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Attention Mountain Bikers

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Attention Mountain Bikers

Big Black Stilo

Big Black Stilo

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Parked in the garage Written a guide
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Howdy

this porker here saw a nice mountain bike yesterday at a price i really couldnt refuse and wants to get back into biking.

I used to be well into mountain biking in the late 90's/early 2000s but lost touch with whats good and whats not. My bike was a good one, cost about £700 in 1998

Basically, to replace my knackered wheel, rear sprocket set and front chainset, and chain with the modern day equiv is about £100-£150, but i have no suspension on the front and i dont believe the frame will take the stress of a sus fork.

anyhow, the repairs alone made me think it maybe worth getting a whole new bike but i didnt want to spend much and when i looked all i found was cack.

Until yesterday when i was helping my mate get a deal on a custom bike, the shop had a brand new bike for sale at half the price of everywhere else, and about the third of the price of a similar specced GT.

Its made by a firm call Commencal, but i have never heard of them. There arent many reviews about. (unless im being tarded and looking in the wrong places)

Are they any good?
 
Big Black Stilo said:
Howdy

this porker here saw a nice mountain bike yesterday at a price i really couldnt refuse and wants to get back into biking.

I used to be well into mountain biking in the late 90's/early 2000s but lost touch with whats good and whats not. My bike was a good one, cost about £700 in 1998

Basically, to replace my knackered wheel, rear sprocket set and front chainset, and chain with the modern day equiv is about £100-£150, but i have no suspension on the front and i dont believe the frame will take the stress of a sus fork.

anyhow, the repairs alone made me think it maybe worth getting a whole new bike but i didnt want to spend much and when i looked all i found was cack.

Until yesterday when i was helping my mate get a deal on a custom bike, the shop had a brand new bike for sale at half the price of everywhere else, and about the third of the price of a similar specced GT.

Its made by a firm call Commencal, but i have never heard of them. There arent many reviews about. (unless im being tarded and looking in the wrong places)

Are they any good?
Click to expand...


Commercial bikes have been about a few years and are mainly known for their Downhill bikes

http://www.commencal.com/news/index_en.htm

just watch for the usual downgrades such as Bottom bracket and OEM forks
 
I'd be suprised if they're the same bottom bracket.

Manufacturers are back to external shells now bringing them full circle!

You could always pick up a couple year old bike off ebay. Something like a 2001 Specialized Enduro would be around £400-£500.
 
Ffoxy said:
:eek: WTF? Thats a shame cos my MF with all suspension etc is still fine and I bought it in 2004.... :nerner:
Click to expand...

I didn't think they were still about tbh...



Big Black Stilo said:
its this one, but for about half the price than whats on this page

http://www.alansbikes.com/product_info.php?products_id=498&osCsid=fykvhywnzvycigw
Click to expand...

looks a decent spec

Frame Updated Norma Disc NUTS AL.
• Fork Custom NEW 09 Suntour XCR LO 80mm(xs)/100mm.
• Stem Commencal 4 Bolt.
• Handlebar Commencal 1 inch rise 6061 DB.
• Grip Commencal Kraton.
• Brakes Avid Juicy 3 160/160. (Are good brakes but pad life is crap)
• Levers Avid Juicy 3.
• Shifters Sram Trigger X5 3x9.
• Front derailleur Shimano Deore.
• Rear derailleur Sram X5.
• Crankset FSA 44x32x22.
• Seatpost Commencal 6061.
• Saddle SDG Bel Air Black and White.
• Hubs Commencal Disc.
• Rims Weinmann Double wall disc specific, white.
• Tires Geax Saguaro 26x2.00.


i'd just be warey over the quality of the forks and hubs and the FSA Bottom bracket especially if its (ISS splined) the Bell air is a decent saddle

For less than £500 its a steal (you can always upgrade parts as they die)
 
Andy Monty said:
I didn't think they were still about tbh...





