Why Mountain Bikes ARE NOT Worth The Money
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video I will be discussing why expensive bikes aren't always necessary and emphasizing more budget options such as the polygon Xtrada 5, polygon Xtrada 6, and the Polygon Siskiu T7
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When people tell me I can't do a downhill without rear suspension, I remind them that I come from a time BEFORE rear suspension existed!
We didn't even have suspension forks when I started 🚲
same here
i am 59 thats right i had a schwinn mag scrambler in the late 70s it did everything that i put it threw
@@markdennis5150while I don’t doubt you it’s a tough comparison. You would crash way more riding that and break parts consistently.
Today’s base level components are exponentially better than the best parts from 20 years ago.
@@TheCheesewalrus never crashed parts held up just fine never had a issue
They are worth the money if you don’t buy a new one every other season.
Haha. So true. Some people need a new 8k bike every year...😂
@@Anth230
But.... it's got the newest gimmic...😂
Was on the same full suspension from 2008 until this year. It’s vastly different but still a bike.
Every 5 years is probably the sweet spot.
@@petesahad3028 haha. Yeah...gotta love those gimmicks.. 😂
@@Anth230 Dentistry can pay well
Keep preaching it brother, don’t have to spend big bucks to have a big time, good message
Spoken like a steel surly rider 😃 they are heavy and slow but fun I have two of them
In my case is quite opposite. So many times I want to reach the places that are pretty elevated (going up) or pretty low (coming back). So I finally got my eMTB for a very good offer (I will not say cheap) but it was. So, for me it will be the money well spent this year! And is TREK… soo
Soon, there is going to be the rapture. It's when there will be trumpet sounds, and after the trumpet sounds, God will lift his people from here. Also, God said people should be living by the Bible. Amen, and God bless you.
❤* John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life". ❤
@@allenvayner4987 Does heaven have skiing?
@@spookyshark632 I can't even imagine how amazing it is. I .
Some things that are worth spending on imo :
- Good 4 pot brakes
- Good tires
- 1x drivetrain
- dropper post
- suspension service
- a bike trip
4 pot brakes are very controverse point.
4 pods aren't mandatory or even necessary for most, it's better to focus on getting a bike with good brake levers, the 2 pod Deore works amazing for me, I can one finger brake with it no problem.
All other points tho I totally get them, they may be pricey but are so worth it for many of us.
4 piston brakes depend how heavy you are and how hard you ride. I have shimano saint with metal pads and I still have trouble stopping.
@@FIGHTTHECABLE my eqiupped weight near 85kg,no probs wit stopping. Have 2pot shimano slx 203 front 185 rear. Dont forget that your stopping ability ,depends also from tyres set.
@@serjturischev9557 Yeah I'm with gear around 120kg. 😄
And I use Schwalbe Magic Mary as tyres. 😉
The bike I riding is the one I already got.
I love it!
I rode a 24 inch Dirt Jumper on actual MTB trails for years to start 😂 then borrowed my brothers FS cross country bike and was blown away, like man that thing has a shock! Ended up buying an older FS frame, 2008 cannondale, built it with parts from my Dirt Jumper and new drive tran/forks/tires… love that bike been riding it for 7 years now no issues and gives me extra satisfaction blowing past the dorks riding 6-11k bikes who don’t have the ability to use them close to their potential.
Riding the 24 dirt jumper, full steel frame and clapped out front forks on actual MTB trails made me a lot better rider and was funny seeing people turn their heads at me 😂
I'll ride a hardtail anywhere. Chances are, those people who said that you can't ride a hardtail here and there, have only rode full squish.
Well,...how many career ending back injuries do you have...?
@user-to2de3sp3m I currently have a fused lumbar and right foot. Prior injuries from Iraq. Also, I just turned 50 years old. I've been shredding colorado for years, my man!
You canbride a hard tail anywhere. But if your hitting bike park trails above blue level a full squish bike will make it more enjoyable. And safer. @@ericbeech2652
@@ericbeech2652 thats all we had back in the day was hardtails and it didnt stop us from riding the gnar.
@@sergiolandz6056 fully rigid single speeds are what we grew up on.
Last year I bought lightly used previous gen Polygon N9 for $860. If you know any experienced rider just ask them to help finding a bike that fits in your budget. It's always fun to find good deals in used market.
Great channel.
Really stoked by the fact you documented your experience as a noob and growing into it, finding out what suits you, your style and improving.
There's endless channels of pros riding insane lines and that's all good but there's a ton of folks who want something they can relate to along with the common questions people have regarding bikes.
