Step 1. Empty your bank account. Step 2. Buy a bike. Step 3. Save for upgrades. Step 4. Dream about “better” bikes the next 10 years till you can afford a new one. Step 5 . repeat steps 1-4
No - Step One is to do your research for six months and Step Two is (somewhere along the way) Pre-Order your bike! My wife is laughing, because that is how I got my Commencal in the last shipment coming to USA (Out of stock since).
1:20 XC Bikes a.k.a. Cross Country Bikes 1:55 Trail Bikes 2:31 All-Mountain Bikes 3:35 Downhill Bikes 4:18 Breaking the Mold 4:46 Wheel Sizes 6:15 Hardtail or Full Suspension 7:19 What Size? 9:20 Demo Days 12:23 Budget 14:26 Asking Other Riders 15:40 Online or Bike Shop? 17:51 Bike Shop 20:44 Cycle to Work
Will add some tips here Don't fixate on a specific brand just because your buddy told you how good his new specialized is. It doesn't mean you should buy only a Specialized. Also those big brands have a lot worse bang for your buck bikes than for example Decathlon bikes. Don't spend all of your money only on bike, Buy yourself a spare Inner tube, derailleur hanger and multitool. Nothing worse then something rattle losse on middle of nowhere. Also count for something unexpected to happen (smashing your rear wheel) and have a financial back up for a new part. And please, don't get a internet medias so seriously. Xt derailleur won't be night and day diffierence over slx one. Also if you just started you really don't need a full suspension carbon enduro.
Agreed - but... I bought a Specialized 20 years ago because JMC rode a specialized. To this day (i'm still riding it...), i do not regret that decision one bit. Not at all. Nope. Nothing. But you make a good point.
27.5 XC for me. I've made several upgrades to make it more capable on the trails but I also do a fair bit of street riding. I also thrash it over jumps and so far it's taken everything I can throw at at it.
More people need to heed your first point. I see so many people who are completely over biked for the terrain they are riding, making the whole ordeal tougher than it needs to be (especially on climbs). Same goes for the full-suspension/hardtail. The money that some of the regulars in my area (which is mostly XC with a dash of trail) are dropping on all-mountain/downhill bikes could buy you an absolute monster hardtail that could totally withstand the occasional bike-park visit. Being honest with yourself will give you a much better experience in the long run.
I totally agree. People are either misguided at the Bike Shop or when shopping online. I see a lot of new bikers on all mountain bikes riding cross country.
I'm definitely overbiked, people that see me ride probably think "Why does that old bastard have a full suspension bike" The answer, Because I'm an old bastard and having a full suspension is easier on the body! Gimme a break man!
@@phillmuz5184Do you REALLY give that much of a shit about what other people do or ride? Its about being out there enjoying the sport man! Come on, be nice!
I recently got a hard tail and learned few lessons. 1. Check front suspension and opt for air suspensions with tapered steer tube 2.Make sure you have front and back thru axel instead of quick release 3. Get a bike with Dropper post or one which you can upgrade to dropper post 4. You will upgrade handle bar, suspension, pedals, grips 5. Leave some money for accessories like helmet, lock, lights etc
I got the one I wanted xD bought it about 2 weeks ago now but only one shop had one in stock lol ...I got lucky every shop I went into had a sold out stock
I’m glad you mentioned the helmet. I have no doubt that mine saved me from serious problems this weekend when I took a head first slam into a boulder. I got away with bruising and scuffs, and a smashed lid only. The next person down the trail was a spot on bloke on a really nice scott but no helmet. I didn’t say anything, it’s his choice and he clearly knew what the deal was, but anyone new to this shouldn’t be under any illusions .
Also make sure to factor in additional costs. From lubricants to tools, pedals (mostly not included!), shoes, helmet, maybe some knee pads, elbow pads or a spine protector. All that stuff can quickly add up to anything from $150 to $1000.
Watch the spec on the front chain ring. I wish that online sellers sell bikes with you being able to pick the front chain ring size. If you are a fit rider you may want a 34t or 36t front ring but if you are less fit you may want a 30t, most seem to settle on a 32t.
I bought my bike online, I can mostly maintain and repair it myself. If I have a problem, I can't solve or am missing an expensive tool, I go to my local bike shop. Be sure to tip them, if they help you free of charge. Keep a good connection to them, they will help you out of trouble, if they can. And they're gonna be honest, if they can't or it's better to go buy a part online, at least in my case. If you think your local partner is good, give them a review online, refer to them, if you can. It'll help both them and you.
Mark Somerville Well my dad bought it for me about may 2017 Then i got jobs and worked for a fews months later down the line and i biught my Cross country full sus in may 2020 It took me just a few months to save up
Thank you Doddy! You I find it so strange how much value I put to your input! You should really have your own bike shop. You are great at your job...don't feel right to say "job" because this is clearly a passion. Awesome man!!!
Excellent vid. Thanks for posting it. Early in the vid I was thinking that a noob might get the impression that the difference between a XC bike and a trail bike is that one's a hardtail and the other is a full suspension, based on the visual examples given. But then a little bit later on you clarified that. As for 29" wheels and whether someone should go with them: it was explained to me that if you go with a 29er, it's probably a good idea to go with boost spacing to reduce the flex of the larger wheel and make it as stiff as a 26. So that would rule out most bikes under around $1K US since that price seems to be around the entry point for boost. So if a frame doesn't have boost, it's better to go with a 27.5 in addition to the reasons given in the vid.
Given I started dirt jumping, was waiting for DJ (hardtail) v slope style (full sus) bikes....perhaps a future vid looking at the intricacies and versatility for other riding of each.
