down. The other day I even passed this guy on one of those $1000 bikes when he couldn't make it up a steep climb...

So since my Schwinn was performing pretty well, I decided to make some upgrades. I switched the stock tires for some Kevlar-Beaded WTB Velociraptors in the front and IRC Mythos XC in the rear. I also swapped the stock Altus rear derailleur for a 2006 Deore M510, which shifts a lot more crisply than the Altus. Recently, I managed to bend the seatpost coming off a bad landing (nothing else damaged though), so that's going to be replaced with a new alloy one as well. I recently weighed this bike, and it's about 30 lbs in an 18" size. A little heavy, yes, but not that much heavier than say, a $500 bike.

At this point, my question is whether it's worth further upgrading this bike. As it is, I feel like it works at least decently well on the local trail, though the RST fork feels stiff and short on travel (they advertise 63mm, but in reality it's more like 25mm). I was looking into getting a Manitou Axel or RockShox Dart 2 as an upgrade, and also switching out the stock hubs and wheelset for a lighter set (looking at a set of Mavics on Deore hubs)...the fork would probably run around $120, and the wheelset close to that also. The price of all of these upgrades is more than the original cost of the bike (around $200), so I was wondering whether a new fork and wheelset really made a huge difference in feel on the trail. I'm going to be a HS senior next year, so I'll probably only be able to go riding a few times a month.

If getting a new fork and wheelset aren't worth it, would there be any worthwhile cheap upgrades to make that would improve performance on the trail?

The Current Specs:

18" 6061 Aluminum Frame with 1 1/8" Threadless Headset (Cane Creek Aheadset)
RST 191 CL 63mm Fork
SR Suntour 22/32/42 Crankset
Tourney Front Der/Deore M510 Rear Der/7 SP Revoshift grip shifters
Alloy Linear Pull Brakes
Alex Alloy Rims, QR Hubs

Oh, and I'm 5"11, about 160 lbs, so I don't think I am too much of a burden on the frame :)

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

Not worth it.

I disagree...

Generally, as long as the welds are good, the frame quality is similar to high price bikes. I would not do the wheel change, but with the suspension, I would probably do that. Just don't spend more than about the price of a specalized rockhopper upgrading the walmart bike. If you think you will, don't. Just go buy a rockhopper instead.

For instance, I ride a mongoose blackcomb from wal mart (normally $280, I got it for $75 with a new back tire, returned cause the old one popped) and it has mid quality parts found on bikes such as lower priced Specialized, GT, and Trek. The parts are mostly brand names like these: (RST, Quando, Sr Suntour, cane creek, kenda, Shimano Altus[mid quality shifters by shimano], PROMAX, Kenda, and wtb)

Since I only paid $75, I can afford to upgrade it without spending much more money than a bike with the same parts I started with. That way, I'll have a nicer bike at about the same price.

Pretty much, do what makes you happy. Your bike won't need to suit anyone but you. As long as its a strong frame, already had a 3 pc crank and 1 1/8" head tube, you pretty much aren't limited on what you can do with it.

Don't listen to the people that say buy this, buy that. It makes little difference what other people think, as long as you like it.

I say: Go for it.

-Crash

Wow, just went back over your post. Upgrade the front fork, leave the wheels alone. You will see a big change in performance. Go with an SR suntour fork with about 90mm of travel, you will love it.

It's great that you're out riding. Don't ever be intimidated by other rider's expensive bikes. OTOH, don't put them down either. I've been known to push my own bike up a hill now and again. (I'm 45) But I'm out riding and having fun and getting some much needed exercise, and that's what matters, right?

Getting down to the question of upgrading your bike, I would be wary of investing more in upgrades than the bike is worth. Do you really need that new wheelset? If the old wheelset is still true, why not keep it and put that money aside for a new bike down the road? Ditto the fork, though I do tend to believe you would notice a fork upgrade a whole lot more than a wheelset upgrade.

