Should I buy this bike?
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Rico
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« on: November 13, 2007, 10:33:57 AM »
I have an opportunity to buy a new 2005 Raleigh Ram 3.0 FS bike for $500 from a going out of business sale.  It has the following stock components on it, except has Avid BB-5 disk brakes instead of the V-brakes.  Opinions?

http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=11&itemid=213

I have been riding since April 2007 and currently have a Raleigh Mojave 8.0 Hard Tail.  I was hoping to buy a FS bike in about two years after riding the hell outta the HT, but this seems like too good a deal.  I was hoping to not ride the FS and slowly upgrade the components over the next couple years and use the components that came with it for my old bike.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2007, 10:37:50 AM by RicoCPA » Logged
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dirtmerchant
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« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2007, 10:45:05 AM »
I like it. $500 for that bike with avid disc brakes is slammin deal. Plus you will have two bikes. You can never have too many bikes. But that is an entry level FS so expect it to get hammered especially as you get better and go faster... Do it!  Cheesy
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Rico
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« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2007, 10:57:31 AM »
Lou, when you are referring to entry level, do you mean frame, shocks, all components?

My plan is to upgrade the components over the next two years.  For example, I will probably swap out the deraileurs to SRAM 7.0 or 9.0.  Get a better lighter crankset.  Maybe even change out the fork and rear shock.  I will use the swapped out parts for parts for my current hardtail.  So if the frame is good and the shocks are decent, is it a good bike to upgrade the other components?

Will I end up spending too much in the long run upgrading or should I wait a couple years and buy a new FS then.
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dirtmerchant
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« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2007, 11:35:10 AM »
All of the above you mentioned. The quality of the suspension is the most important factor on a FS bike. That bike comes with Manitou which is a good brand, but they are the entry level models, meaning they don't have all the adjustability of the higher end models, as well as the materials they use to make it are not as good as the higher end models. Rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. I bought a $800 fork for my bike because it is the best on the market (Fox 36 Vanilla) But I have also been riding for 15 years so I have lots of experience with suspension and I am very particular... As this is your first FS bike, it's a good decision to get entry level bike to make sure you like it. Just remember that a higher level bike will be that much better and more plush. But you will be fine on this bike and I think you will really enjoy it, especially in the Wiss. Upgrading fork and shock, and other components as they break, in the future with higher end models is the way to go if you don't want to drop big money up front. THe frame is good and should last many years so you can upgrade around it... Basically, spreading the cost over the years vs. paying big now is the decision you have to make...
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« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2007, 11:36:34 AM »
I personally think frames are hit or miss. I've broken a $2000 Specialized frame and yet ran my $300 eBay bike in the Wiss for almost 4 years before that finally cracked.

The main thing is if it fits you and is designed to do what you want it to do. (XC, Downhill, etc). This looks like a decent bike for $500 and I doubt you can go wrong. But if you are planning to upgrade all those components, and lets say you planned to do that right away, well all that stuff would run you about another $1000 so now you are looking at a budget of $1500, which can buy you a much better bike.

I would say that if you are riding the Wiss as your main park you may want to consider a bike with better components. But that being said, more expensive does not necessarily mean better. Often it means lighter weight and weaker. I know a number of guys that run 7 and 8 speed systems because the 9 speed systems are problematic, being thinner and lighter the cassette cogs bend easier and such.  

MTBR reviews reckon it's a  great starter bike. http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/xc_full_suspension/product_122988.shtml
If that's what you're after go for it.
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Kelly
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« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2007, 11:42:52 AM »
I would buy it, that's a good deal and the bike is fine, really. I wouldn't even bother replacing anything until you brake something, why bother, especially for the price. If you find you don't like one thing or another about the suspension you could always swap-out but I'd ride the hell out of that bike and enjoy it, worry about replacing stuff later.

-pete
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2007, 10:10:04 PM »
You will get what you pay for when it comes to Moutainbikes. But that's look like a sweet deal. Entry level but hey, that's what you are. Buy it and rock it. Upgrade as needed and learn to work on the bike as you go. Good times. The first bike that I bought that actually had a supension fork cost $500 dollars and I had a blast on it.
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« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2007, 11:45:57 AM »
I think a big part of the picture here is what type of performance you are looking to get out of this bike, and what style of riding you are planning on doing?  If you want a full suspension bike for cross country, you'll do fine on this bike ($500 for a new bike with Avid's?Huh Super deal!).  If you plan on learning to dirt jump and start downhilling (like the guy on the mtbr review saying he took it out at 60mph down Pikes Peak- WTF?), you may be disappointed as this riding style is not what this bike was built for.  But it would be great to take the edge of the hills in the mighty Wiss.

