Yessss You actually know what you’re talking about!! I raced motocross first mountain bike was a Trek marlin 5 it was a Pos can’t take any sorta hard trails I completely agree about the primary drive being one sprocket…
Been riding the Xtrada 7 for 2 seasons now. Installed PNW dropper, went tubeless right away. Upgraded the fork to marzoochi bomber z2 after the first season. Love this bike, actually find myself grabbing this instead of my trek fuel ex8 that cost 3x the price even with the upgrades. I’m not knocking the trek, it’s a great bike and I do love riding it, but there’s just something about ripping through single track on the hard tail.
I really like the way you did this video. The head tube angle and the chain stay Lancer basically the main things I look at other than reach and top tube.
Decent video with a good explanation of the criteria you're using to select the bikes. I agree with most of the suggestions except cheap coil forks are in no way advantageous over an air fork. I would ALWAYS choose a bike with an air fork if possible.
I would say "Radon" is very good brand at building bikes under 1000€, i got a zr team 7.0 for 750€ with judy air fork, deore 12 speed drivetrain, mt 200, the other part feel very good too.
I really like that REI bike even though the fork isn't great being that it's a through axle when you get a better Fork you don't have to lace up a new Hub to your wheel
What would you consider some recommendations for around 700 US Dollars I'm getting back into mountain bike after finally achieving 6 years sober on July 4th of alcohol and in the middle of September I'll have 7 years clean up all drugs and it helps my ADHD tremendously as well as anxiety thank you for the life-saving videos❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
The Xtrada 6 is my personal bike, and it's a great value. It's currently on sale for $750 at bikes online. bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/MmqoPK The Kona Lava Dome can be found for less than $700, but in my opinion, the Xtrada is the more modern and capable of the two. Congrats on your sobriety and best of luck on your journey. Mountain biking has saved many people. 🙌
I am 68 yo, been riding a base Bianchi Timberwolf since new primarily on gravel but would like to purchase one bike to,keep on a budget primarily for gravel and some off trails, would like front suspension and disc brakes What would you recommend in a L frame size? Thanks
I assume you're looking to move away from 26 inch. Of the bikes on the list, I found the Xtrada to be very good on gravel. Off this list, the Niner Air 9 is good, and the Polygon Syncline( which I own) is better on gravel than my gravel bike. Both the Niner and the Syncline are a little bit more expensive. For gravel and light trail duty, a cross country frame is the best option. The Xrtrada 7 is hard to beat for the cost.
My only problem with Polygon is that they are now selling the Xtrada6 for almost $200.00 less than I paid for it a year or so back. Other than that it's a rockin' HT for when I want a lesson in being more careful how I pick lines (my FS is more forgiving of my errors). The Suntour coil shock is fine, except that Suntour uses a wacky font that makes it hard to read that it's an X1 32.
Lol. Same when I bought my Polygon Bend. It's $200 less now. I try not to think about the prices I paid anymore. Especially these days with the bike industry imploding. Imagine if you bought a Yeti last year. 😳 Glad to hear you're enjoying the Xtrada! 🙌
@Saladon89 People have done it before. There is always additional wear and risk of damage that comes with the weight. The wheels are typically the weakest link on a heavy rider's bike. Make sure the wheels are trued and properly tensioned. Then check periodically.
What do you think of the Superior XP929 lightweight Carbon hardtail in bikesonline for 1199.99. Im debating should I fork the extra $200 or go with the xtrada 7.
I don't understand why people never recommend Motobecane from Bikesdirect. The Motobecane Taz2.5 is currently $799 with Rockshox Judy Fork, SRAM drivetrain and brakes and MAXXIS Rekon tires. I personally ride a '23 Trek Roscoe 8, but I'd recommend Motobecane to anyone looking for a bike with quality parts. Sure frames and geometry are outdated and based on the Trek Stache, but does that matter to someone on a budget or just starting out? No.
It's a basic air fork. It's very similar to the Suntour XCR 32 air. Set the pressure for your weight and go ride. Those forks are rated for ebikes, so it should be durable.
