Mountain Biking - Help selecting in an interesting buying situation

Just for a starter I'm pasting my intro to the forum so you know where I'm coming from:
I just left Key West FL after 6 awesome years. The job went away so I transferred within my company to Germany. Since I can no longer boat/kayak/fish/dive, I'm going to get back into mountain biking. I live in a great spot for it. It has been over 10yrs since I left north ID and is also when my mountain biking came to an end. I had a decent Cannondale and loved it. A lot has changed since then so I'm in the process of researching the gear right now. In fact, it took a little while of searching to find a decent US-based forum, but think I've now found the spot! I'll definitely be visiting this site a lot in the near future.

Given where I'm living now and don't speak German plus with the very poor exchange rate my options are limited to buying on base or ordering online. I have a US address here so shipping rates aren't a concern. The only concern is sizing, but I'm 6'0" w/ 32" inseam so figure a 18" is about what I need.
I don't want to spend over $1200, obviously the less the better.

The limiter is choices and is where y'all can really help me out.
The base can get: Cannondale F3 and Rush; Trek 6500 Disc and Fuel EX5.5; DiamondBack Recoil Comp MD. That's pretty much it for '08 on base in men's mtb. Prices are all MSRP.
Online: I've seen deals on IronHorse, K2, Motobecane, etc. but wary of them. The Moto's seem to be '03 frames or frame technology? I've spent the last 2.5hrs scouring the 'net for info on motobecane alone since the pricing seemed too good. Plus many other nights looking and reading up in general to get back into it...but still need some direction. I saw some bad things said about them on here as well as good and a lot of good things from users on mtbr.com forums.

I don't really think I need full sus right now since I'm just getting back into it but not positive about that either.

I was comparing the -
-Moto Fantom Elite at $998 http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_elite08.htm
-Moto Fly pro at $995
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fly_pro_07instock.htm
-Trek 6500 Disc at $925 http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6500/
-Moto Fantom Comp at $799
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_comp08.htm

All that said, I was wondering which of those choices you guys would pick, or if other, then what. I'm at disadvantage that even if I buy here I'm going to have to order site-unseen.
Thanks!

All these bikes you're looking at are XC bikes. We're supposed to assume you're doing XC type riding?

What type of riding do you plan on doing? If you're sticking to single track XC, the Trek would definitely do the job. However, if you plan on doing DH, FR, AM, or DJ, none of the bikes you've mentioned are designed to do that job.

Just something you might want to consider.

BTW: Trek 6500.

Assuming it's XC, the Motobecane represents staggering value. My only qualm would be the geometry. Eyeballing it, it looks like 70HT/73ST, which is fine for ups and downs. The Trek's frame doesn't make up the difference IMHO. It's a welded aluminum hardtail. The geometry, tires, wheels and fork will make a much bigger difference in how the bike rides than whether the down tube is curvy and has ovalized ends.

Motobecane Fantom Elite FTW.

Huh... Juicy 5's and XTR on a bike under 1000$? Word.

Looks sketchy to me, though. MSRP around 1900$ selling for 950$?

Given those choices, the Motobecane represents easily the best value. A comparable Trek would cost, well, a lot.

If you are looking for Motobecane vs. Major Brand arguments, search the Road Cycling forum for "BikesDirect" or "Motobecane." We have certainly beaten that argument to death. There are two primary tradeoffs: First, no local bike shop experience, meaning you are on your own for fit and assembly, and will likely not get a discount on parts or labor in the future (buying a bike is a great first step towards a relationship with your local bike shop). Second, you have to live with a bike that isn't "brand name." For some, this is a major issue, for others, not a big deal, and for some, it's a plus. These are the downsides, which you must weigh against getting a significantly nicer bike for the money.

Having said all of this, I like the Fly Pro. So much bike for the money. . . .


Like pinkrobe said, this is all assuming a racy XC bike fits your needs in the first place.

People rag on BikesDirect for the marketing, which I agree with. That being said, I own a bikesdirect motobecane fantom elite DS. I bought only frame though on EBay. I knew what I was buying as well. A little google work and you will find they are made by Kinesis in Taiwan. And I did a little research on them, and they produce frames for just about all the major bike companies in the US. So you're not getting a cheap knock-off frame, but it does come with a cheap knock-off name. These are not related to the Motobecanes made in France years ago, Mike only bought the naming rights. So when the website says MSRP, that is just more marketing BS. Only bikesdirect sells them, or subsidiaries, so there is no "discount", the price you pay is the MSRP. I haven't had a warranty issue, so I can't comment on that.

As long as it fits, I don't think you will dissapointed with a Bikesdirect ride.

