Help buying new MTB

[Trav_Kent]

I am buying a bike, and I don't know what to buy.. I have done a ton of research, and I think I know what I want, but I want to reflect off someone before I spend the money.

First off, my budget tops out at about 1500 dollars. Second, I want a full suspension bike. Third, I am not only going to use it for biking trails, but I am going to bike up to Alaska from Montana this summer. So I want a bike that is pretty versatile in where it can be ridden as a XC bike, yet have the trail abilities. I had a friend bike from Alaska down to Vancouver on her MTB and she just changed the tires to help efficiency. (Is that an okay way of thinking?)

I started this search off with a bunch of judgments in my head. I saw brands like Giant and Diamondback and told myself that there was no way in hell that I would ride one of those. But after doing some research, they have some pretty quality bikes around my price range! I especially like the Giant Anthem and Trance (Anthem being the XC bike and Trance being the trail bike.) I also found a Giant bike that I really think is a great looking bike and seems to have great lower end specs (from what I know) and that is the Giant Stance. I think it would be a really fun bike to ride and it seems to get good reviews as well.

The bike that I have been dreaming of has more of a XC set up, but is a little heavier and is still capable of being pretty wild on the trails. That is the Specialized Camber 29 (base Camber). I love how it looks and the reviews on it are great! I found a 2015 for a very affordable price and I am waiting to make a move to buy it to hear from someone that it is in fact the way I should go. I don't think its specs are quite as good as the Giants, which makes me wonder if I am just buying the Specialized name. I know I want to get the most out of my money as I can.
Those are the two that I have really looked at a lot. There are also a Trek Superfly, Santa Cruz Superlight, Cannondale Rush, and Devinci Atlas that looks like a sweet little bike. The Davinci is a brand new 2013 model, and I think the Cannondale is a brand new 2014 model. The Trek and Sanda Cruz are used 2015 models. You know about any of these? Got any suggestions?

Also, I think it would be smart to go with the newer 27.5 (650b) tires but my old Hardrock had 29ers and I always hated riding bikes with 26ers after that. You have any preferences on tire size?

If anyone is stoked on the Davinci Atlas XP speak up because it seems to have great beginning level specs and be very affordable.
Thanks!
Chat Conversation End

 

[Tim O]

Hello Trav. The Devinci Atlas and the Specialized Camber are distinctly off-road bikes (being full-sus) and probably very good at what they were designed for. However, your requirement to ride from Montana to Alaska (which sounds a long way to a European) seems to suggest that you need something that can carry some luggage. Apart from a back pack, which would be devilishly uncomfortable for such a trip, I am at a bit of a loss to see how you would fit luggage on to the sort of bikes you have suggested. If you want to go MTB, why not consider hardtails? You can fit a rack on a hardtail; they're faster (apart from down hill over rough terrain), climb better, are generally lighter and would seem to be a better solution if you're using it for that big trip.

 

[Drago]

So you want a trail bike, which all so works very well as an all-mountain machine? Think you need to decide where the majority of your riding take a place and choose the bike that suits that best, and accept that while it might be useable in Alaska or even on the Moon, it'll be a compromise.

You're in the ballpark money wise with some good longer travel trail bikes from Giant and Spesh. Your budget is sufficient, but not generous, so I'd be inclined not to try and be too clever and stick with Giant or Spesh, who both excellent at providing very effective bikes at this relatively budget price point.

Wheel size will come down to a combination of your height and your preference, and there's no way anyone else can decide that for you. Ignore any guff about X wheel size being good for Y purpose, because each brings as may compromises and disadvantages as it does advantages. Ditto tyre width and type which will be dictated by your weight riding style, terrain, the weather, and even your simple preference.

Happy hunting.

 

[Kajjal]

That is a very long distance on any bike, a full suspension bike is less suited to road riding and has more to go wrong. If the route is mainly Road and smooth trails you may find a gravel style bike more suitable. My diverge is faster than my xc hardtail on road and smoother straighter trails.

 

[vernon]

@Trav_Kent

Your focus seems to be very on the details of the bike and not on the details of the journey.

• You have not mentioned your accommodation - camping or motels/warm showers/lodgings?
• If camping, how do you propose to carry all of your camping kit on a full suspension bike?
• Having cycled in the American Northwest last summer in a heat wave - I found that water carrying capacity was crucial in places where there were huge gaps between settlements and sources of potable water - how are you going to ensure that you have adequate supplies?
• Wheel size is not a major deal maker or breaker. If the wheels are correctly built and the spokes tensioned correctly the differences between 26" 29er and 27.5" are more to do with succumbing to marketing pressures than they are to do with ride quality on a loaded touring bike.
• If you are carrying panniers and you have found a way to mount them on a full suspension mountain bike, check that they mount far enough back to avoid 'heel strike'
• Changing the tyres to slicks will make a considerable difference to pedalling effort more so if you are aiming for large daily mileages.
• Have a look at the gearing on the bikes - the 2 x 10 gearing might mean you'll be resorting to high cadence pedalling at moderate speeds - is that what you want/need?
• You also need to bear in mind that all of the reviews that you have read will be about the bikes being ridden in their intended environments and not about how they meet long distance touring needs. Their responsiveness and comfort when loaded up for touring could be totally different from that described in the reviews.

Be aware that minor niggles become major gripes and detract from your enjoyment of the adventure when out on the road/trails for an extended period of time it's important that you either learn to live with the compromises that you are making with your proposed choices of bicycles or you start looking at alternatives to full suspension bicycles.

Whatever your ultimate decision is I hope that you have a fantastic time.