I like your video. You are a good teacher. I like listening to you. Your voice sounds very genuine and natural. Very informative and make a lot of sense.
Thank you for your tips! I actually opted for an Orbea MX 50 bike. It's within budget. Frame is a smaller size M which is true to my seize. I've found that opting for a larger bike actually makes me feel more unstable and insecure. I love the "twitchyness" of a smaller frame. Lovely channel - keep on going! I'm a new MTB and love your tips and tricks.
I missed fatbikes! I bought me a fatbike (Specialized Fatboy) 8 months ago and enjoyed every day since then! Incredible fun and very versatile, it goes even downhill really fast! Rock gardens? Never went so easy over the rocks! Sandy trails? Snow? No problem at all, it is the most versatile bike I ever had!
I was lucky to find my 7 year old son a Trek precaliber 24 by walking into a Trek store during this pandemic. He loves to shred on it! I was riding 10-12 year old Trek 3 series HT and I felt the need to upgrade so I could hit some trails more comfortably with him. After doing some research and going to pretty much every bike shop in my area everything was sold out in my size. So the next day I decided to give the next county over a try. Lo and behold they hadn’t been hit yet!! I ended up going home with a brand new Santa Cruz 5010 they had on sale! Now we’ve been shredding everyday!
Same, steel hardtail with 160mm travel and 65.5 ht angle. Had a full sus before, I didnt dislike it, but honestly I love the simplicity of the ht. Easier to clean, no need to worry about any bearings going wrong in the back and better components for the price.
Good advice. In the USA I chose to go to Bert's bikes and learned by test riding a few styles at the store. It's not like a real trail test but a good way to feel size, weight, acceleration and braking. This taught me some key ingredients and the costs before further shopping. I agree that 27.5 inch wheels are a good first choice but the industry is strongly marketing 29 inch, frustrating. I wouldn't suggest a mountain style bike for anyone just learning to cycle, a light hybrid will provide more comfort and enough traction to explore easy trails when the need for adventure hits.
Mind the UK brake setup if needed, UK setup is front-right, rear- left hand. Its such a fiddely job without proper tools and tubing for the hydrolics. Grtz!
Have you tried to buy a bike recently. Replacement bike required for the wife as her old Giant is showing it age. Picked out a couple of bikes in the £500 price area but finding stock is another story. Nice vid though
Bike shop for me. I got to ride first. Free service after six weeks. There were some teething issues which the shop could sort quickly. They also helped me going tubeless and only charged me 7 quid for the slime and nothing for time. I first bought an 800 quid Scott Aspect, really enjoyed it and went back and just bought my Whyte G170s. They gave me a hundred off the price for being a regular customer so discounts are still possible from your bike shop. I'll stop gushing now. Great vid.
XC bike: "ultra responsive to rider input". This was a huge problem for me. With a long stem, turning in a circle, I struggled immensely. And my bike was too small to put a short stem on. So I traded my bike for a trail bike with a very short stem. What a difference in steering !!
Literally the video I’ve been looking for in my binging of gmbn/gmbn tech videos over the past few weeks. Still can’t make my mind up tho but great video! Love your channels!
Modern 1 x 12 or 11 speed drivetrains with wide range cassettes, narrow/wide profile toothed chainrings and clutch derailleurs are all VERY similar in both feel and performance. Other often overlooked details are MUCH more important. If there's a bike with a wheel set that has 23mm internal width rims, single casing hard compound tires, 175mm length crank arms, a stem over 45mm long, handlebars 740mm wide or narrower, grips with no lock rings, a revelation/recon fork and dps float performance shock and a complete SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS/Shimano XTR drivetrain. . . AND there's a bike with a wheel set that has 30-35mm internal width rims, double casing soft compound tires, 170/165mm crank arms, 35mm stem, 780-800mm wide bars, a pike/36 fork, dpx2 factory float/super deluxe rear shock and NX/GX eagle or SLX drivetrain I would ALWAYS recommend the second to any level of skill rider riding any discipline of MTB.
How to buy a MTB in 2020- 1.) Find your dream bike 2.) Check you have the funds 3.) Find out you can’t get it as it’s out of stock till 2021 4.) Find out you can get one second hand on eBay but for more than the RRP 5.) Go back to riding your old bike while being glad you didn’t sell it on Gumtree straight away
In my country, we are mostly urban, very little Parks and mostly buildings so mountain bikes is not so popular over here but the good thing is there always in stock for mountain parts/bike
thanks I pre ordered a Norco fluid 1 ht 29 2021 model and was thinking did I make the right choice and after watching this video HELL YEAH I DID great video GMBN keep them coming
One tip for ppl weighting 95kg or more just overbike yourself just in case. This modern bikes are build for 65-80kg riders in mind. If u are bigger / heavier rider u will break wheels and feel frame bending under your weight.
Here in the Philippines there is still an abundance of legacy standard parts. Sometimes it's even easier to get a hold of legacies than the current components, especially in the more rural areas. Also bike parks are rare, but we get a flood of singletrack and basically muddy farm trails.
I went through this process 2 weeks ago. Read hundreds of articles and visited some local shops. I was between trail or enduro. I own a 2011 trek superfly with 100mm front an rear. So far great bike but I’ve been getting more into trail riding, so I started turning my sf into down-country style. Decided to stop and get something more up to date so I ended up goi g for a Scott Ransom. 170mm and a 100mm bike seems to me overkill but I will continue to ride both. Have to agree that my local shop was super helpful. Didn’t demoed but I feel that I made the right choice. Time will tell...soon.