looks a decent spec

Frame Updated Norma Disc NUTS AL.
• Fork Custom NEW 09 Suntour XCR LO 80mm(xs)/100mm.
• Stem Commencal 4 Bolt.
• Handlebar Commencal 1 inch rise 6061 DB.
• Grip Commencal Kraton.
• Brakes Avid Juicy 3 160/160. (Are good brakes but pad life is crap)
• Levers Avid Juicy 3.
• Shifters Sram Trigger X5 3x9.
• Front derailleur Shimano Deore.
• Rear derailleur Sram X5.
• Crankset FSA 44x32x22.
• Seatpost Commencal 6061.
• Saddle SDG Bel Air Black and White.
• Hubs Commencal Disc.
• Rims Weinmann Double wall disc specific, white.
• Tires Geax Saguaro 26x2.00.


i'd just be warey over the quality of the forks and hubs and the FSA Bottom bracket especially if its (ISS splined) the Bell air is a decent saddle

For less than £500 its a steal (you can always upgrade parts as they die)
Click to expand...

im not doing any harsh riding or anything too technical but will be mainly off road than on as i like doing all the field footpaths round our way (loads a country side paths, hills and woods) the one i have seen doesnt have discs but like i said is less than half the price of this one i linked.

My mate seems to think it would suit me, and last time i rode for a couple of months, combined with salad munching i lost two stone. My mate said those discs on the linked bike were crap and i would be better off with V-brakes, however the money im saving on the price will buy me a decent set of disc brakes (if i fancied it)

but like you said, i wouldnt replace anything unless it broke (well, i will put the pedals off my old bike on this one as they are ace)
 
Last edited:
Big Black Stilo said:
My mate said those discs on the linked bike were crap and i would be better off with V-brakes, however the money im saving on the price will buy me a decent set of disc brakes (if i fancied it)
Click to expand...

BUT..... you will need new wheels building (or re hubbing) as V-brake wheel sets dont have the disc mounting flanges so your looking at adding about £30 min per hub + new spokes due to the change in center offset due to the disc needing space + labour


the Avid Jucy range are good brakes TBH Far better than most brakes at that price point they have been about a few years so not state of the art but they work can be a PITA to bleed but you shouldn't need to worry about that..

hell their cable BB7 discs are **** hot would still fit them to my bike not far off the power of my Hope M4 monos....
 
Last edited:
Andy Monty said:
BUT..... you will need new wheels building (or re hubbing) as V-brake wheel sets dont have the disc mounting flanges so your looking at adding about £30 min per hub + labour


the Avid Jucy range are good brakes TBH Far better than most brakes at that price point they have been about a few years so not state of the art but they work can be a PITA to bleed but you shouldn't need to worry about that..

hell their cable BB7 discs are **** hot would still fit them to my bike not far off the power of my Hope M4 monos....
Click to expand...

i know about the disc hubs but i can build wheels- i used to actually build/repair bikes for a couple of shops so stuff like this isnt a problem (apart from most of my tools are in a safe place)
 
Big Black Stilo said:
i know about the disc hubs but i can build wheels- i used to actually build/repair bikes for a couple of shops so stuff like this isnt a problem (apart from most of my tools are in a safe place)
Click to expand...

No problem just thaught i better warn you that's what you'd need then you have to make the choice between center lock or I/S 6 bolt :p

and yes a lot of my tools end up in "safe places" my mate wants my help him so i must find one or 2 bits..

he has just blown £200 on a new drive train 2x chain rings, cassette, Jocky wheels,chain, and 2 pairs of goodridge brake pads.. it can be an expensive hobby :(
 
tell me about it! i used to spend a fortune on bits.

this what im faced with, i can throw money at a 10 year old bike or buy this one for a little bit extra (i drank more than the difference on my sat night out this weekend) and have a new one that although in todays specs isnt one of the best, but is better than a 10 year old mid- to top crossover spec bike.

also i ride an 18" which is perfect for me but this comes in 17 or 19.

The 17 felt right for leg but too cramped up top but would be better for technical. the 19 felt sorted but back didnt feel low enough for my wood routes, but overall the 19 felt better as a lot of riding would be with the mrs.

I have a longer head stock and handle bar on my current ride that would extend the reach of the 17" by an inch or so but i think the 19 would suit me. im 6ft ish with a 32 inside leg
 
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