help the assman pick a bike

[assman]

Been a road bike guy forever. Now looking forward to some trail riding, a little downhill but 95% of the riding i will be doing will be on flat or nearly flat ground.

There seems to be a bewildering amount of choices out there. Full suspension, hardtail, 29er etc

For some reason i am leaning toward a hardtail 29er but am WAY open to advice.

Since this bike will be travelling with me I don't want to drop a ton incase it gets lifted but still want something worth owning.

[toast2266]

Been a road bike guy forever. Now looking forward to some trail riding, a little downhill but 95% of the riding i will be doing will be on flat or nearly flat ground.

There seems to be a bewildering amount of choices out there. Full suspension, hardtail, 29er etc

For some reason i am leaning toward a hardtail 29er but am WAY open to advice.

Since this bike will be travelling with me I don't want to drop a ton incase it gets lifted but still want something worth owning.

Unless the trails you're riding are relatively rooty / rocky, a hardtail 29er is a good bet. There's plenty of good options out there, but I'm partial to something like a Kona Honzo. It's not a light bike, but it's stout and can take a beating. It has good geometry that makes it more capable on descents. They've been around for a little while, so if you don't want to pay for a new one, a used one can probably be found for a reasonable price.

[jetski]

Honzo is cool for an aggressive hardtail but if you are a roadie at heart any hardtail 29er would fit the bill. More "racey" but it sounds like thats what you want and need. 1200 gets you into decent part specs. As a canadian I love recommending the Rocky Mountain bikes...Great spec for the price. Every brand should have what you are looking for. Pick a cool shop and pick your favorite color

[sethschmautz]

You should buy this bike. I really want to, but for the trails out here, full suspension is a little nicer. Even so, I'm seriously tempted.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=296524

[SB]

Does your travel include coastal areas with beaches?

Check out some fat bikes if so, they are also great on trails.

[DasBlunt]

hardtail 29er. Chinese carbon frame with great parts will be better than anything at some crappy shop.

[Shredhead]

You can ride a fatty everyday.



Just don't let your friends see ya.

[assman]

You should buy this bike. I really want to, but for the trails out here, full suspension is a little nicer. Even so, I'm seriously tempted.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=296524

A bit too large of a frame for me

[assman]

Does your travel include coastal areas with beaches?

Check out some fat bikes if so, they are also great on trails.

It does but I still not sold on fattys but at some point will probably add one to the quiver. Just not ready to call it my main ride.

[flatlander#2]

The Honzo is a fun damned bike, do it, you will not regret.

[assman]

Someone here suggested "Fat Bike' at first i thought no but looking into them I see the attraction. In the summer I travel to a beach area frequently for work. I am not about laying around on a beach on my down time but riding would be something i would enjoy.

Anyway research has turned up this...MINNESOTA 3.0 XWT w/ ALLOY & BLUTO FORK comes with 2 forks and if I recall correctly out the door for around $1300.

good or is there better in the less than $1500. category? Bikes Direct??

[HansJob]

If you're a real assman, just go with fatty.

[smartyiak]

Niner AIR9 on closeout at Jenson?

[gunniride]

I can't imagine being a roady and going directly to fat biking. So what if you can ride it on a beach. Get a light hardtail of any wheel size with decent components and you'll fall in love with trails. If you ride road bike you're going to want to ride fast. Fat<>Fast

[buildakicker]

Get a Yeti SB95 that is a couple years old. Killlller bike for the $$$ IMO

[buildakicker]

hardtail 29er. Chinese carbon frame with great parts will be better than anything at some crappy shop.

Those HongFu bike are pretty nice for the $.

[Shredhead]

Someone here suggested "Fat Bike' at first i thought no but looking into them I see the attraction. In the summer I travel to a beach area frequently for work. I am not about laying around on a beach on my down time but riding would be something i would enjoy.

Anyway research has turned up this...MINNESOTA 3.0 XWT w/ ALLOY & BLUTO FORK comes with 2 forks and if I recall correctly out the door for around $1300.

good or is there better in the less than $1500. category? Bikes Direct??

The Minnesota has fairly decent specs, but are there any LBS around that you could actually ride some bikes? Mail orders ok, if that's all you got.

I can't imagine being a roady and going directly to fat biking. So what if you can ride it on a beach. Get a light hardtail of any wheel size with decent components and you'll fall in love with trails. If you ride road bike you're going to want to ride fast. Fat<>Fast

It's kind of a ying and yang thing. Fatty's more about can I make it up that or through this. Plus they're just fun!

[buildakicker]

Spend $700 and try out a motobecane boris x7 fatty at bikesdirect.com?

[plugboots]

I agree on the 29" hardtail. I do not agree on any fat bike for you. Definitely demo a fatbike before you buy one. I do not like them at all, and I've demoed 3 now. The main reason is I do almost everything to make my bikes lighter and quicker, and that's the opposite philosophy of the fatty. I love my road bike too, so I hate that slow steering feel of the fatty.

[assman]

I agree on the 29" hardtail. I do not agree on any fat bike for you. Definitely demo a fatbike before you buy one. I do not like them at all, and I've demoed 3 now. The main reason is I do almost everything to make my bikes lighter and quicker, and that's the opposite philosophy of the fatty. I love my road bike too, so I hate that slow steering feel of the fatty.

good point. When i get back I am going to line up some demos

[buildakicker]

Any update?