Comments on: Interbike ‘07: Outdoor Demo Highlights http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:43:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jim http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-48433 Jim Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:00:54 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-48433 Raleigh and Redline have had budget SS 29'ers for a couple years and the Karate Monkey has been around forever, a sub $400 frame+fork. The knock on the Raleigh is that it's ~$700 pricetag buys a very heavy (~27 lbs) bike. The Monkey is kind of heavy too unless you buy expensive light components. The Redline comes in two iterations - one around $450 or $500 that is heavy framed and has taken some knocks from experienced MTB'ers about component quality - no personal knowledge but MTBR Forums have had discussions and my LBS guy steered me away. I have the higher end Redline which retails for ~ $900 rigid and SS, and the only real complaint was the skinny stock tires. Took the rigid forks off in favor of Rebas after a painful 12 hour race. Works pretty well and friends who ride premium brands, as well as Surlys comment favorably on it as a very stable, smooth bike. I know a kid who races and wins on one at expert SS level, the cost factor doesn't seem to be a handicap. You want gears and a front boinger, or light like Niner, I question whether you could do it for less than $750 without running fatally bad parts that would defeat the basic 29'er purpose (fast smooth XC riding, and simple if it's a single) and forget about lightness. (See Bontrager's Iron Triangle of light, strong and cheap, pick any two). As a clydesdale, I can't run whippy forks so the question is academic for me; at some point you're not riding an MTB, you're riding a sort of hybrid with knobby tires and a decal that says "MTB". Just my 2c, YMMV. Raleigh and Redline have had budget SS 29′ers for a couple years and the Karate Monkey has been around forever, a sub $400 frame+fork. The knock on the Raleigh is that it’s ~$700 pricetag buys a very heavy (~27 lbs) bike. The Monkey is kind of heavy too unless you buy expensive light components. The Redline comes in two iterations - one around $450 or $500 that is heavy framed and has taken some knocks from experienced MTB’ers about component quality - no personal knowledge but MTBR Forums have had discussions and my LBS guy steered me away. I have the higher end Redline which retails for ~ $900 rigid and SS, and the only real complaint was the skinny stock tires. Took the rigid forks off in favor of Rebas after a painful 12 hour race. Works pretty well and friends who ride premium brands, as well as Surlys comment favorably on it as a very stable, smooth bike. I know a kid who races and wins on one at expert SS level, the cost factor doesn’t seem to be a handicap. You want gears and a front boinger, or light like Niner, I question whether you could do it for less than $750 without running fatally bad parts that would defeat the basic 29′er purpose (fast smooth XC riding, and simple if it’s a single) and forget about lightness. (See Bontrager’s Iron Triangle of light, strong and cheap, pick any two). As a clydesdale, I can’t run whippy forks so the question is academic for me; at some point you’re not riding an MTB, you’re riding a sort of hybrid with knobby tires and a decal that says “MTB”. Just my 2c, YMMV.

]]> By: Mike http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24278 Mike Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:13:28 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24278 27andahalfinches.com is still available! 27andahalfinches.com is still available!

]]> By: arleigh http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24079 arleigh Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:03:56 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24079 how about a sneak peak? You have my email.. how about a sneak peak? You have my email..

]]> By: Dirt McGirt http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24066 Dirt McGirt Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:14:25 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24066 When is 27andahalfinches.com supposed to be up? LoL When is 27andahalfinches.com supposed to be up? LoL

]]> By: TBF http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24064 TBF Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:47:04 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-24064 So they sucked ya into the 650B scene huh, lol...... can't wait to hear a more detailed ride review as compared to 26 and 29" wheels. So they sucked ya into the 650B scene huh, lol…… can’t wait to hear a more detailed ride review as compared to 26 and 29″ wheels.

]]> By: Desert9r http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23986 Desert9r Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:45:55 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23986 BearSquirell, I agree with you, Totally, but I fear the announcement of the "budget 29er" is also the Announcement of the "Wal-Mart 29er" BearSquirell,

I agree with you, Totally, but I fear the announcement of the “budget 29er” is also the Announcement of the “Wal-Mart 29er”

]]> By: BearSquirrel http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23982 BearSquirrel Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:04:33 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23982 Really cheap 29ers will help the 29er landscape. Cheap bikes cry out for upgrades like forks, wheels and tires. Cheapo 29ers will do more for product availability then the high end ones will ever do. Really cheap 29ers will help the 29er landscape. Cheap bikes cry out for upgrades like forks, wheels and tires. Cheapo 29ers will do more for product availability then the high end ones will ever do.

]]> By: Mike http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23974 Mike Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:00:58 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23974 Leave it to the guys at Niner to leave us wanting more of something we have no clue about. Personally, the Jet 9 is a great product for 2008, but that's common knowledge. This "surprise" should be worth the wait, only with some nice pictures please! Leave it to the guys at Niner to leave us wanting more of something we have no clue about. Personally, the Jet 9 is a great product for 2008, but that’s common knowledge. This “surprise” should be worth the wait, only with some nice pictures please!

]]> By: lil hillbilly http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23968 lil hillbilly Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:33:13 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2007/09/25/interbike-07-outdoor-demo-highlights/#comment-23968 you stinker! wed. is just to far away. I think I have been hangin out w/ my 3yr old to much. you stinker! wed. is just to far away.
I think I have been hangin out w/ my 3yr old to much.

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