~*~* Down to TWO choices ~*~*~*
03-10-09, 09:51 PM
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~*~* Down to TWO choices ~*~*~*
choice #1 hardrock sport disc!!! https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...=38436&eid=107
Choice #2 Phantom trail !!! https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...om_trail08.htm
I prolly beating a
, how do these stack up?
The Hardrock has a nice frame, but the Phantom has better componetry.
I found a shop in Plano TX (yea I'm from tx) thats owned by bikesdirect. It's called cycle spectrum. I did get to check out there bikes, and not real impressed. (don't ever buy a jubilee lol). They must save a ton on design engineering with all there frames. They like round tubing alot... Nothing fancy
The phantom just doesn't have that cool factor. Looks kinda like a sleeper
Choice #2 Phantom trail !!! https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...om_trail08.htm
I prolly beating a
, how do these stack up?The Hardrock has a nice frame, but the Phantom has better componetry.
I found a shop in Plano TX (yea I'm from tx) thats owned by bikesdirect. It's called cycle spectrum. I did get to check out there bikes, and not real impressed. (don't ever buy a jubilee lol). They must save a ton on design engineering with all there frames. They like round tubing alot... Nothing fancy
The phantom just doesn't have that cool factor. Looks kinda like a sleeper
03-10-09, 10:19 PM
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I'd go with the phantom trail. They've got fairly similar components... but it's got a much better fork and crankset. Also better tires methinks... and the frame is probably lighter.
Maybe get a different color than the silver pictured, the yellow in the image gallery looks much better but still an orange or something could be better.
Would these be at MSRP bikes or are you getting them discounted? If one had a better discount that could be enough to sway my vote.
Maybe get a different color than the silver pictured, the yellow in the image gallery looks much better but still an orange or something could be better.
Would these be at MSRP bikes or are you getting them discounted? If one had a better discount that could be enough to sway my vote.
03-11-09, 04:39 AM
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If these are your only two choices then without question get the Hardrock.
4 years ago, I didn't listen to this advice and passed on a rockhopper to get a Motobecane from bikesdirect because on paper it was a better bike. After I got my new Moto, I got my wife a previous year Rockhopper. After a few years of riding, the Rockhopper is twice the bike eventhough the specs don't say that. The Moto was needing tunes every 6 months and the Rockhopper needs nothing. The moto was also heavier.
So I decided to get a new stumpjumper a few weeks ago and bought two of them.
My other advice would be to reconsider the Hardrock disk and get a Rockhopper base model. They are in the same price range, but you get a better bike with the Rockhopper other than disk brakes. You'll hate the disk brakes in this price range...I haven't found any that work well and don't need adjusting every ride till you get into the $2000+ range bikes.
4 years ago, I didn't listen to this advice and passed on a rockhopper to get a Motobecane from bikesdirect because on paper it was a better bike. After I got my new Moto, I got my wife a previous year Rockhopper. After a few years of riding, the Rockhopper is twice the bike eventhough the specs don't say that. The Moto was needing tunes every 6 months and the Rockhopper needs nothing. The moto was also heavier.
So I decided to get a new stumpjumper a few weeks ago and bought two of them.
My other advice would be to reconsider the Hardrock disk and get a Rockhopper base model. They are in the same price range, but you get a better bike with the Rockhopper other than disk brakes. You'll hate the disk brakes in this price range...I haven't found any that work well and don't need adjusting every ride till you get into the $2000+ range bikes.
03-11-09, 05:58 AM
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My other advice would be to reconsider the Hardrock disk and get a Rockhopper base model. They are in the same price range, but you get a better bike with the Rockhopper other than disk brakes. You'll hate the disk brakes in this price range...I haven't found any that work well and don't need adjusting every ride till you get into the $2000+ range bikes.
There is nothing wrong with the BB5s that come on the Hardrock. They don't feel as good as my Juicys but they stop fine and are way better than rim brakes.I have several sets of BB7s and have never had the adjustment problems you speak of. The weak point of the hardrock is the fork. I bought the same bike back in the fall and the first thing I did was swap the fork with a Nixon. I've had 0 issues with the drivetrain or brakes.
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03-11-09, 06:11 AM
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I'd go with the phantom trail. They've got fairly similar components... but it's got a much better fork and crankset. Also better tires methinks... and the frame is probably lighter.
Maybe get a different color than the silver pictured, the yellow in the image gallery looks much better but still an orange or something could be better.
Would these be at MSRP bikes or are you getting them discounted? If one had a better discount that could be enough to sway my vote.
Maybe get a different color than the silver pictured, the yellow in the image gallery looks much better but still an orange or something could be better.