Unfortunately the industry pushes the most extreme of everything from terrain to top end bikes and people probably think they cannot even bother but it's so true you can ride almost all trails with a hardtail.
For the longest time, it was standard and people rode crazy stuff on them.
Well said ! Need and Want when choosing a bike is like "peer pressure". I almost fell into a trap back then but my instinct helped out . Loved how you put it out and thanks.
Hard tail mtb’s and hard tail ev mtb’s are more than enough for the average user.
Totally agree with you on the hardtail. I own a bike shop, get to try lots of bikes and I still prefer hardtails 90% of the time. I'm currently on a Marin El Roy, I love it.
cool
Agreed. Only time I'm on my FS is at the bike park. There's nothing here in PA that can't be ridden on a hardtail.
Sethsbikehacks has a hardtail way over 10k.
For old men like me - the bumps, the roots and rocks beat on your body and full suspension is huge. I got taken for a bit of a ride on a recent new Trek 9.8 XT - I thought it was a 2023 but it was a 2022 and paid 5.5k. I got that pit in the stomach feeling - but I don’t want to cause any problems with the local bike shop. To be fair he didn’t tell me the year - I ASSUMED. So my bad. Anyway. Looking back I feel like he was trying to move inventory and not meet a need - 😮
woa Marin still make bikes, i used to ride in the 90s, Marin something woods, my mate had that bike, i had a beast of the east. dont people buy 2nd hand bikes? seen some amazin deals, what does everyone think of 2nd hand?
Dude your channel is killing it! I think you are just a genuinely kind/fun person that bleeds through your videos and that has led to your success. You deserve it!
As for me, I love it simple. I love my Specialized Fuse with mid fat tires and a simple air fork. I'd like to maybe upgrade my fork but overall, as long as my body can take it I think I'll stick to the simplicity of the hard tail. Only thing I don't like is even though the fatter tires give nice cushion they are annoyingly bouncy at times.
I love riding a hard tail around guys that think they need a full suspension.
My wife’s Polygon Siskiu D7 was $1199 and does its job every bit as good as my 4K+ Trek Fuel EX…$1200 isn’t cheap but it’s a ton of bike for that money.
Nah
That’s what you get for buying a trek bike.
Bought a Polygon D6 for one of the tweens in my family about 2 years ago. Many a bike trip and dirt jump sessions later, it’s still alive on all stock components-just an occasional tune, brake bleed, and wash. As a former professional bike mechanic, I’m impressed with the build. Lighter riders like younger teens really don’t push the suspension hard enough unless you’re riding the bike park every single weekend-if you are, you are in the minority.
Some things I would change: the Suntour fork requires a fork wiper/stanchion clean and lube every ride, otherwise there is a lot of stiction. If the bike cost $100 more and came with a a ubiquitous Rockshox Recon or even Judy, it would have been worth it. I worry about the availability of suspension bearings/bushings and bolts/pins-at the rate that they change models and as an online only entity in the USA, I need to look into getting spares soon.
I race enduro on a 2019 specialized enduro
It’s ridiculous how expensive suspension and drive train has become!!!!
I spend thousands of dollars to keep my bike in shape and race.
The industry is going nuts!!!
They prey on piece by piece part buyers. You’d be further ahead to replace your entire bike every 5 years.
yeah i agree. Mountain biking is quickly becoming one of the most expensive (leisure) sports out there. Kind of getting silly now and if I'm honest its actually putting me off a little.
I accidentally found polygon bikes and its otw. I'm so excited! After bad experiences with Specialized and trek I was about to give up but then I stumbled up polygon bikes and was amazed at the features you get on these "budget" bikes! Your video was very encouraging! Also, that bike trail looked awesome!!
Hey, Matty! I was subbed to your channel all through the Treks, and somehow lost you for a while, but I'm glad I found your channel again. Your video quality has improved TREMENDOUSLY!
You are spot on with all that. I'm done with chasing full-sus performance.
The next bike I buy will likely be a hardtail -- half the price, and plenty of fun on the flowy trails I like to ride.
I could care less about 12-speed. An 11-speed Shimano Deore drive train with an 11-51 cassette in a 1X set up will do me fine. Push the boat out and get an XT shifter for a bit more comfort and precision.
BTW: I've ridden Shimano's Deore 4-piston brakes quite a bit, and I can't tell the difference between them and the XT variety. But, they are a fraction of the price.
And when it comes to forks, I'll pick Marzocchi Z1 or Z2 over Fox or Rochshox.
