Looking for a cheapish 27.5+ hardtail

[nahtnoj]

I'm building trails on my property. Its been a long time since I had an MTB. Looking for a 27.5+ hardtail, under $1500.

I'm having a hard time finding a better value than a Trek Roscoe 7.

A lot of other bikes in the sub-1500 range are equipped with Deore, which only has a 42T cassette. That seems...sub-optimal versus the 11-50 that would come with an SX Eagle group.

I've looked at Kona, Jamis, Giant, Fuji, Salsa...am I missing anything?

[Lionel]

At this price I would go used. Bikes depreciate like crazy, as we all know.

[nahtnoj]

I just read Caleb's Fuel thread. Consider me of a very similar mindset. I want a bike I can ride for a few years, not think too much or care too much about, and then replace in 2024 with whatever the industry has decided is the latest and greatest.

Rocky singletrack in the woods on my farm for ~60 minutes at a time, not a ton of elevation change, but very punchy when there is some.

[nahtnoj]

At this price I would go used. Bikes depreciate like crazy, as we all know.

Yeah, but MTB tech changes so fast that I have a hard time believing worn 3 year old higher end components are going to function appreciably better than brand new SX Eagle or Shimano SLX...

[JoB]

Yeah, but MTB tech changes so fast that I have a hard time believing worn 3 year old higher end components are going to function appreciably better than brand new SX Eagle or Shimano SLX...

you're a big boy right? 29er with 2.4s? Canyon? sorry for the drift.

(talked to a local who told me that bike inventories are getting thin. you're not at a great time for sales anyway but the supply lines drying up it's making it worse.)

[nahtnoj]

you're a big boy right? 29er with 2.4s? Canyon? sorry for the drift.

(talked to a local who told me that bike inventories are getting thin. you're not at a great time for sales anyway but the supply lines drying up it's making it worse.)

6'2" 210. I'm thinking more 27.5+. The wooded areas at my place are wooded because they were far too wet and rocky to ever think about clearing for farming, so I need all the contact patch I can get. But yes, I had not thought of Canyon, thank you.

[sailor]

If it is mostly flat you don’t need the 50t cog and deore will shift better and be more reliable than sx.

[72gmc]

Of you don't want xc geo, you could include Norco in your search.

[sk_tle]

Marin Pine Mountain or Ribble HT 725.

Are you sure you need a 50t cog ? I had Eagle 10x50 for a year or so, I sold the bike it came with and I reuse an old XX1 group with a 10-42 cassette on my current MTB. I swapped the 32t chainring that came standard with the crank by a 28t and now my 28x42t is almost as low as a 32x50t. I lost a bit of top end but it only really matters if you are racing or riding a lot and fast in the pavement to the trail.

[Lionel]

Yeah, but MTB tech changes so fast that I have a hard time believing worn 3 year old higher end components are going to function appreciably better than brand new SX Eagle or Shimano SLX...

Yeah maybe but an XT or XTR group from 3/4 years ago that has been lightly used should be totally stellar.

[sk_tle]

SLX seems really sturdy but I heard really bad things about Sram SX. No idea if true or only usual sram bashing.

[zambenini]

50t is an unbelievable gear, I would think, belonging on unbelievable terrain.

[sk_tle]

50t is an unbelievable gear, I would think, belonging on unbelievable terrain.

Well the thing is once you have it you try climbs you would normally walk. And trust me even at 3mph you will still be faster than pushing your bike.

It definitely makes more sense on a plus bike where traction is rarely missing. Sometimed I wish I still had my 29+....which makes me remember I still have a front wheel and a spare 50mm wide rim...

[nahtnoj]

Marin Pine Mountain or Ribble HT 725.

Are you sure you need a 50t cog ? I had Eagle 10x50 for a year or so, I sold the bike it came with and I reuse an old XX1 group with a 10-42 cassette on my current MTB. I swapped the 32t chainring that came standard with the crank by a 28t and now my 28x42t is almost as low as a 32x50t. I lost a bit of top end but it only really matters if you are racing or riding a lot and fast in the pavement to the trail.

Yeah, I'm going to be riding on tight singletrack with lots of rocks and not much elevation change, so its probably something I can live without. Its amazing to me looking at all these bikes with SRAM drivetrains and Shimano brakes. The last time I owned an MTB was maybe in 2011? SRAM couldn't make brakes then and apparently has not figured it out of the course of a decade.

[marley]

50t is an unbelievable gear, I would think, belonging on unbelievable terrain.

anything shimano in the past 4 yrs is bomb proof even if heavily used - I have slammed my derailleur and chain/front chain ring against so many rocks and stones.

50t is way overkill unless you are running a 29r - 42T is more than enough - but some people just like the latest and greatest

[Lionel]

I just received my XTR 10-51 cassette we will see if 51 is too much with the 32, I think it will come in handy.

[nahtnoj]

Of you don't want xc geo, you could include Norco in your search.

I don't really want XC geo, but I think Norco makes the wrong kind of not-XC geo.

What I really want is a cheapish production bike that mirrors an Eastern Woods Research...

[rec head]

Yeah, I'm going to be riding on tight singletrack with lots of rocks and not much elevation change, so its probably something I can live without. Its amazing to me looking at all these bikes with SRAM drivetrains and Shimano brakes. The last time I owned an MTB was maybe in 2011? SRAM couldn't make brakes then and apparently has not figured it out of the course of a decade.

I have always been a Shimano on mtn bikes and Campy on road bikes guy. BUT I have some mid grade Sram brakes on my latest mtn bike and like them. I'm sure they could be nit-picked but they work well, don't seem to squeal any sooner than others and have been service free as far I remember. They are good enough that I'm considering an AXS mullet on the gravel bike.

[Rich Beaudoin]

Whatever you buy, you should do it soon. Our suppliers (Trek & Giant) have almost nothing in warehouses and not anticipating much before July. Shops have lowest inventory I’ve ever seen and I’m hearing the used bike market is similar. We’re in a depression folks

[nahtnoj]

Whatever you buy, you should do it soon. Our suppliers (Trek & Giant) have almost nothing in warehouses and not anticipating much before July. Shops have lowest inventory I’ve ever seen and I’m hearing the used bike market is similar. We’re in a depression folks

So Rich, do you see this as a distribution issue, or are manufacturers cutting production severely?

I'm not in a huge rush to buy, but I might move faster if there are going to be deep and lasting production cuts.