Hi funky people

my poor old mtn bike just isn't up to scratch anymore and I'm looking for a new bike under $1 000 that will enable me to grow as I get better. I'm not a fanatic, but I want to be able to go off road around Falls Creek, Buffalo, Buller etc and keep up with more advanced riders as I progress.

I've been looking at the Giant Yukon 04 and wondering if anyone had any reviews on this model or suggestions on other models I should check out.

Cheers

Giant bikes are always good value for money and the yukon would probably do pretty well for most trail riding however...

Its definitely not going to take a lot of abuse on drops or really rough tracks and you will find as you get better that the weight and suspension may hold you back some

for $1000 (Australian i assume) you could probably pick up a much better specced bike thats second hand and only a year or less old

for example i bought a hardtail merida for $1600 earlier this year and had to sell it to finance my freeride rig and i ended up selling it for close to $1000 ( i wanted more but its a market economy)

Hello Matie,
I must admit, the Giant Yukon is a very cool looking Bike, I like the Yellow one and I'm seriously considering buying one.

Having rode one last week at my LBS I was very impressed but I'd highly suggest you try a couple of different sizes to see which is the most comfortable for you, remember, the bigger the Bike the further you need to stretch to reach the Bars, with flat Bars this can become very uncomfortable on a long ride, you only have one position really to rest your Hands and your Fingers will lose circulation in no time...it can also get very painfull on the Palms...

Also, Disc Brakes are very nice (they come on the Yukon), they work better when wet, however, there's more to go wrong with them, they require more servicing and I've heard they CAN be a pain...just something else to consider....

If I do buy the Yukon I will have the Tires swapped out immediately, I guess they're fine for the Dirt but on the road they're noisy and do send a lot of unwelcome road Buzz through the Bars...I'll just have the dual purpose smooth center Tires put on.....

As for extras, you'll find out what you need after a long ride, Cycling Gloves are pretty much essential on a flat bar bike, they'll save you hands etc, and of course a water bottle cage, Cycling shorts make a huge difference on longer rides, they are padded.

Giant have a great reputation, I think as long as you buy a bike that's right for YOU and one that fits you won't regret it.....

i got a giant 04 yukon! bought it for $740 australian dollars. (black mans parramamatta), good pricing.. was cheaper by abit than some others.

it is one hell of a good ride. and can take a beating, just as long as you dont take it on any big jumps. make sure u buy a nice chainstay guard like a lizard skin or amourdillo thingy.. cause the chainstay just gets a good beating.

The gears are abit loud, but not bad.

Overall i really would recommend this bike to you, only cause i have one of my own. I also own a Avanti Barracuda 04. and i recon overall that the giant yukon is a good buy.

if theres anything email me,
Hoangjoseph@hotmail.com

i definitely agree... $1000aus should help you get a sweet one or two year old bike, with a better frame- which is what you want if you want to keep it around for a while and upgrade and have fun. check out some local shops right before and after christmas... ask them when they are putting the old models on sale... i bet you can get a nice trek or cdale for that money

__________________
if everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn't thinking

Cannondale CAAD5/carbon lefty elo/full XTR/Race Face NexT cranks/Avid Juicy Seven Disc Brakes/Mavic 3.1 Tubeless System/Easton CT-2 Handlebar/Crank Brothers Ti Pedals

After quite a bit of research I went for a 2004 Giant Yukon. I've had it for about 2.5 weeks now and love it! It is really nice to ride and has handled well on the various terrain I've been on so far. I got it for $769 AUD with some wider pedals.

The other bike I was keen on was the Avanti Ridge Rider 03/04 which is about the same price and specs. However, I couldn't find a lot of reviews for Avanti and the LBS didn't have that model in so I went for Giant after reading some good things about them. You should check out the Yukon reviews on mtbr.com (look under 2003 because there are some that relate to the 04 model). One thing I noticed is that the Australian version of the Yukon seems to be slightly different/better than the US one (?)

Anyway, my plans for this bike are similar to yours and hopefully I'll have it for a long time and it will grow with me.

i have a 04 yukon to and i love it! so much fun to ride, ive had for a bit over 1 month now and i have put a hutchinson python tires on it, Easton EA50 riser bars, Shimano STX levers, 8spd Rapidfire shifters.

On my coming soon list is..
Truvativ 5D crankset (stock cranks wear alot after hard riding)
Rockshox Judy SL U Turn or Pilot XC
EBC red brake pads
and a Shimano XT rear derailliur

so as you can see mine is starting to evolve into somthing else than a yukon

arrgghh, how do i post pics. Post some soon.

here are some pics of my 2004 giant yukon with some new EA50's. Just before I got new tires and shifters/levers.

<Click there

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enjoy

I have a mat black Yukon and love it- I got a really good deal ($Aus700) and have serfas drifer tyres on it which makes for a smooth ride without the road buzz.
Brakes (hayes gx2) are grouse as well as the frame- Giant have really good weld quality - only weakness is the sometimes sloppy shift on the front cog.
I would recommend the 04 Yukon definately for a good quality , mid range MTB.

I bought an '04 Yukon for $800 Australian, and it is very tough.
To date, the only things I have changed are the grips, pedals to a better set of flats, and I bought a lizard skin chainstay guard.

I do drops in the area where they are building new houses near my place, and the drops are about 4ft onto flat, well this is the biggest I have done so far.

The weakest point of the bike would have to be the crankset. The cranks sometimes come loose and make creaking noises, so i wrapped some teflon tape around the bottom bracket axle and they are better. Hopefullt I will soon get some Truvativ cranks off a friend.

The Yukon is also fun to jump as well, I ride mainly trails with jumps and berms, and the Yukon is awesome for that. It is also good for cross country riding.

I have been to Falls Creek skiing last year, and I think it would be awesome to ride there.