MTB for Heavy Rider

BigDog101

Hi lads,

I'm a heavier guy looking for a mountain bike that I can go trail riding on. I'm 6ft, 100kg, in good fitness.

I haven't done any trails for a long long time so will practically be a beginner, I'm looking for something that will be able to take a bit of abuse with my weight and if I get good will be able to take a bit of aggressive trail riding.

I have a Trek 3900 but the front is too soft on it and whenever I ride it without the lockout engaged it slumps too much at the front and I'm just leaning on my wrists with the forks practically half compressed!

My budget ain't too big, gonna try do the bike2work scheme on it and have around €500 to spare so maybe a total budget of €1,000.

Cheers for any help

Rokta

There should be now issue getting any Hardtail MTB in the 1k Euro range. Some have weight restrictions as far as I remember like Specialized stating max load of 120kg and others don't. Your only limit should be the budget

BigDog101

Rokta wrote: »

There should be now issue getting any Hardtail MTB in the 1k Euro range. Some have weight restrictions as far as I remember like Specialized stating max load of 120kg and others don't. Your only limit should be the budget

Thanks for the reply!

What are my options to stiffen up the forks on a given model? because my current bike a Trek 3900, the forks are way too soft for my weight even with the preload turned up.

Is that down to it having budget components? Or would other makes and models have a greater range of adjustment in the forks?

Rokta

Well, it all drills down to budget I am afraid. Have a look for a front fork with air spring. With a shock pump the sag can be adjusted accordingly to reflect 20%. Coil sprung forks can be adjusted too with change of the spring however this is easier with an air spring and can be done in a bike shop in little to no time.

However a good coil fork should handle 100kg, I had a rock shox and sr sun tours on mine I am bit beefier than you and had no issues


Have a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh2Q7Fu2pfA

It explains how to set up sag and give you an idea how it works.

Oh and more more thing: Out of experience, a decent set of hydraulic disc brakes are a really helpful if you pack a bit more, I learned it the hard way and it hurt going down the hill....

I dunno how we did that 20 years ago with rim brakes on MTBs.... but well, I was bit less beefy back then

Rokta

Just checked your trek bike there 2014 version:

SR Suntour XCM w/30mm stanchions, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 100mm travel should actually handle 100kg.

Looks like one of the more budget oriented ones so that might be the reason.

BigDog101

Rokta wrote: »

Just checked your trek bike there 2014 version:

SR Suntour XCM w/30mm stanchions, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 100mm travel should actually handle 100kg.

Looks like one of the more budget oriented ones so that might be the reason.

Thanks for digging out that link for me, very helpful, and looking up my spec, I was actually just trying to do the same, I think I got mine in 2013 so prob the earlier model, much the same though.

Would u suggest trying to upgrade the fork coils for a stiffer set, or to replace em?

Any shops or specialists you'd recommend?

muckwarrior

If you're looking for something tough and durable for around a grand I'd say your best bet would be a steel framed hard tail. Cotic, Ragley and On-One all make these kind of bikes. For example http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650X5/on-one-45650b-sram-x5-mountain-bike or here's a Ragley Marley frame + fork for a great price http://madmtb.com/forum/index.php?topic=245.0 but would involve building up the rest of the bike yourself.

Lemming

muckwarrior wrote: »

If you're looking for something tough and durable for around a grand I'd say your best bet would be a steel framed hard tail. Cotic, Ragley and On-One all make these kind of bikes. For example http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650X5/on-one-45650b-sram-x5-mountain-bike or here's a Ragley Marley frame + fork for a great price http://madmtb.com/forum/index.php?topic=245.0 but would involve building up the rest of the bike yourself.

Have a couple of guys that work with me that have high opinion of the Cotic BFE hardtail, and I'd also perhaps suggest checking out the Bird Zero; another bike mentioned by one of my work-mates and it's also had some very favourable reviews.

BigDog101

muckwarrior wrote: »

If you're looking for something tough and durable for around a grand I'd say your best bet would be a steel framed hard tail. Cotic, Ragley and On-One all make these kind of bikes. For example http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650X5/on-one-45650b-sram-x5-mountain-bike or here's a Ragley Marley frame + fork for a great price http://madmtb.com/forum/index.php?topic=245.0 but would involve building up the rest of the bike yourself.

