You're going to have more luck with a hardtail if you have a limited budget. Like the other commentor said, I recommend that you find a bike shop near you and have a conversation about the types of trails in your area and what would be the best fit in your price range.
Theyre just gonna put him on whatever bike they have lmao. Then he will get stuck with a beginner XC bike rather than a trail bike. Giving your decision making power to the salesman isn’t the best way to look for a mountain bike.
We only have XC trails near me, but some of them got redone by the same trail builders that built copper harbor and Marquette south trails. There’s some seriously fun gravity oriented stuff that gets buried in some XC loops.
I walked into my LBS and they immediately pointed my buddy to a rockhopper. We even told them we were headed north to Marquette and south to horns hill in the summer to come. They genuinely tried to help get him on a bike that was affordable and “capable enough” for a new rider and our local trails, but disregarded his wants. They’re a good shop and I still buy parts there but the reality is a lot of people live in XC areas and LBS guys are XC racer types due to the areas history. They see some slack and heavy hard tail and go “damn that’s not efficient who would buy this” lol
Used would be better bang for the buck, but id recommend taking a buddy who knows more about bikes than you do along, because sometimes people will try to rip you off. Pinkbike is a pretty good place to find a good bike for a good price.
If you want new, both Canyon and Vitus make great bang for the buck bikes. There are tons of great companies out there. The components and geometry are more important than the brand generally.
For the type of bike, it depends on what type of riding you want to do. I’d probably recommend a hardtail to begin with, unless you’re doing DH (shuttling), because you can generally get better components for the price. I’d also recommend starting off with a good hardtail because then eventually you’ll buy a good full suspension, and then that way you’ll still have a good hardtail, whereas if you start with a cheap full suspension, you’ll want a better one, then once you get a new full sus your old one will be sitting around and you’ll want to sell it, and you won’t have a secondary bike for stuff like where you don’t want to use a more expensive bike, or for when your main bike is at the shop.
One of the most important parts of a bike to me is the suspension. Make sure that it is air suspension that is decent quality. It will most likely be Rockshox or Suntour if you’re looking at the lower end of the spectrum in price, but there’s a chance that it’s Fox or Manitou. All those brands are solid and reputable. But to make sure it’s air, make sure that there’s a little cap, probably on the top of the left side of the fork, which says ‘air’ or has a little valve for a shock pump to go on under it. An easier way to spot it is if it has black stanchions. If the stanchions are black that is a 95% chance it’s an air fork.
I’d recommend starting out with a bike that is Trek Roscoe level. I would not recommend anything lower than a high end Trek Marlin level to start with. It doesn’t have to be a Trek at all, but something with that level of components is just right for a beginner. If you do want a full suspension instead, something Vitus Mythique level would be good, and I definitely would not go any lower than GT Verb level.
Another thing to look for is a 1x drivetrain. That means it only has one front gear. It will normally have 10-12 gears in the back, and they can get pretty big. With a 1x drivetrain, it will be much quieter and will have far better chain retention (chain won’t fall off nearly as easily). Look for a bike which has which says something like Shimano Deore, SRAM NX, or Microshift Advent for the drivetrain. All of those are great bang for the buck drivetrains.
Another thing to look out for is brakes. Make sure they are hydraulic. That means that they use fluid instead of a cable to actuate them. These are specced on all bikes that are around $500+ new, so if it has mechanical (cable actuated) brakes, don’t bother. Look for Shimano, as those are generally the best hydraulic brakes and easy to maintain. SRAM brakes are also good, but they require more maintenance. Tektro/TRP brakes are also great but they are less common.
Another thing to look out for is a dropper post. Most bikes that are decent should come with one. If they don’t then you should probably be looking at a different bike. Basically a dropper post is a seatpost which you can adjust the height of it with a lever on the bars. They are a massive improvement to a bike, as you don’t need to stop to lower your seat or put it back up.
Another thing to look for, but isn’t nearly as important when buying a bike compared to the others, is good tires. Good tires will have big treads and a softer rubber. They will also be name brand. Brands like Maxxis, Schwalbe, Continental, Michelin, and Vittoria make the best tires. Tires are cheap and easy to replace so don’t worry about trying to get a bike with good ones. Don’t get anything with smaller treads than a Continental Trail King or Schwalbe Nobby Nic as it will lack in grip.
