Ex Motorcycle Dirt-Biker getting into MTB

Check out the Giant AC3 if you want a bike that can do it all.

Just be aware that its not light for XC but it gets the job done

thanks for the advice. i tried to find the giant AC3 but could only find AC2 (and AC1). the AC2 looks great... problem is that they are on the high end of my price range (around $1700 or more). am i getting my moneys worth over a gf cake 2 or kona stinky which i can get for under $1300?

thanks!

stan

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Check out the Giant AC3 if you want a bike that can do it all.

Just be aware that its not light for XC but it gets the job done
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The Kona is a solid bike and worthy of upgrades down the line. For many reasons I'd try to talk you out of the cake (I've only had limited experience on one, but it wasn't positive at all). I always say this (but): have you considered used? If you have anyone in your life that knows bikes (and you trust their opinion) you can often make a good deal on a bike that is a year or two old and get much more bike for your dough. Lots of folks stay away from them since the "need" to have a new bike (wow factor at the trailhead parking lot I guess).

At your price range you are not going to have any cutting edge technologies or crazy features anyways, but you can get a good solid bike (maybe upgrades+ if you get a used bike). Giant, Norco, Kona, GT (some models) & Fuji can make some nice lower priced (sub-$2000) FS rigs. I felt really disloyal to my main rig doing this, but last weekend I played a bit on a new GT i-drive 5 2.0 ($2000) from a buddies shop and while I wouldn't give up my SC for it, but it was a fine riding bike. I was pleasantly impressed. The i-drive 5 3.0 is the same frame, basically, with cable avids instead of hydros and a few other cost saving measures.

Good luck and have fun. I love shopping for bikes/bike bits.

K.

Try the Specialzed Epic. I'm 6'2" 250# and love mine.

hey everyone--

thank you for all your great posts. i checked out the bikes you had all suggested. i finally ended up getting an '04 jamis xlt 1.0 from jensen usa out in ontario california (about 50 miles from where i live). i got what i was told was a really good deal ($1349) and the bike seems to have the best bang for the buck as far as suspension (manitou minute 1:00, spv, 100-130mm adjustable fork and a manitou swinger air spv 3-way shock) and the components are decent for the money (deore front derailer, xt rear derailer, hayes hfx comp xc hydraulic disc brakes). i think it looks pretty good too. the only thing my gear head friends tell me that i need to change (for now at least) are the hutchinson scorpion tires which they tell me are pretty bad, especially for southern california conditions.

anyway, thanks again for all your advice!

stan

thanks, ireman_1 for the info.

after riding the cake, i agree that i didn't really like it. just didn't feel right to me. it felt nimble but not sturdy, and i'd like to be able to really hit a hard downhill every once in a while. i also felt the components weren't as good as i could get at that price range.

i really liked the kona coiler i rode. bike felt most like a motorcycle dirt bike to me, but it did feel heavy. i hate to say this, but a big reason i didn't pursue it is that the only kona dealer in the area was VERY unhelpful and downright rude when i looked at the bike. took me forever to get someone to help me (store was empty) and at one point the salefperson asked me to hold the bike for a sec and that he'd be right back. after a few minutes i saw him helping someone else buy a headlight. i decided to leave.

i ended up with a '04 jamis dakar xlt 1.0 (i describe it in another post on this thread so i won't do it again here). bought it last saturday and was all hyped up to take it out sunday... and it rained! i'm not one to worry about a bit of rain but i'm getting over the flu. real bummer! anyway, i'm looking forward to taking it out this weekend.

thanks for the advice!

stan

ireman_1 said:

The Kona is a solid bike and worthy of upgrades down the line. For many reasons I'd try to talk you out of the cake (I've only had limited experience on one, but it wasn't positive at all). I always say this (but): have you considered used? If you have anyone in your life that knows bikes (and you trust their opinion) you can often make a good deal on a bike that is a year or two old and get much more bike for your dough. Lots of folks stay away from them since the "need" to have a new bike (wow factor at the trailhead parking lot I guess).

At your price range you are not going to have any cutting edge technologies or crazy features anyways, but you can get a good solid bike (maybe upgrades+ if you get a used bike). Giant, Norco, Kona, GT (some models) & Fuji can make some nice lower priced (sub-$2000) FS rigs. I felt really disloyal to my main rig doing this, but last weekend I played a bit on a new GT i-drive 5 2.0 ($2000) from a buddies shop and while I wouldn't give up my SC for it, but it was a fine riding bike. I was pleasantly impressed. The i-drive 5 3.0 is the same frame, basically, with cable avids instead of hydros and a few other cost saving measures.

Good luck and have fun. I love shopping for bikes/bike bits.

K.

thanks for the tip, mk. nice bike but couldn't find one in my price range (found an '03 for about $1600). i ended up getting an '04 jamis dakar xlt 1.0 which i talk about in another post on this thread.

thanks again!

stan

mark_kendrick said:

Try the Specialzed Epic. I'm 6'2" 250# and love mine.