First Mountain Bike Purchase - Advice Please

John on 10/12/2020 - 10:44
Last edited 10/12/2020 - 12:13 by 1 other user

Hi all,

Looking to get some advice from the OzBargain brain trust on my first mountain bike purchase please.

Main reason to buy is just to ride around the complex once-twice a week. prob 5 kms max, with my boys (one is 8 year old and has got his own bike, the other is 2 year old so will be putting him on a bike seat). I'm about 168cm, 82 kg.

I'm very new with bike riding. Not very cluey with all the mechanical aspects of the brake, gear, etc and the maintenance. So something that is not too complicated to maintain is preferred. Definitely need something durable to hopefully last a long time (10 years if that is reasonable at all).

Budget is around $500-$600.

A few options I have been considering:

Questions I have…
1. Would you recommend any of the above bike? If so, which one? If not can you recommend me?
2. Should I spend more? Less?
3. Does it really matter having a disc brake?
4. Would you recommend buying second hands? I've come across Avanti Escape for $200 and Giant Iguana for $300, seemed well looked after from photos. Or this Giant Boulder one might fit my size better

I also need to budget for the bike seat. Currently looking at the Thule RideAlong $150-$200 to fit my younger son who's growing faster than a typical 2 year old. Hence, if possible I would like to keep it within the budget above

Any advise appreciated. Thanks!

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • Porker on 10/12/2020 - 11:00
    +2

    I have the Yepp and I suspect you'll find it will quickly become cramped for your son if he's growing fast and already at 2 years. The riding cockpit will become cramped not only for him but for you as rider. Cramped for him because his feet actually pass under the handlebars with that seat, and cramped for you as you'll need to reach around him and have your head above his to ride - it's reclined too so his head may end up under your chin.

    It may be better to get a rear seat. But I also know having your son at the front gives piece of mind etc. Plus it allowed me to interact with my son while riding.

    As for your bike… All the bikes you've listed would have slightly different geometries. As example, the ATX (the one I think is best) might have a more aggressive geometry in that you're leaning more forward on the bike which could interfere with your Yepp. Where a more upright bike would give you more room for the Yepp if you proceed with it.

    At one point in time, before my son, I had 5 mountain bikes for different purposes (downhill, cross country, all-mountain etc). I do suggest to get secondhand in the first instance to get an idea of what you want out of the bike. Eg. No point paying more for a bike with capacity that you won't use - hence, horses for courses.

    It might be hard to test ride any bikes with two sons and also without the Yepp attached, but that is probably the best way to go about seeing which is best for you.

    As for disc brakes - it's not necessary if it's just recreational riding around your complex or even light off-road riding.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 11:06

      Thanks mate for the suggestions! Actually I was looking at the Thule Ridealong which is rear mount. He will definitely not fit at the front.

      • Porker on 10/12/2020 - 11:07

        Was editing my response with below:

        PS. At 168cm, I suspect you'll be in the S or M size bike too. If size S, then the Yepp will be very cramped for you even without your son on it. The Yepp seat will extend right into your knee pedal path. That is, you'll be banging the bottom of the Yepp seat with your knees unless you ride with your knees pointing out.

        Another VERY important aspect with your bikes and Yepp seat is that none have a dropper post - this allows your seat to go up and down at your discretion. The issue with having a fixed seat post (as the ones shown in your list) is that there is little to no room between where you end up sitting on the bike and the Yepp seat such that when you come to a stop, you have to put your foot down while seated. Depending on what riding position/height you have, you could end up leaning the bike over quite far each time you stop the bike.

        As example, my bike has the above issue with bike seat to Yepp distance and me being able to physically fit in that distance. While I can, it takes a bit of piss-farting around such that I don't want to risk falling. SOOO.. my bike has a dropper post which I lower each time I know I'm coming to a stop which helps me balance the bike upright and accelerate as required

      • Porker on 10/12/2020 - 11:08

        Ahh.. k.. With the ridealong, your options of bike are a bit more relaxed.

        • John on 10/12/2020 - 11:18

          Thanks for the size estimate! Wasn't sure about it before, at least now I have a bit of guide.

  • RM on 10/12/2020 - 11:14
    -2

    For 5-10kms a week, that's a lot you are spending.

    Suggest you get a bike from Kmart/BIGW for about a $100-$150. Ride for a few months and see if you are into it or really want to continue this more seriously/regularly.

