Please help me pick one...serious, budget 29er

[dudleygb]

Apologies for creating a new thread, thought it might be better since it is basically a new topic.
I really value everyones guidance so I do send gratitude in advance.

Shopping for my wifes bike. She doesnt want a 650b, she really wants a 29er. I dont really have the 1099 to buy one like I git but I thought one of these might just be close enough.

Which one of these would you go for? I'm trying to keep it around 800.

http://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/polygo ... ano-deore/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cyclingdeal.com.au/buy/2014- ... r/CG2950MA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cyclingdeal.com.au/buy/2014- ... r/CG2960MA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cyclingdeal.com.au/buy/2014- ... /GAL-DEO14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Duck!]

Links broken.

[silentbutdeadly]

The Wheeler Eagle 500 has by far the best spec and is worth the extra coin...

[dudleygb]

Links broken.

sorry...fixed now
so far looks like the wheeler 500 is the winner

[dudleygb]

The Wheeler Eagle 500 has by far the best spec and is worth the extra coin...

thx mate, appreciate it

[mitchy_]

i would go the Hasa. has the best forks of the lot, and a reasonable groupset for the price.

[dudleygb]

i would go the Hasa. has the best forks of the lot, and a reasonable groupset for the price.

rockshox xc30 better than suntour raidon?

[Duck!]

I'd pick RockShox over Suntour any day if only for parts & service backup. RockShox, being part of the SRAM empire has excellent backup, and forks do need periodic servicing. Suntour are quite troublesome for spares.

[ozdavo]

Fit is important, and hard to do online if you don't know what you want/need.
Depending on your wife's height & torso to leg length proportions, she may be better suited to a women's specific frame design.
I notice a few of the bikes linked to start at 17 or 18", have you taken this into account? (I'm 179cm and depending on frame design, ride 17-19" frames).
There are lots of bike on BikeExchange in your price bracket and with new models fast approaching I'd be looking for atleast 20% off RRP of any bike from a LBS.
My recommendation would be to find a GOOD LBS who will fit your wife on the right frame (not one who tries to make a bike he has on the floor fit her) , and I expect she will enjoy riding a lot more (even if you have to go to a lower spec), than picking something online that is the "best deal", but ends up being a dog to ride.
Your LBS will also throw in initial servicing (I have heard up to one year), which is something you will have to pay for with an online purchase if you can't do it yourself.


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[silentbutdeadly]

Frankly I'd be more interested in the Norco Storm and/or Charger or (especially) the Apollo Expert 291 which is a fairly well specced unit for $900 than the Wheeler. And Ozdavo is right....give the LBS a go.

[dudleygb]

Frankly I'd be more interested in the Norco Storm and/or Charger or (especially) the Apollo Expert 291 which is a fairly well specced unit for $900 than the Wheeler. And Ozdavo is right....give the LBS a go.

I just googled for the apollo, its pricey. The Norcos look like contenders though, thx for suggesting.

[mitzikatzi]

Nothing wrong with the higher end Suntour forks. Thanks to the internet parts are always available.

[silentbutdeadly]

Frankly I'd be more interested in the Norco Storm and/or Charger or (especially) the Apollo Expert 291 which is a fairly well specced unit for $900 than the Wheeler. And Ozdavo is right....give the LBS a go.

I just googled for the apollo, its pricey. The Norcos look like contenders though, thx for suggesting.

Apollo was 900 on bikexchange from more than one outlet. They can't all be stretching the truth even if the site is often not unlike Gumtree for LBS'.

[dudleygb]

Frankly I'd be more interested in the Norco Storm and/or Charger or (especially) the Apollo Expert 291 which is a fairly well specced unit for $900 than the Wheeler. And Ozdavo is right....give the LBS a go.

I just googled for the apollo, its pricey. The Norcos look like contenders though, thx for suggesting.

Apollo was 900 on bikexchange from more than one outlet. They can't all be stretching the truth even if the site is often not unlike Gumtree for LBS'.

Please post the search you using, here's mine --> http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/s/?query=xpert291" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[silentbutdeadly]

Too prescriptive...

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/29er-m ... /102505200" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;