Mountain Bikes

I'll second this. My original full sup bike was a Gary Fisher HiFi. Loved the bike but I broke the frame after 7 years. During that time Trek bought out Gary Fisher so I thought I was screwed. Took it to my LBS and they replaced the frame under warranty with a new Trek Top Fuel frame. I couldn't believe it.

The point is, if you're going to spend a couple grand on a mtn bike, buy one made by a reputable company.

 

Wild guess....Broke the rear triangle?
My buddy broke 2 rear triangles on his HiFi while GF was still in business. Then he went 5 years and broke another, by that time he had to deal with Trek. Trek did the same thing, no questions asked. He now has a 2019 Trek Fuel EX9 frameset. All of the standards have changed by now so that affected his wheelset, fork, BB, and a few other items. But overall he still made out like a bandit.

 

Yep, triangle broke almost right in the middle. I had to replace several components like your buddy did but I made out like a bandit as well. I love my Top Fuel. It's capable of a helluva lot more than it's driver. Just like my Tundra!

 

Agree 100%. I always rode hard tail in my racing days and now that Im getting back into riding, Im sticking with a hard tail. FS bikes are great but require more upkeep and a more advanced rider skill set to really benefit.

I have a Specialized Rockhopper with 29" wheels. Good bike but the 29ers arent my thing. OP may like them though.

My next bike will probably be a Kona Big Honzo 27.5

 

Don't even get the 29" vs 26" argument started.

Seriously, I have never seen people get so heated about stuff then when talking about mountain bikes. It makes me chuckle, because I am not really that hardcore into it - I just like to get out in the mountains and have a good time. But some people get super duper into it - and really defensive about it. They are also quick to tell you how your equipment is holding you back and not good enough and blah blah blah blah. I have run into more elitists in this sport than any other.

 

I really enjoy my Trek Stache 5 and the guy I rode most with has a Rocky Mountain Growler that he hasn't had any issues with. We ride mostly single track in the North East.

 

I hear ya. The wheel size thing is highly personal and riding style dependent. I dont argue with people and just tell them to ride what works for them. The best wheel size is the size you like to ride for the riding style you have.

There certainly are elitists in the sport but I havent run into very many, even when I was in the race scene. Might be a different group up here in Canuckistan though.

Getting out and bombing some trails is all about fun whether its on a $200 hand me down special or a $10,000 custom bike.

 

A friend just bought a Stache. He loves it. Trying to do everything with 1 bike. XC races, gravel grinds, and even some touring.

Wheel size, carbon, bar size, stem length, rim width, etc....debates are comical. It's what fits you and what you like. I'll give my opinion on why I like something but I refuse to debate it. I've got 26, 700c, and 27.5 all in my fleet. No 29 just out of personal preference, not based on physics or engineering.

 

Cannondale
Trek
Specialized
GT
Diamond Back
Gary Fisher

I have been happy all of the above. Just like a truck look for last years model to save money. I know here in my area we have bike rental places that sell their bikes after a year or 2. You can save some coin that way. When I had my Specialized I that's how I got mine.

 

I got a great used bike off the website Pinkbike.com

It’s a great site for used bikes.

 

Lots of good advice in here. My .02 at that price point it's either used full suspension (which I wouldn't personally do because I like my frames warrantied) or nice entry level hardtail. I like the hardtail for pedaling efficiency and skills building and everything that comes along with that. If I was looking for a hardtail in that price range it'd be the Santa Cruz Chameleon in either the Aluminium D (29er) or D+ (27.5+). Rip the hell out of the thing and know you are covered with a lifetime frame warranty from a company that will most definitely stand behind it. Your frame is the most important aspect to this purchase IMO.

Bike snobbery out of the way...any of the name brand bikes are all so good anymore pick one as you can't go wrong. Have fun!

https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/chameleon

 

I would definitely look at pinkbike.com. You can get a nice used bike with a few upgraded components ten you can if you were to buy new. Unless you want the full warranty and all then buy new.

