Beginner MTB Recommendation?

[Balduccimoto]

Im looking at getting a mountain bike. I am a beginner and looking for a good value bike that won't break the bank and is good for a beginner. I am not sure what kind of trails we have on Long Island, but the land here is relatively flat. I am 5'7" 135lbs

One bike I have been looking at is the Diamondback Hook which I found for $650. Honestly, the cheaper the better, but I do understand quality comes at a price.

 

[Mike W]

I have a Cannonball F5 I bought about 4 years ago. For the price they are nice bikes.

 

[Vumad]

My wife and i just started riding. I picked up a 2014 medium giant anthem 3 27.5 demo for her for $1200 and a 2008 large specialized enduro fsr 26 for $1000

 

[Balduccimoto]

I have a Cannonball F5 I bought about 4 years ago. For the price they are nice bikes.

I looked but I dont think the F5 is made anymore. I did find a 2015 Cannondale Trail 5 at REI that was on sale for $600

EDIT: Nvm, it is XS frame

My wife and i just started riding. I picked up a 2014 medium giant anthem 3 27.5 demo for her for $1200 and a 2008 large specialized enduro fsr 26 for $1000

I didn't even think of that, maybe I can find some demo bikes local to me

 

[Vumad]

I didn't even think of that, maybe I can find some demo bikes local to me

Honestly, i bought the demo first and i was displeased. Its clearly a rental with lots of miles on it. The shop was terrible. I get better deals and treated better on craigslist. The 2008 enduro expert is nicer than the 2014 anthem i bought in 2015. The only advantage to the demo is that i was available before a bike on craigslist.

Its the typical nonsense. Uneducated idiots talking out their ass. Best thing you can do is get in touch with local riders and feel them out on if they know their poop or are just blowing wind out their backsides. Example, the shop talked to me about buying a stance instead of the anthem, said they had the same "bones". Fortunately i had an experienced rider with me that pointed out that the stance does not have maestro.

Ask around you. People bike. Find those people. Its just like freeriding here. There are people who will let you test different bikes. Research enough to get a inexpensive entry, then get out and ride. As long as ypu dont lose much on ypur first bike, ypull have what you need to know on the second. I learned from my experience with jet skis, applied that to mountain biking, test rode a bunch of bikes before i purchased.

 

[Balduccimoto]

Honestly, i bought the demo first and i was displeased. Its clearly a rental with lots of miles on it. The shop was terrible. I get better deals and treated better on craigslist. The 2008 enduro expert is nicer than the 2014 anthem i bought in 2015. The only advantage to the demo is that i was available before a bike on craigslist.

Its the typical nonsense. Uneducated idiots talking out their ass. Best thing you can do is get in touch with local riders and feel them out on if they know their poop or are just blowing wind out their backsides. Example, the shop talked to me about buying a stance instead of the anthem, said they had the same "bones". Fortunately i had an experienced rider with me that pointed out that the stance does not have maestro.

Ask around you. People bike. Find those people. Its just like freeriding here. There are people who will let you test different bikes. Research enough to get a inexpensive entry, then get out and ride. As long as ypu dont lose much on ypur first bike, ypull have what you need to know on the second. I learned from my experience with jet skis, applied that to mountain biking, test rode a bunch of bikes before i purchased.

Good advice, but the problem is that in NY we have a negative temperature wind chill. So that pretty much puts test rides out of the question. I will look for some local mountain bikers on forums or something.

 

[BruceSki]

You need to head up to stillwell woods in syosset. They have a great trail system that is maintained and labeled with circles, squares and diamonds.

Also a great place off the 495 in queens is Cunningham park. They have a pump track, some jumps and trails.

Lots of other trail systems around, but those are two I've ridden and enjoyed.

Done on a 2010 diamondback response I was using as a commuter bike to the train, then from penn station to park Ave and 50th in Manhattan for a year and a half.

 

[codyadams209]

You probably want to go with a enduro/ all mountain bike that is a 27.5 and a size large frame

 

[Balduccimoto]

You need to head up to stillwell woods in syosset. They have a great trail system that is maintained and labeled with circles, squares and diamonds.

Also a great place off the 495 in queens is Cunningham park. They have a pump track, some jumps and trails.

Lots of other trail systems around, but those are two I've ridden and enjoyed.

Done on a 2010 diamondback response I was using as a commuter bike to the train, then from penn station to park Ave and 50th in Manhattan for a year and a half.

I'll definitely check those places out. I quit smoking two weeks ago and I am going head strong into an exercise schedule. Mountain biking will be replacing jet skiing until I can finish my college degree. Your NYC commuting brings up a decent point - I might be going to my 4 year college in NYC and a bicycle would sure beat taking the motorcycle.

codyadams209, any reason you recommend a large frame? A chart that I found recommended a medium sized frame.