    You won't regret losing that amount if you are not really into it and won't mind upgrading then cause by then you would be sure of your new hobby

    • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 11:40
      +8

      Please don’t buy a Kmart or big w bike. You’d be better spending $150 on a second hand bike. Even if it needs a service it’ll ride and stop a heck of a lot better than any Kmart rubbish.

      Kmart bikes are throw away items. A second hand bike at $150 will retain 100% of its value.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 11:41
      +1

      Thanks. I had bought a budget bike in the past and obviously because I can't assemble it properly it wasn't riding well at all and I ended up selling it. I thought if I buy a better bike that's been setup professionally I'm hoping I would save myself from the same mistake. Also, a second hand better bike is not too far off the price, which I thought was a better alternative.

      • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 11:47

        Of the two second hand ones you’ve linked the Avanti is more road oriented. It’s not really a mtn bike, more of a hybrid. The giant might be too large for you.

        • John on 10/12/2020 - 12:04

          Thanks. Another fellow mentioned the Avanti might be too big for me. I found a Giant Boulder for $265 which might fit my size better… They say its 18" frame size. Any thought?

          • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 16:29

            @John: Boulder is a basic mtb. Would be fine for what you describe, but a bit slower on a commute - not that it matters for a short distance.

  • seraphim2017 on 10/12/2020 - 11:19

    Around the complex? meaning on roads/paths? The Avanti looks in ok condition, make an offer after trying/riding (ensure gears all engage if you don't know how to adjust (youtube is your friend here), and brakes fine/wheels not warped.

    If you like it, sell it for not much less in a couple of years, and then buy something 'better'/newer. It'll be perfectly fine if cared for, and you can learn basic maintenance on it and not worry about scratches.

    I commute so never use my suspension (locked out) on roads/cycle paths. Rim brakes stop me fine, and are less fiddly and lighter than discs. Cheaper to replace too. It looks to already have commuter tyres on it which is useful.

    p.s 24 gears where the ratios are so close . I have a 27 speed and realistically use 4 gear ratios maximum. There's an app to show you what the front to rear ratios mean, and its surprising how close a lot of them are.

    Edit: issue, you are shorter than I am, I ride a small but should ride a medium and I'm 175cm. a medium/large may mean you are stretched out and have aching back which will put you off.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 12:06

      Yeah just paths and roads. Shame about the Avanti :( It was good price and seemed decent in quality. Another second hand I found is this Giant Boulder for $265 which might fit my size better… They say its 18" frame size. I googled and that would put it under M. Reckon it will be ok for my height?

      • seraphim2017 on 10/12/2020 - 12:16

        I have a Giant Roam in small, could go to Medium but small works for me. A medium at it's lowest would probably fit you but do check it out. That Giant looks ok, basic bits but the frames are good and you replace the bits as you wear them out, will be fine for your use from what I can tel. Best to go sit on it, and as always, haggle (politely!)

        • John on 10/12/2020 - 13:32

          Thanks I might go and have a look!

  • Edsanwong on 10/12/2020 - 12:17
    +1

    Hv u check Decathlon, polygon, Hasa and Trinx?
    I found them pretty good

    • ShoeyAU on 10/12/2020 - 13:18

      agree - can't go too wrong with Decathlon esp on the low end. They guarantee the frame for lifetime and their service schedule is cheap.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 13:31

      Haven't look into these. I did see some Decathlon being posted here. My concern is if I can't get it from the shop front I have to deal with assembly? And of course I can't try it first before buying makes me hesitant because without prior experience, I could completely buy something that is not suitable for. But thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into them!

  • ShoeyAU on 10/12/2020 - 13:14

    Trek Marlin 6 owner here ($850), but the Trek Marlin 5 is $699 and not too different in spec. The good point is the hydraulic discs , but the bad point is the weight. I have had it for less than a yr, but actually since upgraded it after I started to ride trails, and the Trek is now delegated to commuting duties.

    My thoughts - at this price range, MTBs will be heavy (weighted mine to be around 15kgs). one of the biggest contributor is the entry-level suspension which tends to be coil spring (instead of air), and the the front chainring tends to be a triple. i.e. lower end bikes tends to have 3x8, compared to higher end which might be a 2x10 or 1x12 for top end.

    My personal opinion to your Qs:

    1. Would you recommend any of the above bike? If so, which one? If not can you recommend me?

    I don't know enough about the listed bikes to make a useful contribution. But I did regret getting the Trek Marlin. I should have gotten something from like Reid, where for a lesser known brand more of the money went to the components instead of the brand.

