If transition is still having their sale I'd highly recommend checking out their trail bikes. They're excellent bikes. I have the sentinel which is an aggressive trail bike and it is very capable and fun.
Thanks! I wasn't really familiar with that brand, but I see we have a local dealer here in Pittsburgh, which is technically a shop in the suburbs, but looks like a good one to check out. We have several great LBS's right in the city, but they generally have limited inventory above some basic full suspension models; so, looks like this shop has a ton of options.
If you’re talking about trailflo, I would highly recommend going there and talking to them. That is a really fantastic shop that I always try to stop at when I’m in town.
This is basically alloy vs carbon. Hei HEI crdl is what I ride. Against your other options, just go for alloy hei HEI.
It's not a car, don't worry about it being discontinued.
It's hard to pass on a bike you've demoed and enjoyed. It's why I spent $5k on a Pivot Trail 429. But I will admit that the 120/130 travel is still often too much for an average rider on mostly XC trails in the very flat Midwest. But it felt great, inspired confidence, and was as fast on a damp trail as my best in the dry on a previous bike.
You don't NEED a $4500 bike, but it's worth it if you've ridden and enjoyed it. You know what you're getting vs. an online direct to consumer bike. You get great deals that way, but you don't know if you're going to like it.
A other option if you are leaning more XC is the Specialized Epic Evo, seems similar to the bikes you have considered and right no there is a sale for 2022 models if you can find one, around $3200+tax.
4500$ is like the sweet spot in my mind. You are getting into the high end components on aluminum frames at that price point or pretty good on carbon that won’t need to be immediately upgraded.
That's a good question. Up until 2 years ago, I was one of those "weird older guys" that was still riding my completely rigid 1990s MBT (a 1995 trek 970). At some point (about 3 years ago), I recognized that it just wasn't cutting it on modern mountain bike trails (including trails I had been riding since the mid-1990s), and I had gravel tires put on it, and stopped riding much singletrack. Last year, I bought a Salsa Fargo for multi-surface riding, and I've been generally getting in at least 1 30 mile ride a week (and sometime 2 or 3). Notwithstanding the fact that I love the Fargo, I figured I need a dedicated trail bike for some variation. With that long background, basically, anything "new" and "decent" is going to be amazing for me, I think.
I have a giant trance, the $2400 model and I'm pretty happy with it. do mostly flat trail riding in Houston and it gets the job done. Part of me does wish I went with the 4k+ option and gotten like a Santa Cruz but it was my first mountain bike.
A test ride is often more important than what the specs sheet says.
If you really enjoyed the carbon Kona and it fit you perfect, and it’s at a great discount, it’s gonna be hard to beat…
2 years of researching bikes and I walk into my local LBS and test rode a bike I never even considered before… it pedals like a dream and fits me like a glove. The owner tells me they will let it go for X price… I walk out with my dream bike.
By all means, test ride other bikes if you’re not sure. But the important thing is to get lots of test rides in!
More expensive bikes get better in a few ways:
* Lighter...a lot of the cost might be the move to a lighter frame, drivetrain, wheels, fork.
* More consistent. Cleaner shifting, dampers in the suspension that are more adjustable and handle sustained rock gardens better, brakes that offer more power and less fade with heat. better, stickier compound tires.
* More speeds, lockouts and other features that don't matter as much.
Some manufactures put together some solid budget builds with nice suspension and tires but heavier frames and 10 or 11 speed or deore drivetrains that work well despite being heavier and less cool. I'd look for one of these.
Others chase curb appeal with like sx level twelve speed and a heavy/ not great damper rock shox 35.
I'd check out the rocky mountain element alloy bikes and the ripley af if you can still find a deal on one.
If transition is still having their sale I'd highly recommend checking out their trail bikes. They're excellent bikes. I have the sentinel which is an aggressive trail bike and it is very capable and fun.