Great video cheers Doddy. Really gave me a lot to think about and highlighted some pitfalls, I’m already guilty of stepping on a few mines! Narrowed my list down to 3 trail bikes thanks to your advice. Now to see if I can try them out. This is difficult at the moment with COVID, as supplies are scarce.
i am 5'4.5'' less than 55kg and ride a 29 medium whereas most riders my size have small or extra small and 27.5 but my bike is brilliant for my ride style the only modification we made to the bike is cutting of 20 cm of the seat post
It's abit hard to get any bikes atm nothings in stock along with parts. my mate bought a whyte T130 S on the "ride to work scheme" and with stock dwindling fast the scheme finally cleared after a few weeks he went to pick it up but it was the SR and not the S and with no stock anywhere he was gutted he had to take it.
I'm so jealous of y'all's 'ride to work scheme'!!! america is VERY slowly coming around to bikes (particularly here on the west coast), but i can't ride all the way to work anyway, because you can only go halfway across the bay bridge.😐 (but another big bridge got one in november, so, progress!)
So so true and great point re the psychology of 'purchase defence'...people are averse to admitting they bought something not so good, as they perceive it reflects on them. A whole huge topic...but even independent reviewers who get given things, can be hooked into 'fan boy' bias due to their own personal purchased items even if not whats being reviewed. A mixed consensus including both sides of the fence...still realising that what suits others, might not suit you
İ agree, and add in the big box stores bikes. Especialy the schwinns. Check out the axum, al comp, taft, border(i think it is). Schwinns have come a long way since china bought them.
MTB's best time is now Like the vid guys, I'm looking for a first fullsus at 50, but was riding the Shore in the late 80's on a Casscade , Didn't ride a lot until 2009 and a Norco thinking some changes, but Felt like old HT on NS With a fork, it to sat. 2018 as stubborn as HT lovers are came a Fully kitted out Norco Fluid HT And piece by piece noticed every improvement the components did. I was having Fun, and researched the shit out of Geo and bikes. I Didn't go crazy, but shes mine. I'm finding that there is a lot of bikes out here not fitting the SHORE anymore that i want, BC is a 2 horse stable if you were the specific bike kind of guy, light, smaller, etc.
Thanks Doddy. I’m currently in the savings process. Still trying to determine how much travel I really need. I don’t want to limit myself with 120 if I’m to scale up and start hitting some bigger jumps but I’ve heard less is more fun too. Also seen Blake tackle gnarly terrain with less.
Jumps are less about needing more travel and more about needing a frame robust enough to take the landing. An XC bike might be too waify to take the hit (i.e. snapping intentionally flexy seat stays).
Massive thanks Doddy, watched this video and bagged myself a new toy. Gone with a Hardtail Forme Curbar 1, it was inside my budget allows me to use it on all my local tracks and enjoy riding with friends. It's a stop gap bike as i'm returning from breaking my feet, so wanted to get something that was perfect whilst recovering. But i am stuck with what full sus to get when i'm ready to go back onto full suspension. Trail or AM is my dilemma, I'm 5,10 95kg and an aggressive rider, Wales and Peaks are my typical stomping grounds. prefer single track, but i love to ride up to enjoy the downs.
Gotta wait until 2021 to find one now. I found a bike I wanted and Parcelforce UK lost it and after 48 days of waiting they never found it, a combined 40 emails back and forth to the retailer and parcelforce. Phonecalls to the claims team, ended up having to get a full refund and now I can't find a single bike in stock... It's rough man, at least I got the refund, and now i'm more motivated to save up for a decent full suspension thanks to this video! :)
Worst time to buy a mountain bike right now. The selection is very limited because manufacturers are all out of stock. I’m waiting a few months when this bike boom settles down a bit.
like the nukeproof hardtails, looked at size and geometry charts, but cant decide on a L/XL im 6ft 1, any suggestions because these are only available online👍
And don’t buy a cheap pump unless you want to buy a bunch.... I made that mistake. I’m on #3 in two years partly because nothing local stocks good ones... gonna have to get a good one some day.
I bought my Trek Roscoe 7 from Evans cycles with my ride to work, got it for £950 it's now gone up to £1050 but because I'd ordered mine already it stayed at the same price... now the interesting aspect of the Trek Roscoe 7.. i joined the group Trek Roscoe on Facebook and there was a lot of negative on the wheels, and some of the guys showed vids of there rear wheel, I got in touch with Trek UK and they did say there was some issues with the bearings and cone, as they are not sealed bearings, but Trek UK did say there is a warranty on the hubs and if I had issues within the year, they would sort me out with a new hub or complete wheel change... so when i got my Trek Roscoe 7 last month I decided to check both wheels, on checking the front wheel the hub spindle could hardly turn as it was tighten that much the cones were pushing against the bearings plus once i stripped the hub there was very little grease, so my verdict to hub issues is cones to tight front and rear, plus hardly any grease, and this would be a major issue to any hub , no matter what make.. so i completely stripped the hubs down, used proper bearing grease and set them up to what they should be, so far there running smooth.. luckily I've been building bikes for the best part of 35 years , so knowing my stuff has helped and like you said Doddy it's best to know your stuff and making sure it's correctly built .. so them guys with negative issues with there hubs need to learn about the bike and equipment and how to prevent the issues in the future, it's not there fault but if you don't know how to service a bike and do simple jobs the bike isn't going to last ..👍😉 nice work Doddy...
I got a hard tail with 66 degree head angle, 140 travel forks. Crank Bro's Mallet clip-less pedals, 180mm dropper post. The bike make me laugh when I ride it. 27.5 tire with continental der kaiser 2.4 tires, they just fit! I can ride over anything. I have table top jumps set up across the street, and 20 miles of trail running through the woods.