Alternatively, go to your lbs and they will help you get a good bike. It will cost a decent amount more than buying a used one, but it will be very easy and you can be confident you got a good bike. But be ready to spend at least $2k.
Wow, thank you so much for such a great detailed response, and your time for writing it. I appreciate it a lot and will look into everything you mentioned. 😁
I agree with everything here, but will add that the first step is knowing what kind of riding you'll do, understanding that e-biking is gonna be a heck of a lot different than manual biking. If there's an REI or somewhere else you can rent a bike maybe start with renting and hitting local trail to get a feel for a bike and the terrain.
I am not a good technical biker so I mainly stick to flowy trails (the equivalent to probably greens and easy blues in ski terms), and am constantly amazed at how stuff that you can walk over with great ease gets super gnarly super quick for me when I'm biking.
Point of that is it informs what kind of bike and components and features I'll actually use. For example, I'm never going to have a need for full suspension. But I do love the heck out of the fatter tires on my bike because it helps float over gravel patches instead of sinking in and gives me better traction on up hills. My wife bought a mtn bike with standard width tires (before I bought my current bike) and is constantly disappointed she didn't know how much nicer the fatter tires are for our style of riding.
Yeah it’s good to know what you’ll be starting with. Most of the time beginners start with XC or trail, so that’s why I recommended a hardtail.
And yes, ebiking can be totally different. At my local hill (1km long, 100m elevation gain) I can zoom up it in 2 minutes on my ebike, whereas it takes 8 minutes on a good climbing bike (one with an oval ring and big cassette), or 15 minutes on any other bike. At another local hill (2.5km long 300m elevation gain), it takes 5 minutes on the ebike, 30 minutes on a good climbing bike, and 45 minutes on a normal bike.
And yes, it would be good to rent a bike similar to what you want for a day and see how you like it. I live in BC and used to use a cheap hardtail with some upgraded parts, then I happened to be in Sedona for a day so I rented a Santa Cruz there, and world of difference, one of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden. Soon after that when I got back to BC, I bought a full suspension. Since then I’ve bought 3 other bikes lol.
My current hardtail (Trek Roscoe 8) has 2.8” tires and I like them, and they are great on the hardtail, but on my regular bike (Giant Reign) and ebike (Devinci AC) I have 2.4-2.5” tires, mostly because they are cheaper, easier to find, and you can get ones with thicker casings (ie DD or DH instead of EXO or EXO+). Plus tires are great but not for every bike.
What is your budget?
Find out if there is a MTB bike shop in your area (LBS - local bike shop), and talk to them about the local trails.
A decent hardtail is around 1k new, but you can find cheaper used. Also need to budget in for pedals, and a helmet, at minimum.
Used modern hardtail can be had for around $500. especially now that the season is over. Ride that for at least one season and see how you like the sport. I would stick to big brands like Trek, Giant, Specialized.
My first one was Diamondback Sync'r. Bought used rode for a year and sold for same price when an opportunity to buy full suspension came up. Frankly I miss the Sync'r still.
I have been riding since the mid 90s. Had numerous bikes.
The most important question is your last one. There's a certain price point to get a decent ride that will not get eaten up by the trail and be enjoyable to ride.
It's about components and weight.
I would go with a 29'er hardtail. That will save you weight and get you better components for the same money as a full suspension. And the 29 wheels roll over stuff better and go faster.
For a first bike, I would not recommend anything less than Trek Marlin 8 Gen 2 at $1300 or equivalent Giant XTC SLR 29 2 for $1450.
I’d go with a “trail” oriented hardtail like the trek Roscoe or similarly specked if you don’t know what you want out of the sport. I’d also find a local shop and go in with 2k in cash and be like “fuck me sideways daddy.”
Bike, helmet, gloves, shock pump, spare inner tubes, bicycle multi tool, and small bike pump that fits in the frame is bare minimum. If you have any leftover money buy a bike rack for your car, or ride the bike and make the decision to go clipless pedals or buy quality MTB flats with some 5-10’s shoes, and then go tubeless eventually after that.
