Getting a new MTN bike soon....advise?

Cannibal

Tasty Human
Location
Summit Lake, WA
Need a new MTN bike. Looking less than $800 (the wife says way less, but I'm working on that). I mentioned a Giant in the 29er thread and I've since threw that out. I see much better components for less money at bikesdirect.

So I still need people to convince me that a 29er is worth it compared to a full suspension 26er. I'm a heavy guy, so my thoughts are a full suspension, though I don't need it, will be more comfortable to ride. I won't be hitting any hard trails in the near future, more rec riding, logging roads, etc. We also do a 35 mile ride every spring.

There is a used Cobia a few hours from me for sale for $750. Comparing components, seems like I can get a comparable Motobecane new for that price. I haven't emailed him to see if he's flexible.

Here's what I'm looking at:

USED GF Cobia 29er

Motobecane Fantom 29Pro

Windsor Cliff 29R Pro

Motobecane Fantom Trail DS

Motobecane Fantom 29Comp

Motobecane Fantom 29Trail

Motobecane 700DS

Now I realize for the same price, the Fantom Pro and Cliff Pro have a better front shock than the Trail DS, so better performance and 29er for same price. Fantom Comp and Trail 29ers are going to make my wife much happier of course. Included is a 700DS because the price for this full suspension is appealing.

If 29ers are really that much better, maybe I'll just have to get a suspension seatpost.

Thanks for the input.

Steve
 
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SuperJETT

So long and thanks for all the fish
Location
none
29er for sure, don't even bother with their full suspension 26" models.

I'd do the 29PRO because of the headset, brakes, derailleurs.
 

swanny

not safe for clowns
Location
portland
weight- 26er
mud- 26er
Quick/Tight turning- 26er
accelerating- 26er
seated climb- 26er
standing climb- 26er

overall for xc IN THE NW 26er hands down

I hate climbing in the mud on a 29er. We live in the NW rain forrest and have lots of hills so it depends on what type of riding you are going to do. I like xc (ride TO the trail head, ride, ride home) so you wouldnt catch me riding a 29er around here unless I was rich enough to have a bunch of bikes and it would be fun in the summer in the bumps at speed for sure.
 

SuperJETT

So long and thanks for all the fish
Location
none
What is your reasoning a 26" is better than a 29" in mud or climbing? If you're talking about weight, what is the difference, maybe .5 lb between comparable 26"/29" because of the rims/tires?
 

Cannibal

Tasty Human
Location
Summit Lake, WA
Thanks for the input.

I really have no plans to hit technical trails and go rootin in the slop. For me its more about a comfortable ride on hard rough surfaces. Some of these logging roads are filled with potholes and rocks and debris you can't avoid. With a more comfortable ride, I'm more likely to enjoy myself more and want to go out more often.

Hence why I am torn. Full suspension seems like a more comfortable ride.
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
Get the 29er. For what you would spend you will get more for your bucks. The 29er wheelsize does offset the need for suspension. I split my time riding my $1200.00 29er vs my $3000+ Full Suspension bike. If you need to soften the blows, pick you up a Cane Creek Thudbuster suspension seatpost. You can also convert to tubeless and run a little less air pressure and get a subtle ride also.

If I could get back $ out of my Full Suspension, I could build up another 29er Hardtail that was either a 3x9 or 2x10. my 29er is a singlespeed right now, I could convert it with a different rear wheel and add the drivetrain.
 
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romack991

homebrewed
Location
Warsaw, IN
FYI on the Cobia, I recently bought a used '07 GF Cobia in good condition for less than half the price in your link. (Although my 07 is a Genesis 1 frame. Based on the color of the bike in your link, its an 08 which is the newer Genesis 2 frame.)
 

Cannibal

Tasty Human
Location
Summit Lake, WA
Thanks for the input. I emailed the guy to see if he's flexible on the Cobia, but based on components, he'd need to be very flexible since the new 29Pro is $50 more and has comparable/better components.
 

Jetaddict

9 years to retirement...
Location
Tampa Bay
Go hardtail for your starter bike. Like the other person said, you get more bang for the buck with the hardtail. You can't scrimp on a full suspension bike, because you'll end up hating riding if you do. Trust me. I have spent as little as $700 for a FS bike, and it was a Trek. Compared to my Specialized (that I got for $1500 used) it was a tank and absolutely sucked.
For the type of riding you are talking about, a 26'er is just fine. A 29'er is great for hill climbing and rocky terrain, since it rolls much nicer with less effort over smaller obstacles. It doesn't make a difference on overall comfort of riding- just ease of it. If you really get into riding, you will eventually want to travel to other places with your bike, and take on some more challenging trails- then you need to invest in a full suspension bike.
When I first started out, I just wanted to get some exercise and have some fun, and the HT was just fine for that. They're lighter and you can really rip with a 26'er. But then I started traveling out west, riding in Moab and Arizona, and I took on the more challenging trails in Florida (it ain't all flat!) and I really discovered the limits of HT riding. The FS helps you make it up the big hills without always choosing the right lines. It helps you bomb down the big hills without worrying about wheel hop or body position all the time. It also will help you stay all day in the saddle without a serious lower backache..lol. The HT will make you a better rider, the FS will refine you.
I'd go with the Fisher. Quality bike, looks good, nice components, and you'll like riding with it. Don't know too much about the Motobecanes, but the components look pretty decent for the price.
 
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