I would prefer a bike shop in my city (luckily there is a giant-store since February) but i bought a canyon, because I want more value for my budget and don't have a good bike shop back than 🤷🏻♂️
Um, LOL @ 17:47 Prankster #1 puts something on dude's head as he's bent over, and then Prankster #2 walks by and gives dude on cell phone a cup check ahahahaha. Glorious hijinks.
This is just what I needed beacuse I'm just getting started in mountian biking and im gonna buy my first bike next week. I'd really like to get a full supension but beacuse I can not afford one right now im either getting a used hardtail or a brand new specialized hardtail
if it's your first bike, i would go quailty but used and on the cheaper side, because you won't lose as much value when you inevitably sell it within the year. because after you ride for a few months, you'll have a better idea of what kind of riding you like and what kind of bike you really want. also, starting on a hardtail will help you learn better fundamental skills!
Look at aschwinn axup DP at walmart. Frame is very capable, and just needs some upgrading on fork, hydrolic disk from manual, and derailer. Youll com in under $1000.
An update now. The marlin 6 I ordered was told two more months so I upgraded to the marlin 7 as the upgrades I was already planning were on the marlin 7 or close enough where when it gets here it’s done
@@benjamind165 You can spent up to £300 if you want, but the sweet spot is under £100 for both clipless and flat pedals. I run the CB stamp 1 in large, and they have enough grip for me.
I have a question. If u have a bike that is designed for a limited amount of fork travel, could you get away with more travel if u downsize the rear tire. Giving the head angle more giving it more room or is that make it worse?
Yeah... that seems to be. A problem everywhere if you are looking in the sub 4K usd range. At least until August ish when supply chains have got moving again.
buying used is better, as you can get some amazing deals, like my downhill bike that i only paid $250 for Edit: there was a small oil leak in the fork, but fixing it was still cheaper than buying a new bike.
managed go grab myself a practically new propain tyee a year ago for about half the price compared to used similar specced bikes... used market can be amazing sometimes
Alright, let’s see what’s on Kijiji on my city... (prices in Canadian dollars) A bike that’s only labelled Bike for 225. That’s an old Giant hybrid with the saddle post suspension. One that’s called Orange bike, no picture, 200 bucks, come with road tires. A CCM (Canadian Tire brand) full suspension for 225$. A Santa Cruz Hightower for 5000. Very old steel frame Kona bike for 125, no suspension. Kids CCM Hardtail for 20 bucks. Lots of good deals!
I decided after 1 month looking for the right emtb I'm just not going to bother most places out off stock and no chance off testing in current climate so I'll just keep my 4k
Step 1. Empty your bank account. Step 2. Buy a bike. Step 3. Save for upgrades. Step 4. Dream about “better” bikes the next 10 years till you can afford a new one. Step 5 . repeat steps 1-4
It’s hard to tell, but nobody will never make a “how to buy a mtb” video better than IFHT films.
oh man true
sorry doddy
Agree
I cried at the end it was that good
That shit was so funny I was dying
So, so true
Step one: wait 6 months for bikes to actually be in stock again.
Exactly! You cant get bikes, definitely no ebikes, maybe a leftover hardtail analog
Literally me right now bro
Jim Williamson I got a cube analog is this bad 🥺
@@SQUBOP only you would know, just hard to get bikes in Tennessee bro
No - Step One is to do your research for six months and Step Two is (somewhere along the way) Pre-Order your bike!
My wife is laughing, because that is how I got my Commencal in the last shipment coming to USA (Out of stock since).
1:20 XC Bikes a.k.a. Cross Country Bikes
1:55 Trail Bikes
2:31 All-Mountain Bikes
3:35 Downhill Bikes
4:18 Breaking the Mold
4:46 Wheel Sizes
6:15 Hardtail or Full Suspension
7:19 What Size?
9:20 Demo Days
12:23 Budget
14:26 Asking Other Riders
15:40 Online or Bike Shop?
17:51 Bike Shop
20:44 Cycle to Work
thanks
we need more people like you
An essential gear to acquire when you get into mountainbikes is a moneygun.
Will add some tips here
Don't fixate on a specific brand just because your buddy told you how good his new specialized is. It doesn't mean you should buy only a Specialized. Also those big brands have a lot worse bang for your buck bikes than for example Decathlon bikes.
Don't spend all of your money only on bike, Buy yourself a spare Inner tube, derailleur hanger and multitool. Nothing worse then something rattle losse on middle of nowhere. Also count for something unexpected to happen (smashing your rear wheel) and have a financial back up for a new part.
And please, don't get a internet medias so seriously. Xt derailleur won't be night and day diffierence over slx one. Also if you just started you really don't need a full suspension carbon enduro.
Bigger brands most of the time are better value. Its just that they are not direct to consumer so the price is still a little high.
Great comment! Much respect!
Agreed - but... I bought a Specialized 20 years ago because JMC rode a specialized. To this day (i'm still riding it...), i do not regret that decision one bit. Not at all. Nope. Nothing.
But you make a good point.
hey man...i am new on the sport and i want a trail hardtail ...what do you suggest?
@@panagiotisskartsilas9415 what country
Going to have watch ifht’s video again and compare the differences
it was great they should make a part 2
Buying a new bike in these times is a nightmare ☹️
it's a minefield...
wait a few months for all that people who bought new bikes cuz the gym was closed and will sell them in a few months with not much use
27.5 XC for me. I've made several upgrades to make it more capable on the trails but I also do a fair bit of street riding. I also thrash it over jumps and so far it's taken everything I can throw at at it.
More people need to heed your first point.
