Cacti Dodger

say i have 1500$ burning a hole in my pocket. What's the best bike on the market? Conditions:
- it has to be available online - can't do any LBS;
- it has to be a full suspension;
- XC or AM;
- Gotta spend it before the end of april

of course, the more advice the better.

cheers,
ct

zeo_max

MSRP: $1450



Or, if you want disc brakes......

MSRP: $1650

joetronic

Must be nice having that kind of cash laying around. I can't even pay my cable bill... lol

Why online? No LBS near you? Have you considered used? The ones posted above are nice, but with that cash, you could get a few steps up in a used rig. You say XC or AM, but that leaves a big gap in the choices. At that price range, your gonna get entry level FS bikes. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but the upgrade bug comes fast, and again, used may be the way to go.

And if you don't mind me asking, why do you NEED to spend it by the end of april. Trying to spend it before someone (ie; IRS, bill collectors, ect...) come to take it... lol

Cacti Dodger

hey guys thanks for the replies. i guess i owe you more details: no lbs around as i am in mozambique, africa. i hate buying bikes online but what options do i have? i need to spend it before the end of the month because somebody is coming here from the states with a household allowance that i want to parasite.

and i want to stick to xc/ am as there are many hills to climb (dont want to go too heavy) plus i ride with people with xc and i want to be able to keep up.

how is this one: https://www.rscycle.com/2007-Iron-Hor...7&category=531

cd

Cacti Dodger

hey zeo, by the way - where do you get those specialized onlie?

joetronic

Im very fond of THESE. Giant is always a good bang for the buck idea.

Wow, Africa. That explains it.

zeo_max

I don't know. I've never bought online. I guess you should do a search, and include ebay on it.

yellowjeep

Spec doesnt allow their bikes to be sold online. If you see it its a scam.

joetronic

^^ LBS can sell them online, but online only shops can't. So... It can be had online.

Here

Also more there. May want to call them about shipping to africa tho. May cost you just as much as the bike.

This would be a good deal too

yellowjeep

Well I'll be damned. I guess you learn something every day huh.


EDIT

Same with the Cdale.

joetronic

Well I'll be damned. Didn't see that. What about euro shops. Same thing?

yellowjeep

Yeah AFAIK Spec doesn't let anybody sell their stuff online (at least in a way like what this guy needs). I am pretty sure that Trek and all of its brands are the same way.

joetronic

huh... I remember buying a Lemond road frame online a few years ago, from a LBS that sold there stock online too, I did have it shipped. Maybe they just break the rules. Who knows. Anyway, maybe we need to start looking at something else for him then.

OP: What city are you in, or the biggest city near you. Are you on a base?

joetronic

Or...drool....
. Chainreaction should be able to ship to you if you give 'em a call

yellowjeep

That thing is sweet

Pocko

Might pay to buy something on-line from somewhere close to Africa (maybe europe?)... shipping could be a killer if it comes over from the States.

Scratcher33

you can buy NOS Jamis bikes online at bicyclebananas.com or at jensonusa.com

Cacti Dodger

hey guys - i am shipping into the states - Washington DC. Somebody there will bring it along with their household shippment. hence the hurry.

Cacti Dodger

right - it's between this: https://www.performancebike.com/shop/....cfm?sku=25789 and this: https://www.rscycle.com/2008-Iron-Hor...7&category=531.

My other bike is a jamis hardtail 29er and i absolutely love it. So i am inclined to go for the GT just because it is a 29er. thoughts?

cd

joetronic

If its a 29er you like, I say go for that, and the point that IH is dead, so no manufacture warranty. So, what city are you near?

Cacti Dodger

thanks joe - i think i will put the order for the GT9r then. i am spending most of my time in eastern mozambique and in swaziland - some of the best MTB landscape on the planet actually. all of it untouched.

joetronic

I took my honeymoon in swaziland. It was amazing. Some of the best riding I've ever had. Different than I'm used too, but still amazing in all. It was a biking and herping trip, more spent on bikes then herping though. If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing over there?

Cacti Dodger

indeed - beautiful riding here. i'm working in relief/ development and have been living & riding all over africa (and asia). which also made me a bit of an expert in complicated inter-continental bike logistics

joetronic

sounds like a cool gig

Ka_Jun

How's your Siswati and/or Shangaan?