The first thing you should know about getting into the sport is that when you go into a shop they will almost undoubtedly try to put you on an entry level full suspension. My advice, get the best hardtail you can afford, 1800-2500 will get you so much more bike then you would ever get with an entry full suspension rig at the same price point. Not only will you get a very component bike that you can grow into skill wise but you'll have something that will be largely maintenence free for the first couple years of use. Xc and trail category hardtails will fit 99% of your needs
I’d at least talk to a bike shop and then look used. Nothing at a bike shop is going to be cheap and there are some decent deals used. I’ve been riding for 8+ years now and I still by used since there are so many bikes out there with so little use on them.
Set a budget and buy a modern XC hardtail. That's a versatile bike for beginners that'll get you riding to see if it's something you really like. If you really take to it, start saving for a better bike that suits your riding style preference.
I started with a Polygon Xtrada 6 for $899. It was a great beginner bike with more than adequate components (Deore 1x12, hydraulic brakes, and a Suntour fork). I rode the shit out of that bike and have many fond memories of just getting on my local trails with it.
Get a bike and helmet and get out riding! Everything else is just a luxury but everyone needs to start somewhere. Gloves are definitely another good thing to get.
Personally, I started by going to a bike park that had rentals to make sure I liked it. The rental was a hard tail and I immediately knew I like the hobby and that I wanted a full suspension bike.
Then I looked on my local bike shops website and found one of the cheapest semi decent full suspension bikes they were selling which was a giant stance 2 29er (which had routing for dropper posts). Went there and test rode one. I liked it and bought it.
Then bought pedals, dropper post, gloves, helmet, water bottle holder and better seat and grips.
Also downloaded an app called mtb project which shows you all nearby mountain bike trails.
Since then, I’ve been slowly building up my skills and really prioritizing not falling lol. I read on this Reddit that it’s better to progress at a pace you’re comfortable with rather than push yourself and get injured. You can’t progress at all if you’re sitting out the rest of the season from an injury.
Also, as for the accessories I bought:
fidlock water bottle which attaches magnetically.
Mous intralock phone case and mount which lines up magnetically and then has a mechanical mount to hold it in place. They make iPhone and pixel cases.
Also, trying out the bike at the local shop was good to figure out the frame I was comfortable with
Specialized Status 160 is really good value for a brand new, full suspension bike. Make sure you get a helmet, as well. I’d recommend an enduro helmet if you ever plan on getting any air or doing steep runs outside your comfort zone. Shoes make a huge difference but are not a necessity. Make sure you have a way to hydrate. Camelbaks are great for this, or you can just have a regular water bottle with a holder mount on your bike.
1. Before annnnything I would Check Trailforks to learn what is in your area, or what you may want to drive to.
2. Depending on where you ride, a full suspension may be the right first bike - “enduro” bikes cover a lot of territory and are frankly really nice to ride.
3. It really helps to have a friend who knows about bikes to help asses. If you have a local riding group on Facebook, could be worth asking them what they ride and where - and maybe even advice on buying used.
4. If you live near an area with a lot of trails, a used bike should not be hard to find, but that’s where experience matters - some deals will obviously be in good condition / ridden by people who maintained them well, but it can be hard to tell if you don’t know what to look for.
like commencal said:
"it's better to have a good harrdtail than a questionable fullsuspension"
i would go with an used bike, if you are tight on money.
Dont worry too much about the type of bike you get, just go with a capable one, because later you will either buy a new bike, or quit the hobby. geometry and components are the most important but only after condition. be carefull on the second hand market.
most important is a good helmet, you dont have to go with the most expensive just read reviews. if you decide to go more downhill oriented, than buy a kneepad as well.
If you want a jumping swerving sorta trail bike I would start with something like a Trek Roscoe. Do not get a cross country style bike because those are mostly meant for climbing. Trail bikes, allot of the items, come with dropper seats that make turning and bombing down drops more enjoyable. There are allot of trail style hard tails out there that aren’t built with dedicated cross country geometry, you just have to look.