I'd like the idea of doing a build myself but don't really have the time or capacity to do it at the moment. Cheers for the link to that site, and the recommendations, that on-one bike looks sweet.

Would I find any of them steel frame manufacturers in Ireland, I'll do my best to save 40-50% on the bike2work scheme.

BigDog101

Also, I'm guessing this might be one of those 'matter of opinion' questions but is there any wheel size that's heavier duty or better suited to heavy riders?

muckwarrior

BigDog101 wrote: »

Would I find any of them steel frame manufacturers in Ireland, I'll do my best to save 40-50% on the bike2work scheme.

I don't think it'd necessarily have to be in Ireland, I know people who have bought from Canyon for example on the BTW scheme. That said, I think expert cycles in Rathfarnam are Cotic dealers (and the owners happen to be some of the top mountain bikers in the country). They might even have ex demo bikes at a good price.

Rokta

I cycle on 700C 35mm.... And as I mentioned I am beefier by a quiet a lot compared to you You should choose tires/wheels for purpose and comfort. A 29er hardtail should give you a smooth ride XC

Depending how your employee handles bike to work, Canyon might be a good option if you have some experience setting up a bike.

rizzodun

The Canyon Grand Canyon AL 6.9 comes with a Rockshox Recon air sprung fork, and is €999 - Currently all sizes are available from stock.

There is a live chat option during the day, where you can ask them directly about the weight restrictions if you need.

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/mtb/grand-canyon/2017/grand-canyon-al-6-9.html

The only thing that makes me wonder is that you say perhaps when you get good it'll be able to take some aggressive trail riding, not sure what terrain you're thinking of but while XC bikes can take plenty of abuse, you may find yourself wanting a full suss down the line.

I;d recommend a hard tail first though, start saving for the full suss after a year or so.


If you really need to use the BTW, try your local bike shops, there might still be 2016 stock needing shifting at a good price, and on a hardtail other than a air sprung shock, which I think you may want to stand firm on, you will get away with maybe lesser quality components for your first bike.

Subcomandante Marcos

Don't know if it's been mentioned. But for a bigger rider I feel 26" wheels are just sturdier than 27.5 or 29.

A 26 with a high spoke count should be a consideration.

C3PO

Lemming wrote: »

Have a couple of guys that work with me that have high opinion of the Cotic BFE hardtail ...

BigDog101 wrote: »

Would I find any of them steel frame manufacturers in Ireland, I'll do my best to save 40-50% on the bike2work scheme.

At 110kgs your weight is not an issue but your current Suntour forks are!
A Cotic Solaris or BFe hardtail would be ideal for you and Expert Cycles in Rathfarnham will build and sell you one on the "cycle to work scheme" but I'm afraid there's no way you would get close to your €1,000 budget!

I would suggest a minimum spec of Rockshox Sector forks and Shimano hydraulic brakes! I know people say that Suntour forks have improved but I wouldn't go near them if you intend to do any proper offroad riding!

MarcinG

BigDog101 wrote: »

Hi lads,

I'm a heavier guy looking for a mountain bike that I can go trail riding on. I'm 6ft, 100kg, in good fitness.

I haven't done any trails for a long long time so will practically be a beginner, I'm looking for something that will be able to take a bit of abuse with my weight and if I get good will be able to take a bit of aggressive trail riding.

I have a Trek 3900 but the front is too soft on it and whenever I ride it without the lockout engaged it slumps too much at the front and I'm just leaning on my wrists with the forks practically half compressed!

My budget ain't too big, gonna try do the bike2work scheme on it and have around €500 to spare so maybe a total budget of €1,000.

Cheers for any help

100kg should be no problem whatsoever. I'm about 130 kg dressed and equipped with small backpack. Have no hardware issues while cycling. I have standard fork (old coil marzocchi) and shock (some old air answer) and jump in few places around ballinastoe. Few things you can consider: replacing springs (if it is a spring rather than elastomer fork) which if bike is old may be problematic. Getting new fork is another option (when you get air fork then you should have no problems getting it firm enough). Would not get new bike only because of soft fork. but this is just me.

BigDog101

C3PO wrote: »

At 110kgs your weight is not an issue but your current Suntour forks are!
A Cotic Solaris or BFe hardtail would be ideal for you and Expert Cycles in Rathfarnham will build and sell you one on the "cycle to work scheme" but I'm afraid there's no way you would get close to your €1,000 budget!

