I was calling the LBS's today, to find out if my bike was eally good, when they told me they have a Giant Boulder SE for the same price i bought my Diamondback Outlook, which i bought a cople of weeks ago. Is this Giant Boulder SE really that much better then the outlook? The Boulder SE was about 20 bux more then the outlook, but i could have got it for the same price? Is it really that much better then the outlook?

Thanx

There isnt much difference between the two bikes. The giant does have a threadless headset on it though. IT pretty much depended on what name you wanted.....I dont know about the warranties though.

well, the boulder se looks better

7 years ago i picked the boulder over the outlook, though they really are in the same level. and yes the boulder looked better back then too

yes, the boulder looks betetr, but it has a 6061 alloy frame, and the outlook has a 7005 alloy frame. i heard the higher the frame number, the better quality the tubing is.

one more thing, if my bike frame breaks, or something breaks on the bike, would the waranty be valid?

First of all what is the warranty for the frame? The manufacturer of the frame dosent warranty parts on the bike, so if they break you will have to look at the warranty of the specific part. THERE ISNT ONE WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE WHOLE BIKE. What the heck did you buy the bike for?? Jumping and drops?? The bike you have is meant to take hardly any abuse, and to be ridden on the bike path and relatively flat cross country trails. If you ride it for what its meant for, its NOT going to break (atleast the frame wont). It dosent sound like your happy with the bike, because you keep asking if you should have got a different bike. How long have you had it? Maybe you should take it back and research other bikes......then buy.

Ive had it for like 2 weeks, dont think i could return it. I'm over it now though, I like it. Anyway, its only my very first MTB, so i think it was a good choice, i'm only 13 by the way. I'm planning to get a Diamondback Sorrento or GT Avalanche 2.0 in 2 years time.

not necesarily true. there are both 6000 series and 7000 series in both higher end and low end frames. difference is that 6000 series require heat treatment after welding and 7000 doesn't.

but yeah i would rather have a 7000 series, as my moab is

I am a Taiwanese and I am proud of Giant, but generally, althought Giant provides a good package with good prices, the built quality still cannot match the more detailed brands like GT or Trek. Yes they are more expensive, but when I compared my Avalanche to my friend's xtc se, with similar components from fork to the whole drivetrain( different brakes), GT offers a VERY smooth ride, almost makes it sound perfect. Whereas the Giant still feels a bit fragile.

If for commuting, I will definitely go for Giant, but if I were a professional, I will spend more money and get a really good bike.

Have you been testing any bikes made in the 21st century. Just curious because Giants hold up REALLY well to whistler and the shore and are generally considered the strongest bike dollar for dollar around (I said generally but it definately a top 3 bike for very good bikes)

Trek and Gt may make better xc bikes (not sure because I don't ride xc) but for strong, durable shore worthy (strong) bikes Giant is over both those companies you name.

hey, first of all, tfunk, where did you find out about the frames, and maelstrom, you seem to be a very experienced mtb'er, so i wanted to know, im selling my outlook, because its had heaps of problems, so can you tell me a very good bike around the GT Avalanche 3.0 price range ($265 AUD)? Is the Avalanche 3.0 a good bike for the money.

Thanx

I have a 2001 Avalanche 1.0. First of all the frame is reenforced, thus is very heavy for a aluminium frame. So if you look at 3.0 components.... often I feel that that frame deserves much better components than that, so if instead of getting a Avalanche 3.0, I would prefer Agressor1.0 or something. Perhaps Giant xtc se3 will even suit you better, as it's famous for light weight( 1.5kg for the frame alone), and very reasonable price. Furthermore it comes with disk brakes( not sure if it's the same for all countries).

Perhaps you are talking about those thousand dolar bikes. I am talking about around $500 bikes. Furthermore, many Taiwanese companies sell second grade products locally, and export their top grade stuffs. So maybe that's why the quality wasn't as good as it should be.

That may be. The only bikes I consider riding due to my style and size are on the expensive side. On the lower end I really can't comment so you may be right. Heck I didn't even know Giant made bikes in the 250american range.

As for bringing up where they are made. I am not an advocate of 'American' or 'Canadian' made. The bikes are still quality in either case and local made bikes are a preference.

Took me a bit but I did the conversion and that is 235 canadian if I am not mistaked (or at least the web site I used). Sorry at that price there is no difference in quality. Components will be generic to alivio TOPS. The frame will be xc geometry and will generally be weak. You should look at used (still won't find much 'quality' in that price range) OR bmx (build some awesome skills for one when you can afford a better mtb)...

See if a lbs can give you a deal or layaway. Some lbs's allow you to put a certain amount down to put towards a bike or parts. Since you are too young for real credit possibly look at this as an option.

do a search on frame materials on this site, you'll find out plenty

again, there isn't too much to be said about bikes under $400 from company to company. they are all able to do what they were made to do and the differences in components is very marginal.

Bicycle frame metallurgy:
https://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/asmtms/artcle/articl.htm

Bicycle history:
https://www.pedalinghistory.com/PHbikbio.htm