ISO: Trail Bike

[Bob B]

Asking for my little brother who lives in Flagstaff AZ and wants his first “good bike” to go trail riding and bikepacking with his friends. He has a pretty good budget but cant go over $1400.

It might not be a Riv. I persuaded one brother to get on a Riv (a Sam). but this brother needs something different at the moment.I was thinking a used Surly, Sklar (maybe long shot), Crust. Anyone selling or know someone selling? Any general recommendations about makes or where to look? Not sure what other online communities are out there where B//S/T are done on a trust level like this great one and BOB. 

Thanks in advance.

Bob B.

Maplewood, NJ

[Richard Rose]

My very first thought;

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On Feb 7, 2024, at 8:38 AM, Bob B <rbol...@gmail.com> wrote:

Asking for my little brother who lives in Flagstaff AZ and wants his first “good bike” to go trail riding and bikepacking with his friends. He has a pretty good budget but cant go over $1400.

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[John]

Trigger warning: opinions regarding "modern mountain bikes."

For $1400 I'd watch the local Craigslist and Facebook marketplace listings for a used hardtail from 2016ish or later. Something with 69 to 66 (ish) HTA. 29er/700 tubeless ready wheels (27.5/650 is OK too) at least 2.3" wide. 1x drive train (46T or more big cog in the rear, clutched derailleur). Dropper post. Wide (650mm or more) handlebars. Short (<60mm) stem. Disc brakes (these will probably end up being hydraulic because that's become standard, although IMO cable actuated is fine for most people). That would cover riding a lot of mountain bike trails/singletrack in and around AZ as well as bikepacking routes on forest and jeep roads, doubletrack, etc.

Modern mountain bikes are really good. The geo works extremely well with the longer top tubes, shorter stems and wider bars. Big wheels have amazing ability to roll over trail obstacles. With a little technique and proper setup these bikes are incredibly comfortable, safe and capable. These bikes also cost more than fully rigid mountain bikes, ATBs, hillibikes (sometimes), whatever you want to call them. They have suspension forks, dropper posts and possibly hydraulic brakes that need to be serviced and maintained (i.e. complicated)

A Surly Karate Monkey or Krampus both fit the bill and could potentially be had for under $1400. A Sklar or Crust is pretty unlikely. Kona Honzo or a Marin are also good bang for the buck. Here's a list of budget hardtails The Radavist published recently. Any used model would be fine. I wouldn't be too worried about the brand, so long as it's a legitimate bike company and checks the boxes above. A mid tier Shimano or Sram group (or at least shifter/derailleur) wold be ideal. The new Microshift 1x drivetrains are cool too. 

All that said, it may be worth honing in on what your brother means to do with the bike. I hate to say it but "trails and bikepacking" is pretty broad by today's standards, especially in AZ and the Four Corners region. Does he plan on riding rocky, steep, technical trails that require you to lift a front wheel or roll down obstacles? There can be lots of that in AZ. But if he has no intention of ever doing that, a fully rigid bike with biggish tires may fit the bill just fine!

Laying it all on the line,

John in Minnesota

[Stephen]

Jones bikes were being discussed in another thread, they have some pretty steep discounts at the moment. If your brother fits either a small or large (seems theyre out of mediums) he could get a SWB v2 for $1295.

 https://jonesbikes.com/jones-plus-swb-v2-complete-bike/

[Richard Rose]

That Jones is an absolute no-brainer answer to the op question. That is a screaming deal!

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On Feb 7, 2024, at 9:59 AM, Stephen <cavell....@gmail.com> wrote:

Jones bikes were being discussed in another thread, they have some pretty steep discounts at the moment. If your brother fits either a small or large (seems theyre out of mediums) he could get a SWB v2 for $1295.

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[Jason Fuller]

I think most of us here would be happier on a Jones than a more traditional modern MTB, but we are definitely the outliers.  I agree with John's take, unless they too are someone who puts considerable value in doing things the simple, timeless way with lower maintenance and willingness to walk tougher sections of trail.  The Krampus / Karate Monkey are great bikes that satisfy both camps about as well as any bike could. Another one to scan for used is the Salsa Timberjack. 

[ascpgh]

My first thought too. " trail riding and bikepacking with his friends" is equal to "a knife for meat". You'll have suggestions ranging from a scalpel to a 2# cleaver.

I just read John Watson/Radavist's review of Knolly's new Tyaughton, a modern steel hardtail trail bike that is admittedly not a beginners' bike but the terrain where tested is so well described it's worth reading. It's almost like being there. My grandparents retirerd there and I rode South Mountain trails long before suspension. Just as I had my insights about geometry and suitability of mainstream industry geometry in my Ozark Mountain riding, this place made clear that it had special needs too. Needs that handed me my backside by the end of the water in my bottles.

The write up did a really good job of describing details of modern trail bike design and the situational benefit of them. Lots of specifics to absorb and look for on the more mainstream possibilities, either off the rack or second hand. 

Your brother's budget is best suited to a ready to pedal bike. Even a free frame would a dark hole which that money won't seem to fill, even with nominal spec parts. The big brands have such purchasing power by volume, it's the best way to start. This review included some well grounded words about lower end components as well. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 9:46:49 AM UTC-5 John wrote:

[nlerner]

It seems somehow blasphemous to suggest an ugly bike on the RBW list, but I think there's a ton of practical value in the State Bicycle Co. All-Rounder:

https://www.statebicycle.com/collections/4130-steel-bikes/products/4130-all-road-black-canyon-650b-700c

I bought a frameset from them and built it up as my winter commuter (pic attached), but the price for an entire bike with decent components is hard to beat, plus it's shipped out of the OP brother's home state. 

Neal Lerner

Brookline MA

[Edwin W]

I agree with Neal that those state bicycles are uglier than we typically prefer on this refined list, but they are practical, another quality we value. A friend of mine got one and while it is not as good as my lugged steel fendered, lighted, racked awesome Joe Appa, he doesn't care!

Edwin