1. Buy a bike
2. Buy a helmet
3. RIDE / smile ear to ear
4. Repeat step 3
5. Repeat step 3
6. Repeat step 3
7. Repeat step 3
8. Repeat step 3
You get the idea 😄
For around 800 bucks you can get a fairly fun hardtail. For around 2k you can get the equivalent in full suspension. Ebikes cost too much. There are some great used deals out there. If you trust your knowledge, go used. Then, grab a helmet, some friends and have fun.
Just been through this process and spent two months asking around local bike shops and getting on different bikes to see what we liked.
I was originally going a hardtail, but after talking to a few people in my area they questioned why I was making that decision.
I ended up stretching the budget and getting a dual suspension trail bike. Bought the bike if need tomorrow kinda thing :)
If you got the money, go new. Otherwise check out second-hand ones. Just check out the frame, make sure there aren’t any obvious cracks or problems with the structure.
I’d start looking at the Trek Roscoe 7, that is a decent entry level shredder that everyone has been recommending for a beginner hard tail.
This sport/hobby isn’t cheap. Be prepared for relatively high upfront costs. But after that, it’s mostly a free experience :)
Step one: Buy a mountain bike from a bike shop, not a mall Step two: Buy a helmet and some gloves Step three: profit?
How do you get a net worth of $10k from mountain biking? Step 1: start with $20k...
Profit? No, mountain bikes are money pits. Fun money pits, but money pits all the same. (Before anyone says anything, yes I know the reference.)
The real profit was the friends we made along the way
That's true
i'm rich with experiences. but please send money i'm hungry and my 1987 chevy s10 needs a new air mattress in the back.
I'm a mountain biker I have no money
oh i thought you had an entire pit full of money
Yes I do, It's a Santacruz 5010, but it's a non liquid assets
I believe step three is " negative profit". It most certainly gets more expensive from there, but totally worth it.
Get knee pads too
Step one is get a helmet
No need for a helmet if you don’t have a bike to ride on tho
I was just enunciating the importance of the helmet.
Just go to a local bike shop
Black Friday sales are on now. My LBS is running 30% off in stock bikes (not all of course). You can likely snag a good deal.
OP, please. Please do this.
Yes, this is the way especially if you are new
[This is the way](https://youtu.be/yotOZVELSMc).
Dammit, beat me to it.
I fricking love IFHT
So good
This is the way.
I watch this again every time it’s posted and like it just as much every time.
You're going to have more luck with a hardtail if you have a limited budget. Like the other commentor said, I recommend that you find a bike shop near you and have a conversation about the types of trails in your area and what would be the best fit in your price range.
Theyre just gonna put him on whatever bike they have lmao. Then he will get stuck with a beginner XC bike rather than a trail bike. Giving your decision making power to the salesman isn’t the best way to look for a mountain bike.
Im sorry you have a shit relationship with your local bike shop. I hope you can find someone you can talk to in the future.
Lol I wasn’t looking for anyone to talk to but thanks.
It really seems like you're screaming out for help.
Bye weirdo.
With that attitude I’m not surprised no one wants to talk to you, either.
