Mountain Biking - Is this appropriate?

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Ookie_Wookie
10-01-11, 10:26 AM
Looking for a new bike, and as you'll come to tell, I am pretty oblivious to what's out there. While searching local classifieds, I found this model:

http://www.norco.com/archives/2009/?id=48a31c9503eeb

It is "slightly used, ridden maybe a dozen times." Guy said he spent $1200+ new (plus added clipless pedals and is throwing in a set of shoes) He's asking $750 firm.

My questions are:
1. Is this a fair price?
2. Is this a decent bike (I plan to do 80% of my riding on roads, paved trails, and such and 20% on dirt trails) for my needs?
3. He suggested changing the tires for something thinner and less bulky for road riding, whill this be expensive?
4. Overall, is this a safe, solid buy?


Here is ad for refence: http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-se...AdIdZ318144222

samburger
10-01-11, 10:41 AM
Looks like a solid buy, but inappropriate for the kind of riding you're doing. Just look at the chart at the bottom of the Norco page you linked to...4-5 stars for XC racing, trail riding, & single track, 0 stars for light trail/city (<what you're doing). You'd probably be better off with something fully rigid with less burly rims & tires to save some weight.
cyclops
10-01-11, 05:04 PM
Looks like a great buy, but its probably more bike than you need. That said if your priorities changed and you found yourself doing more dirt than intended then you'd be on an ideal bike. Truth it cant hurt to use it for a city bike, it'd be as tough as nails and take years of city work. The tyres? I paid about $40 for some 1,15" kenda city slicks.

samburger
10-01-11, 05:24 PM
^Also true. And after a quick look through the London, Ontario classifieds, it doesn't look like there's much in the way of commuter bikes. Truth be told, I wouldn't feel at all guilty advising you to snag it up and throw some slicks on it. If you were so inclined, you could always put a taller stem and some more road-oriented rims on it and it would make up for its stock deficiencies as a commuter, but if your a relatively healthy guy then I doubt it will be much of an issue.