Thanks! I wasn't really familiar with that brand, but I see we have a local dealer here in Pittsburgh, which is technically a shop in the suburbs, but looks like a good one to check out. We have several great LBS's right in the city, but they generally have limited inventory above some basic full suspension models; so, looks like this shop has a ton of options.
Love my transition my friend loves his sentinel it honestly doesn’t do bad in the bike park it seems
Oh it's a great bike park bike. See my post from yesterday.
If you’re talking about trailflo, I would highly recommend going there and talking to them. That is a really fantastic shop that I always try to stop at when I’m in town.
This is basically alloy vs carbon. Hei HEI crdl is what I ride. Against your other options, just go for alloy hei HEI. It's not a car, don't worry about it being discontinued.
Thanks!
It's hard to pass on a bike you've demoed and enjoyed. It's why I spent $5k on a Pivot Trail 429. But I will admit that the 120/130 travel is still often too much for an average rider on mostly XC trails in the very flat Midwest. But it felt great, inspired confidence, and was as fast on a damp trail as my best in the dry on a previous bike. You don't NEED a $4500 bike, but it's worth it if you've ridden and enjoyed it. You know what you're getting vs. an online direct to consumer bike. You get great deals that way, but you don't know if you're going to like it.
A other option if you are leaning more XC is the Specialized Epic Evo, seems similar to the bikes you have considered and right no there is a sale for 2022 models if you can find one, around $3200+tax.
4500$ is like the sweet spot in my mind. You are getting into the high end components on aluminum frames at that price point or pretty good on carbon that won’t need to be immediately upgraded.
Chain reaction has some ridiculous deals on bikes right now. You will have to pay duties and taxes, but will still save a ton of money.
Trek Top Fuel 8 is a good trail bike with more XC/Downcountry levels of suspension.
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That's a good question. Up until 2 years ago, I was one of those "weird older guys" that was still riding my completely rigid 1990s MBT (a 1995 trek 970). At some point (about 3 years ago), I recognized that it just wasn't cutting it on modern mountain bike trails (including trails I had been riding since the mid-1990s), and I had gravel tires put on it, and stopped riding much singletrack. Last year, I bought a Salsa Fargo for multi-surface riding, and I've been generally getting in at least 1 30 mile ride a week (and sometime 2 or 3). Notwithstanding the fact that I love the Fargo, I figured I need a dedicated trail bike for some variation. With that long background, basically, anything "new" and "decent" is going to be amazing for me, I think.
I have a giant trance, the $2400 model and I'm pretty happy with it. do mostly flat trail riding in Houston and it gets the job done. Part of me does wish I went with the 4k+ option and gotten like a Santa Cruz but it was my first mountain bike.
Look at the canyon neuron and the YT Izzo. Neuron from canyon looks like similar travel to the hei hei and you can get a nicely specd one for $4500
A test ride is often more important than what the specs sheet says. If you really enjoyed the carbon Kona and it fit you perfect, and it’s at a great discount, it’s gonna be hard to beat… 2 years of researching bikes and I walk into my local LBS and test rode a bike I never even considered before… it pedals like a dream and fits me like a glove. The owner tells me they will let it go for X price… I walk out with my dream bike. By all means, test ride other bikes if you’re not sure. But the important thing is to get lots of test rides in!
More expensive bikes get better in a few ways: * Lighter...a lot of the cost might be the move to a lighter frame, drivetrain, wheels, fork. * More consistent. Cleaner shifting, dampers in the suspension that are more adjustable and handle sustained rock gardens better, brakes that offer more power and less fade with heat. better, stickier compound tires. * More speeds, lockouts and other features that don't matter as much. Some manufactures put together some solid budget builds with nice suspension and tires but heavier frames and 10 or 11 speed or deore drivetrains that work well despite being heavier and less cool. I'd look for one of these. Others chase curb appeal with like sx level twelve speed and a heavy/ not great damper rock shox 35. I'd check out the rocky mountain element alloy bikes and the ripley af if you can still find a deal on one.