Mountain Biking - Good Beginner's Bike on CL?

Hi I am in the market for a mountain bike (first time) and I came across this bike. Could you guys shed some light on whether or not this would be a decent first mountain bike to go trail riding? It caught my eye due to the upgraded front fork (100mm rockshox air adjustable). Thanks


http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/2776917856.html

That appears to be a really nice hardtail. The only problem with purchasing any used aluminum-framed bicycle is the fact that some previous rider, may have ridden the heck out of it, prior to your ownwership. Aluminum becomes less forgiving, the more it's used. Though, the odds are most probably in your favor that it's still a great bike that will render you years of relentless service, the risk factor still remains a constant. This risk factor is augmented by the fact that this aluminum-framed bike is also a MTB. MTN bikes that are in regular use, are high-maintenance vehicles.

Are you certain that this CL MTB has been properly maintained and ridden?

For two hundred bucks, I say add another hundred and go to www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/4ht_new_xii.htm (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/4ht_new_xii.htm) and get a new MTB with an aluminum frame that will be much more promising, with no mysterious past.

- Slim :)

Personally, I would not spend $200 on a Giant Boulder.

Slim, the Boulder is steel.

^+1

There are few entry level bikes that I have experience with. The Boulder is one of them. My friend bought one a few years back for $120 with road use only, & the first time he wrecked it he bent several pieces beyond usability (I want to say it was a crank arm, shifter, & brake lever, but I could be mistaken). Either way, not worth the dough, even with a nicer fork. I'd go for an older rigid/hardtail...people are willing to let much nicer bikes go for much less money simply because they don't look "cool" by current standards.

no commmenting on the price, just the bike as seen

The fork (RS Duke) looks over specked for the rest of the bike (why did it need to be replaced? was the bike crashed bad?), the stem is way to long for going off road, and there are far to many spacer between the headset & stem, not sure what's going on with the valve stem on the front, it's at a bit of an angle.

the rest of it looks OK, but the gearing from what can be seen isn't really going to be too good off road, it has a Shimano Megarange cassette, which isn't too user friendly, and the crank looks to be a very basic standard drive crank, which will be hard work off road.

Other odds and ends, that stand needs to be dumped, and the saddle is at a bad angle, and if you want to be picky, both the skewer (QR) handles are setup wrong.

Not much to choose from on the Tally CL. Busiest day is around 20 postings.

That Boulder is definitely the best current deal and probably the best around for a long while.

What ever you do, don't get this GT. That stem situation is pretty messed up!
http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy56/ishovelhead/craigslist%20bicycles/002-4.jpg

depends on you price range and what your goals are. the GT is a very tall bike. Here are a few more depending on what you have in mind.
http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/2779665603.html
http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/2776522647.html
http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/2765742783.html

the GT is a very tall bike.

The point was the stem is bent at an angle it should never be it, and is dangerous, therfore don't buy that one

Could he not just buy a used stem? They are pretty cheap on ebay now. Threaded? Easy.

Steerer tube may be mangled. Would be a roll of the dice to someone who can't assess the situation before buying.

If OP is after a largish frame rigid 90s bike that GF Marlin would be almost be worth the extra money. BUT I wouldn't pay $150 for that Marlin. $100 tops if I absolutely loved it upon test ride.

Raleigh would be rad if his budget is that flexible.