I see so many people who are completely over biked for the terrain they are riding, making the whole ordeal tougher than it needs to be (especially on climbs).
Same goes for the full-suspension/hardtail.
The money that some of the regulars in my area (which is mostly XC with a dash of trail) are dropping on all-mountain/downhill bikes could buy you an absolute monster hardtail that could totally withstand the occasional bike-park visit.
Being honest with yourself will give you a much better experience in the long run.
Yes, I saw someone on an old dh bike on a pump track, I asked him where he rides DH and said he doesn't.
i went down to 125mm of travel and am very happy about it!
I totally agree. People are either misguided at the Bike Shop or when shopping online. I see a lot of new bikers on all mountain bikes riding cross country.
I'm definitely overbiked, people that see me ride probably think "Why does that old bastard have a full suspension bike" The answer, Because I'm an old bastard and having a full suspension is easier on the body! Gimme a break man!
@@phillmuz5184Do you REALLY give that much of a shit about what other people do or ride? Its about being out there enjoying the sport man! Come on, be nice!
I recently got a hard tail and learned few lessons. 1. Check front suspension and opt for air suspensions with tapered steer tube 2.Make sure you have front and back thru axel instead of quick release 3. Get a bike with Dropper post or one which you can upgrade to dropper post 4. You will upgrade handle bar, suspension, pedals, grips 5. Leave some money for accessories like helmet, lock, lights etc
I find most people on my local trails have way more bike than they need.... For some single track cross country
I did just build a bike from the frame up during COVID. Great therapy, best fit ever, and so satisfying. Thanks!
The part seem so much more expensive? What did you do? Please wb
@@antoneckhart6004 just be rich, man. Easy.
Wait until 2021 when bikes are back in stock.
I got the one I wanted xD bought it about 2 weeks ago now but only one shop had one in stock lol ...I got lucky every shop I went into had a sold out stock
This is so true
Ive been waiting months. Just put down payment on a 2021 model pre pre order.
After the November election.
tbh they probobly record months before idk but lol
Maybe the most complete guide on how to buy a MTB. Thanks a lot and good job!
I’m glad you mentioned the helmet. I have no doubt that mine saved me from serious problems this weekend when I took a head first slam into a boulder. I got away with bruising and scuffs, and a smashed lid only. The next person down the trail was a spot on bloke on a really nice scott but no helmet. I didn’t say anything, it’s his choice and he clearly knew what the deal was, but anyone new to this shouldn’t be under any illusions .
Also make sure to factor in additional costs. From lubricants to tools, pedals (mostly not included!), shoes, helmet, maybe some knee pads, elbow pads or a spine protector. All that stuff can quickly add up to anything from $150 to $1000.
Important note re: shoes. They need to be hard-toe. I hit a stump last weekend, fortunately I had mtb shoes on.
Watch the spec on the front chain ring. I wish that online sellers sell bikes with you being able to pick the front chain ring size. If you are a fit rider you may want a 34t or 36t front ring but if you are less fit you may want a 30t, most seem to settle on a 32t.
I bought my bike online, I can mostly maintain and repair it myself. If I have a problem, I can't solve or am missing an expensive tool, I go to my local bike shop. Be sure to tip them, if they help you free of charge. Keep a good connection to them, they will help you out of trouble, if they can. And they're gonna be honest, if they can't or it's better to go buy a part online, at least in my case. If you think your local partner is good, give them a review online, refer to them, if you can. It'll help both them and you.
I had an entry level hardtail,
I saved up and bought a sweet full sus
Me too sold my 13 model Scott scale 930 , picked up leftover Giant trance, really nice !
@@jimbo4203 , Scott was 26?
How long did you have your hardtail before making the upgrade?
Mark Somerville Well my dad bought it for me about may 2017
Then i got jobs and worked for a fews months later down the line and i biught my Cross country full sus in may 2020
It took me just a few months to save up
Thank you Doddy! You I find it so strange how much value I put to your input! You should really have your own bike shop. You are great at your job...don't feel right to say "job" because this is clearly a passion. Awesome man!!!
Excellent vid. Thanks for posting it. Early in the vid I was thinking that a noob might get the impression that the difference between a XC bike and a trail bike is that one's a hardtail and the other is a full suspension, based on the visual examples given. But then a little bit later on you clarified that.
As for 29" wheels and whether someone should go with them: it was explained to me that if you go with a 29er, it's probably a good idea to go with boost spacing to reduce the flex of the larger wheel and make it as stiff as a 26. So that would rule out most bikes under around $1K US since that price seems to be around the entry point for boost. So if a frame doesn't have boost, it's better to go with a 27.5 in addition to the reasons given in the vid.
How to buy an MTB? First, Check your bank account. Second, go back home. 😄
Given I started dirt jumping, was waiting for DJ (hardtail) v slope style (full sus) bikes....perhaps a future vid looking at the intricacies and versatility for other riding of each.
I like your video. You are a good teacher. I like listening to you. Your voice sounds very genuine and natural. Very informative and make a lot of sense.
That was a very helpful video!
I find myself somewhere between Trail and AM-bike, while still keeping my 2005 XC-bike.
Thank you for your tips! I actually opted for an Orbea MX 50 bike. It's within budget. Frame is a smaller size M which is true to my seize. I've found that opting for a larger bike actually makes me feel more unstable and insecure. I love the "twitchyness" of a smaller frame. Lovely channel - keep on going! I'm a new MTB and love your tips and tricks.
I missed fatbikes! I bought me a fatbike (Specialized Fatboy) 8 months ago and enjoyed every day since then! Incredible fun and very versatile, it goes even downhill really fast! Rock gardens? Never went so easy over the rocks! Sandy trails? Snow? No problem at all, it is the most versatile bike I ever had!