All in all, you get what you pay for. But the middle ground is where all the value sits. And, importantly, it's much cheaper to replace when things wear out or break.
Cheers
You are correct: You will not feel a difference between Deore and XT 4-piston brakes, as they are performing the same. The difference is only weight, materials and ergonomic features.
So Shimono, being a good guy here, giving all the performance already at Deore pricepoint. Thanks for that, by the way.
I love your channel and videos Matty. Please keep em coming.
I ride a Specialized Turbo Levo which I bought during the Specialized big sale 9 months ago. Having this eBike is a wonderful in that this 73 y/o can keep up with our sons and grandsons. You’re fortunate to have great places to ride. We’re fortunate to have great riding weather here in SoCal. Cheers friend.
My first bike I got for MTB was the Siskiu D6. Fast forward 10 months later I upgraded the fork and rear suspension and feels like a brand new bike! Loving my Siskiu D6!!
4 years ago I bought an unwanted rental bike, a 2019 GT Sensor from an out of state bike shop for $1500 ( including shipping). I still love riding it, and predictably, I’ve replaced almost everything except the frame over the years. You don’t have to spend a lot initially, but over the years, things wear out or you just want some bling parts and you’ll eventually keep spending money regardless of if you buy on the cheaper or not, if mtb is your thing
As we sometimes say in the dirt bike racing world. Sure the type of bike your ride helps but it really comes down to riding skill that makes you fast.
If you guys think bikes are expensive in US, come to Brazil and try to buy a bike. A brand new trek Roscoe 9 costs around US$6000. A brand new specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL LTD costs around US$28000. You guys have absolutely no reason to complain.
Brazil is madness then
Matty, your new subscriber here & a hardcore hardtail enthusiast. You are correct, Polygon is criminally underrated! That said, this is an observation I'd like to share, I saw this back in the States side & in Asia where I currently reside. While full suspensions MTB are a technical marvel to tackle different terrains. But as you said, marketing had caused too many poorly thought-out impulse purchases. In addition, I see WAY too many riders are "over bike", Figuratively speaking, "over bike" is similar to a 16 yrs old thrown into driving an F1... just my humble 2 cents...
Keep up the good work! Look forward to seeing your channel grow! 🤙
I got a t8 last fall and it's more then capable on any trail I've ridden so for. I come from a bmx background and just wanted to get into the mtb world to explore my local trails. I have no regrets.
One of the Polygon factory riders raced Enduro World Cup on th T8. Bike is really good on itself, price point just comes on top.
@@erraldstylerI wanna see it do you have the name or something?
Where im from the Polygon siskiu D5 costs 2000$
I ride a 670$ full suspension bike which people always overlook or ignore its the rockrider st530s doesn't bother me that it doesn't have 29" wheels 27,5 is good enough, don't need preinstalles dropper or internal routing im glad it has a 120mm coil shock/fork and hydraulic disk breaks and 1x9 drivetrain
I like that bike, when interacting ur interacting with the rider not the bike
I have a Status. Love it, but it was also a purchase rooted in hours of research and test riding. You're right, buy the bike you love and that you connect with.
Nice video Matty! I do some wrenching on my bikes but don't have much experience with rear suspension maintenance. So, I gravitate toward buying from a local shop instead of online. That being said, the Polygon lineup seems like a good deal.
I wish I could wrench on my bikes! That’s the way to go for sure because then you could save tons of money
That is good and informative. I have a trek marlin 4 I have slowly upgraded over time. Also ridden it down greenworld at winter park.
I decided to get back into biking this summer, I grew up doing more BMX style when I was younger but being a few years older I went with mountain biking thinking it would be more chill ( lol). I picked up a Marin Bobcat trail 3 a few months ago on a spring sale for $500 and Ive already found myself hooked on single track riding. The bike does just fine for my riding style and it has handled everything I've thrown at it so far. The only problem is now I'm hooked and am already looking at some upgrades...
Nukeproof Scout with Marzocchi Bomber Z1.
I ride it hard and usually crash at least once per ride …….. and only worry about me getting hurt.
Great video!!!!
The Scout is bombproof. It may be my favorite bike that I own. I’ve got a Marzocchi on it at well. I take it to the DH trails and Bike parks and can outrun most of the people there on their expensive FS bikes. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the ease of plowing through the wrong line on my FS bikes, but the Scout is a blast.