IMHO, you may want the first upgrade to be a better set of wheels.  Nothing makes a bike feel heavy and slow as the wheel set.

Bottom line, I would buy it.
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« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2007, 01:04:15 PM »

Take the deal,  BUY the bike!
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Rico
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« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2007, 03:28:24 PM »
After much deliberation and reviewing my current and future expenses, I cannot purchase it.   Angry

Thanks for all the opinions and advice, I really appreciate it.  I'm just gonna have to beat the hell outta my hardtail for a little while longer.
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pahearn
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« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2007, 03:36:33 PM »
Ick... sensibility, gross.  Lips sealed
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Dmitri
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« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2007, 03:46:43 PM »
Revoke his man card!  Undecided
Boot him out of the club!  Embarrassed
No fiscally sensible responsible mature person can call themselves a mountian biker!  Angry

Heh. Now you just have to get faster, stronger, better and kick our combined behinds on fancy bikes with your old hardtail!  Wink

When you do finally get a new bike, it'll be all so much sweeter!

dz
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Rico
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« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2007, 04:50:13 PM »
D,

Do you notice the last three letters of my screen name??   Grin  Thus, I try my best to be fiscally responsible.

Plus I just got engaged and need to save some dough for an August 2008 wedding. Wink
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kenn72
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« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2007, 05:19:08 PM »
Ahh you didn't want that P.O.S. anyway! 
Just kidding.

Remember - It's not the bike - it's the rider.
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« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2007, 01:37:01 AM »
Getting married huh....What a tragedy. Isn't there any way we could have prevented this horrible event. Already you are denying yourself bike parts. Let's all bow our heads in silence as another brother falls.  Cry
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Dmitri
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« Reply #15 on: November 15, 2007, 07:15:12 AM »
August 2008, huh? And which day in August would that be? Where exactly?

Wedding Crashers!!!!  Wink

dz
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Rico
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« Reply #16 on: November 15, 2007, 10:24:32 AM »
It's in NE Philly, so you could loop PennyPack Park, then ride your bikes over to crash the wedding!   Grin
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dieselkarl
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« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2007, 08:38:20 PM »
Just make sure your SO doesn't pay too much attention to what your bike looks like.  This way it's easier to slip spendy parts on whithout static.

Karl
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Rico
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« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2007, 09:19:31 AM »
All she know is that it is gray with wheels and pedals....LOL.   Grin
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« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2007, 10:25:28 AM »
Man, I've slipped an entirely new bike by my wife without her saying anything! That's the beauty of having a bunch of bikes, they never know what's new and what's not!  Grin

-pete
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Rico
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« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2007, 10:31:41 AM »
Unfortunately Pete, I only have one bike.  I am sure that she would notice two versus one.  After the wedding I will be on the bike buying wagon and will hopefully start the collection.   Grin
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Dmitri
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« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2007, 02:04:08 PM »
Get a cute lil pink bike for her, and then when it goes from two to three, you just tell her that you had nothing to do with it, and it was all bikes in the shed...  Roll Eyes

Tho it might give her some ideas, and then you, my friend, are in TROUBLE!  Shocked

dz
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« Reply #22 on: December 05, 2007, 04:21:54 PM »
I've slipped a few bikes past Kel without her noticing...At least not right away. I don't dare tell her what they cost. It's like "Hmmm that size large Santa Cruz does not fit on my ring finger" When you have lots of bikes it's really hard to tell. So what you need to do is go buy a bunch of bikes!
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Rico
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« Reply #23 on: December 05, 2007, 06:34:36 PM »
Whoah, when did I become independently wealthy??  I will have to wait until after the wedding, or at least until we have enough saved for our share of the wedding.  Plus I need to beat the hell outta my current hardtail.  Then I can use the excuse that the bike is broken and I need a new one.
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #24 on: December 05, 2007, 10:39:07 PM »
Yea no kidding. Be nice if it really was that easy. Just go buy whatever bike you want. Ride it till it needs a new chain and then just buy another bike.
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« Reply #25 on: December 06, 2007, 07:50:28 AM »
If you get the new bike dirty enough, she won't be able to tell the difference from the old bike.  Just don't wash the old one for about a month, then get the new one and ride it down at Brandywine after a heavy rain (you'll need to do two TM days as penance for messing up the muddy trails).  Then replace the old one with the new one.  She'll never notice.
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