Diamondback or GT?

[Lt Major Burns]

Without trying to shove another name in, (although GT are very good Downhill bikes) i really think you should consider Marin

IMO, the best bikes in the world.

[gphillipk]

Originally Posted by Lt Major Burns

Without trying to shove another name in, (although GT are very good Downhill bikes) i really think you should consider Marin

IMO, the best bikes in the world.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm limited to what's available on the local market. And from the quick browse of their products, they're rather expensive...as a comparison, the Shwinn Mesa bike I saw today is about the same price as their 3rd cheapest bike and that has an Acera rear derailleur while the Mesa had a Deore RD.

[mdnky]

Sounds like you looked at the Mesa GSX, which I've been told is a very nice bike for the money. Mine's a Mesa GS, so I don't have the "disc brakes" but other than that it's pretty much the same as the rest of the Mesa line with some minor exceptions such as the front fork/suspension and stock derailleur (The Mesa has a Shimano Altus, The Mesa GS and Mesa GSD have a Shimano Alivio, and the Mesa GSX has the Shimano Deore).

Remember you can always change the derailleur out if you're not happy with the stock one, so I wouldn't put priority on that necessarily. I'll probably be adding an XTR or XTR Rapid Rise to mine soon since I'm not very happy with the Alivio system at all...it's just too slow and has miss-shifted under load (stress) too many times. After reading some reviews on it, I'm not the only one having those issues it seems.

The Mesas are a bit on the heavy side, probably 5 pounds or so heavier than most mid-level bikes. In all honesty the weight isn't too bad, all things considered. I can lift it on top of my SUV without a problem, or put it in back if need be. Most of the weight is from the frame...which is very stoutly built. I'd have to say that's the best thing about this bike...the frame. Definitely worth throwing money into upgrades later on. The rims are another matter all together...I've already bent my back one, though it was due mainly to my own stupidity more than anything else. I had it laying in the back of the SUV and a had some other items around it...which at some point migrated on top of it.


There's not much more to say really...everyone you speak with will have a different opinion on who makes the best bike. Some will have a good reason, others will just like the one they have (brand loyalty) because they have it. Regardless, that really doesn't mean much nor should it. You need to go out and try a few, seeing which feels best and fits you the best. It's really no different than buying a car...you wouldn't do that without test-driving one or looking at it, would you?

[gphillipk]

I finally settled on a bike; its a South African brand (Silverback) that not well known yet. I got good components for a fair price: It has a Deore LX RD and Deore FD, Suntour shock, Deore shifters...., but a one year guarantee on the frame.
I was sorely tempted by a Giant Iguana (with those hydraulic disc brakes...yum), but it has a nasty FD (Alivio) and I nearly damaged the chain when test riding. That put me off the bike.