FWIW, I've been struggling with the same sorts of questions as you when it comes to upgrading my two-year-old Rockhopper. When I add up the cost of all the new parts I want to install on the bike, the total comes to more than the bike is worth. So I've been lowering my expectations a bit, deciding that I can live without some of the nice-to-haves, and prioritizing the work so that I can do the most important things first and worry about the rest later.

Good luck in your decision.

I disagree...

Generally, as long as the welds are good, the frame quality is similar to high price bikes. I would not do the wheel change, but with the suspension, I would probably do that. Just don't spend more than about the price of a specalized rockhopper upgrading the walmart bike. If you think you will, don't. Just go buy a rockhopper instead.

For instance, I ride a mongoose blackcomb from wal mart (normally $280, I got it for $75 with a new back tire, returned cause the old one popped) and it has mid quality parts found on bikes such as lower priced Specialized, GT, and Trek. The parts are mostly brand names like these: (RST, Quando, Sr Suntour, cane creek, kenda, Shimano Altus[mid quality shifters by shimano], PROMAX, Kenda, and wtb)

Since I only paid $75, I can afford to upgrade it without spending much more money than a bike with the same parts I started with. That way, I'll have a nicer bike at about the same price.

Pretty much, do what makes you happy. Your bike won't need to suit anyone but you. As long as its a strong frame, already had a 3 pc crank and 1 1/8" head tube, you pretty much aren't limited on what you can do with it.

Don't listen to the people that say buy this, buy that. It makes little difference what other people think, as long as you like it.

I say: Go for it.

-Crash

Wow, just went back over your post. Upgrade the front fork, leave the wheels alone. You will see a big change in performance. Go with an SR suntour fork with about 90mm of travel, you will love it.

It isn't worth it, there is no real point to putting good parts on a frame that is weaker than a broken, wet Q-tip.

Ahhh! Its aluminum!

I guess that would be a good bit weaker than box tube frame like the blackcomb...

Sorry, didn't take that into account.

EDIT: It seems to be really weak around the headtube.

Ahhh! Its aluminum!

I guess that would be a good bit weaker than box tube frame like the blackcomb...

Sorry, didn't take that into account.

EDIT: It seems to be really weak around the headtube.

The headtube seems to be the most reinforced part of the bike :D...thick welds around the whole part with reinforced pieces in that area also...maybe I can post some pics up once I find my camera.

I'm assuming also that the frame isn't too strong, but I guess I'm lucky it hasn't cracked yet on me :D

http://bikeforums.net/avatars2//LittleJohn.gifBears are no fun.

Trust me, I've seen one from 20 feet.

Taking this "bear thing" a little far, eh?

Don't let it define you or be such a big part of your alter-cyber ego, right?

Ahhh! Its aluminum!

I guess that would be a good bit weaker than box tube frame like the blackcomb...

Sorry, didn't take that into account.

EDIT: It seems to be really weak around the headtube.


What the........I love this place.

Raiyn is going to have a stroke when he sees this thread.

Raiyn is going to have a stroke when he sees this thread.

Great!

I'm a new-again rider, and brand new to the forum here. Something keeps bugging me though:


The other day I even passed this guy on one of those $1000 bikes when he couldn't make it up a steep climb...I don't know why many riders stereotype other riders by the price of their bikes. The two things are entirely unrelated. As if someone with a more expensive car is a better/worse driver, or someone with a more expensive home is a better/worse housekeeper.

So why do you think you should have or shouldn't have been able to pass another rider just because their bike 'looked' relatively expensive compared to your's?

--------------------
Sorry to go off on that...
Back to your original question regarding the upgrade. Something that hasn't been mentioned: if you do upgrade the front shocks and spend more than the bike is worth, you could still use those shocks if/when you upgrade to a stronger more expensive frame in the future.

Best Wishes,
-Bob

I switched the stock tires for some Kevlar-Beaded WTB Velociraptors in the front and IRC Mythos XC in the rear.

Why would you not pick a pair of these tires and get a matching set? they both have a front and rear and are pretty similar. Normally when someone does something like this they have a reson .. please explain.

regarding the upgrade or replace... I'd recommending upgrading to a Target bike.