 

I bought this bike used for 2K off pinkbike.com and the upgraded wheel set on it alone is worth 1800.

 

Fastest bike I’ve ever rode. Handles it with ease and the frame never feels uneasy. Makes for a very fun bike

 

Just saw Jenson's was selling this at a great bike. Honestly Diamondback is making a come back and the MTB are getting better.

Right in your price range too. Not sure if you want a 29er but those are the new craze now.

​

 

when I moved from Washington down to the Kansas City area, I had to begrudgingly get rid of my big framed Specialized Enduro Evo full suspension and go back to a hard tail. the terrain just doesn't justify the added weight and cost of a full suspension bike and to be honest, i'm finding myself enjoying how easy it is to grind up hills. I picked up a Specialized Fuse 650B+ I'm sold on the mid fatty tires now, the things just give hero levels of grip! Cost isn't all that bad for a used Fuse if you can find them.

Now that i'm moving back up to the mountains of Montana I will get a downhill bike, and keep the hard tail Fuse for sure, it's just a good tool for all around riding.

So, to the OP, get a used Hard tail, figure out what you want to ride and how you want to ride, then move to your next bike and invest more $$ at that time.

 

@DiegoC
—I have a Diamondback Overdrive Carbon Pro for sale! PM me if you’re interested. It’s only a year old, I put bigger tires in it, no rubbing. Size is a large, for someone in the 6’ range. Great bike! I just upgraded to a Diamondback full suspension.
I still have the box from then new bike so shipping is easy.

 

apple vs windows
canon vs nikon
toyota vs ford

grew up racing on 26 so it's what i've stuck with on both the trail bike and the DH bike. i had a steel hardtail 29 that was single speed. quite fun but i couldn't get my head around wagon wheels in the dirt. 26 wheel parts are getting hard to find these days though which is a bummer since both bikes (SB66 and 303RDH) are still in great shape and do not need replacing.

definitely check the classifieds at pinkbike. so. many. deals.

 

I agree with those who recommend pinkbike.com. You can find great deals on used bikes.

If you want fun and a workout, I suggest a hardtail single speed. I ride a Specialized Epic HT single speed that I built and love it.

 

Single speeds are awesome. Fixies, clipped in on technical is freaking NUTS! I still only use platforms for trails.

 

Do you know what size your looking for?

 

That I don’t know. I’m 5’10

 

Could be a medium or a large depending on how they feel

 

I’d recommend going to a local shop and ask to get fitted, try out different brands and sizes so you can have a better idea of what fits you best.

 

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not sure what your price range is but i think you can do better. actually, i know you can do better.

for example, this santa cruz nomad or this ibis or this transition. i'm partial to yeti so for a few more dollars, there's this nice sb6c. or, if you want to go totally baller, there's this alchemy.

alchemy is a personal wishlist item of mine. their shop is just down the road from our house and my normal daily ride route goes right by there. i've wanted one of their road frames ever since we moved here. everything is done in-house, including rolling their carbon tubes. the guy that designed the arktos used to work at yeti. that bike would be a total screamer.

my only other recommendation would if you could find a used evil. those are screamers too. any of them would be a way nicer ride than that enduro especially with your moto background.

 

yea, it can be a little ridiculous. kinda like trucks. but, just like trucks, you want something that will perform to however far you're going to push it. with your moto background, you'll want a 6" (180mm) bike with a low bottom bracket and a slack head tube on a 27.5 wheel. i would also look for 180mm rotors as 160s will not give you the braking power you'll be expecting. it's an easy upgrade if you can't find something already set up that way.

carbon wheels are not necessary and if you get to the point where you want new ones, bring me the parts and i'll build them for you. i ran stan's rims with chris king hubs on both my yetis. they are bulletproof. i've trued them twice in the last 6 years and i push them hard.

 

Have seen the Pivot Firebird?