Which mountain bike should i buy?

[MrStompy]

Anyone got any experience with mountain bikes?

Im wanting a new bike cause my old one is stuffed.
they want nearly $500 to get it up to standard (needs new derailers, cogs, wheel etc)
I was going to just go buy the avanti atomic which has gotten some good reviews and only costs $629
http://www.avantibikes.com/comp-mtb/montari.aspx?bid=38

but then i saw one of these GT Avalanche 2.0 and they look really cool.
I can pick one up for about $800
http://www.gtbicycles.com/int/default.a ... ory&&id=17 (you may need to scroll down a bit to find the avalanche)

Do you reckon its worth spending the extra $170 for the GT?
Ive had the last bike for nearly 8 years so i will get the use out of it no worries. but if im not going to notice the difference between them i might as well save my cash right?

got any advice or reccomendations for me?
BTW i need to buy it before saturday as i am going in the sydney to wollongong ride on sunday.

Thanks for the help

[dave#3]

Jayc,

I don't know the first thing about MTB's, but keep an eye out for Cath and I in sector B on Sunday!

[Lone Wolf]

Personally I'd go an Avanti, they are a great bike. I prefer them over others

[mick_dundee]

What about the Kawasakis available from Toys R US?

[Strika]

Haro V3!

[99coconuts]

how stuffed is the old one? because rebuilding a bicycle to your own specs really isn't hard, the biggest thing is going to be figuring out what bits are right for you (i've basically built an entire bike for the missus with leftovers that i just wasn't happy with). buuuut if time is a factor then i guess the new bike is always an easy route and you're gauranteed a nice shiny new toy

i personally am not much of a fan of the avanti's, i've had one and malissa's bike uses an avanti frame as a base. for me, my avanti just felt wrong, the geometry was all out of whack and the frame felt flexxy to me. that was an 05 barracuda (about $1500 worth at the time). i tried out an agressor a little down the track and found it to be miles better than the barracuda but still not quite right and really, i was just dreaming at that kinda price

i ended up digging out my old 02 GT avalanche 2.0 and basically changing EVERYTHING over on it till i was happy (mostly second hand so all on the cheap). the frames on the GTs are fantastic so you really cant go wrong with them, they're basically using the same frames now as they were 5 years ago, its just the compnentry thats changing.

i'd say grab the GT and see how you like it, the 2.0 is a great start but $800 sounds a bit steep (it was a few years ago now but mine was $450 and my sister got one 2 years later for $500). even start with the 3.0 and see how you go, you can always chuck better stuff on it down the track as you find it necissary. this site might be a little help to you down the track http://www.farkin.net


... and if you can wait, all the 08 stuff will be coming out very soon, making the 07 stuff cheap as chips ...

[99coconuts]

What about the Kawasakis available from Toys R US?

no.... nnnnnnnnnnnnno

kawasaki should be ashamed of themselves for letting their name sit on those pieces of crapola

[z900/zx9]

Gt or giant both are better than an avanti,frame wise the gt is the go

[MrStompy]

I forgot about Giant.
you are the second person to mention them today...

hmmm i better at least check em out.

[MrStompy]

thanks a lot for the advice
i am now the proud owner of an 08 GT Avalanche 2.0

i checked out the avanti and it was ok but the GT just seemed so much better. probably cause of the price difference.

this thing has hydraulic disc brakes on it. the front are two piston jobs.
that combined with the suspension makes it better than most harleys

[Neka79]

thanks a lot for the advice
i am now the proud owner of an 08 GT Avalanche 2.0

i checked out the avanti and it was ok but the GT just seemed so much better. probably cause of the price difference.

this thing has hydraulic disc brakes on it. the front are two piston jobs.
that combined with the suspension makes it better than most harleys

probably more HP too!!

[Gosling1]

.......that combined with the suspension makes it better than most harleys

mate - I layed a cable earlier tonight that was 'better than most Harleys' !!!

[Technik]

stay away from GT, apparently they also make Kmart brand "'Huffy"" bikes..haha they are good value for $$ though, excellent specs. etc

[MickLC]

.......that combined with the suspension makes it better than most harleys

mate - I layed a cable earlier tonight that was 'better than most Harleys' !!!

PMSL

[MrStompy]

.......that combined with the suspension makes it better than most harleys

mate - I layed a cable earlier tonight that was 'better than most Harleys' !!!

classic -
i too just pmsl