Finally!! A comprehensive video to simply things for people new to the hobby at the entry level price point. Thanks!!
Really helpful video, especially this year with soooo many new riders out there.
I was lucky to find my 7 year old son a Trek precaliber 24 by walking into a Trek store during this pandemic. He loves to shred on it! I was riding 10-12 year old Trek 3 series HT and I felt the need to upgrade so I could hit some trails more comfortably with him. After doing some research and going to pretty much every bike shop in my area everything was sold out in my size. So the next day I decided to give the next county over a try. Lo and behold they hadn’t been hit yet!! I ended up going home with a brand new Santa Cruz 5010 they had on sale! Now we’ve been shredding everyday!
I wnet from full suspension to aggressive hardtail with 150mm fromt sus.. love it
Same, steel hardtail with 160mm travel and 65.5 ht angle. Had a full sus before, I didnt dislike it, but honestly I love the simplicity of the ht. Easier to clean, no need to worry about any bearings going wrong in the back and better components for the price.
@@LEONOV991 Which steel sus? I would presume either an On-one, a Cotic, or a Kona Honzo.
@@xx-----------xx873 Actually it's a Production Privee Shan
i kinda want doddy to keep the moustache after quarantine ends...what a strange world this has become!
I dont know, he kind of looks like inspector gadget
That mustache with a more traditional men's hair cut would probably go really well. I think right now they clash a bit
Good advice. In the USA I chose to go to Bert's bikes and learned by test riding a few styles at the store. It's not like a real trail test but a good way to feel size, weight, acceleration and braking. This taught me some key ingredients and the costs before further shopping. I agree that 27.5 inch wheels are a good first choice but the industry is strongly marketing 29 inch, frustrating.
I wouldn't suggest a mountain style bike for anyone just learning to cycle, a light hybrid will provide more comfort and enough traction to explore easy trails when the need for adventure hits.
Mind the UK brake setup if needed,
UK setup is front-right, rear- left hand.
Its such a fiddely job without proper tools and tubing for the hydrolics.
Grtz!
Have you tried to buy a bike recently. Replacement bike required for the wife as her old Giant is showing it age. Picked out a couple of bikes in the £500 price area but finding stock is another story. Nice vid though
Bike shop for me. I got to ride first. Free service after six weeks. There were some teething issues which the shop could sort quickly. They also helped me going tubeless and only charged me 7 quid for the slime and nothing for time. I first bought an 800 quid Scott Aspect, really enjoyed it and went back and just bought my Whyte G170s. They gave me a hundred off the price for being a regular customer so discounts are still possible from your bike shop.
I'll stop gushing now. Great vid.
XC bike: "ultra responsive to rider input". This was a huge problem for me. With a long stem, turning in a circle, I struggled immensely. And my bike was too small to put a short stem on. So I traded my bike for a trail bike with a very short stem. What a difference in steering !!
Literally the video I’ve been looking for in my binging of gmbn/gmbn tech videos over the past few weeks. Still can’t make my mind up tho but great video! Love your channels!
Modern 1 x 12 or 11 speed drivetrains with wide range cassettes, narrow/wide profile toothed chainrings and clutch derailleurs are all VERY similar in both feel and performance. Other often overlooked details are MUCH more important. If there's a bike with a wheel set that has 23mm internal width rims, single casing hard compound tires, 175mm length crank arms, a stem over 45mm long, handlebars 740mm wide or narrower, grips with no lock rings, a revelation/recon fork and dps float performance shock and a complete SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS/Shimano XTR drivetrain. . . AND there's a bike with a wheel set that has 30-35mm internal width rims, double casing soft compound tires, 170/165mm crank arms, 35mm stem, 780-800mm wide bars, a pike/36 fork, dpx2 factory float/super deluxe rear shock and NX/GX eagle or SLX drivetrain I would ALWAYS recommend the second to any level of skill rider riding any discipline of MTB.
addition to frame sizes: some frames have a short seat tube and you can take a larger size which might suit you better. E.g. large upper body.
How to buy a MTB in 2020-
1.) Find your dream bike
2.) Check you have the funds
3.) Find out you can’t get it as it’s out of stock till 2021
4.) Find out you can get one second hand on eBay but for more than the RRP
5.) Go back to riding your old bike while being glad you didn’t sell it on Gumtree straight away
In my country, we are mostly urban, very little Parks and mostly buildings so mountain bikes is not so popular over here but the good thing is there always in stock for mountain parts/bike
18:35 Woah, that's some shark fin!
thanks I pre ordered a Norco fluid 1 ht 29 2021 model and was thinking did I make the right choice and after watching this video HELL YEAH I DID great video GMBN keep them coming
%100 best mtb buy guide
Great summary, especially re the tyre size debate, very pragmatic
Now I know what kind of bike will fit into my lifestyle.. Thanks..
-GT Avalanche Comp 2020 29er Medium
One tip for ppl weighting 95kg or more just overbike yourself just in case. This modern bikes are build for 65-80kg riders in mind. If u are bigger / heavier rider u will break wheels and feel frame bending under your weight.
Here in the Philippines there is still an abundance of legacy standard parts. Sometimes it's even easier to get a hold of legacies than the current components, especially in the more rural areas. Also bike parks are rare, but we get a flood of singletrack and basically muddy farm trails.
I went through this process 2 weeks ago. Read hundreds of articles and visited some local shops. I was between trail or enduro. I own a 2011 trek superfly with 100mm front an rear. So far great bike but I’ve been getting more into trail riding, so I started turning my sf into down-country style. Decided to stop and get something more up to date so I ended up goi g for a Scott Ransom. 170mm and a 100mm bike seems to me overkill but I will continue to ride both. Have to agree that my local shop was super helpful. Didn’t demoed but I feel that I made the right choice. Time will tell...soon.
