Zelman2120

This summer I will be taking a month long road trip across Alaska with plenty of mountain bike trails along the way. I currently live in Juneau Alaska, the weather here is rain rain and more rain so the trails are pretty wet. The trails here in Juneau are mostly intermediate trails with a few harder ones. I have been looking for a new bike for this trip and here at home for some time now. I would classify my riding as laid back, intermediate riding. I do not ride crazy, and do big jumps... yet. Currently I am on a 26" Hard tail Rockhopper and its time for an upgrade!

So people of the BikeForum.... Should I buy a:

Niner JET 9 RDO 2 Star SLX RS 27.5+

Pros: Much better color
Carbon Fiber Frame
Lighter bike
+ size tires

Or

Diamondback Mission Pro 27 (2017)
Pros: Fox suspension w/ more travel
Knuckle Box
Higher class Shimano parts
Kashima coat on shocks

Sorry guys cannot post the links until I have 10 posts. Please google the bikes for more detail.

So I like the look of the Niner a whole lot more then the Mission Pro. But where do you guys the line on value of parts vs carbon fiber frame and better looks? What do you think guys? If you have any other bike in this range, I will consider them. I am trying to find a good deal on a high end bike that's ~50% off to get best bang for the buck.

With my sources to order from and shipping to Alaska, both bikes would be around ~$2,700

I hope to have a new bike in my hands within a month or two.

Thanks,
Chris.

jsigone

I like the look of the Jets. I'm digging plus tires but I'm on a hardtail (Chameleon with 120mm) and its NICE. I've been on 29ers with 2.1 to 2.4" tires for a decade and the 275plus is nice change and plush

Canker

Two very different bikes and it sound more like the Niner would be a better fit for you. The Jet is a good all around Trail bike while the Mission is more of a balls out Enduro bike. From the DB line the Release would be a better fit riding style wise but even that sounds like overkill. Go check out Seth's Bike Hacks on youtube. He is sponsored by DB and has both and really only uses the Mission for Park/down hill type of stuff.

Kapusta

Those are two very different types of bikes.

The fact that one is a long travel All Mountain/Enduro bike and the other a XC race bike makes all of the other pros and cons you list essentially irrelevant (except for the plus sized tires, and that is just a difference, not necessarily a pro).

Whether an AM/enduro or XC bike is a better choice is really hard to say for another rider. That said, if you don’t ride very aggressively (particularly on the downhills) then I would go for the xc bike over the long travel AM/enduro bike, and thus go for the Jet. And for the same reason I would be more open to plus size tires, so again the Jet.

Me personally? I would go for Diamondback for exactly the opposite reasons. The way I enjoy riding (aggressively on the downhills) is more fun on a longer travel slack bike, and I would also prefer standard 2.3-2.5 tires over plus-sized for this.

StarBiker

Scott Scale 910?

hig4s

Giant Trance 2

Kapusta

Another thing I will add is that I think you may be off when you list the shocks and suspension of the diamondback as a “pro” over the Jet.

If anything, the Jet frame has a slightly more redined suspension design, though in practice you are unlikely to notice much difference.

And as far as the fork and shocks go, the forks and rear shocks on those two bikes are very comparable in overall quality, and opinions will vary as to which are preferable.

Gallo

both are speced well so I think as others have pointed out depends on your style.

The jet is significantly less weight

the DB has a better drive train XT vs SLX but I do not think that is a big deal both will work well

from what you have said the jet seems more suited to your riding but a FS will get you more aggressive than a hard tail on descents for sure

personally I think I would go with the DB I have a 120 bike and 160 sounds fun

either way nice bikes

StarBiker

Ooop. Full suspension.
Just a thought, anything older and clean available. I know somebody that has a 2007 Santa Cruz Blur that is upgraded and looks like a showroom bike.
Anyway I will stop in my LBS and ask them and make a short list of new full suspension bikes.

greatplaid

I'd get a plus bike, so much fun to ride!