All the bikes sounded good. They could be better with a larger front chainring. These bikes are set up to be climbers NOT cross country which in my opinion includes both. 2X would make any of these bikes awesome combined with a clutch IMHO Btw There is nothing wrong with 3X 😡 It gives you WAY MORE options than 1X and does wear out the chain faster😊
Oof!! I am not a fan of front derailleurs. I hate working on them. I hate the noise and flopping chains. I do appreciate their purpose when it comes to gearing and maintaining cadence. My gravel bike has a 2x and I probably will keep it that way. Despite my deep desire to convert it to 1x 😃
Giant Talon 1? Better spec than some of what’s mentioned here at a really good price. And are you somehow sponsored by Polygon or something? Their bikes are rubbish.
the Cannondale does not belong there, my friend had one and to say that he is beginner is a compliment. after one year he send the bike for frame warranty, it was a crack in the bottom bracket area. half a year later on the new frame it had 8 cracks in the bottom bracket chain stay an in the drop out and brake mount, and i forgot to mention is and two in the seat stays, he didn't have no money at the time so he continued ride it as a commuter bike, and after he did a little skid the whole brake mount and set stay and chain stay broke of. BE AWARE!!!, and hes not just him other people have reported the same problem.
I built one better than all these using a Schwinn Taff Comp ($124) with better wheel set, Microshift Acolyte/AdvantX hybrid drive train. It weighs less than 30lbs Total investment $700
Yeah that's the way to go but most people who are just getting into mountain biking aren't going to want to buy a brand new bike and then try to figure out how to swap all the parts on it or upgrade it
what an awful list of bikes... with a budget of 500 to 800 i would recommend more simple yet more efficient bike and not wannabe enduro bike with 64° head tube angle but cheap rims and coil fork. at 1000 you can find better bikes than these with dropper post, proper fork and better wheels.
@@bennykov1547 i live near national park with good bit climbs but not very rough, I'm mostly a roadie, need MTB for winter fitness and bit of fun. So mainly xc I think. I'm in Europe btw so getting some of the brands would be probably next to impossible.
I only have one sponsor, and that is Magura USA. Bike are selected based on their value for the money. Everyone one of those bikes are from competing brands. Thanks for your visit.
You're jumping to a conclusion here before you have any evidence. There's no way any UA-cam channel is sponsored by 5 different bike brands, especially in 2023!
Yessss You actually know what you’re talking about!!
I raced motocross first mountain bike was a Trek marlin 5 it was a Pos can’t take any sorta hard trails I completely agree about the primary drive being one sprocket…
Been riding the Xtrada 7 for 2 seasons now. Installed PNW dropper, went tubeless right away. Upgraded the fork to marzoochi bomber z2 after the first season.
Love this bike, actually find myself grabbing this instead of my trek fuel ex8 that cost 3x the price even with the upgrades.
I’m not knocking the trek, it’s a great bike and I do love riding it, but there’s just something about ripping through single track on the hard tail.
It's a great bike! The fact that it's affordable makes it even more enjoyable for some reason.
I'm looking at getting this bike in a week Glad to see a good review most of the reviews have been good on it and what dropper post did you order?
@@MTB_FANATIC99 pnw rainier
@ pnw rainier
That first cannondale price surprised me! I would not pay close to $1000 for that. It is retailing for £550 here in the UK
It's a good value at the sale price. I agree, the MSRP is too high, IMO.
Marin San Quentin looks all business, all spiffy style on point. So fresh & so clean clean
I really like the way you did this video. The head tube angle and the chain stay Lancer basically the main things I look at other than reach and top tube.
Thanks. Those are definitely the two you can rely on without getting into the weeds of geo.
@@AdrenalineIsLife it should have said chain stay length
Usefull explanation... Thank you 🙏
@@oakkar70 you're welcome
Very nice video man! Great info on all the bikes!
Thanks!
Decent video with a good explanation of the criteria you're using to select the bikes. I agree with most of the suggestions except cheap coil forks are in no way advantageous over an air fork. I would ALWAYS choose a bike with an air fork if possible.
I totally understand what you're saying. I need to make a video on this particular subject with some testing. Appreciate the feedback.
I totally agree and bikes that are $800 and above should all come with an airport in a week I'm ordering the polygon xtrada 7
Great video
Hi, are dirt jumpers good for wheelie? Or I should go with a mountain bike?
I would say "Radon" is very good brand at building bikes under 1000€, i got a zr team 7.0 for 750€ with judy air fork, deore 12 speed drivetrain, mt 200, the other part feel very good too.