Great video cheers Doddy. Really gave me a lot to think about and highlighted some pitfalls, I’m already guilty of stepping on a few mines! Narrowed my list down to 3 trail bikes thanks to your advice. Now to see if I can try them out. This is difficult at the moment with COVID, as supplies are scarce.
If you sign up to be a Postmates driver, you will gain access to discounts for Diamond Back bikes discounts. Pretty substantial discounts as well
i am 5'4.5'' less than 55kg and ride a 29 medium whereas most riders my size have small or extra small and 27.5 but my bike is brilliant for my ride style the only modification we made to the bike is cutting of 20 cm of the seat post
It's abit hard to get any bikes atm nothings in stock along with parts. my mate bought a whyte T130 S on the "ride to work scheme" and with stock dwindling fast the scheme finally cleared after a few weeks he went to pick it up but it was the SR and not the S and with no stock anywhere he was gutted he had to take it.
I'm so jealous of y'all's 'ride to work scheme'!!! america is VERY slowly coming around to bikes (particularly here on the west coast), but i can't ride all the way to work anyway, because you can only go halfway across the bay bridge.😐 (but another big bridge got one in november, so, progress!)
One MTB buying guide to rule them all! Nailed it!!
So so true and great point re the psychology of 'purchase defence'...people are averse to admitting they bought something not so good, as they perceive it reflects on them. A whole huge topic...but even independent reviewers who get given things, can be hooked into 'fan boy' bias due to their own personal purchased items even if not whats being reviewed.
A mixed consensus including both sides of the fence...still realising that what suits others, might not suit you
0:08 It’s actually the worst time, because the new season is coming early and the pandemic, so it’s kinda hard to find something
All mountain bikes are sold out almost everywhere atm it’s so annoying wanting to buy an Orbea
İ agree, and add in the big box stores bikes. Especialy the schwinns. Check out the axum, al comp, taft, border(i think it is). Schwinns have come a long way since china bought them.
MTB's best time is now Like the vid guys, I'm looking for a first fullsus at 50, but was riding the Shore in the late 80's on a Casscade , Didn't ride a lot until 2009 and a Norco thinking some changes, but Felt like old HT on NS With a fork, it to sat. 2018 as stubborn as HT lovers are came a Fully kitted out Norco Fluid HT And piece by piece noticed every improvement the components did. I was having Fun, and researched the shit out of Geo and bikes. I Didn't go crazy, but shes mine. I'm finding that there is a lot of bikes out here not fitting the SHORE anymore that i want, BC is a 2 horse stable if you were the specific bike kind of guy, light, smaller, etc.
That T-Shirt looks fresh out the packet! The Iron couldn't quite get ride of the horizontal crease across the front! Thanks for the good advice though
Thanks Doddy. I’m currently in the savings process. Still trying to determine how much travel I really need. I don’t want to limit myself with 120 if I’m to scale up and start hitting some bigger jumps but I’ve heard less is more fun too. Also seen Blake tackle gnarly terrain with less.
Jumps are less about needing more travel and more about needing a frame robust enough to take the landing. An XC bike might be too waify to take the hit (i.e. snapping intentionally flexy seat stays).
Massive thanks Doddy, watched this video and bagged myself a new toy. Gone with a Hardtail Forme Curbar 1, it was inside my budget allows me to use it on all my local tracks and enjoy riding with friends. It's a stop gap bike as i'm returning from breaking my feet, so wanted to get something that was perfect whilst recovering. But i am stuck with what full sus to get when i'm ready to go back onto full suspension. Trail or AM is my dilemma, I'm 5,10 95kg and an aggressive rider, Wales and Peaks are my typical stomping grounds. prefer single track, but i love to ride up to enjoy the downs.
Gotta wait until 2021 to find one now. I found a bike I wanted and Parcelforce UK lost it and after 48 days of waiting they never found it, a combined 40 emails back and forth to the retailer and parcelforce. Phonecalls to the claims team, ended up having to get a full refund and now I can't find a single bike in stock... It's rough man, at least I got the refund, and now i'm more motivated to save up for a decent full suspension thanks to this video! :)
Worst time to buy a mountain bike right now. The selection is very limited because manufacturers are all out of stock. I’m waiting a few months when this bike boom settles down a bit.
Pink bike is a great place on line to look for all kind of bikes and parts.
like the nukeproof hardtails, looked at size and geometry charts, but cant decide on a L/XL im 6ft 1, any suggestions because these are only available online👍
So confusing these days,but you broke it down really well
Great video and very helpful. Thank you very sharp dude and very instructive!
Doddy, love these videos. Please keep them coming. Thanks.
Glad you like them!
I want the UA-cam subtitles guys job... ‘This is the Jim Bean Tech guide to buying a bike’ 🤪
For budget, don’t forget a pump and pressure gauge ,pedals, bottle cages, and some way to get the bike to your trails.
And don’t buy a cheap pump unless you want to buy a bunch.... I made that mistake. I’m on #3 in two years partly because nothing local stocks good ones... gonna have to get a good one some day.
