Longtime roadie, newbie to MTB

Discuss light weight issues concerning mountain bikes & parts.

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Yoln
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Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:26 pm

by Yoln

Hey guys,

I've been on the road forum for quite a while now, but it's my first time posting on this side of the world :)

A bit of context first. The bike I'm planning on building is not for me, it's for my nephew, he's 17yo, started to ride with his local MTB club buddies during the pandemic cause it was the only sport he could do, and follows them in the mountain trail of southern france riding his Decathlon bike (https://www.decathlon.com/collections/m ... krider-520?). He got really hooked into cycling and I feel like it's my cyclist-uncle dutty to treat him with a bike he'll be excited about

I know his buddies ride Orbea and Dales, some fully-suspended some hardtails. His riding is going to be mostly in single-track, sometime a bit technical, always in mountains area always climbing or descending.

My overall budget is a bit limited, probably around $1700, which would get me into carbon frame territory with a fully built Scott Scale 940(https://www.pulseendurance.com/products ... 2636102820) or Orbea Alma M50(https://www.mondovelo.fr/cross-country/ ... .html#/-/-)

Always looking forward to bulding a new bike, and convinced that I'll get a better bang for my bucks doing so, I was planning on going for a second-hand frameset and building a bike, as I would do for my roadies.

Couple of questions for you:

- Does it make sense in the Covid context to expect building something better than the factory-build bikes above for a tight budget of $1700?

- I ditched right away the possibility of a fully-suspended bike in this price range (and also cause I won't be there to help him with maintenance, don't want it to become a burden), am I correct?

- Any general advices on a good cheap frame to look into? Same for wheels, groupset and fork?

Also, there is two geographic options since I'll be in France this summer. I can get all of the parts shipped there and build it once I go there. Or, I can have everything shipped here in the US and travel with the built bike when I go there, that'll depend on where I find the best options for parts.

Thanks guys, any help is appreciated!
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robbosmans
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by robbosmans

Don’t get a bike with NX or SX those gruppo’s are terrible, shimano is a better option at that price point

Looking for something second hand can be a good option. Keep in mind that MTB’s take a lot more beating than road bikes. So check every component for damage.

Other options: Canyon, Cube, Merida, you are going to get better value for money with these brands
Last edited by robbosmans on Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

by Weenie


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Yoln
Posts: 965
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:26 pm

by Yoln

robbosmans wrote:
Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:19 pm
Don’t get a bike with NX or SX those gruppo’s are terrible, shimano is a better option at that price point
Thanks, shim XT would be good enough?
Litespeed Gravel Ultimate : https://tinyurl.com/zvxxy8zk
Wilier “Cento Ramato“ : https://tinyurl.com/29vs8vre
#RETIRED# Lynskey “the Do-it-all Helix” 🧬:https://tinyurl.com/bdmb5y24

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robbosmans
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by robbosmans

Yeah even the new deore and slx 12 speed are great options

bikewithnoname
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by bikewithnoname

The trick with all bikes it to buy last year's model. Same build different paint. If you're looking on France there's a number of pretty decent carbon hardtails here: https://www.freecycle.fr/fr/157-29

As robbosmans says GX and up for SRAM is essential. For Shimano SLX is nice but XT is the benchmark
"We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities." Oscar Wilde

TheRich
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by TheRich

Would not recommend carbon at that price point. The weight saved on the frame is made up with the lower level components.

jfranci3
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by jfranci3

Are SX and NX that bad? I think (besides weight) the only two problems are the jockey wheels wearing out ($20) and the b-bolt (the one that connects to the frame) getting side to side slop (just get a new RD $60). Both these take a year of heavy riding before they even become an issue.

Nejmann
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by Nejmann

jfranci3 wrote:
Sun Apr 25, 2021 3:08 am
Are SX and NX that bad? I think (besides weight) the only two problems are the jockey wheels wearing out ($20) and the b-bolt (the one that connects to the frame) getting side to side slop (just get a new RD $60). Both these take a year of heavy riding before they even become an issue.
Seriously its not that bad. It's actually okay. Got a winter mtb with it this year, 1000 km of mud, more mud, snow, rain and dust.. Works flawless..

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robbosmans
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by robbosmans

Its not bad, there are just better options from shimano at those price points

85L
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by 85L

I'm more involved in road and especialy triathlons (10 000km/year) but living near forest I relax in the trails (2 000 km/year). Since my singles are mainly flat, I replaced a cannondale scalpel with the bike you're looking at : scale 940 '21. I've rode 1 000km since september '20 when I bought it and don't have any problems with NX/SX drivetrain and couldn't be happier with this bike.

But living in north of France and going in the south for holidays I'm a bit surprised for a non-fully suspended bike because you will have to deal with serious descending in those areas.
I'm tented to ask you precisely where in south of France ? Because the nearest the Alps and the more a descending bike would be indicated. However I've already gone in the Alps with a 26" semi-rigid. If it's near Marseille or Nice honestly a XC full suspension is mainly indicated for such trails. And depending on you're favorite trails, a 120mm (or more) would be the best choice.

moyboy
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by moyboy

Agreed Deore is a great groupset.
robbosmans wrote:
Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:24 pm
Yeah even the new deore and slx 12 speed are great options

grover
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by grover

Love this kind of project. So rewarding to build a bike for someone and they love it!

Something like this is probably in your budget new in France.
https://www.canyon.com/en-fr/mountain-b ... be=GY%2FRD
Alloy hardtail, burly fork, dropper post, 1x12 SLX. But at this price point bikes are heavy and OEM spec saves money on wheels.

If you have the time, finding a second hand carbon frame, light wheels and fork is the way to go. Match with new Shimano Deore 1x12 group and 4 piston brakes. Or lightly used Shimano SLX/XT or SRAM GX and Guide brakes. Strong recommendation to go four piston brakes in the terrain your nephew is riding. For example, Guides add 30 grams per brake over their two piston counterparts (the Level). I think if a duallie frame is out of the budget adding a dropper post to a hardtail is a good option.

I think you can end up a good 2kg lighter than the Canyon above.

F10
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by F10

Jumping on this thread (given i have a very similar request!)...

Long time roadie here, but a few of my road friends are starting to get into MTB. Nothing extreme, just riding a few trails around South East UK. Would love to muck in and join, but literally no idea where to start re. gear. Last time I rode an MTB was a rented hardtail on the Marin Trail in Wales a few years back.

I'd guess I could spend maybe up to £1K - either on something second hand, or very happy to buy parts to build up myself. Would also consider something new (with the added bonus of cyclescheme making my budget stretch a bit further). Based on what i've been reading, i'm leaning towards hard tail, ideally 1x, and understand availability on everything is sketchy right now. Any suggestions on where I should start?

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