That is why I bought my trek rosco 7 saltin color, I feel so happy with that bike. Thanks to you my boy I did my right choose watching your videos. I’m just a beginner mountain bike
So true! My first dually was a Giant AC 1, and I had a royal blast on it! And I still love my hard tail (and fully rigid) bikes. At a certain price point, you encounter diminishing returns.
The bike I brought to my first big downhill park was a beat up Cannondale I got for $150 and everyone loved it. I ride a Nukeproof Scout now. It's probably more bike than I need but I love it and will keep it for many years
Got my first bike at the end of last season a siskiu D6 and for someone getting back in to biking again it's perfect
When I got into the sport I started out with a budget ht(scwhinn axum). After a couple months of progressing on it I started making it more capable over the next several months. It took about 1200$ to make it capable of how I was riding. But I was able to pick and choose over time what it needed (18months). Now it’s a trail shredder. The only stock parts on it besides the frame is rear spokes and rim hoop, seat post, and clamp. No regrets, it fits me perfectly and is completely customized to my preferences and I was able to learn a lot about working on bikes, geometry, and developing a machine that has characteristics that I was after. I did what to get a full sus to handle larger hits, and after months of research and saving money, and now knowing what I wanted from a bike,( fitment and ride characteristics), I was able to buy a Marin Riftzone XR for $2400 new. I love both of my shred machines equally, but definitely spent the time had to learning what I really wanted. Out of the box the XR came exactly how I needed it to, but depending on what I want to do on the trail, I grab the bike that suits that goal.
Always have fun and keep riding! Thanks for the vid
A couple years ago, I bought a Giant Trance for about $2,500 (I'd have probably gotten the Polygon D7 if it would have had a boost fork at the time). There are definitely some big steps up a guy can take on spec, but you wind up paying a lot for them and unless you're a really particular rider, a lot of them aren't huge. The biggest difference I've felt was from buying a used set of carbon fiber wheels and lighter tires. It goes to show how good the "low midrange" actually is. So much of the stuff doesn't actually function worse, it's maybe a bit heavier - like Shimano Deore vs. XTR.
Appreciate the video as someone who's also started off on a hard tail trek. There's definitely a lot of people out on trails that are crazy judgemental if you don't have the most expensive rig......at the end of the day the bike doesn't make you the best rider or the one having the most fun.
Hardtails are the best man. The simplicity and weight savings are so worth what you lose in "capability" because they force you to build your technique. Love these videos, stay active!
You’re right I made a really bad mistake and bought a hardtail frame and a bunch of PNW components and I decided to buy Marin Riftzone 3 27.5 since it was discounted now I have a brand new frame and a bunch of parts just laying around and the bike shop offered me $500 for around $1200 worth of parts brand new and think I learned a valuable lesson.
Ouch, what's keeping you from putting the bike together? Building a bike is pretty fun and rewarding. Definitely expensive though
@@lmaowhatzz welp the thing is my local bike shop has a Marin Riftzone 3 27.5 in a medium my exact size it’s been their since 2022 and it retailed for $3000 it’s $2400 and I took my opportunity and got it and I’m left with this frame and a bunch of parts I’m still thinking about it I may just keep it and put it away for a future project. $500 isn’t really worth it it’s a trek Roscoe 7 2023 black and silver frame and near $1300 worth of parts :(
@@waldowsxxghostxx8577so just ride both man! Different bikes for different trails. I have an old single-speed hardtail that I ride a lot, but am also getting a full suspension again so I don’t feel so beat up
Great videos. I've seen three so far and I really like the down to earth, straight talk. Thanks again for the videos, God bless.
Good content brother! keep it up
My first bike was a hardtail Giant Talon 2 (2021) and I love it, it cost about $650 with taxes and it was able to handle so much. I took it to Spider Mountain in Austin with no issues. I’m sure if I were do to upgrades (Tires, Front fork, brakes) it could handle much more but I’m still entry level. I do eventually want a full suspension for downhill and jumps but they say a hardtail can handle as much as you can
Got into MTB with my dad's Specialized stump jumper made in the 90s, was a hard tail with 25" wheels and ended up bending a wheel and couldn't never find a replacement. But a week ago I got a GT Aggressor Pro that used to be on sale but the Dicks Sporting goods forgot to take off the sake sticker but I still got it for $299, rode the trails here in Pueblo Colorado all weekend, felt great. I'll get a full sus hike here eventually when I find a good deal but I just wanted something affordable that I could take and go. I'll definitely look into the Polygon brand, never heard if it before. I definitely gotta hit Trestle
I also like hard tails, they have a special place in my heart. It where I started. I love my Cotic Soul. Now I need a full suspension, and I'm looking into a Polygon Siskiu T7. It might be more than I need in some ways, but I know it will handle any trail I will ride. The T series also has a better BB height than the D series. Anyway, I appreciate your views and reviews. Your video editing also kills. Keep it up!