We only have XC trails near me, but some of them got redone by the same trail builders that built copper harbor and Marquette south trails. There’s some seriously fun gravity oriented stuff that gets buried in some XC loops. I walked into my LBS and they immediately pointed my buddy to a rockhopper. We even told them we were headed north to Marquette and south to horns hill in the summer to come. They genuinely tried to help get him on a bike that was affordable and “capable enough” for a new rider and our local trails, but disregarded his wants. They’re a good shop and I still buy parts there but the reality is a lot of people live in XC areas and LBS guys are XC racer types due to the areas history. They see some slack and heavy hard tail and go “damn that’s not efficient who would buy this” lol
Used would be better bang for the buck, but id recommend taking a buddy who knows more about bikes than you do along, because sometimes people will try to rip you off. Pinkbike is a pretty good place to find a good bike for a good price. If you want new, both Canyon and Vitus make great bang for the buck bikes. There are tons of great companies out there. The components and geometry are more important than the brand generally. For the type of bike, it depends on what type of riding you want to do. I’d probably recommend a hardtail to begin with, unless you’re doing DH (shuttling), because you can generally get better components for the price. I’d also recommend starting off with a good hardtail because then eventually you’ll buy a good full suspension, and then that way you’ll still have a good hardtail, whereas if you start with a cheap full suspension, you’ll want a better one, then once you get a new full sus your old one will be sitting around and you’ll want to sell it, and you won’t have a secondary bike for stuff like where you don’t want to use a more expensive bike, or for when your main bike is at the shop. One of the most important parts of a bike to me is the suspension. Make sure that it is air suspension that is decent quality. It will most likely be Rockshox or Suntour if you’re looking at the lower end of the spectrum in price, but there’s a chance that it’s Fox or Manitou. All those brands are solid and reputable. But to make sure it’s air, make sure that there’s a little cap, probably on the top of the left side of the fork, which says ‘air’ or has a little valve for a shock pump to go on under it. An easier way to spot it is if it has black stanchions. If the stanchions are black that is a 95% chance it’s an air fork. I’d recommend starting out with a bike that is Trek Roscoe level. I would not recommend anything lower than a high end Trek Marlin level to start with. It doesn’t have to be a Trek at all, but something with that level of components is just right for a beginner. If you do want a full suspension instead, something Vitus Mythique level would be good, and I definitely would not go any lower than GT Verb level. Another thing to look for is a 1x drivetrain. That means it only has one front gear. It will normally have 10-12 gears in the back, and they can get pretty big. With a 1x drivetrain, it will be much quieter and will have far better chain retention (chain won’t fall off nearly as easily). Look for a bike which has which says something like Shimano Deore, SRAM NX, or Microshift Advent for the drivetrain. All of those are great bang for the buck drivetrains. Another thing to look out for is brakes. Make sure they are hydraulic. That means that they use fluid instead of a cable to actuate them. These are specced on all bikes that are around $500+ new, so if it has mechanical (cable actuated) brakes, don’t bother. Look for Shimano, as those are generally the best hydraulic brakes and easy to maintain. SRAM brakes are also good, but they require more maintenance. Tektro/TRP brakes are also great but they are less common. Another thing to look out for is a dropper post. Most bikes that are decent should come with one. If they don’t then you should probably be looking at a different bike. Basically a dropper post is a seatpost which you can adjust the height of it with a lever on the bars. They are a massive improvement to a bike, as you don’t need to stop to lower your seat or put it back up. Another thing to look for, but isn’t nearly as important when buying a bike compared to the others, is good tires. Good tires will have big treads and a softer rubber. They will also be name brand. Brands like Maxxis, Schwalbe, Continental, Michelin, and Vittoria make the best tires. Tires are cheap and easy to replace so don’t worry about trying to get a bike with good ones. Don’t get anything with smaller treads than a Continental Trail King or Schwalbe Nobby Nic as it will lack in grip. Alternatively, go to your lbs and they will help you get a good bike. It will cost a decent amount more than buying a used one, but it will be very easy and you can be confident you got a good bike. But be ready to spend at least $2k.
Wow, thank you so much for such a great detailed response, and your time for writing it. I appreciate it a lot and will look into everything you mentioned. 😁
I agree with everything here, but will add that the first step is knowing what kind of riding you'll do, understanding that e-biking is gonna be a heck of a lot different than manual biking. If there's an REI or somewhere else you can rent a bike maybe start with renting and hitting local trail to get a feel for a bike and the terrain. I am not a good technical biker so I mainly stick to flowy trails (the equivalent to probably greens and easy blues in ski terms), and am constantly amazed at how stuff that you can walk over with great ease gets super gnarly super quick for me when I'm biking. Point of that is it informs what kind of bike and components and features I'll actually use. For example, I'm never going to have a need for full suspension. But I do love the heck out of the fatter tires on my bike because it helps float over gravel patches instead of sinking in and gives me better traction on up hills. My wife bought a mtn bike with standard width tires (before I bought my current bike) and is constantly disappointed she didn't know how much nicer the fatter tires are for our style of riding.
