Best for under 1700$
 

well, as you can probably tell from the title i'm wondering what the best XC bike for under 1700$ canadian i can get. i am a fairly good rider and am part of a team but right now my Giant Boulder SE just isn't cutting it. I have been looking at a Trek 8000 which is exactly 1700$ canadian. A guy at the bike store said that he could give me a little discount because not many people want a bike that expensive. i think i'm going to try and go for 1600 with a poplock remote. as they are good for going up hills and great for starts as you dont lose any power in your pedal strokes. well i'll leave you guys to help me out with this. just keep in mind that this is canadian prices. 1700$ canadian=1500$ american.

thanks for you help in advance

Rock

Any of the Stumpjumper line. Good, light hardtail. Classic mountain bike.

Kudos on the stumpjumper. They retail at $1500-1700 but I am sure you can find a lbs having a sell on them. In any case worth every penny.

You can still find some 2005's too, at some shops.. might get a super deal.

I didn't get a stumpjumper.. too rich for my blood.. and i do a little heavier riding.. so i just bought a FSRxc... but it was a 2005 and I saved a ton.

personally I would consider Giant first if I was in the market for a new race bike - they offer some good race frames & you get lots for yr money - not sure of the value in Canada though..
I guess if yr conseriding an 8000 you want a hardtail ? for that money you can get a good one - has to be worth trying a few out first before you buy..

the giant XTC is a good bike, but it just right from 1300$ canadian to 3100$ from the normal XTC to the composite one. and it doesn't come with hydraulic disc brakes which is something i really want because most of the races up here are just mud baths. and yes i do want a hardtail, i'm not really into the full suspension, dont like the way it feels. and about the stumpjumper. at all the bike shops around here they dont sell anymore 2005 models and they retail for 1800$ canadian. about 100$ out of my price range.

I only go on talking to some of the better racers and seeing what is being riden - I see quite a few 8000's so they must be pretty sweet also... sure you will be fine with that if that's what you go for..

It's muddy 10 months of the year here also - in UK - bike sure does take a pounding and I hate cleaning it all the time !

In the US, the lowest Stumpy is $1400 which was in your range...sorta;) Look at the top of the line Rockhopper which is still a good bike. The frame material isn't the Al composite but it's not a bad bike.

There is a bike store on Bayview ave in Toronto (BAyview cycles I believe) that has bought a bunch of highly specced 8000 Treks from the mfg. I believe they are last years, but I remember they were better specced than the ones being sold at Cyclepath. I think they were about $1800. (We are getting ripped in Canada with our current exchange rate near a 20 year high. At any rate,, I recently bought a used Kona Kula Deluxe (05 is specced like an 06 Primo) and I like it. Not sure if it is as good a race machine as a Stumpjumper, but the one I got would cost slightly more than double if I was to buy it new.

i was going to get my 8000 at cyclepath, the guy said he could give me a discount. i think the kula deluxe is a good bike, but overpriced at 2050$ CAD. i think that 1800 is a little bit much, because the parents are buying it and i'm only 15. going to get it before the squeezer race. still trying to pressure them to get it for the Ontario Cup though lol.