Mountain Biking - Good Buy For First Bike?

Just brought myself my first MTB, think I got a good 2nd hand deal..

TREK 6700 - 2004 model - Black/Silver Paint with Rock Shox Pilot SZ (non disc brake model - but nevermind!)

The guy selling it told me it was his brother's who was working overseas and wanted him to sell it. Good thing was that the seller didn't seem to know much about the bike... told me over the phone it has 30 gears and it was racing bike with a 26" frame!! but insisted it said Trek 6700 on the frame so I went to have a look...

Paid USD269 (equivalent) - or 350 Australian Dollars.

Good deal or not???

Have checked the Trek website to check specs. however have the following questions..

Only 2 things I may have to change.. bike came standard apart from the tires.. has Maxxis Xeniths 26x1.5 (road tires).. so basically I will not be able to take it off-road at the moment. I hope the wheels are standard.. they do not seem to have any markings on them...Can anyone advise good tires to change to ?- I will only be doing light trail , commuting etc..

Also pedals are those clipless type, I would rather get new pedals then buy shoes for them, any suggestions on pedals..or can you get something to add to the current pedals to make the 'normal'?

Look forward to hearing you thoughts (whatever they may be)!!!!! Or maybe I will have to go to my LBS if I can find one...

Hope it was not stolen .............

he sold it with a bike lock... the lock is in one piece!!

Wouldn't think a thief would steal a bike buy a lock and then sell the bike!

Who knows??

You'd be surprised how many bikes are stolen with locks on them.....it's kinda depressing.

You don't say what size the frame is. THe wheels are 26", not the frame. Don't buy a bike unless if fits you. Ask here or go to wrenchscience.com to learn about sizing. As for tires, just about any semi-slick will work. Again, search here or mtbreview.com for the best ones.

Sun Ringle zulu pedals are good platforms. Check them out here. (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylepkey=11562&detailName=Sun%20Ringle%20Zuzu%20Pedals&style_id=240%20SUNZZ9&dept_id=&deptName=&sub_id=&subName=&lprice=29.98&hprice=29.98)

The seller said the bike was 26".

Actually it is only a 15.5" (measurement from middle of crank to top of seat post tube).

I may have to sell the bike on anyway as I am 6"3' !! But actually with the standard seat post right up and me seating normally I can just (just) about get my feet flat on the floor.

What do you advise?

Should I sell it and get a bigger frame or get a different seat post ? ( I got to change the seat as well anyway, its as hard as a rock).

Thanks for the links regarding the pedals / tires.

The Trek 6700 is a very good bike and that's a good price if it's legit. Just hope the brother doesn't return and fume when he finds out kid brother sold his bike without permission.

In any case, 15.5" seems way too small for 6'3" and I don't think having the seatpost right up is a good idea (btw the seatpost should have a "Minimum Insert" mark and mustn't be exposed).

Looks like I may have to sell it then.. before the brother returns / I damage myself.

Shame as I was getting attached to it already!!

Anyway will try and sell it and double my money... then i want to buy a Kona Stuff / Hoss / Roast.

Bigger frame this time...

To give you some perspective, you should probably be riding a 19-21" bike. That is how WAY to small that bike is. Furthermore, a frame that small will likely decrease it's value. Unless the buyer is a kid or a smaller than average adult, the frame will be too small for the buyer as well.

I'm not saying you can't sell it and make a profit, just that you likely won't get as much as if it were sized for the average buyer. (18-19")