 

[BruceSki]

Mine is a medium. I bought the floor model and they didn't have large in stock.

While the bike is fun to jump, it feels undersized when climbing.

 

[Mike W]

Definitely browse some bike forums. I'm 6' 200lbs and have a large frame bike. So with your size a medium would fit you better I think. One thing I can add, I rode a couple bikes with rear suspension and it took a lot of effort when riding hilly paved roads. I think those are more suitable for off road trail riding.

Btw, Cannondale, not Cannonball. Lol

 

[Big Kahuna]

Unless you havre really long legs you need a medium. You need to decide what you want out of the bike. Casual riding or do you plan to ride alot and get into it. Do you need a full suspension or is a hard tail fine. 650.00 is not gonna get you much unless used. I would consider a Trek X Calibre 29er or something along those lines. Specialized Rockhopper, etc. Personally I don't like Cannondales, you typically do not get as good of components for the same price point as other brands.

 

[Mike W]

Unless you havre really long legs you need a medium. You need to decide what you want out of the bike. Casual riding or do you plan to ride alot and get into it. Do you need a full suspension or is a hard tail fine. 650.00 is not gonna get you much unless used. I would consider a Trek X Calibre 29er or something along those lines. Specialized Rockhopper, etc. Personally I don't like Cannondales, you typically do not get as good of components for the same price point as other brands.

The components on my F5 are certainly not the best, however if your not beating the hell out of your bike than they are fine. Having said that, I bought mine in 2011 and put a few thousand miles on it and it has held up. I ride mostly paved roads though.

 

[scottie mac]

At a price point of 6-800 you are pretty much reserved to a hard tail, unless you are willing to buy used. GREAT deals can be foun on used bikes, but you can also end up with someone's clapped out heap. I'm the type of guy I like to buy new, that way I know the history of the bike, etc. At 5'7" you need a medium. I'm 5'10" and I still ride a medium, I tend to like my MTBs to be on the smaller side to be able to throw them around more. That's more of a personal preference. So, find a bike shop and go sit on a couple mediums and larges to make sure you get the right size. Most importantly, remember, no matter how inexpensive or expensive a bike you get, in the end, the motor (the rider) is what makes it go. I've gotten my a$$ handed to me on the trails by guys on bikes half as nice as mine and I've handed out some whippins to guys who's bikes cost more than my first car, lol. Just get out there and ride! You made a great decision in quitting smoking and that is a huge first step. MTBing is such an awesome form of exercise, you are going to be a new man in a few months if you stick with it. Good luck.

SM

 

[Vumad]

You probably want to go with a enduro/ all mountain bike that is a 27.5 and a size large frame

Do you think that's realistic for his budget? I bought a 2008 26 enduro for $950 and there was a line of people to get the bike as soon as it listed. My bike was $3500 retail. Maybe the prices are different in other areas but even cross country hard tails 27.5 are over budget for him in my area.

I think a 26" full suspension trail bike could be in budget. I guess brand is a factor. Rear suspension technology was my deciding factor, so I was only looking at specialized, giant, etc.

As for used, there are plenty of nice bikes. It's just an issue of being patient and ready to jump as soon as it listed. My enduro is mint. Unfortunately it was a used bike, my mint read shock with a fresh rebuild with receipts provided was not serviced by fox but rather by a dealer, so I sent it to fox. Otherwise, the bike is pretty much perfect.

Note: depends on the riding. I should have a cross country or trail bike. I bought an enduro for the suspension and my back. It doesn't matter what I hit, nothing is transferred to my back. It's a significant sacrifice in efficiency.

 

[BruceSki]

I would stay away from full suspension for around here. They are a lot more work to pedal and we really don't have enough downhill sections to warrant it IMO.

 

[Balduccimoto]

Yeah a hard tail is fine for me. The Trek X-caliber 7 looks really nice .. bumps up my budget a little bit. I really need to compare these bikes in person to see if that extra $300 has any value. Im gonna go check out some places today.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I would stay away from full suspension for around here. They are a lot more work to pedal and we really don't have enough downhill sections to warrant it IMO.

Not the case with modern designs. My Trek Fuel EX9 27.5 FS is as efficient as my Niner MCR9 HT.

 

[Balduccimoto]

I went and sat on a few bikes. The only bike they had that I was interested in was the Trek Caliber-7 and they didnt have any medium or small sized frames (and they were 29" wheels). I did sit on some other small/medium frames with 27.5" wheels. I feel like the small frame, with 27.5" wheels would be better for me. Straddling the medium sized frame, brought the frame close to the golden jewels.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Trek has changed their format to where the bike size determines whether it has 27.5 or 29er wheels. I am loving my Trek EX9 27.5 FS. I ride really tight trails locally and it just flips through there with ease vs my 2 29ers.