Mountain Biking - Roadie needs help with new bike.

I have been riding a road bike for 5+ years and am looking into a mountain bike. I like the idea of a 29er and rode a Gary Fisher paragon today it was a 19" and I think I need a 21". I am interested in the GF X-caliber also to save some bucks. Here are my issues:

I am 6' 3" tall my inseam is 30-31inches and my arm span is 6' 7" Crazy measurements, I know

Not sure the difference between X9 and X7 shifters

Tempted by the Motobecane Fantom 29PRO Mountain Bike
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29pro_08.htm

Would appreciate your thoughts or suggestions, Thank you in advance!

I have been riding a road bike for 5+ years and am looking into a mountain bike. I like the idea of a 29er and rode a Gary Fisher paragon today it was a 19" and I think I need a 21". I am interested in the GF X-caliber also to save some bucks. Here are my issues:

I am 6' 3" tall my inseam is 30-31inches and my arm span is 6' 7" Crazy measurements, I know

Not sure the difference between X9 and X7 shifters

Tempted by the Motobecane Fantom 29PRO Mountain Bike
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29pro_08.htm

Would appreciate your thoughts or suggestions, Thank you in advance!

hello, i am a roadie too.

that looks like a great deal. motobecane is nothing special. however, you could probably argue that the frame is the least important part anyhow. everything else looks pretty good. you really can't go wrong. i would just get that one rather than the paragon. especially if you think you might want to get an even nicer bike in the future. i don't really think the paragon is anything special so i would save the money.

x7 is great! really just the weight difference. it will shift just as well. kind of like 105 vs ultegra or centaur? vs chorus. i must admit i gravitate towards the x9 but i also used a x7 RD with absolutely no problems.

hope that helps

hello, i am a roadie too.

that looks like a great deal. motobecane is nothing special. however, you could probably argue that the frame is the least important part anyhow. everything else looks pretty good. you really can't go wrong. i would just get that one rather than the paragon. especially if you think you might want to get an even nicer bike in the future. i don't really think the paragon is anything special so i would save the money.

x7 is great! really just the weight difference. it will shift just as well. kind of like 105 vs ultegra or centaur? vs chorus. i must admit i gravitate towards the x9 but i also used a x7 RD with absolutely no problems.

hope that helps

I've been shopping around for parts recently and I thought I read somewere that the X7 RD has a different actuation ratio so it can only be used with a 1:1 SRAM shifter. Just something to keep in mind.

I could be wrong though, I don't remember where I read that.

I've been shopping around for parts recently and I thought I read somewere that the X7 RD has a different actuation ratio so it can only be used with a 1:1 SRAM shifter. Just something to keep in mind.

I could be wrong though, I don't remember where I read that.

i don't know. i also just realized that the op was refering more to shifters and i was talking about derailleurs. oops

alright....here is the scoop

I am just shy of 6'3, arm span of 6'6, and inseam (pant size, not 'measured' inseam) of 34in. So I am built similarly to you, only with longer legs

I have an '07 paragon (19in frame) and love it. The deal with the pre-2008 GF geometry was it was designed to fit people with longer arms/torso, hence why it fits me so well. Go into your LBS and have them fit you to a 29er (both old and new) to find out if you will need that 21in frame.

As for the frame, the only difference from the Paragon down to the Cobia is the color. They are all great.

The jump from X7 to X9 is like jumping from 105 to Ultegra SL. I've found the X9 is a lot smoother and a little lighter (but I don't care so much about saving weight)

any other questions, PM me or email me. I'd be happy to help you out.

Thanks for everyones tips, so many more variables in mtb bikes,than road bikes.I will keep you posted. Top choices are:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29pro_08.htm

http://www.diamondback.com/items.asp?deptid=14&itemid=304

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/x-caliber/bigimage

http://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?mid=a400&layout=viewproduct&taxid=550

X-9 and X-7 work virtually the same.I have both.I would theorize X-9 might last longer.Same for the deraileurs.

moto: Stay away from that Tora fork.

Dback: BB5 brakes are a little sketchy.

GF: solid bike, full X7, Fox fork is smokin, hydraulic brakes a plus

Orbea: depending on the specs, also a solid build. The black version of this frame would be rather sexy with a matte black reba.

the most important thing is fit though. go into a shop and sit on a couple of the frames.