Don't put anymore money into that big. It is seriously not worth it. Ride it till it breaks then buy a real bike.

Don't bother changing the wheels. You won't notice a difference.

Feel free to experiment with tires. You will notice a difference.

You might want to change your fork. You will notice a difference.

You might want to ignore t*rds like Mr. Smashy and DylanTremblay. Anyone who says "get a real bike" will never make a difference.

Good luck!

Don't bother changing the wheels. You won't notice a difference.

Feel free to experiment with tires. You will notice a difference.

You might want to change your fork. You will notice a difference.

You might want to ignore t*rds like Mr. Smashy and DylanTremblay. Anyone who says "get a real bike" will never make a difference.

Good luck!

You may want to stick to threads giving advice on covering up man-boobs. You obviously are way out of your element here.

you should just save up about $300 more and keep your $200 and get a real mtb. Honestly, you'd be a lot happier doing that. If you like your schwinn, just ride it til it dies. I completely disagree with anything that Captain Crash has said in this thread because once you ride a nice bike regularly as opposed to some mongoose x-mart p.o.s. you'll notice a difference. We can all lie to ourselves and say it would be the same, but we'd just be lying to ourselves. Save up $500, and get something nice. You definitely won't regret it.

you should just save up about $300 more and keep your $200 and get a real mtb. Honestly, you'd be a lot happier doing that. If you like your schwinn, just ride it til it dies. I completely disagree with anything that Captain Crash has said in this thread because once you ride a nice bike regularly as opposed to some mongoose x-mart p.o.s. you'll notice a difference. We can all lie to ourselves and say it would be the same, but we'd just be lying to ourselves. Save up $500, and get something nice. You definitely won't regret it.


What he said!!!!!!!!

Some people are saying save up another 300 dollars. I know that that can be a very hard thing for a teenager to do.
Id suggest that you ride what yuo can be happy to afford.
You say you like your bike, but not the fork, and you can afford to upgrade the fork. So do just that.
Some people on here dont understand the concept of not having a credit card/unlimite budget. Do wat you want, its your bike. So long as youre riding, who cares?

Is it a threadless headtube setup? Most X-mart bikes have the old threaded design...but if its threadless and your looking for a dart 2, Im selling my slightly used one for cheap...PM me if your interested.

The ONLY things you should "upgrade" on that bike:

1. Fix flat tire
2. Fix broken chain
3. Adjust DR
4. Replace tires... if it lasts that long.

Eventually donate bike to charity and buy complete bike.

If you do any upgrades make sure that the parts or of good quality, and that they are swappable. Realistically you could up grade the entire bike and at a later date pic up a new frame, swapping over all your upgrade parts. But then nobody would have anything to ***** about....up to you.

New bike!

23 post and noone has said it so I'll throw it in.

Don't polish a turd

You might want to ignore t*rds like Mr. Smashy and DylanTremblay. Anyone who says "get a real bike" will never make a difference.

But aren't WalMart bikes under the heading of "toys" in their website? Aren't there warning stickers on the frames saying not to be used off trail? I could be wrong. But I have learned quite a bit from both Mr. Smashy and Dylan and I respect what they have to say.

I think maybe they were probably not only talking performance but perhaps safety?

You might want to ignore t*rds like Mr. Smashy and DylanTremblay. Anyone who says "get a real bike" will never make a difference.

While nincompi's like you encourage this guy to make a big, very expensive mistake.

Here's a bag of sand.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/konarider24/playsand_bag320.jpg

Go pound it.

Some people are saying save up another 300 dollars. I know that that can be a very hard thing for a teenager to do.
Id suggest that you ride what yuo can be happy to afford.
You say you like your bike, but not the fork, and you can afford to upgrade the fork. So do just that.
Some people on here dont understand the concept of not having a credit card/unlimite budget. Do wat you want, its your bike. So long as youre riding, who cares?

+5,000


Don't bother changing the wheels. You won't notice a difference.

Feel free to experiment with tires. You will notice a difference.

You might want to change your fork. You will notice a difference.

You might want to ignore t*rds like Mr. Smashy and DylanTremblay. Anyone who says "get a real bike" will never make a difference.