I bought my Trek Roscoe 7 from Evans cycles with my ride to work, got it for £950 it's now gone up to £1050 but because I'd ordered mine already it stayed at the same price... now the interesting aspect of the Trek Roscoe 7.. i joined the group Trek Roscoe on Facebook and there was a lot of negative on the wheels, and some of the guys showed vids of there rear wheel, I got in touch with Trek UK and they did say there was some issues with the bearings and cone, as they are not sealed bearings, but Trek UK did say there is a warranty on the hubs and if I had issues within the year, they would sort me out with a new hub or complete wheel change... so when i got my Trek Roscoe 7 last month I decided to check both wheels, on checking the front wheel the hub spindle could hardly turn as it was tighten that much the cones were pushing against the bearings plus once i stripped the hub there was very little grease, so my verdict to hub issues is cones to tight front and rear, plus hardly any grease, and this would be a major issue to any hub , no matter what make.. so i completely stripped the hubs down, used proper bearing grease and set them up to what they should be, so far there running smooth.. luckily I've been building bikes for the best part of 35 years , so knowing my stuff has helped and like you said Doddy it's best to know your stuff and making sure it's correctly built .. so them guys with negative issues with there hubs need to learn about the bike and equipment and how to prevent the issues in the future, it's not there fault but if you don't know how to service a bike and do simple jobs the bike isn't going to last ..👍😉 nice work Doddy...
I got a hard tail with 66 degree head angle, 140 travel forks. Crank Bro's Mallet clip-less pedals, 180mm dropper post. The bike make me laugh when I ride it. 27.5 tire with continental der kaiser 2.4 tires, they just fit! I can ride over anything. I have table top jumps set up across the street, and 20 miles of trail running through the woods.
I would prefer a bike shop in my city (luckily there is a giant-store since February) but i bought a canyon, because I want more value for my budget and don't have a good bike shop back than 🤷🏻♂️
Um, LOL @ 17:47 Prankster #1 puts something on dude's head as he's bent over, and then Prankster #2 walks by and gives dude on cell phone a cup check ahahahaha. Glorious hijinks.
Brilliant guide, guys! Thank you for all the info & help =D
This was so helpful. Thanks guys
This is just what I needed beacuse I'm just getting started in mountian biking and im gonna buy my first bike next week. I'd really like to get a full supension but beacuse I can not afford one right now im either getting a used hardtail or a brand new specialized hardtail
if it's your first bike, i would go quailty but used and on the cheaper side, because you won't lose as much value when you inevitably sell it within the year. because after you ride for a few months, you'll have a better idea of what kind of riding you like and what kind of bike you really want. also, starting on a hardtail will help you learn better fundamental skills!
Look at aschwinn axup DP at walmart. Frame is very capable, and just needs some upgrading on fork, hydrolic disk from manual, and derailer. Youll com in under $1000.
@@doomracing5527 I live in Sweden so buying at Walmart is not an option for me,but that looks like an awesome bike tho
I am wait for the new Orbeas to come back in stock and see the new 2021 to see if it’s worth it. Can’t wait to rip it
Good information video, could do with more adverts though.
Lol!
An update now. The marlin 6 I ordered was told two more months so I upgraded to the marlin 7 as the upgrades I was already planning were on the marlin 7 or close enough where when it gets here it’s done
Great video, though not sure if this is a good time to get an mtb because of stock shortages
Just the information I was looking for! Thanks!
Great summary. Looking to upgrade the Bossnut. This was helpful info 👍🏻
He forgot to say that you need to budget for pedals
Unless you want a crappy pair of plastic platforms
yes, definitely
How much do you spend on pedals, I have a Mondraker Foxy R and spend £30 on DMR v12 pedals
@@benjamind165 You can spent up to £300 if you want, but the sweet spot is under £100 for both clipless and flat pedals. I run the CB stamp 1 in large, and they have enough grip for me.
I’m getting a new full sus, and I’m getting crankbrothers stamp 1 because they’re supposed to be grippy and they’re apparently grippy
Good pair of budget pedals $60-$100 CAD. Just got a pair of One Up composites for $90.
I have a question. If u have a bike that is designed for a limited amount of fork travel, could you get away with more travel if u downsize the rear tire. Giving the head angle more giving it more room or is that make it worse?
Great video, thank you! It helped making a choice.
All stock seems to be sold out wherever I look.Tried ringing a few shops to demo a bike but they've even sold them aswell😩
Yeah... that seems to be. A problem everywhere if you are looking in the sub 4K usd range. At least until August ish when supply chains have got moving again.
This is my new favorite channel. 👍🏼
Insane amount of info!
buying used is better, as you can get some amazing deals, like my downhill bike that i only paid $250 for
Edit: there was a small oil leak in the fork, but fixing it was still cheaper than buying a new bike.
how is that holding up for you....?
managed go grab myself a practically new propain tyee a year ago for about half the price compared to used similar specced bikes... used market can be amazing sometimes
That is wayyy to cheap, either the frame is cracked and the both the fork and shock are blown, or it was stolen.
Yeah, it can be, but you have to be careful and know your stuff about bikes
Alright, let’s see what’s on Kijiji on my city... (prices in Canadian dollars)
A bike that’s only labelled Bike for 225. That’s an old Giant hybrid with the saddle post suspension.
One that’s called Orange bike, no picture, 200 bucks, come with road tires.
A CCM (Canadian Tire brand) full suspension for 225$.
A Santa Cruz Hightower for 5000.
Very old steel frame Kona bike for 125, no suspension.
Kids CCM Hardtail for 20 bucks.
Lots of good deals!
Best presenter in @GMBN
I wish I saw this before buying my mtb
I decided after 1 month looking for the right emtb I'm just not going to bother most places out off stock and no chance off testing in current climate so I'll just keep my 4k
It is a very difficult time right now! Might be a good idea to wait rather than settle for something that's not your first choice!
Overall good points. Thanks!!
Thank you Doddy!
Wow this vid came perfect I already know which bike im gonna get but im still not sure about size