My $5500 full suspension bike is broken after 10 years. I'm just trying to get back on a bike and polygon looks like the way to go.
10 years is a reasonable amount of time for a regularly ridden bicycle imo
@@cccycling5835 Yes it is and I'd like to hand down the bike or at least be able to get parts for it to be able to hand it down. Back in the days we used to have antiques.
What do you mean by broken? Surely it can be fixed?
I have my faithful specialized since 2007. I upgraded it with brand new components, but it is time to upgrade. Now I'm building my own with 29ers. So excited!
My first bike was co-op drt 1.1 for 600bucks. I did some upgrades later down the line by adding 120 mm rock shox air suspension from original 100mm SR Suntour changed the pedals to more grippy aluminum and changed the brake pads to semi metalic for better braking. I rode it hard and its best first bike i think.
I got an entry level Kona Lava Dome last year and I'm having loads of fun with it. Certainly not the best bike in the world but gets the job done and gets me where I want. I will replace the parts when they break, but no problems so far!
Great video brother glad to have you join the shredding club.
Thank you Steve! I really appreciate it
My first MTB was a Diamond Back Line, I paid $600 in 2015! Last year I wanted to upgrade and received the same advice “you want a full suspension”. I almost gave in, instead I went with a Guerrilla Gravity hardtail (sadly closed down) But I love my hardtail.
I went from Roscoe 7 to Siskui T8. Great transition. Then I moved to the status160. It’s a tank and I think was the right move as I’ve progressed into enduro !
Great video
Some of this depends on the type of riding you do and how sensitive you are to feel. For me personally, I like hubs with instant engagement. ( I like to techy rock stuff) and a good shifter. I also like to have compression adjustments in my suspension minus a lockout. I don't use lockouts but my bike is also on the dw platform. What he is talking about will cover probably 99% of the people. The other 1% are the faster more technical riders that are sensitive to feel and need something that is more precise.
dw link is goated
I ride in a group. We are known as the Trek Boys. We ride Marlin and Roscoe 6 and 7. No more than $1500 is all good. Don't get the money-pits from big box stores. Go to a bike specialty store.
Great video! You got it down
Got my first MtB couple of months ago which is 550$ Java Furia and I have compared and driven my friends MtBs way more expensive bikes and cant really feel any difference. Glad i did not jumped immediately to the hype as I am very much satisfied and having a lot of fun with my choice. Overall Im just enjoying the process and upgrade parts if I believe necessary for my comfort 😄👍 Great video bruh
Subscribed cause you genuinely seem like a good guy god bless. I always buy cheaper bikes as I just really want the frame I upgrade as I go then end up with high end parts for much less money then top tier models. Bike prices are ridiculous
Polygon is changing the game with quality bikes at affordable prices
I totally agree, idk exactly how they are pulling it off but if they keep it up then I think it will definitely change a lot of things
@@MattyActive In part, it must be the direct-to-consumer business model. There is a LOT of overhead in a brick and mortar store!
Thats true. Besides that, my T7 (lime/turquiose) looks phenomenal. Some people even thought it was the new Trek back then :D
I rode a Trek Marlin 5 for 9 years - they are fantastic bikes. I'm happy I upgraded to a Canyon Spectral 125 AL5 (I think they are like $2900 now) though.
Its all about the law of diminishing returns. My first mountain bike was a voodoo bizango it was about 750 stirling, it had pretty good specs for the price. then i pulled the trigger on 2500 bike with sram eagle and fox forks. Was it 3 times a better bike . No way.
Nice riding bro. I have loads of fun on my 2023 Santa Cruz Chameleon HardTail.
I used to ride Trestle bike park on my specialized epic hard tail and it was amazingly fun. I got on some black diamonds and shredded. I still don’t feel like I’m ready for a full suspension however Specialized is discontinuing the epic HT so I may not have a choice but to get a procaliber or epic full sus.
Love the video man keep it up!
Coming from a background that included about 10yr working in bike shops, I tend to agree with the sentiment. I have owned a $7K+ bike. My last three bikes have been well optioned used/demo bikes picked up at about half price and I am currently on a $3600 last year's model bike that I got for under $2K. For most riders a $1-2K bike is more than enough to handle all their needs. I will say that in chunky terrain higher level suspension is noticeably better at it's job.