Good luck!

That is the worst post I have ever seen.

You people confuse me.

Oh, I like bears now that I studied them.

Maybe I will raise one and train it to eat my enemies! [/internetsarcasm]

Some people are saying save up another 300 dollars. I know that that can be a very hard thing for a teenager to do.
Id suggest that you ride what yuo can be happy to afford.
You say you like your bike, but not the fork, and you can afford to upgrade the fork. So do just that.
Some people on here dont understand the concept of not having a credit card/unlimite budget. Do wat you want, its your bike. So long as youre riding, who cares?

Well said.
If you've got the money, go for a new bike. If not, upgrade the Schwinn and have fun. Hey, I upgraded a $20 used Nishiki when I started and learned quite a bit for less than $100 before buying a new Rockhopper.
I think the offer from an earlier post of a used fork, if it's in good shape and priced right, is a great way to go.

If you just saved up $200 more than you would spend on the fork and the wheelset, you could get them both with a new bike in something like a gary fisher wahoo.

You people confuse me.

Oh, I like bears now that I studied them.

Maybe I will raise one and train it to eat my enemies! [/internetsarcasm]

Nuff with the bear, dude.

Hey Siu...you been hangin out elsewhere lately? Been a while since I've seen anything outta ya.

Ahhh! Its aluminum!

I guess that would be a good bit weaker than box tube frame like the blackcomb...

Sorry, didn't take that into account.

EDIT: It seems to be really weak around the headtube.


Dude you slay me:


As many of you know, I am a new mountain biker, just got my first FS bike,

-Crash
Yet you're giving advice.

Dude you slay me:


Yet you're giving advice.

AMEN! What is a guy with a $75 walmart bike doing trying to give advice anyway?

I have a kona and I say IF you upgrade the bike buy a high end fork and leave the steerer long enough to carry onto future builds. Chances are in a few years you'll have the means to afford a nice frame and build yourself or buy a nicer bike.

If it was me I'd save for a better bike though.

IF you upgrade the bike buy a high end fork and leave the steerer long enough to carry onto future builds.

I'm pretty sure that santiago said this exact same thing a few days ago. And buying a high end fork for this bike would be completely moronic.

I have a kona and I say.............


So that means what to this thread?

I have a kona and I say IF you upgrade the bike buy a high end fork and leave the steerer long enough to carry onto future builds. Chances are in a few years you'll have the means to afford a nice frame and build yourself or buy a nicer bike.

If it was me I'd save for a better bike though.

You mean like this?
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly-rohloff/images/2-bars.jpg

So that means what to this thread?

Sarcasm. I was saying that because I own a kona and not an x-mart bike that it somehow makes me more qualified to give advice then the next idiot. This is a public forum anyone is free to give bad or good advice. If your intellegent and want good info online you'll always look at the source before taking it straight to heart.

Sarcasm. I was saying that because I own a kona and not an x-mart bike that it somehow makes me more qualified to give advice then the next idiot. This is a public forum anyone is free to give bad or good advice. If your intellegent and want good info online you'll always look at the source before taking it straight to heart.

I have three Specialized one Iron Horse and one SantaCruz I must be super qualified.

I have three Specialized one Iron Horse and one SantaCruz I must be super qualified.

Idk according to Pete you loose points for the SC.

Idk according to Pete you loose points for the SC.

You should listen to Pete,he's one smart cookie.

You should listen to Pete,he's one smart cookie.

I've never met the guy but I do know alot of geniuses have issues with being civil. So it's entirely possible. I still don't get why he said Kona sucks. I really like mine. I guess it's all in what you want in a bike.

Some people are saying save up another 300 dollars. I know that that can be a very hard thing for a teenager to do.
Id suggest that you ride what yuo can be happy to afford.
You say you like your bike, but not the fork, and you can afford to upgrade the fork. So do just that.
Some people on here dont understand the concept of not having a credit card/unlimite budget. Do wat you want, its your bike. So long as youre riding, who cares?

Amen.