I really like that REI bike even though the fork isn't great being that it's a through axle when you get a better Fork you don't have to lace up a new Hub to your wheel
It's definitely a hidden gem.
I just snagged a deal on the Xtrada 7, and it's rained and been muddy trails ever since lol
New bike day always brings the rain. Lol
How much did u get it for? Whats the lowest you seen on em brand new?
Well done!
in my country, u can buy a carbon xc bike for 443$. the groupset is full sram sx and 29er
What would you consider some recommendations for around 700 US Dollars I'm getting back into mountain bike after finally achieving 6 years sober on July 4th of alcohol and in the middle of September I'll have 7 years clean up all drugs and it helps my ADHD tremendously as well as anxiety thank you for the life-saving videos❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
The Xtrada 6 is my personal bike, and it's a great value. It's currently on sale for $750 at bikes online.
bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/MmqoPK
The Kona Lava Dome can be found for less than $700, but in my opinion, the Xtrada is the more modern and capable of the two.
Congrats on your sobriety and best of luck on your journey. Mountain biking has saved many people. 🙌
I am 68 yo, been riding a base Bianchi Timberwolf since new primarily on gravel but would like to purchase one bike to,keep on a budget primarily for gravel and some off trails, would like front suspension and disc brakes
What would you recommend in a L frame size?
Thanks
I assume you're looking to move away from 26 inch. Of the bikes on the list, I found the Xtrada to be very good on gravel. Off this list, the Niner Air 9 is good, and the Polygon Syncline( which I own) is better on gravel than my gravel bike. Both the Niner and the Syncline are a little bit more expensive. For gravel and light trail duty, a cross country frame is the best option. The Xrtrada 7 is hard to beat for the cost.
@@AdrenalineIsLife thanks
My only problem with Polygon is that they are now selling the Xtrada6 for almost $200.00 less than I paid for it a year or so back. Other than that it's a rockin' HT for when I want a lesson in being more careful how I pick lines (my FS is more forgiving of my errors). The Suntour coil shock is fine, except that Suntour uses a wacky font that makes it hard to read that it's an X1 32.
Lol. Same when I bought my Polygon Bend. It's $200 less now. I try not to think about the prices I paid anymore. Especially these days with the bike industry imploding. Imagine if you bought a Yeti last year. 😳 Glad to hear you're enjoying the Xtrada! 🙌
I'd love to get your thoughts on the Poseidon Norton!
I'm trying to get my hands on one. For the money it's a great value. The frame is thoroughly modern and upgradable.
What is the rider weight limit for the Xtrada 7? Would love to buy it as a beginner/starter MTB. I weigh a little over 300lbs.
If I recall correctly, about 245lbs
@@AdrenalineIsLife U think its fine for a 300lb person to ride this bike on road and light dirt?
@Saladon89 People have done it before. There is always additional wear and risk of damage that comes with the weight. The wheels are typically the weakest link on a heavy rider's bike. Make sure the wheels are trued and properly tensioned. Then check periodically.
@@AdrenalineIsLife Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to share ur expertise.
What do you think of the Superior XP929 lightweight Carbon hardtail in bikesonline for 1199.99. Im debating should I fork the extra $200 or go with the xtrada 7.
Nice and detailed video dude! How about the 2023 Marin Bobcat Trail 5 29er? Do you think its a good entry level MTB?
It's a good entry-level bike. If you can get one at a discount, it would be better.
I don't understand why people never recommend Motobecane from Bikesdirect. The Motobecane Taz2.5 is currently $799 with Rockshox Judy Fork, SRAM drivetrain and brakes and MAXXIS Rekon tires. I personally ride a '23 Trek Roscoe 8, but I'd recommend Motobecane to anyone looking for a bike with quality parts. Sure frames and geometry are outdated and based on the Trek Stache, but does that matter to someone on a budget or just starting out? No.
Thanks for sharing. I don't have any experience with Motobecane. I'd love to get my hands on one for testing.
Until I watched this video I'd never heard of REI. Their DRT model looks interesting, doesn't seem to be available in the UK though.
Unfortunately, REI is only in the states. It's a unique operation. It's a cooperative that is basically owned buy It's customers.
@@AdrenalineIsLife That would explain it, thank you for the explanation.
Budget bikes is like saying 28,000 is a good price for a mini Cooper
How is the aerial fork on the polygon xtrada 7?
