Mountain Bike Gurus?

eb_5litre · 22-09-2006, 06:54 PM

Hi all, its time to get back on a bike and lose a few kilos hehe
I need the opinions of knowledgable people as I havent even ridden a mountain bike in years...... I'm looking at buying a Mongoose. I assume this is still a good brand of bike?
Ive narrowed it down to 2 models.....

2007 Mongoose TYAX Elite for $599
OR
2006 Mongoose TYAX Super for $650 (model runout - regular price $799)

I'll mostly be riding on road but will almost certainly take it offroad in the near future.
I originally was looking at a Giant YUKON but this is $799..... is the Giant worth the extra $149 or would it be a waste of money considering what i'll use it for?

$799 would be my absolute limit.

Thanks in advance

:

pertuan · 22-09-2006, 07:17 PM

I'm no guru but I have the 2005 model TYAX Elite. Its a nice bike but alittle heavy. Gears arent the best. CHanges are alittle clunky. Gear ratios are so-so as well. What is good though are the disc brakes. This thing stops on a dime.

eb_5litre · 22-09-2006, 07:43 PM

Yeah the TYAX Super has lighter wheels, better crankshaft, better shifters etc.... thats why i'm leaning towards that one.

XKALBR · 22-09-2006, 08:47 PM

Mate, The Giants and the best value for money,
To enjoy your ride you'll need good runnig gear,
Look at the quality of the gear selecters, and brakes and wheels and also folks.
You get what you pay for,

fairlane500 · 22-09-2006, 09:16 PM

Like old mate said Giant brand bikes offer the best value on the market, they also come from the factory properly assembled (despite the fact any bicycle should be prepped by the shop properly -they often don't). Mongoose was once a premium brand but sadly like most things it has become a victim of mass marketing and is now the domain of toy stores and department stores. Buy a Giant of the same price and you will be much happier with the lighter weight and at least one level better spec(if you had a load of cash I'd suggest a Specialized or Cannondale).
Thats my 2 cents (19yrs mtn bike racing and ex pro). Long live the Fords!!!! (maybe they could make a decent MTN bike - HSV tried and failed miserably!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

eb_5litre · 22-09-2006, 09:22 PM

Ok well the 06 TYAX Super has RockShox J2.5 forks, SRAM 24 speed 4.0 shifters with SRAM SX5.0 rear derailleur, spline crankset & WTB Dual Duty XC double wall rims with brass eyelets and stainless spokes.
Is that decent?

ondori · 22-09-2006, 10:06 PM

Buy a FPV 'bike'

http://www.fpv.com.au/news/press-rel...t.aspx?ID=1077

RG · 22-09-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb_5litre

Ok well the 06 TYAX Super has RockShox J2.5 forks, SRAM 24 speed 4.0 shifters with SRAM SX5.0 rear derailleur, spline crankset & WTB Dual Duty XC double wall rims with brass eyelets and stainless spokes.
Is that decent?

I've never been a fan of the SRAM gear sets, much prefer shimano. But the shox are decent.

Sloth · 22-09-2006, 10:47 PM

Im thinking of buying a mountain bike too because I want to get outdoors in the weekends and im incredibly unfit. I am leaning towards Giant but I have no idea which model, i need to go into a shop and have a decent play yet.

TURBO_GHIA · 24-09-2006, 10:57 AM

3 of my mates have the yukon its a far bit better then my GT ,one mate had problems with the shocks the seals kept leaking

eb_5litre · 24-09-2006, 11:06 AM

Well I went researching again and visited the local Giant dealer.... well what a bunch of tosspots, they were clueless...... he looked at me blankly when I asked if it had a splined crankset (i already knew it did). Very disappointed as I've pretty much gone off it now if that who i'll have to deal with for servicing etc.

I have now been tempted by the Avanti range.... top bunch of blokes at the shop too. Ive got to go and check some out today and if i'm not happy with what they have then i'll be getting the Mongoose TYAX Super.

TURBO_GHIA · 24-09-2006, 11:56 AM

ask where the avanti is and see if they can get giants ,thats what i did when i was looking they didnt have any there so i ordered it in

xbgs351 · 24-09-2006, 12:30 PM

If you can stretch your budget to around $1200, you can start to get some decent MTBs that will last years longer and be a lot lighter. When comparing different bikes compare what level of componentry and what shocks they have.

Don't rule out a road bike. They are far nicer to ride on the road than a MTB. They roll better, go much faster for the same effort and you will be able to ride further in the same time, which makes cycling far more enjoyable.

**DJM83** · 24-09-2006, 02:24 PM

Dont get a road bike boring as bat ****. Go MTB but i do agree stretch your budget a little more and try to get something a little better.

xbgs351 · 28-09-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TE50 056

Dont get a road bike boring as bat ****. Go MTB but i do agree stretch your budget a little more and try to get something a little better.

Why don't you come out on a Tuesday or Thursday night ride with the roadies? Road bikes can be great fun - if you call busting your gut up Bowna Hill fun

:

eb_5litre · 28-09-2006, 07:30 PM

I ended up buying a 2007 Mongoose TYAX Super for $699 ( I missed out on the 06 special so he sold me the new one for $49 extra ).
This should suit my needs perfectly.

I have another question though..... are the trip computer thingies any good? I wouldnt mind knowing how far Ive ridden and not sure if these are accurate or not........

loxxr6 · 29-09-2006, 12:55 AM

I bought a pretty cheap bike computer similar to the third one of the right on this page http://www.bicyclestore.com.au/Compu...c-378-p-0.html . I'm pretty happen with mine for the basic stuff it measures.

My g/f's brothers are a bit more hardcore with theirs and they have their Polar bike/watch/pc thingy's d/l'ing their info and then transferred to their pc/laptop or pda so they can see how they go on each of their rides. Its insane. They check their heart rates, the speed they were at etc and compare at the end of their rides.

eb_5litre · 29-09-2006, 01:40 AM

Ok cool... so how do you know if theyre accurate? How do you set them up?

SPK-250 · 29-09-2006, 01:57 AM

i just bought a Diamond Back BSX comp. Got it $500 cheaper coz the brake cable outer had a slight crack. Time to re-live some old memories from the BMX racing days!