Bike advice????'s

[labGTO]

So I have been out of MTB scene for about 4+ years and looking to get back in. My last bike was a FS Rocky Mountain that I built with all new XT components and a Recon fork and sold the bike on here. @ my height of riding I was easliy riding 50 miles a week iof single track n Upton and Callahan.

My question is does anyone have experience with Bikesdirect.com and Motobecane bikes?
I was looking @ the 2012 Motobecane 700 HT Mountain Bike for $550. I'm sure I will be happy with a HT, but I'm also not sure how much I will end up riding and don't want to invest large sum of $$$.


Specs:

Frame Custom 7005 Aluminum Trail-Tuned POWER STAY frame, box section chainstays, bi-axial gussetted downtube, sculpted rear dropouts with replaceable rear derailleur hanger, 2x H2O bosses, International Standard rear disc mounts Detailed Picture Gallery
Fork RockShox Dart 2 Adjustable with Advanced LockOut (crown-mount lever)
Crankset TruVativ 5D Aluminum Triple 22/32/42T 175mm (TruShift Rings)
Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge
Pedals ATB Beartrap (metal cages)
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore Mega 9 top swing
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore XT long cage
(Note: may differ from photos due to updated Shimano designs)
Shifters Shimano Deore Mega 9 Speed STI Rapidfire Pods (27 speeds total)
Cassette/Freewheel Cassette 11-32T 9 Speed Hyperglide
Chain 9 Speed Z9000 Super Narrow
Hubs Formula DiscSpecific Aluminum (black) Sealed Ball Bearing mechanism
Spokes Stainless Steel
Rims WTB SpeedDisc Rims Double Wall Aluminum
Tires WTB Velociraptor Blackwall 26 x 2.10
Brakes Mechanical Disc Brakes with Multi Pad Angle adjustments
(Note: Brakes are Tektro Aquila or Avid BB5, No Choice)

Brake Levers Tektro for Disc
Headset Cane Creek Internal Sealed caged ball bearing VP A42E 1.125 inch
Handlebar Skye Comp Aluminum Riser
Stem Skye Comp Threadless Aluminum
Tape/Grip WTB Dual Compound
Saddle WTB Speed V with comfort groove
Seat Post Skye Aluminum Micro-Adjust
Seat Clamp Alloy w/QR
Sizes 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 inch
Colors Polished Silver Detailed Picture Gallery
Our low price is $549.95 Compare at $1195 MSRP

[thomllama]

I know quite a few people who have purchased from them to use as a build frame. they buy the bike, sell off the cheaper part and switch out what they want. Still comes out cheaper (and lighter which most doing are looking for, they get the Motobecame TI frame).

As long as you are mech-ly inclined you'll be good. Had one person get a bad (smashed or bent or something) derailleur and BD was quick and courteous on fixing the problem. Really haven't heard of anyone having issues with purchases from them..

for the $$ it's decent... but the fork and brake calipers are kinda crappy and you'll want to replace them rather quickly

[Jisch]

We bought my wife a BD Motobecane HT. Its a really good parts spec for the money - really we couldn't come close with any other bike. My wife got the one with the Reba fork and the Al frame (Fantom). Its been a really great bike with the only failure coming from a plastic headset spacer - it had 2 hard plastic spacers and one soft plastic one (like the lid of a milk jug). Weird. Anyway, I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again, you just have to be realistic about what you are buying (TL's comments above).

[labGTO]

I know quite a few people who have purchased from them to use as a build frame. they buy the bike, sell off the cheaper part and switch out what they want. Still comes out cheaper (and lighter which most doing are looking for, they get the Motobecame TI frame).

As long as you are mech-ly inclined you'll be good. Had one person get a bad (smashed or bent or something) derailleur and BD was quick and courteous on fixing the problem. Really haven't heard of anyone having issues with purchases from them..

for the $$ it's decent... but the fork and brake calipers are kinda crappy and you'll want to replace them rather quickly

Is the Dart 2 a lousy fork?

[thomllama]

Is the Dart 2 a lousy fork?

kinda.. it'll work for a while, but a decent air fork will be lighter and smoother riding. For a $500 bike, I wouldn't expect to get anything better though. You can ride it, it's not like it's going to fall apart or anything. get the bike,ride the crap out of it, but keep an eye on your local shops and Online parts places and look for deals on a better fork...

[Jisch]

You can look it up at MTBR in their review section. I have no direct experience with that fork, but generally speaking lower end forks are going to have limited adjustability and will not have the longevity of a better fork. Its a good place to spend a little extra money when buying a bike.

[kwinto]

thomllama - according to the specs the frame is not Titanium, just regular aluminum. For the price, it's not surprising.

IabGTO - I'd follow a good advice mentioned here before (without enough stress, though) - check lbs's for special deals on previous season bikes or demos. You could get a whole lot of bike with better fork and hydro brakes for same price range if you're lucky.

[thomllama]

thomllama - according to the specs the frame is not Titanium, just regular aluminum. For the price, it's not surprising.

.................

I never said it was.. I was referring to another bike purchased as a general reference to buying through BikesDirect

................
IabGTO - I'd follow a good advice mentioned here before (without enough stress, though) - check lbs's for special deals on previous season bikes or demos. You could get a whole lot of bike with better fork and hydro brakes for same price range if you're lucky.

that's good advice!! worth a look at least

[Evil Chocula]

I've bought two SS road bikes off of Bikes Direct, very happy. Free shipping as well.

[labGTO]

Thanks for all the pointers, have not purchased anything as of yet. Not sure what direction to go in, I started looking @ used FS bikes on CL and Ebay and increasing my budget. I also should purge a few of my 7 BMX's.