Would these be at MSRP bikes or are you getting them discounted? If one had a better discount that could be enough to sway my vote.
Motobecane is cheap. U wonder why they can sell such well equipped bike for next to nothing? Because they are a heap of crap.
I get tired of telling this story, but for crap sakes:
I was riding an old rigid Raleigh on a "directional" xc trail here in KS. Some ***** was going the wrong way and popped around a corner and we collided. My Raleigh went "THROUGH" the Motobecane. the frame was broken in half with only a thin shred of aluminum holding the two pieces together. Looking at the tubing...it was paper thin.
Crap bike.
The Hardrock will have a lifetime frame warranty and you will actually be able to have a nearby shop to deal with if you need to. Get the Hardrock. Absolutely no question, dude.
03-11-09, 08:47 AM
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Chel, good point on the lifetime warranty on the HardRock. Try getting warranty work done on the Bikedirect ride...mission impossible. But wait...the "suggested retail" is about 4 times higher than our price...right.
When you want to sell that HR years down the line, guaranteed it will be worth substantially more than the BD bike. That HR, RockHopper, or Stumpy series has been a top frame for over 20 years.
When you want to sell that HR years down the line, guaranteed it will be worth substantially more than the BD bike. That HR, RockHopper, or Stumpy series has been a top frame for over 20 years.
03-11-09, 11:15 AM
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Ok... didn't know there was such a big difference between the frames.
03-11-09, 01:21 PM
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Yah dood. I would buy a 'Becane, take it apart, get an affordable good frame (ebay), and put's it all together.
03-11-09, 01:55 PM
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03-11-09, 02:06 PM
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It's about time for someone to add: Specialized sucks. Only jerks ride them.
03-11-09, 02:09 PM
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Shut up......
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03-11-09, 02:12 PM
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Case in point. Thank you for proving my comment about jerks and specialized to be true.
03-12-09, 10:40 AM
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How do you know he'll hate the brakes in this price range????
There is nothing wrong with the BB5s that come on the Hardrock. They don't feel as good as my Juicys but they stop fine and are way better than rim brakes.I have several sets of BB7s and have never had the adjustment problems you speak of. The weak point of the hardrock is the fork. I bought the same bike back in the fall and the first thing I did was swap the fork with a Nixon. I've had 0 issues with the drivetrain or brakes.
There is nothing wrong with the BB5s that come on the Hardrock. They don't feel as good as my Juicys but they stop fine and are way better than rim brakes.I have several sets of BB7s and have never had the adjustment problems you speak of. The weak point of the hardrock is the fork. I bought the same bike back in the fall and the first thing I did was swap the fork with a Nixon. I've had 0 issues with the drivetrain or brakes.
All we can do is give him our advice based on our expirences. It'll be up to him to take that adivice and make the most educated purchase that he can...and hopefully he'll make the right purchase for him and he is a happy rider.
I have about 20 miles on my pair of juicys and so far I'm not very impressed with them either. My LBS service department tells me they just need to break in...so I'll give it some more time before I pass judgement.
03-12-09, 10:59 AM
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Ahh, so because YOU hated the disc brakes, HE will too. Perfect logic. Tell us, crimecrusher, how does the terrain the OP is riding on compare to yours?
03-12-09, 02:37 PM
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Hardrock no doubt.
Whats up with the hate on BB7's these days? This is the third post I've read knocking "cheap" disc brakes.
Whats up with the hate on BB7's these days? This is the third post I've read knocking "cheap" disc brakes.
03-12-09, 02:56 PM
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Because as I said above....I haven't found any in this price range that work well. I ride rocky technical trails and for me I haven't found any in this price range that work as well as rim-brakes. This doesn't mean that he'll have the same experince but I believe that's something that he should consider when he is buying the bike. I'd recomend that he talk to the service department and ask them about the two bikes and the set up in his price range.
All we can do is give him our advice based on our expirences. It'll be up to him to take that adivice and make the most educated purchase that he can...and hopefully he'll make the right purchase for him and he is a happy rider.
I have about 20 miles on my pair of juicys and so far I'm not very impressed with them either. My LBS service department tells me they just need to break in...so I'll give it some more time before I pass judgement.
All we can do is give him our advice based on our expirences. It'll be up to him to take that adivice and make the most educated purchase that he can...and hopefully he'll make the right purchase for him and he is a happy rider.
I have about 20 miles on my pair of juicys and so far I'm not very impressed with them either. My LBS service department tells me they just need to break in...so I'll give it some more time before I pass judgement.
Yeah, well one of these days I hope to get to ride some "real" mountain bike trails but for now I guess I'll just ride whats local. Hopefully when I get more experience at this bike thing I can tell good rim brakes from bad disk.
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