Gape Horne

Hello all,

I am a bike mechanic by trade, and I also sell bikes. People ask me questions about the pros and cons of different bike styles; Most of the time I can give solid answers but I have never owned nor ridden a 29er so I can't give opinions on them.

So what I am looking for is a 29er in the $400-700 range
-preferably with 100mm travel fork
-I love full suspensions, if it has it that is a plus
-I'm 5'6" so maybe 16-17" frame

thanks in advance

cryptid01

Is that 400-700 range with your EP or without?

JonnyV

I'm not trying to be a smartass here, as I'm also a bike salesman and mechanic, but you should know what you're selling. Buy something your store sells, take advantage of an employee discount (hopefully you have one) and get something that you suits your needs. You need to be able to sell your bikes, no better way of gaining knowledge and opinion than riding what you sell.

Gape Horne

We don't sell 29ers where I work. So "knowing what I sell" doesn't apply. On a similar note, I pray to the lord that you have ridden everything from runt bike to Bike E to make that statement.

@ cryptid01 -
without

JonnyV

I've ridden (and owned) enough of each type that we do sell to make such a statement, I've done my homework on the models I haven't ridden to make an educated sales pitch to customers to help them out. I tried to give you an educated answer, you came back with a smartass response. Not sure exactly what you're doing here if you're not willing to take advice and recommendations that you asked for.

samburger

And it begins again...

gonathan85

The problem with the "I've done this I've dont that statements" is that that doesn't apply at all to this situation. You're not coming on here asking questions...this guy is. HE is the one seeking advice. Telling him that he should have ridden and owned enough bikes by now to answer his own question is redundant.

What he's doing here is precisely what you actually suggested...he's researching...using a community forum to seek answers from the riders, themselves.

I don't see why it's so hard for people to act kindly to each other. Bit 'o' grace goes a long way in this world.

EDIT:

Just did some quick google searching...and found a few threads on forums with this question.

Places to start (not necessarily in order):

1. Felt Nine Comp
2. Redline Monocog Flight 29 seems to be popular
3. Motobecane fantom pro sl
4. canondale 29er
5. rockhopper comp

I'm not educated in this area...but just found some quick places to start....see if you can actually get on the bike and see how it feels...good idea for any purchase...try it before you buy it.

JonnyV

understood and agreed. I actually wanted to help him, had he mentioned that they don't carry 29ers my answer would've been different or if he would've omitted the fact that he works for a bike shop it would've been much different. Knowing my answer could come off as a smartass answer I tossed in the qualifier "not to be a smartass..." that fell on "deaf ears" and he apparently took it personally, not my intent.

Copper Clyde

I too have been looking for a 29 in the $600 price range. Depending on where you live (someone found a 2011 Trek/Fisher Mamba for $679 in Delaware. Of course Im on the other side of the country.) My LBS has a Diamondback Overdrive for $650 or a '09 Fuji Tahoe Comp for $699. I cant say about anything with FS. Im too heavy for anything like that. Good luck.

Gape Horne

crap, and we had such a good feud going too! It did seem condesending so I did take it personally. Its hard to gauge the tone people use online, I have run into my share of forum trouble because of it. Had I known how you speak it would have been different. unspoken apology accepted and expressed

thanks for the replies everybody, I am going to spend some time checking out your suggestions

JonnyV

it happens and i hold no grudges. don't be mistaken, i am a smartass but i'm also very passionate about cycling, all forms of it. now, back to the matter at hand...
Copper Clyde mentioned the '09 Fuji Tahoe. this was my first 29er and i fell inlove with it almost immediately. decent enough components (although i upgraded from the sram to shimano xt), the fork isn't the best but the dart3 will hold up for awhile. the only downside to it is it doesn't have the 100mm fork you wanted, the entire Tahoe line comes with 80mm suspension forks. for most of the riding I do here in central Pa, it's more than adequate unless I'm looking for something a little rougher.

duuuuuude

Most XC 29ers I've seen have 80mm forks....Gary Fisher is one that comes to mind and their 29ers are the most popular around here and people seem to love them...I rarely see any in this are for sale (SoCal).

The reason (so I've been told) that most are 80mm forks vs. 100mm is because the bigger wheels act as an additional source of suspension....some 29er riders claim that it gives 1" of extra cushion, so 100mm is not always necessary....

I don't know if that's factual, or their perception.

That being said, a lot of the 29er owners I know (yea those guys again) say due to the larger rear wheel, full suspension 29er can be a little overkill...but then again, Fisher just came out with the Superfly 100 and that's supposed to be THE BIKE...

I'm also a fan of hardtails vs. full suspension, but that's my personal preference (always felt sluggish climbing on a full suspension bike)

As for me, I'm about your size and just picked up a used Medium Gary Fisher 29er. That bike rides like a dream....

So, from my personal riding experience, I don't know if the bigger wheels give me more "suspension", but so far, everything's been fine for me...80mm travel and hard tail all work for me.

As for Fuji Tahoe, the price point is right and not a bad way to start your 29er experience. If you dig it, you can easily sell that guy and upgrade.

Another option could be to also see if you can pick up a Fisher X-Caliber or Cobia. Those are the next 29ers in their product line. The X-Caliber is the same frameset as the Paragon (alu, and same fork)...the only difference is the component level.

Having test ridden a lot of 29ers, the Fisher was the most comfortable for me, hence my recommendation for Fisher....

buttdart

motobecane fantom 29er - $600
motobecane fantom 29er PRO - $800
www.bikesdirect.com

i have the PRO SL for $1k - turned it into a singlespeed...and LOVE it. 100mm reba. elixr CR brakes. nice bike for $1k

C-daleRider

I've heard that with riding on a 29er that your toes will rub against the front wheel when turning, but after researching it looks like maybe building your own bike from frame up would be the cheapest way of building a nice bike.

electrik

Just put a correct suspension fork on a hybrid bicycle with extra tire clearance...

Eric91Z

I currently have a DB Overdrive 29'er. Bought it because I didn't know how much MTB riding I would do and the price was right ('08 model for $525 in '09). It has been Ok, but keeps having a shifting issue in the lower gears. Especially won't hold 1st gear on climbs.

Anyway, it is a decent bike, but HEAVY! It got me through the parts of the Silver Rush 50 that I finished in Colorado last weekend, but it is being sold to a friend and I am picking up a '10 Stumpjumper Comp 29 instead.

Daspydyr 

Apply for a credit card and get yourself a nice Ellsworth or maybe a Niner.

rob18

The giant talon 29er 2 might not be a bad option for you, 29" wheels and 100 mm fork i do believe, I just bought the 1 model and am very pleased so far. The 2 runs at 750 as well

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...11/6966/43134/

Eric91Z

Was at "Cycles of Life" last week/weekend when I was in Leadville, CO for the Silver Rush 50 and they had some Niner's in there. No LBS here carries those. VERY nice looking bikes! They also carried Jamis, Salsa, and Moot.

Daspydyr 

I always get 86'd from the LBS for drooling on the bikes you just mentioned. I'm still playing with the idea of a 29er, but am so used to my little 26" fat tires.

M_S

You work at a shop and expect a full suspension 29er for 700 bucks? Even at what I would guess EP prices to be (40-50ish % off most MSRPs from when I've worked in shops) that's quite a stretch. Without EP, I don't think you could do it even used.

Otherwise, most every mid to large sized brand has a hardtail 29er or two or more in their lineup. What brands does your shop sell?