    I also think if you are not planning to ride trails, then consider whether MTB is the best choice. Problem is they have to put a lot of stuff into a MTB - shocks, disc brakes etc and so with so many components to split that $500 into, they have to cut costs on lower end components.

    1. Should I spend more? Less?

    I personally feel $500-600 is a no man's land range for a MTB. Once you ride enough and realize its limitations then u either have to upgrade the parts (cost time and money well beyond what u'd get a new better bike in the first pace, lose warranty & sometimes frustration in fitting the parts), or u sell and rebuy at a 20-30% loss.

    1. Does it really matter having a disc brake?

    I felt disc brakes (in particular hydraulic disc) is important. I have a road bike with rim brakes and definitely feel the difference. Disc brakes also allow for more wheel options because the clearance & position of the caliper is no longer a constraint. For example, gravel bikes allow wheel interchange between 29 and 27.5 because of disc brakes.

    1. Would you recommend buying second hands? I've come across Avanti Escape for $200(gumtree.com.au) and Giant Iguana for $300(gumtree.com.au), seemed well looked after from photos..

    Yes. in hindsight I would have gone for a used MTB at say $1K which would translate to a "$2K when new" which is pretty good spec. Maybe used from a bike shop is a good idea because it has gone thru that vetting inspection or service and some form of warranty.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 17:39

      Thanks! Seems like second hand is the better way to go for now..

    • kiitos on 11/12/2020 - 08:03

      Why is a triple front chain ring bad?

      • Euphemistic on 11/12/2020 - 09:08
        +1

        A triple chainring isn’t ‘bad’. Some say it’s better than 1x because you get more spread of gears with the triple setup. 1x is simpler, but the gaps between gears can be a little bigger. Triple is good because you can set your front ring to the terrain and hold it for much longer, ie middle ring for lost single track riding or small for climbing. you can also jump 3-4 gears with one shift up front if necessary.

        A double chainring on a mountain bike isn’t ideal as most often you need to be in the middle of the gears, which means either cross chaining more (using either extreme of the rear gears), or shifting the front too often.

        Personally I prefer 1x, but still have triple on my hack bike.

        Cheaper bikes tend to have 3x because they have less gears in the back which is cheaper to produce.

  • Headless on 10/12/2020 - 13:21

    Already too expensive!

    I bought mine for $~350 online, damn nice bike on super special blah blah blah - it was a great hobby, but i just don't do it much any more - i'm glad I didnt put in thousands

    • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 16:30

      What did you buy? $350 is a good price, but not if it’s a Kmart bike!

      • Headless on 10/12/2020 - 16:58

        I got it from here
        https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/

        Hits my beginner mountain bike boxes

        Disc brakes
        Front shocks
        Correct Height
        Big enough wheels
        Not Kmart bike
        Looks cool

        Inexpensive

        Job done

        • Speckled Jim on 11/12/2020 - 11:03

          Curious to know, is it the Cascade 2/3?

          • Headless on 11/12/2020 - 11:04
            +1

            @Speckled Jim: I lost the paperwork, but the bike says Polygon cascade yes - solid bike

            Number 4 ;)

  • jv on 10/12/2020 - 13:34
    +1

    First Mountain Bike Purchase - Advice Please

    Make sure it comes with pedals !!!

    • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 20:45

      ? Am I missing something, don’t all but high end bikes come with pedals?

      • xpostmanx on 11/12/2020 - 08:45

        My experience is the opposite. Higher end bikes operate on a BYO pedal arrangement.

        Edit: re-read it, I'm a fool.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/12/2020 - 13:41

    My advice: trailer instead of seat. Sure, kid is lower to the ground but I found the seat quite hard to get used to when riding. Weight distribution was way off and eventually the child gets way too heavy. With a trailer, it is essentially when they outgrow it or your legs can't take it any more.

    For 5kms, once-a-week or so, buy used not new. Honestly, not worth spending the money on new for such a short distance/time.

    Another option… I got a kick scooter for adults so my daughter and I could scoot (she's 4 now but I got it when she was 2ish). They're cheaper and require less maintenance but are one hell of a workout! So your eldest could ride/scoot, the youngest scoot on a three-wheeler and you scoot… problem solved.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 17:42

      Thanks. Never really look into trailer. I just thought its nicer to have my son right behind me so I can hear him. But definitely need to look into it.

      My older son likes to scoot too. But I don't haha. I prefer riding the bike while he scoot next to me.