I started out on a Trek Marlin 5 for $600 start of COVID. Did so much on that bike! 3 years later I got my second bike : Santa Cruz Tall Boy full suspension $2,500ish dollars end of last summer. Been riding for almost 4 years now!
Keep in mind second hand is also an option, you can save lots of money. even a ex demo bike, rental bike from bike park or shop.
Due to my back problems a hardtail guarantees a thrown out back, but full suspension greatly minimises the risk for this. But I still need to work more on my back. I can't blast trough rough terrain on a xc bike as I did when I was a kid.
Another cool thing about the polygon T series, is you put it together yourself and adjust the cockpit and suspension yourself. It's fun and educational
This is a hot take lol. But I do kinda agree. MTB riders have become the new Cyclist. They have a smug elitist attitude. Back in the early 2000-2010s that wasn’t the case. I just recently got back into MTB and spent $600 on a MTB and when I was on the trails everyone else had $2000-4000 bikes and made fun of my bike. Reminded me of when I used to cycle.
Nice video with an important message. I do agree 100% with you. I am in my 40s and have mountain biking since early teens. Done a lot of lift based park riding on hardtail xc and dj bikes, last years on a slacker Marin San Quentin hardtail. I do se the benefits of better bikes, full suspension, slacker head tube angle, e.c.t. But you can have hell off a good time with less expensive equipment. I think your polygon are equipped with a Rocxshox Recon silver solo air, or something; it’s not a Fox, but it’s a great inexpensive fork which preforming great, and it’s like 4 times cheaper than a Fox, and almost as good as one. I know because I also have some of that expensive stuff, it’s better, but not that much. You can get far with a cheap Dirtjumper or even an xc bike. And if you can afford it; better brakes, gears, more suspension and modern geometry doesn’t need to cost a fortune to work good, like your Polygon.
Great input ❤ keep it up.
Started with roscoe 8, then canyon spectral, and now im learning more about installation and repairs and building a new frame. Working on a giant reign. 😅
I bought a used like new specialize stumpjumper for $1,100 and it works very well and I sure have lots of fun with it over a year now. So yeah, you don’t need to spend like $3000 bike to have fun.
I have a fancy Pivot Mach 6 with all the expensive stuff. I love it.
That said, more times than not I'm riding my $800 hardtail and I have a blast on it. My FS I pretty much just use at the bike park, which I visit a lot, but for most riders, myself included, you really don't need anything more than a capable hardtail.
The Pivot is sick though ngl, got Reserves on there and everything.
Edit: Watched the whole video and I should clarify, when I'm riding my local trails I'm on the hardtail, but the majority of my riding is at the bike park. I hit big jumps and drops, some pro lines so I need a capable bike. I could've found a used DH bike though and then upgraded components as things get replaced.
My first real MTB was a Diamondback Release 3, which I purchased as a bike I could grow into. I absolutely loved that thing until it was stolen after about 4 or 5 years of ownership while I was on my way to do the Whole Enchilada. While I do miss it, the insurance money combined with end of season sales allowed me to upgrade to a bike twice the price that I never would have purchased on my own due to the price (even with it being their entry-level build).
I got a 10-year-old entry-level cross country bike a couple summers ago and I've been having an absolute blast on it.
Funny story, I started same time and ended up on specialized rockhopper. Now I have a specialized stump jumper got it last year. Will ride it for a while now. I want to get a pivot next
Really appreciate this perspective. As someone who lives in Bentonville and is learning to ride it is intimidating being surrounded by $5K-$10K full sus luxury bikes. Meanwhile I’m in year 2 on my $1200 Giant Fathom 2 and have yet to find a trail I can’t shred on it!
I have fathom 29 1 And was blowing by guys on $5k bikes
I’ve have a Hardtail Salsa Rangerfinder Deore 11 speed. Clutch, hydro disc and dropper rolling on Maxxis 29”s
Most reliable shifting and capable bike I’ve owned yet. You have torque and you develop your strength in the legs being the rear suspension going down. Makes me a better rider
I have a couple of Santa Cruz bikes and love them... one bike needed the pivot bearings replaced (lifetime warranty) and it took months for SC to cover the cost of the bearings. My Tallboy has a Reverb RockShox dropper post that lasted for about 30 cycles (and failed) and it's been off the bike being warrantied by RockShox. The problem, it's been over for 6 months. If I had to do it again I would choose a less expensive bike and have money left for additional parts... it doesn't matter if the warranty is good if it takes a year to get results. We are in an age of you're on your own. This is just not SC, my friend has had the same experience with a Scott dealer... sorry we can't get that part (for a bike that was a month old).
