hi folks...

i just went to my LBS and was very pleased to see i can buy my bike on a budget (albeit a plain jane model).

they have a raleigh mohave 2.0 and a raleigh M20. the guy there tells me the only difference is that the M20 is last year's model.

first, is this correct (i'm about to double check myself at raleigh's site)... and second, is it worth $20 more to get the newer model? he's offering them at $249 and $269... i think i can deal him down on the M20 or get him to throw in a helmet or something.

thoughts? thanks!

btw... if this should go into the MTB forum, please move it. i posted here because this is where i've been hanging out.

THat is a doosey of a question. I am a Raleigh man my self. I bought an M60 years ago and loved it. upon my suggestion, my father bought a newer M60 off ebay and it didnt feel right. they had upgraded it alot, better shocks, rapid fire shifters, and a bunch of other stuff, but they also put in riser handle bars and changed the frame geometry. When ever i ride it i feel like I am leaning too far foreward. I would never trade up to a diffrent bike if it was worse for me. If there really was a upgrade to the newer bike it is most likely worth alot more than 20 bucks. You should ask the man at the shop what the change changed.

i thought for sure this thread was going to die a slow, painful death.

after doing some research, the only significant difference i can find (keep in mind i'm fairly new to all this) is that the gearing is slightly different on them. for all intents and purposes the rest of the componentry is pretty basic, entry level stuff.

i'm not gonna split hairs on this... but what about the pricing? anyone think $200 for the older model is reasonable for me to offer?

Perhaps because this thread is not in the best forum for it? Living Car Free is not heavily read. For opinions on bike A vs bike B Commuting would have be a better place :)

thanks, ST... i'd thought about cross posting it but felt too new to be so bold. i'll throw it into another forum tonight maybe if i have time. :)

I would go with the Movaje because of the replaceable hanger and the shifters. Unless the lbs will take 200 bucks for the m20.

well... my LBS guy can stick it. i've become very uncomfortable with this place and will have to look elsewhere. in the mean time i'm going to have to stick it out with the no-name bike that was forced on me by a relative to use until i got a normal bike.

all i can say is that i hope those of you advocating bike shops aren't dealing with morons like the ones we're stuck with out here in delaware. the whole thing is very disappointing... i was hoping to have a bike tonight but i don't and it's all because i was lied to by a redneck bike shop punk.

EJ -- Have you investigated used bikes? I would look in pawn shops, bike shops, want ads, and even ebay. Ask friends and relatives because many people have brand new bikes gathering dust in the garage. Post signs at work or school, and in local store bulletin boards. Put a "wanted" ad in your local newspaper and shopping guide.

To find totally free items, including bikes, google "freecycle" + the name of your city. This will yield a local user list (Yahoo group, usually) where people give away things they no longer need.

It sounds like you know enough about bikes to recognize a good deal. It's amazing how many people want to get rid of great bikes, cheap or even free.

thanks roody. i'll give these ideas a try.

sorry if i sounded really irate in that last post but the combination of getting shafted and being disappointed was just kind of getting on my last nerve.

thanks again.