I would suggest a minimum spec of Rockshox Sector forks and Shimano hydraulic brakes! I know people say that Suntour forks have improved but I wouldn't go near them if you intend to do any proper offroad riding!

Yeh I had a look at Expert Cycles site and from there the Cotic site, looks a s though the cheapest build is £1600, may have to look into upgrading the forks on my current bike. it has Shimano hydraulic brakes, so thats certainly a start

BigDog101

muckwarrior wrote: »

If you're looking for something tough and durable for around a grand I'd say your best bet would be a steel framed hard tail. Cotic, Ragley and On-One all make these kind of bikes. For example http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650X5/on-one-45650b-sram-x5-mountain-bike or here's a Ragley Marley frame + fork for a great price http://madmtb.com/forum/index.php?topic=245.0 but would involve building up the rest of the bike yourself.

Just looking at this again... Between this frame and forks, and my current bike, would I be able to piece together what I need? I have a feeling there'd be compatibility issues...
noob alert

MarcinG

BigDog101 wrote: »

Just looking at this again... Between this frame and forks, and my current bike, would I be able to piece together what I need? I have a feeling there'd be compatibility issues...
noob alert

Your wheels are 26 inch. New bikes are 27.5 or 29. Id start from getting new forks (again 26 !) Which should be relatively cheap and easy. Ps when you go for disc brakes when you had rim ones you need to change front wheel. If you already have hydraulic brakes try to replace disc (i have shimano xt with 203mm rotor and it does the job. But i cant see much difference with deore apart from cosmetics).

ec18

I'm a similar size to you and I bought an orbea hardtail on BTW earlier this year with an air fork. Running grand for me so far

muckwarrior

MarcinG wrote: »

Your wheels are 26 inch. New bikes are 27.5 or 29.

He's talking about the second hand Ragley frame.

Yeah, you should be able to put your old parts on that frame, for the most part at least. Couple of things might not be compatible, like the bottom bracket and the seat post, but they're both cheap parts anyway. It already has a fork, so you don't need to worry about that, and since it's a 3 year old frame your wheels should be compatible too.

Rokta

C3PO wrote: »

I would suggest a minimum spec of Rockshox Sector forks and Shimano hydraulic brakes! I know people say that Suntour forks have improved but I wouldn't go near them if you intend to do any proper offroad riding!

The did improve, at least the air spring ones. I have one on my touring/gravel however I use it for exactly that. Trail is a different cattle of fish.

MarcinG

MarcinG wrote: »

Your wheels are 26 inch. New bikes are 27.5 or 29. Id start from getting new forks (again 26 !) Which should be relatively cheap and easy. Ps when you go for disc brakes when you had rim ones you need to change front wheel. If you already have hydraulic brakes try to replace disc (i have shimano xt with 203mm rotor and it does the job. But i cant see much difference with deore apart from cosmetics).

yes my bad. i opened link (or copy pasted can't remember) on my mobile and somehow it showed a 27.5 bike

saccades

I like looking at bike specs.

Your chainset is square taper, the ragley has the same bb shell width, so that's a direct swap.

The only area of concern to me is the ragley forks are 15mm bolt thru and I don't know if your bike is also 15mm bolt thru (Current Suntour XCm are not made in 26" bolt thru, no description I can find states they are bolt thru but the picture in your link looks like it is.

This would be a major (ish) stumbling block as you need a 15mm hub (your Formula DC20 are not convertible). Actually, the hubs are a give away on further looking, your front wheel will not fit the fork on the ragley. However 2nd hand 26" 15mm wheels should be cheap enough.

Seatpost is the same diameter.

So everything except your front wheel will swap over, will just need to be re-cabled.

LagunaSeca

OP, if you're happy with the Trek apart from the fork just upgrade that part. Pick up something like this and you'll practically have a new bike:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/New-SUNTOUR-Epixon-LO-MTB-Bike-Suspension-Fork-TK-26-1-1-8-Travel-120mm-Black-/272379124547?hash=item3f6b0f9b43:g:dAkAAOSwJcZWespu

Basic suntour forks are indeed garbage but airsprung ones like the epixon and up are very good and brilliant value.