It's a basic air fork. It's very similar to the Suntour XCR 32 air. Set the pressure for your weight and go ride. Those forks are rated for ebikes, so it should be durable.
The trail se 3 from Cannondale right now is on a discount for $1,060
That's not bad. Thanks for sharing.
In a week I'm ordering the polygon xtrada 7
@@MTB_FANATIC99 Great choice!
any opinions on the norco fluid ht2?
I like almost everything about the HT2 except the fork. If you can get one at a discount, it'll be worth the money.
@@AdrenalineIsLife saw one for sale locally used like new listed for 500
@@AdrenalineIsLife what dont you like about the fork?
@blurryface1975 It's very basic but it's reliable. If you're not riding anything extreme it'll be fine.
Rocky Mountain Growler.
That Xtrada 7 seems like a great value.
Who put the chainstay protector on the Polygon.....lol
Wish the Xtrada 7 came in better colours
The newest version comes in a really nice gray/black color.
@@AdrenalineIsLifeawesome, my favorite colours 😊
All the bikes sounded good. They could be better with a larger front chainring.
These bikes are set up to be climbers NOT cross country which in my opinion includes both.
2X would make any of these bikes awesome combined with a clutch IMHO
Btw There is nothing wrong with 3X 😡 It gives you WAY MORE options than 1X and does wear out the chain faster😊
Oof!! I am not a fan of front derailleurs. I hate working on them. I hate the noise and flopping chains. I do appreciate their purpose when it comes to gearing and maintaining cadence. My gravel bike has a 2x and I probably will keep it that way. Despite my deep desire to convert it to 1x 😃
Giant Talon 1? Better spec than some of what’s mentioned here at a really good price. And are you somehow sponsored by Polygon or something? Their bikes are rubbish.
Agreed 👍🏼
That’s what I ride ; a Talon 1 29er, Sage color.
Hi
the Cannondale does not belong there, my friend had one and to say that he is beginner is a compliment. after one year he send the bike for frame warranty, it was a crack in the bottom bracket area. half a year later on the new frame it had 8 cracks in the bottom bracket chain stay an in the drop out and brake mount, and i forgot to mention is and two in the seat stays, he didn't have no money at the time so he continued ride it as a commuter bike, and after he did a little skid the whole brake mount and set stay and chain stay broke of. BE AWARE!!!, and hes not just him other people have reported the same problem.
Sorry to hear about your friend's bike. That sounds pretty bad. Really the first time I've heard about any issues with that bike. Thanks for sharing.
I built one better than all these using a Schwinn Taff Comp ($124) with better wheel set, Microshift Acolyte/AdvantX hybrid drive train. It weighs less than 30lbs Total investment $700
Custom setups are always very satisfying. Enjoy!
At a boy
clown @@johnmills837
Yeah that's the way to go but most people who are just getting into mountain biking aren't going to want to buy a brand new bike and then try to figure out how to swap all the parts on it or upgrade it
@@MTB_FANATIC99 Right
hal 5 motobecane
Those are my dream mtb cycles😮.. i only have 300$ .. can you gift me a cycle i can give only 300$
what an awful list of bikes... with a budget of 500 to 800 i would recommend more simple yet more efficient bike and not wannabe enduro bike with 64° head tube angle but cheap rims and coil fork.
at 1000 you can find better bikes than these with dropper post, proper fork and better wheels.
I'm in a search for a decent beginner bike, could you post a few links please. Thanks
@@zackymad1533 what type of trails are you going to ride with your bike?
@@bennykov1547 i live near national park with good bit climbs but not very rough, I'm mostly a roadie, need MTB for winter fitness and bit of fun. So mainly xc I think. I'm in Europe btw so getting some of the brands would be probably next to impossible.
@@zackymad1533cube aim or canyon grand canyon 5 around 600€. cube reaction pro, canyon stoic 3 or rose bonero 1 around 1000€ for more versatile bikes
this channel keeps deleting my replies sorry😢
Mate all you do is upsell your sponsors. This “top 5” list isn’t worth the wasted bandwidth. Sorry
I only have one sponsor, and that is Magura USA. Bike are selected based on their value for the money. Everyone one of those bikes are from competing brands. Thanks for your visit.
You're jumping to a conclusion here before you have any evidence. There's no way any UA-cam channel is sponsored by 5 different bike brands, especially in 2023!
Classy response, subscribed @@AdrenalineIsLife