  • frondono on 10/12/2020 - 14:05

    If you can double your budget.

    https://www.canyon.com/en-au/mountain-bikes/trail-bikes/stoi…

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/12/2020 - 14:06
      +3

      Seems overkill for 5-10km per week.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 17:40

      Maybe I'll double the budget if I enjoy riding more and starts picking up the distance in future. At this stage I don't think I can justify the cost :D

  • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 16:32
    +1

    Maybe consider changing the thread title. You don’t really want a MTB for what you describe. It’ll just be heavier with fat tyres that will be slower. Something with road biases tyres would be better. 700c in 40mm or similar.

    • John on 10/12/2020 - 17:43

      I see.. do you mean road bike? Sorry I'm completely unfamiliar. I just thought mountain bike is more durable because of tyre size compared to road tyre.

      • Euphemistic on 10/12/2020 - 17:52
        +1

        In the good old days there was road bikes and mountain bikes. Now there are a dozen different styles available to choose to make the decision more difficult!

        Fortunately a bicycle is a pretty robust machine so unless you are jumping or riding rock gardens any genre will be sturdy enough.

        For the riding type you describe a flat bar bike (not drop bar like a racer) with no suspension and a reasonable width tyre (35-40mm) will do the job well. More than capable of traversing grass or gravel paths. You won’t need suspension, it just adds weight and an extra service item and provides negligible benefit, especially on budget bicycles.

        I know this is out of budget, but this style: https://www.trekbikes.com/au/en_AU/bikes/hybrid-bikes/fitnes…

        • John on 10/12/2020 - 19:19

          Ah I get what you mean. Will look out for that type. Thanks so much

  • Tee Rex Arms on 10/12/2020 - 19:32
    +1

    Forget mountain bikes. Flat bar bikes are what you’re after.

    • John on 11/12/2020 - 09:41

      Thanks. Been looking into it and looks like it will be suitable for what I need. I always thought mountain bike is best for beginner/casual rider.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2020 - 20:39

    Personally I'd go the Giant Talon 3 if your not mechanically minded. V-Brakes are kind of yesterday and more fiddly taking wheels in and out. With the Malvern star being the only other with disc brakes it's night and day between the two. Overall build of the Malvern Star is for the casual rider, not meant for off road, Talon could handle a bit more. I'd try to negotiate the price a bit lower but you may have fun given supply and demand.

  • CSR on 11/12/2020 - 08:04
    +1

    Take a look at Polygon bikes, pretty good bang for buck and delivery is super fast.
    https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/bikes/mountain-bikes/mount…

  • OzHunterNSW on 11/12/2020 - 09:56
    -1

    Cats In the Cradle

    You are not going to get much for the budget you set.
    I suggest going to K-Mart.
    The bikes are basic, and simple, for you.

    I envisage you will only be using the bike 10x in your life, as the children would quickly lose interest and pursue other activities.

    Why didn't you do this when the children needed you the most? At the time they were 2, 3, 4, 5 learning to ride a bike!

    Where were you all these years… why all of a sudden do you wish to get involved in their life?

    Recent divorce!

    • John on 11/12/2020 - 10:04

      lol quite the imagination there

    • RecklessMonkeys on 11/12/2020 - 10:22

      projecting much?

  • boundlessbeyond on 11/12/2020 - 10:01

    ALDI's mountain bike is very good and very good value

    • John on 11/12/2020 - 10:09

      Yeah I've heard good stuff about it. I'd probably consider it if it wasn't so hard to get :/

  • R081N on 11/12/2020 - 15:39

    Definitely get the hybrid flat bar bike! Many people buy the wrong bike for their needs. Australia is very influenced by sport cycling & mountain biking, when most people would be much better off on a commuter/hybrid bike that you could ride in comfort & have the ability to carry stuff.. And perhaps even include lighting, mud guards, etc

  • John on 12/12/2020 - 00:57
    +4

    Thanks for the advise everyone. Ended up getting a secondhand Hybrid bike for $260 (new tyres, upgraded seat and helmet included). Good condish. Even scored the Thule Ridealong second hand in the local area. Looking forward to the ride tomorrow.

    Sure glad I went here for advise. I think the hybrid bike is exactly what I need as I have no intention to get off road anyway.

    Cheers folks. Have a great weekend and Christmas/New Year.

    • skillet on 12/12/2020 - 23:21

      Now you can spend all your time learning how to tune up a bike, patch a tube and true the wheel. You only need a few bike specific tools if you are really into it. Get some degreaser, kerosene if you are cheap, give the chain and gears a good clean and lube it up with some quality oil/wax it makes a big difference.

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