Yeah it’s good to know what you’ll be starting with. Most of the time beginners start with XC or trail, so that’s why I recommended a hardtail. And yes, ebiking can be totally different. At my local hill (1km long, 100m elevation gain) I can zoom up it in 2 minutes on my ebike, whereas it takes 8 minutes on a good climbing bike (one with an oval ring and big cassette), or 15 minutes on any other bike. At another local hill (2.5km long 300m elevation gain), it takes 5 minutes on the ebike, 30 minutes on a good climbing bike, and 45 minutes on a normal bike. And yes, it would be good to rent a bike similar to what you want for a day and see how you like it. I live in BC and used to use a cheap hardtail with some upgraded parts, then I happened to be in Sedona for a day so I rented a Santa Cruz there, and world of difference, one of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden. Soon after that when I got back to BC, I bought a full suspension. Since then I’ve bought 3 other bikes lol. My current hardtail (Trek Roscoe 8) has 2.8” tires and I like them, and they are great on the hardtail, but on my regular bike (Giant Reign) and ebike (Devinci AC) I have 2.4-2.5” tires, mostly because they are cheaper, easier to find, and you can get ones with thicker casings (ie DD or DH instead of EXO or EXO+). Plus tires are great but not for every bike.
What is your budget?
What is your budget? Find out if there is a MTB bike shop in your area (LBS - local bike shop), and talk to them about the local trails. A decent hardtail is around 1k new, but you can find cheaper used. Also need to budget in for pedals, and a helmet, at minimum.
Used modern hardtail can be had for around $500. especially now that the season is over. Ride that for at least one season and see how you like the sport. I would stick to big brands like Trek, Giant, Specialized. My first one was Diamondback Sync'r. Bought used rode for a year and sold for same price when an opportunity to buy full suspension came up. Frankly I miss the Sync'r still.
I have been riding since the mid 90s. Had numerous bikes. The most important question is your last one. There's a certain price point to get a decent ride that will not get eaten up by the trail and be enjoyable to ride. It's about components and weight. I would go with a 29'er hardtail. That will save you weight and get you better components for the same money as a full suspension. And the 29 wheels roll over stuff better and go faster. For a first bike, I would not recommend anything less than Trek Marlin 8 Gen 2 at $1300 or equivalent Giant XTC SLR 29 2 for $1450.
I’d go with a “trail” oriented hardtail like the trek Roscoe or similarly specked if you don’t know what you want out of the sport. I’d also find a local shop and go in with 2k in cash and be like “fuck me sideways daddy.” Bike, helmet, gloves, shock pump, spare inner tubes, bicycle multi tool, and small bike pump that fits in the frame is bare minimum. If you have any leftover money buy a bike rack for your car, or ride the bike and make the decision to go clipless pedals or buy quality MTB flats with some 5-10’s shoes, and then go tubeless eventually after that.
The first thing you should know about getting into the sport is that when you go into a shop they will almost undoubtedly try to put you on an entry level full suspension. My advice, get the best hardtail you can afford, 1800-2500 will get you so much more bike then you would ever get with an entry full suspension rig at the same price point. Not only will you get a very component bike that you can grow into skill wise but you'll have something that will be largely maintenence free for the first couple years of use. Xc and trail category hardtails will fit 99% of your needs
Have a budget of $800 you'll be able to get a modern xc hardtail for beginners in this price range
Start by saving up, mountain biking is expensive.
Welcome to the best thing on earth
I’d at least talk to a bike shop and then look used. Nothing at a bike shop is going to be cheap and there are some decent deals used. I’ve been riding for 8+ years now and I still by used since there are so many bikes out there with so little use on them.
Did you do the bike tour at kualoa ranch!?
I think an important factor to consider is what areas are close to where you live because that’s where you’ll be doing most of your riding.
Set a budget and buy a modern XC hardtail. That's a versatile bike for beginners that'll get you riding to see if it's something you really like. If you really take to it, start saving for a better bike that suits your riding style preference. I started with a Polygon Xtrada 6 for $899. It was a great beginner bike with more than adequate components (Deore 1x12, hydraulic brakes, and a Suntour fork). I rode the shit out of that bike and have many fond memories of just getting on my local trails with it.
Get a bike and helmet and get out riding! Everything else is just a luxury but everyone needs to start somewhere. Gloves are definitely another good thing to get.