I will always believe that a self-paid-for X-Mart bike is FAR more respectable than a "my daddy bought me" expensive rig.

Ride your bike and have fun.

iwantakona, don't make an ass out of yourself again.

Amen.

I will always believe that a self-paid-for X-Mart bike is FAR more respectable than a "my daddy bought me" expensive rig.

Ride your bike and have fun.

What a load of crap. If someone wanted to buy me a new high end rig I would have no trouble taking it.

What a load of crap. If someone wanted to buy me a new high end rig I would have no trouble taking it.

Amen.

You'd have to be completely ******** not to.

First question: Are you having a good time with your bike? I thought so.

Only upgrade parts when they break. The frame itself is just another part, too, so if that craps out (and assuming that the other parts don't get bent as well), just get a nicer frame.

It is not a $75 bike. It is a $280 bike that I got a good deal on. But you guys that need a shiny new specialized or trek to be a "Real" mountain biker can think what you want.

I have experience in other styles of biking, I have done my reading and have minor experience in mountain biking, and my dad was a BIKE SHOP TECH FOR 8 YEARS. I like to work on my bikes more than I like to ride them. Sorry if that isn't your style.

(annoying dramatization)I just think that some of you need to be real. Not everyone has $700 to go out and buy that shiny new high end bikeshop bike with a 50 year warranty, free tuneups, and a free ice cream cone from the shop next door (end annoying dramatization)

And by the way, I would just like to tell you that I am surprised that people that actually know something like TechTrek, BFG, and the other guys agreeing with them are even on the same forum as you guys.

Stop mocking me because I can't afford a bike you deem "decent". Go read the forum rules. You *Should* be getting infractions left and right for treating people like this.

I find the bike I have fine, and I can ride the same XC terrain as anybody with a high end bike with enough practice.

Thank you.

-Adam

Uhh... Mr. Smashy, I just am speaking my peace here. If you deem it right to ban me, by all means, do what you feel is right. I didn't flame anyone, it was a message directed to the 4 or 5 people have been criticizing me.

It is not a $75 bike. It is a $280 bike that I got a good deal on. But you guys that need a shiny new specialized or trek to be a "Real" mountain biker can think what you want.

I have experience in other styles of biking, I have done my reading and have minor experience in mountain biking, and my dad was a BIKE SHOP TECH FOR 8 YEARS. I like to work on my bikes more than I like to ride them. Sorry if that isn't your style.

(annoying dramatization)I just think that some of you need to be real. Not everyone has $700 to go out and buy that shiny new high end bikeshop bike with a 50 year warranty, free tuneups, and a free ice cream cone from the shop next door (end annoying dramatization)

And by the way, I would just like to tell you that I am surprised that people that actually know something like TechTrek, BFG, and the other guys agreeing with them are even on the same forum as you guys.

Stop mocking me because I can't afford a bike you deem "decent". Go read the forum rules. You *Should* be getting infractions left and right for treating people like this.

I find the bike I have fine, and I can ride the same XC terrain as anybody with a high end bike with enough practice.

Thank you.

-Adam

Uhh... Mr. Smashy, I just am speaking my peace here. If you deem it right to ban me, by all means, do what you feel is right. I didn't flame anyone, it was a message directed to the 4 or 5 people have been criticizing me.

I'm not sure that you're being fair here. If you had been on the forums for a while, which you haven't, you'd know that most of the people who are telling him not to upgrade his xmart bike are very experienced. I'm just trying to give the OP the best advice based on years of experience. The OP could save up a little more money and get all the components he wishes to buy for just about $200 more. It is always cheaper to buy a new bike than to upgrade a current bike.
So, in the words of Billy Madison, "Back Off!" We speak from experience, you from speculation. I took a friend's Trek 3700, a $310 bike, for a spin around the neighborhood last week, and to be honest, it felt cheap and sluggish. Once you get a higher level bike, you'll never look back.

I've never met the guy but I do know alot of geniuses have issues with being civil. So it's entirely possible. I still don't get why he said Kona sucks. I really like mine. I guess it's all in what you want in a bike.

Kona sucks.