What do you guys think? The Fly Pro is 1200 and the 9357 is 1400.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fly_pro_09.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...instocknow.htm

I'm not too concerned about the weight difference between the two but I do prefer the XTR and XT comps of the higher level bike. I don't really have a desire for XTR equipment but I like the XT shifters and front derailluer on the 9357 vs the LX stuff on the lesser bike. The other bike has a couple other small advantages such as carbon brakes and

What do you guys think? Is it worth the extra $200?

Also, I've already have a BD road bike (Dawes 1200) which is been a very nice bike for $400! So I feel very comfortable about bd bikes.

I struggled with this very decision this past November. I went with the fly 9357. 0.5 lbs +/- is not woth $300 (not 200 as you said) to ME. But each of us is different. All XTR sure has appeal. It has a carbon crank which is an upgrade, but not one that I really wanted anyway. Brakes are the same. Wheels/tires are the same. Pro has a better seatpost I think.

I am happy with my decision. Both are great deals. That fork is flexy but I am fine with it. The tires are expensive light junk if you ask me. Just too little tread, protection and width. As soon as you put on real tires you will gain 1 lbs or more.

My entire post is wrong. Sorry. I was thinking 9357 vs the team. I had the 9357 as the lesser of the two you were comparing.

The pro did not exist (I think) when I got mine.

Now to actually answer your post. I think the 9357 is worth $200 more. More than anything, I do not want a 5" travel shock. Just too damn much for me and my needs. I think 5" on a hardtail just does not make sense to me.

edit - it looks like you can go less than 5" on the fork. But the weight difference is WELL worth $200 me.

It depends on the frame. I have a hardtail with a 5.5" fork on it and it's perfect.

agreed and people, terrain and riding styles differ. For me, where I ride, I have no interest in 5" travel on a HT. I am not saying this as advice to anyone - just what I would do.

I'll echo what Greg is saying and add some. There are going to be things that you may want to change as soon as you get it. Are you OK with the 12-27 cassette? Are you OK with the super light-no traction tires? Do you want to change the seat or grips?

These are all questions you have to answer and then decide if your budget can handle it. That $200 could come in real handy to do comfort stuff that will be very apparent to you on the trail if your budget is tight. If you're fine with the budget, then spend the extra $200 and get the XTR and carbon. If not, the lower cost bike is still _really_ nice.

I'm still on the fenceline but the XTR on the 9357 does seem to say "steal me". What do you guys feel would be the resale this bike would have after one year in good condition? I'll probably go all out next year with the TI bike if I can get most of the money into it back.

I think they both seem to be missing the rear shock.

Motobecanes are not going to hold their value all that well. Not because they are a bade bike (they are good bikes) but A) they are cheap to begin with and the buying market is still somewhat skeptical of this brand. So the secondary market is even more so. I think it would be a very poor financial decision to buy one of these bikes only to get the Ti Fly a year later. That is like buying a car and then buying the next model up the next year. You lose a majority of depreciation in the first 5 minutes of ownership.

I would get the 9357 and you will not need to upgrade to the Ti in a year. Yeah, Ti is sexy, but that bike is 85% the same as the 9357.

I hear a lot of people complain about the tires on a brand new bike purchase. The first thing I do when I buy a bike is replace the tires. I'm not even including tires in the equation.Tires are one of the first places to cut costs. Oddly enough, the tires I like are less expensive than the ones that came on two of my bikes.

Complaining about tire quality is like a baby complaining about the brand of diaper it wears. It's going to get changed anyway.

So, lets say that i'm interested in the Moto Team. Can anyone give me any reason at all I would want to go to the full TI other than .5 pounds?

I think I'll wait a bit on this and buy a bike that I will never have a reason to upgrade.

It is $400 to go from a good alum frame to a Ti frame. Everything else is the same I believe. That is purely a personal choice. Ti is stunning in looks. Ti is said to ride better. I question how much of a difference it would make on a MTB when you figure in front suspension and tires below 40 psi, but I have no experience to speak of.

I'm going to buy into the moto team once I get my two bikes sold. Might as well have something I'll never worry about upgrading.

Those Kenda Klimax Lite tires on the Fly Pro, weigh only 345g each. They are ONLY GOOD for race days, and dry hardpack. Any hint of moisture or wetness, and these tires wash-out like you are riding on greased ice. The 12-27 cassette was obviously included to lower overall bike weight(less than 250g). However, you gotta be in excellent shape to climb anything using a 3x9/12-27 combo. Lastly, Motobecanes are made using very light 7005-series aluminum tubing. They are inferior to 6000-series tubing- which has incredible strength, especially at the TIG-welded joints. I know TWO Fly owners who broke their frames, under light XC trail riding. Their warranties did not cover their damages.....so they were screwed out of a ride. Don't buy one. You can get a similarly weighted new Cannondale XC hardtail for $500 more- and enjoy a better component mix, with a lifetime frame/fork warranty.

Show us a cannondale hardtail for only $500 more that is better spec'd. we will be waiting a long long long long long time.

I am not dogging Cannondales in any way - great bike. But you are insane to think you can find one for only $500 more that has better components.

Lets also hear from Mike about frame warranties. I am calling BS that you personally know 2 owners that broke frames that did not get replacements.
Before you right me off as some pro BD honk . . . my issue that I have read all the posts for years on road forums . . . people making posts about a) ordering a BD bike, being charged and never being shipped a bike b) getting one with broken parts or c) having one and it's frame or fork breaking . . . yet when pressed they NEVER can product a picture, a receipt, etc. I hate when people manipulate truth to serve what they think is right.

I have two bd bikes. I have been very open with the pros and cons of gong this route. It is not for everyone. I would never paint them as perfect. I am honest with what kind of customer service you might get (good, but at times slow and all email based).

Some issues here we've covered.

Tires, check, covered that.
Cassette, check, covered that.

I'm calling BS on the frame issues. 7xxx series AL is generally considered a higher grade than the 6xxx series, your average X-mart bike is 6061 AL. When heat-treated post welding, the 7xxx series is significantly stronger. So as far as the frame issues go, let's get particulars and pictures. I don't believe they failed with light XC riding and were denied warranty coverage. I don't care for Mike's salesman routine, but this is not his M.O.

What $500 Cannondale bikes are you comparing?