As far as the local bike shop thing; that's not really a consideration where I am now for the reasons mentioned in my orig post. So it's either buy one of the ones I mentioned sold on base (at their version of a Xmart, so no bike shop services) or order online. I've spoken with the employees at the base store; I'd say buying online would offer more service!
Either way I was going to get proper tools and bike stand since I'm pretty much a DIY'er with most things I do and want to be able to maintain my bike correctly as well. I may ask about deals on tool kits in the future :)

If you are looking for Motobecane vs. Major Brand arguments, search the Road Cycling forum for "BikesDirect" or "Motobecane." We have certainly beaten that argument to death.

Between mtbr.com forum and here I've read a ton on the back-and-forth of whether the Moto is any good or not. It's so all over the place I'm still not sure, but think that there were more pros than cons for them...especially among Moto owners the consensus us good...the owners that post at least.

The BD website says stuff about their award winning frame but those articles are from '03. Is it an '03 frame w/ newer gear on it? Does this matter?

It's amazing. The RD, Juicy 5's, and Recon fork on the Fantom Elite are worth around 900$ market value, and the complete bike is only 1000$.

All these bikes you're looking at are XC bikes. We're supposed to assume you're doing XC type riding?

What type of riding do you plan on doing? If you're sticking to single track XC, the Trek would definitely do the job. However, if you plan on doing DH, FR, AM, or DJ, none of the bikes you've mentioned are designed to do that job.

Just something you might want to consider.

BTW: Trek 6500.

As for needing an XC, I really don't know; but after reading about the types, all-mountain was my initial thought as a catch-all, or XC for starting out and durability. Really don't know.
If I got a full sus it would probably be the Fantom Team...maybe EliteDS.
But I'm also thinking I should get now whatever I'm going to want/need later, cuz the wife would kill me if I got another later. Just not sure it is worth the extra money for me or not....don't want to 'waste' money for something I won't really use as intended; though price isn't as much of a concern now as I just accepted a cash offer for my house in the states, so that financial burden is history. And this IS my work transportation most the time so there's a little more justification for the wifey :)

Here is how I'll be using it:
A) Work transportation when it's warm enough (about 3/4 of the year) since it's only 2.5 km away w/ .5km of it hill. Will be parked in secure area so no theft concerns if anyone was thinking of that.
B) Riding the area. They call them mountains but being from the Rockies they seem smaller and less treacherous...think Smokies rather than Rockies. There are trails all over, some around my house even as I'm 1/3 way up our hill/mountain.
C) Occaisional leisure rides with the wife.



This was my last bike, Cannondale M900. Got 2nd hand and rode heck out of it until sold it in mid '97 when I left for military. I LOVED it but wanted a shock and thought the frame bent a little much. http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Bike/product_18643.shtml
I never learned about what category of bike to get back then.

It's been a long time so the suggestions of type, bang for buck, etc. are appreciated!

Sounds like you'll be fine with a XC bike. They wont just fall apart under you as some folks think. As you do your research you figure out what you want. Good luck and post a pic when you get it.

OK, still waffling a little but probably going to go ahead with the Fantom Team. Just waiting on some questions to be answered from them since I have to have it shipped through a middle man due to being APO address.
Thanks for the input guys.

Moto = good. I own a Moto 'cross bike and can recommend them for the quality of the frame, good component mix, & fast service from Bikes Direct.

Hell, if you just can't stomach the Moto name, buy the Moto anyway and get some Trek stickers :)

Thanks for the affirmation acroy! :)

I heard back, they want me to use a special APO shipping place that has rules about size limits going to box numbers which rules out even using them to ship the bike...according to their own rules at least. BD might have something worked out with them but don't know, the response was just to talk to that shipping place. My only option is also parcel post which takes the slow boat so a month or so I should have it :(
To speed it up, save some $, and make sure it gets done right I'm going to have shipped to my folks' so they can ship it to me. I'm going to look into int'l shipping but heard it costs arm and a leg plus requires customs forms so will probably stick with APO.
I'll put up some pics when I finally get it.

Thanks again for the replies!
take er easy,
b

After this thread I wound up meeting someone at work that races 29ers and convinced me to try one of those. So I ordered this:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29pro_08.htm

It is taking forever to get overseas since it was first shipped to my parents since BD only ships w/in the US. But the folks were gone so couldn't forward it right away. Anyway, it is finally here just in time to be overloaded with work at the moment; but hope to get it together in the next couple weeks.

In the meantime I wanted to figure out what pedals to get, which I'll post separately. Will put up a couple pics once the bike is ready.