I need help picking a bike

A Potted Plant

A Potted Plant

Honorary Sod
I've been putting this off for about 2 years, but I have started to break crap on my bike on every ride so I've decided it's time to buy a new bike. I am upset mostly because evey place I've gone says 26'' is long gone unless you buy an entry lv bike or I should just go for a 27.5, one guy said that I should go for a 27.5+ saying that's the way things are going. I am giving in and getting a 27.5 but would like some recommendations. I'm just gonna get something off BD. All I want is a ht, I would get a 26 from there I'm just worried about forks and wheels becoming harder to come by in the future and would rather avoid the headache. I intend to get the 427ht just so I can get out and ride, and replace parts as I need them rather then buy a hire tier bike. Eventually I will get a new frame and swap everything over(3 year plan), but I would like to do that when I have all the parts I want on this bike so I'm not stuck with a build rather then a bike I can ride. I know this is more expensive but it comes with the ability to ride. My current bike can't do that anymore it's got a crack on the top tube head tube weld.

I'm 215ish 5'10"(my pants are 30 inseam 32 waist) I plan on getting a 17"

Sorry for the crap writing I'm on my phone its a pain
 
I've been debating whether or not to sell my 26er for a while. Specialized fsr xc expert, new air fork has only one ride on it, and brand new tires.
Bike is in excellent shape, has been shop maintained.
I'm looking for $750 (the fork cost me $350). You're welcome to test ride it, I'm 10 minutes from Hartshorne; grab it and have at it.
This bike is an absolute rocket, and very agile in the twisties. I've lost the vision in my right eye, so I'm not comfortable in the woods anymore, otherwise I would not part with the bike.
 
@Pagliacci I'm gonna pass since its fs if it was a hardtail maybe but I'm more concerned with the ability to get 26" specific parts later down the line, hence why I might make the commitment to 27.5
 
No problem. Honestly, I think if you intend to ride with others frequently, you gotta go bigger than 26.

The rider matters most, but if you ride 26 with someone who is perfectly equal as a rider but rides 29, you'll never keep up.

Good luck and have fun shopping; there are only a few things in life more thrilling than buying a new bike.
 
At your size I don't see a reason to get 27.5 wheels. They make sense for smaller riders or average riders on long travel FS bikes. Have you tried a 29" or 27.5+ on trails yet? The rollover ability has to be experienced to be believed. My last upgrade was from a Yeti Kokopelli, a 4" travel 26er FS bike, to a Niner EMD 29er hardtail. I didn't miss the rear suspension of the 26er because of the bigger wheels. My next bike is going to be a C'dale Bad Habit. I wasn't planning on doing that until the Spring, but if you're interested it's set up with a Reba Race fork, SRAM X.0 3x9 or 1x9 drivetrain, Juicy 7 brakes, Thomson bar and stem, and rolling on Chris King hubs and Stans Arch rims. I'd sell it for $1500.
 
Folks,check the pricept the Op is targeting, sub 500. A sure way to lose money is to upgrade with parts to make a lesser bike better. And in 3-4 years you may find your upgraded parts to be obsolete. I'd suggest to buy what's in your limits, ride the crap out of it. Continue to do your research, ride lots of places then buy your dream machine in 3 years if your still mad crazy about the sport. Don't be surprised if your riding style and preferences change. Who know you find yourself preferring enduro, or singlespeed or oh no, even a fatbike.

I think you got it right to stop pumping cash into the 26r. You should give the 29rs a try. I'm an inch shorter than you and ride medium fairly comfortably
 
29 takes away the fun I tried one out last summer I think it makes riding way to easy it kinda makes riding a bike feel like a poor work out while 26 makes things interesting so I'm trying to stay close to that size and the only option is 27. I have a budget much hire then the bike I'm about to buy but at 1500 I'd rather stick my money into a Bfe.

This was when I was planning on buying my dream bike but that is a 26" 🙁
 
Here all along I thought the 29 vs 26 debate died back in '07.

Budget is good for a decent older used bike.

MB at that cost go SS or plan to swap just about everything.
 
I know its been dead I'm just scratching my head at FS in this thread when I just want a hard tail lol. If I got a 29 I'd go ridged I see no reason for suspension when 29ers feel like full squishy to me lol.
 
I think OP has his mind set on what he wants
buy my backup bike and be done
Or maybe repost the question in wanted thread
2015 giant talon
Size 17
27.5
Updated tires

350

Your size and well under your budget.
 
I tried pming you last night but it wouldn't load smhhhh. I try again in a few.

Gonna see if anyone is lending out a 27plus kinda want a ridged one of those
 
Pagliacci said:
No problem. Honestly, I think if you intend to ride with others frequently, you gotta go bigger than 26.

The rider matters most, but if you ride 26 with someone who is perfectly equal as a rider but rides 29, you'll never keep up.

Good luck and have fun shopping; there are only a few things in life more thrilling than buying a new bike.
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This is a complete load of bullshit.
 
Monkey Soup said:
This is a complete load of bullshit.
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Monkey Soup said:
This is a complete load of bullshit.
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Um......ok.....I guess I stand corrected.

I had just assumed that if a 26er and a 29er are using the same gear ratio and are pedaled at the same cadence, the 29er will travel a greater distance with each revolution.

It's also been my experience when I used to ride with a couple of guys after work, but perhaps it was just psychosomatic.

Thank you for taking the time to enlighten me.
 
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I get what your saying I just like how snappy 26ers are, also I'm a minimalist I only had a ht because it was cheaper then fixing my ridged 26er. I actually really enjoyed riding ridged, it made everything interesting but it also gave me a skewed view of what people use. I was riding at jungle habitat, I want to say 2 summers ago, and was able to pass people rocking FS 29ers. I see no need for so much bike for the trails around here and after trying out other bikes I see no fun in just rolling over everything.

I'm gonna get a new bike because the 26er platform is being abandoned more and more, I am actually considering a 27plus but I'm just wondering about part availability. I don't want to invest into a platform and then have to make this change again in 5 years.

@qclabrat I have no problem with me putting money into parts and them becoming "obsolete" if it still works why change it. I was riding 1x8 with v brakes and did fine, its about fun for me the trail doesn't care if I'm rocking a beast of the east from this year or my old trek 950 with lugs(I would still ride it if I didn't bend the frame).
 
Pagliacci said:
Um......ok.....I guess I stand corrected.

I had just assumed that if a 26er and a 29er are using the same gear ratio and are pedaled at the same cadence, the 29er will travel a greater distance with each revolution.

It's also been my experience when I used to ride with a couple of guys after work, but perhaps it was just psychosomatic.

Thank you for taking the time to enlighten me.
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Or maybe you just suck. I've seen that happen from time to time.
 
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