Mountain Biking - Recommendations for where to buy a bike online

Hi Everyone

I'm on a tight budget and looking for the best bang for the buck dual-suspension xc I can buy online.
Not sure where to start, there are so many online stores. I'm thinking there must be a few of them that specialize (no pun intended) for online purchases and shipping.

I thought of buying used but I prefer not to purchase something that's half-beaten up.
Wish I had more $ to buy at the local LBS, but that's the way it is when you're a student!

Thanks
Mike

Forget the LBS ... go online for the best value ... :thumb:

Good ...Shimano Alivio 24Spd Full Suspension Bike 2010 Motobecane 400DS $429.95

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/400ds.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/4ds_x_600.jpg

Better ... Shimano Deore 24Speed Full Suspension 2010 Motobecane 500DS $499.95

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/500ds.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com//products/motobecane/images/500ds_500.jpg

Best ... Shimano LX 24Spd Full Suspension 2010 Motobecane 600DS $549.95

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/600ds.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com//products/motobecane/images/600ds_500.jpg

What's your price range?

Budget is as low as possible. :( Gotta be dualie cause my tail can't take the hardtail anymore.

Gone to check out the Motobecanes... :)

That's the way it is when you're a student...if you don't mind riding something that might not fit you. And if it doesn't fit, you'll eventually end up not riding it.

Start here:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/yukon.fx/3902/36619/
http://www.sunandski.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=7705056651020&Click=282&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=7705056651020
You won't find much that's still quality cheaper than that, and you also won't find them much cheaper online than you'd find in a bike shop, so you may as well go to a brick and mortar and see what fits.

Why do you need a full suspension bike?

Because his bottom has a booboo.

Because his bottom has a booboo.

And my back too.

I'm trying to stay away from the coils of the Dart 2 and 3, but looks like they all pretty have that in that price range.

I'm trying to stay away from the coils of the Dart 2 and 3, but looks like they all pretty have that in that price range.

Are you looking to mountain bike or just get around town? Who do you ride with?

Are you looking to mountain bike or just get around town? Who do you ride with?

Every 2nd weekend to Bromont and 2 or 3 trips to Kingdom Trails, VT. Mixture of rocks, roots and singletrack.

I ride with a friend of mine, no jumping, but we do go like the wind.

Forget the LBS ... go online for the best value ... :thumb:

Good ...Shimano Alivio 24Spd Full Suspension Bike 2010 Motobecane 400DS $429.95

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/400ds.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/4ds_x_600.jpg



I've inquired to bikesdirect.com if i can buy only the frame for the 400ds and i'll buy the parts separately, build it myself. Turn it into a project.

I've inquired to bikesdirect.com if i can buy only the frame for the 400ds and i'll buy the parts separately, build it myself. Turn it into a project.

Sounds like a fun project, but I found that it was hard to beat the package price of the complete bike.
Take a look at the Windsor ... the cheapest full suspension that I could find. Good luck :thumb:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/windsor_ghost6300.htm

Shimano Deore 24Spd Full Suspension Bike - 2010 Windsor Ghost 6300 $399.95

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/images/g6300_x_red_600.jpg

I've inquired to bikesdirect.com if i can buy only the frame for the 400ds and i'll buy the parts separately, build it myself. Turn it into a project.

Building a bike yourself is almost always more expensive than buying a complete. It's cool since you get to handpick what parts you want to use though. But what you have in mind is pretty much buying the weakest part of that BikesDirect bike.

Building a bike yourself is almost always more expensive than buying a complete. It's cool since you get to handpick what parts you want to use though. But what you have in mind is pretty much buying the weakest part of that BikesDirect bike.

I thought their frames were tough...?

Go to WalMart. They have some solid full-suspension options on the cheap.

Go to WalMart. They have some solid full-suspension options on the cheap.

My budget isn't that low (or i'm not that cheap). lol

Just a good-solid frame I can build on.

Thanks to some good advice, this is turning into a "build your own" project; will start a new thread.