Entry level bike $500-$650

Willstar44
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:50 pm

Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Willstar44 » Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:33 pm

HI,

I know you might of seen this before . But I can't find any recent (2016/2017) information about entry level bike $500-$650.


About myself
35 - Overweight (100kg) 185 cm - Haven't been on a saddle for 15+ years - base in Sydney
After watching the Olympics MTB race (AT) 3 am - I am going to pull the trigger and buy a new toy.

I guess everyone wants everything for nothing but I would like:
29er , Hydraulic disk brake ,Suntour XCM 100mm or better equivalent , XL or XXL ( prefer Green color but not important)
I wish I could get a 1x drivetrain - guess we still have to pay the exclusive tax

The options I have found

$549 Reid Xenon 29er Disc
https://www.reidcycles.com.au/reid-xenon-29er-disc
Suntour XCM-HLO 100mm
Tektro HDC-330 hydraulic disc ( dont know size ??)
Shimano HG-20 Cassette (11-32t)


$599 Cell Stromlo 1.1
http://www.this link is broken/Cell-Stromlo-1-0
Suntour XCM DS29, 100mm, Hydraulic Speed Lock, Rebound Damping ( are these any different from Reid ??)
tektro HDC330 Hydraulic Disc, 160mm Rear 180mm Front
Shimano HG-30, 11-34T ( better lower gear)

$610 Merida Big Nine 20-D Bike [Matt Black/Green] (2017)
http://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-big-ni ... green-2017
SR Suntour XCM HLO 100mm
Tektro MA hydraulic 160
Sunrace CS8 11-32


Are there any other comparison website other than bikeexchange.com.au?

Calvin27
Posts: 2435
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:45 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Calvin27 » Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:04 am

What will you be riding on?
Heavy road bike
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike

User avatar
Duck!
Expert
Posts: 9858
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 8:21 pm
Location: On The Tools

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Duck! » Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:45 am

At 185cm you're going to be better off on a Large frame.

Although Merida make good frames (and like Giant, to whom they're the second largest frame manufacturer in the world, build their own frames) the Cell is my pick of the three. It's got a better gear range, and although the Suntour forks on all of them are pretty ordinary, the rebound damping on the Cell's fork gives some degree of suspension control; the other two are pogo sticks. Reid's frames are too variable in quality for my liking; they do get some alright stuff (they source all their frames externally, as do Cell), some of them are heavy, yet fragile junk.
Last edited by Duck! on Tue Aug 30, 2016 1:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.

mitzikatzi
Posts: 1916
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:21 am
Location: Perth

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby mitzikatzi » Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:52 am

If your new to riding. The bike shop that seems the most helpful.
They all look similar on paper to me.
Buy a bike ride. If the bug hits you will soon learn what you want in a bike.
To me the Merida would have more appeal second hand.
It looks like the Reid comes with a free helmet and pump.

Willstar44
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:50 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Willstar44 » Tue Sep 06, 2016 7:01 pm

Duck! wrote:At 185cm you're going to be better off on a Large frame.

Although Merida make good frames (and like Giant, to whom they're the second largest frame manufacturer in the world, build their own frames) the Cell is my pick of the three. It's got a better gear range, and although the Suntour forks on all of them are pretty ordinary, the rebound damping on the Cell's fork gives some degree of suspension control; the other two are pogo sticks. Reid's frames are too variable in quality for my liking; they do get some alright stuff (they source all their frames externally, as do Cell), some of them are heavy, yet fragile junk.

Thanks for the tip

Mainly going to ride on single track/fire trail
I wanted a larger frame so my toes don't hit the front wheel
I thought Cell XCM fork are the same as the rest? ( maybe typo) as I can't find any information on with the XCM + Rebound Damping

I am a little flexible on the money but it seems the $600 to $750 range are the same specs just name brands.

User avatar
Duck!
Expert
Posts: 9858
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 8:21 pm
Location: On The Tools

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Duck! » Tue Sep 06, 2016 7:07 pm

Toe overlap is very unlikely on mountain bikes, simply because of the geometry, they're longer bikes for a given "size" than roadies.
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.

User avatar
bychosis
Posts: 7250
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
Location: Lake Macquarie

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby bychosis » Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:21 pm

And a frame that is too large will be more difficult to ride in the single track.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.

User avatar
Duck!
Expert
Posts: 9858
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 8:21 pm
Location: On The Tools

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Duck! » Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:36 pm

bychosis wrote:And a frame that is too large will be more difficult to ride in the single track.
Fixed. :wink:
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.

Calvin27
Posts: 2435
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:45 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Calvin27 » Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:40 pm

1 vote for the Merida. Better resale down the line when you eventually upgrade :)
Heavy road bike
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike

Willstar44
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:50 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Willstar44 » Tue Sep 13, 2016 12:29 pm

I found out that Cell have a typo and the fork don't have Rebound Damping. All the forks are the same

Have a local bike shop offering the Merida so I am going to pay the extra on the bike and save the difference in fuel driving 2 hours away :)

Calvin27
Posts: 2435
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:45 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Calvin27 » Tue Sep 13, 2016 4:12 pm

Get this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=91559

Spend another $100 to get hydraulic M615 brakes and possibly another $50 to go 1x9sp while losing a few hundred grams.
Heavy road bike
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike

Willstar44
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:50 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Willstar44 » Tue Sep 13, 2016 9:39 pm

Calvin27 wrote:Get this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=91559

Spend another $100 to get hydraulic M615 brakes and possibly another $50 to go 1x9sp while losing a few hundred grams.
I just saw that , I was thinking the same thing . I thought 1x9 would cost more the $50 could you recommend any

User avatar
bychosis
Posts: 7250
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
Location: Lake Macquarie

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby bychosis » Tue Sep 13, 2016 10:03 pm

Willstar44 wrote:
Calvin27 wrote:Get this: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=91559

Spend another $100 to get hydraulic M615 brakes and possibly another $50 to go 1x9sp while losing a few hundred grams.
I just saw that , I was thinking the same thing . I thought 1x9 would cost more the $50 could you recommend any
I wouldn't go 1x9 until you are a fairly well seasoned cyclist, or determined that the routes you use don't need the addict all gears you'll lose by dropping 2 chainrings. The loss of gears won't make up for the minor weight drop on the bike. I did like my 1x9 setup (upgraded to 1x11now), but wouldn't recommend it for a new rider.

Also before you go and decide, check the shifters and see if they are separate from the brake levers. That will make it more difficult to upgrade brakes because it will require new shifters too.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.

Willstar44
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:50 pm

Re: Entry level bike $500-$650

Postby Willstar44 » Sat Sep 24, 2016 2:43 pm

thanks for the help - end up getting the Aldi bike

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=91559&p=1368820#p1368820

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users