I bought my T7 in Feb 21´ right when the market was nuts during covid. 1999€ including 19% vat and shipping, it literally was the only AM full-sus below 3k that i could find and i tried hard. Not only that everything was 1k more with some weaker components, it also was the only affordable bike with good geometry being the just refreshed model and a good drivetrain. Components might be basic and some people will call it shit nonetheless, but the components are well combined and although at entrey level point, they are really good enough even for ambitious riding. 4 pot front and *working* suspension. Drivetrain is a gem, the Deore 12s is so good! I swapped my forks to a Yari and added the MegNeg to the shock. It also looks sick (lime/turqoise). Bike is really fun to ride (i run a medium 27.5 at 5"11, so a little on the smaller side for me.)
I plan to keep this bike for a long time. Looking into a big Enduro next, its probably also gonna be Polygon. Just not easily available here, since the only importer is a small brick and mortar store in eastern Germany, but that kinda adds to the charm. Never seen another Polygon here once and the kids around town love it although some of them have "better" bikes.
I'm glad I bought a full suspension bike for a few years ago - it turned out I didn't like riding it, even though I forced myself into riding it. I don't know, but the geometry simply didn't fit my riding style at all and it was just heavy and hard to maneuver. So I sold it a year later. Shortly after, I put together my first custom trail/enduro style hardtail build which I have been riding ever since (this coming April it's been 3 years). So the purchase of that full suspension bike just confirmed for myself that I'm a hardtail guy, which what somewhat of a relief since for a very long time I always wanted a full sus bike just for the sake of it.
Some things to thing about are you don’t have to buy new and resale value. I bout a Santa Cruz Bronson in 2018 that was one year old for $2700. This bike originally was $5,000. The previous owner also put 1400 wheels on it. I rode that bike until 2023 and sold it for $2000. In that time I did upgrade the drive train from a 1x11 to 1x12 and also upgraded the rear shock and pedals. I have trails out here in Utah literally in my backyard that are downhill trails with jumps that a full suspension bike definatley helps.
I've been riding a full suspension bike for several years (2000km/y). It's 2015 model, the paintwork is battered, but I wouldn't trade it for a new model. Parts are cheap and available. For me, the most important thing is the 2x10 drive. I don't like the 1x solution. . Watch old videos of what people rode and don't be manipulated by advertising. My phone is also 9 years old and I am still happy with it.
Greetings from Poland 👊
I like your approach. I feel sorry for those who came into the sport on a full suspension bike and have known nothing else. I feel that they would be at a distinct disadvantage if they were to find themselves on a hard tail riding technical trails.
I was fortunate in that my introduction to mtb’ing was on a fully ridged bike in ‘94. I honed my skills on that bike and now modern bikes are just the icing on the cake.
Sort of like when I learned to drive. My father taught me on a stick shift. His rationale was that “if you can drive this, you can drive anything on the road”.
Hey Matty I'm wondering what action cam mount options do you use and like? I'm thinking chest mount for mtb I have a bar mount for road and gravel. Thanks in advance for your input 👍🏻
I love how silent the T7 sounds, or doesn't sound lol
People who complain about MTB prices need see the eye watering prices of the car hobby. Plus MTBs are of the most cost effective fun machines money can buy. No other hobby has this much fun for such low price.
Motorcycles offer a much better value for the money. Both on and offroad.
I'm a car guy and a mountain biker. I don't have my license yet so I'm yet to experience how expensive it really gets.
If you buy car parts 2nd hand they hold their value for decades. If you have a cult car they go up in value. Over 20 of my cars I've sold are worth 4-10x what I sold them for 10 years ago
@@TDF2004 your in for a world of hurt once you find out how much a car hobby cost.
@@spongesurf motorcycle can't touch the fun of a high quality MTB going downhill. Plus I personally don't like motorcycles, I don't like motorcycle culture.
Awesome content!
I upgraded to a Polygon Syncline C5 carbon hardtail recently - I love it 😊
I went from riding a Roscoe 7 at Trestle for 2 years to riding a Evil Offering. I got the Roscoe after seeing your videos. After riding the Roscoe at Anglefire I realized it wasn't the right bike for what I wanted to do. It was ok for Trestle, and great for cross-country trails, but the Evil is on another level.