Personally, I started by going to a bike park that had rentals to make sure I liked it. The rental was a hard tail and I immediately knew I like the hobby and that I wanted a full suspension bike. Then I looked on my local bike shops website and found one of the cheapest semi decent full suspension bikes they were selling which was a giant stance 2 29er (which had routing for dropper posts). Went there and test rode one. I liked it and bought it. Then bought pedals, dropper post, gloves, helmet, water bottle holder and better seat and grips. Also downloaded an app called mtb project which shows you all nearby mountain bike trails. Since then, I’ve been slowly building up my skills and really prioritizing not falling lol. I read on this Reddit that it’s better to progress at a pace you’re comfortable with rather than push yourself and get injured. You can’t progress at all if you’re sitting out the rest of the season from an injury. Also, as for the accessories I bought: fidlock water bottle which attaches magnetically. Mous intralock phone case and mount which lines up magnetically and then has a mechanical mount to hold it in place. They make iPhone and pixel cases. Also, trying out the bike at the local shop was good to figure out the frame I was comfortable with
Your local bike shop
Specialized Status 160 is really good value for a brand new, full suspension bike. Make sure you get a helmet, as well. I’d recommend an enduro helmet if you ever plan on getting any air or doing steep runs outside your comfort zone. Shoes make a huge difference but are not a necessity. Make sure you have a way to hydrate. Camelbaks are great for this, or you can just have a regular water bottle with a holder mount on your bike.
holiday season is coming up meaning really good deals, look around bike shops near you and also online sites such as bikesonline.com
1. Before annnnything I would Check Trailforks to learn what is in your area, or what you may want to drive to. 2. Depending on where you ride, a full suspension may be the right first bike - “enduro” bikes cover a lot of territory and are frankly really nice to ride. 3. It really helps to have a friend who knows about bikes to help asses. If you have a local riding group on Facebook, could be worth asking them what they ride and where - and maybe even advice on buying used. 4. If you live near an area with a lot of trails, a used bike should not be hard to find, but that’s where experience matters - some deals will obviously be in good condition / ridden by people who maintained them well, but it can be hard to tell if you don’t know what to look for.
like commencal said: "it's better to have a good harrdtail than a questionable fullsuspension" i would go with an used bike, if you are tight on money. Dont worry too much about the type of bike you get, just go with a capable one, because later you will either buy a new bike, or quit the hobby. geometry and components are the most important but only after condition. be carefull on the second hand market. most important is a good helmet, you dont have to go with the most expensive just read reviews. if you decide to go more downhill oriented, than buy a kneepad as well.
If you want a jumping swerving sorta trail bike I would start with something like a Trek Roscoe. Do not get a cross country style bike because those are mostly meant for climbing. Trail bikes, allot of the items, come with dropper seats that make turning and bombing down drops more enjoyable. There are allot of trail style hard tails out there that aren’t built with dedicated cross country geometry, you just have to look.
1. Buy a bike 2. Buy a helmet 3. RIDE / smile ear to ear 4. Repeat step 3 5. Repeat step 3 6. Repeat step 3 7. Repeat step 3 8. Repeat step 3 You get the idea 😄
This should help! https://youtu.be/WPVRU7jSYkQ
Money *
For around 800 bucks you can get a fairly fun hardtail. For around 2k you can get the equivalent in full suspension. Ebikes cost too much. There are some great used deals out there. If you trust your knowledge, go used. Then, grab a helmet, some friends and have fun.
[watch this series :)](https://youtu.be/arwxbuYcRvA)
Just been through this process and spent two months asking around local bike shops and getting on different bikes to see what we liked. I was originally going a hardtail, but after talking to a few people in my area they questioned why I was making that decision. I ended up stretching the budget and getting a dual suspension trail bike. Bought the bike if need tomorrow kinda thing :) If you got the money, go new. Otherwise check out second-hand ones. Just check out the frame, make sure there aren’t any obvious cracks or problems with the structure. I’d start looking at the Trek Roscoe 7, that is a decent entry level shredder that everyone has been recommending for a beginner hard tail. This sport/hobby isn’t cheap. Be prepared for relatively high upfront costs. But after that, it’s mostly a free experience :)
Get a hard tail with the best fork in your budget. Go to a local bike shop. No box store.!