I’ve been riding for 25 years and just bought a Trek Fuel EX 5 for 3 grand. It does everything from bike parks to all mountain. My last bike lasted 11 years with maybe a couple grand in parts and repairs. I recommend the Trek Fuel EX 5.
The first front shock I had was made by Trek and had I think 1 1/4 inches of elastomer only travel
The second shock I had was Built by Rock Shox but had Specialized labels on it and I bought it used
The third shock I had was from Marzochi and was pretty awesome but I was the second owner of that one too
The first new front shock I had was a Manitou back around 1997 or so. I used that brand pretty much non-stop until the mid 2000's and have gone shock less since then because I have no mountains or trails around so no need for the extra weight
I have an Ozark trail ridge and I put about $800 into it to upgrade pretty much everything. I took it on some pretty serious Tucson AZ trails this past weekend and it did everything I asked of it.
I just picked one up with the same intention to get into riding for physical therapy on knee and then later expanding as far as I can until I know I want something higher value range.
@@KevinBaumann88 even in its stock form it’s a great bike. I think you will love it.
for any beginners i always recommend looking something with a 1x drivetrain. Why? It takes the thought process out of shifting and typically any 1x drivetrain comes with a clutch derailleur. The other thing i really push for is finding something with hydraulic brakes and leaving budget for a dropper. With these things any beginner can really grow into the bike. And these features can be found for around $500 if you look for a great deal. Example the Canyon grand canyon was on sale this past holidays for that price. It came with a 1x12 shimano drivetrain. Purchasing and upgrading the drivetrain later is a waste of money imo.
I've always tapped into the used bike market Matty. I started MTBing 3 years ago on a 95 Gary Fisher taikai that I bought for $50. Well that bike got stolen so I found a 2012 Kona hei hei deluxe 29r on eBay for $1100 and raced it for a season and a half. Still have it and ride it often. My next and current race bike is a 2016 Niner jet 9 rdo that I found for $1500! I see no need in upgrading anytime soon as both the Kona and Niner are both better than my abilities by a big margin.😂 I do agree that new bikes are horribly over priced. I'll probably always hit the used bike market because you never know what kind of deal is out there. If you save a lot of money on a used bike it leaves extra money to upgrade the components and still have money left over. Just my thoughts......
I’m with you on that. Bought a hardly used 2021 chromag stylus frame for $200 and built it out. Love that bike and it’s pretty much my forever bike.
Excellent video. To be fair, seeing the trail you were riding...it could have also easily been done on a hard tail with plus sized tires too! I only avoid places with nonstop chatter like rocks/roots on my hardtail. It can do it but it's no fun to me anyway coming from road riding where everything is so much smoother. I like it fast and flowy.
People underestimate SUPER BAD how much a set of chonky tyres can change a "normal" bike. Ever since i rode my first set of 2.5s i just don't want anything that's notizably smaller, especially when i had a blast with a fatbike (wich are underrated AF btw)
On my hardtail I put some 2.5 tires on it and it turned the bike from a definite cross country bike into something that I could take on just about every trail around.
It's either polygon or superior I'm getting next. Great video!
awesome advise. I used to have entry-level bike during my beginner's day. Then I upgraded to more serious brands. I would say, Polygon bikes, give you the best performance on a budget.
That is why I do not buy a new highend fork but just a USED Yari or select and let it custom tune. Still far cheaper but better than highend stuff of the shelf. Example for shocks: Bomber Cr/VanRC used for under 200 euro+custom tune for 160 for bike,ridingstyle and bike from M-Suspensiontech (pistons and shims).
Works better than 1000 buck shicks of the shelf. Just lacls the climb switch. Or get the used float x,then you have the switch. Same price relations for the forks.
Spot on with this vid. Thank you for all your effort.
Just snatched up a great deal (IMHO).....Canyon Spectral 125 CF8 for, get this, $1200 off!!! That sale lasted a whopping 2 days and it's back down to just $400 off now. That put this amazing full XT build for less than the lower model AND lower than the Aluminum models.
My wife is considering MT'ing with me, and I'll most likely go with a Polygon to keep the costs down while she figures out how dedicated she'll be.
Never had problem buying used bikes or cars... For the trails I'm capable to ride... an old cannondale prophet is more then good... old XT or XTR is stil good stuff... ofcourse I wanted to try more modern geometry... got me a 2018 Mondraker Dune... nice bike both up and down the hill...
It's how much you are willing to invest,,, like in any other hobby...burning desire to try it... If the fancy 6K machine will boost your motivation... I can understand.