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SchizoSkier
May, 2023

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How to buy a mtn bike in this market??

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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
As we all know the market is absolutely fucked.

Not sure where all these beginners came from and why they all think they need a 150mm suspension for learning to bike on gravel trails/ nearly flat green runs. I bet half of these people are going to get hurt within their first season, then decide the sport's not for them and move on to the next fad once covid blows over. Anyways. Whatever

All decent bikes are cleared out of stores and all that's left are carbon frame e-bikes that cost 8 grand lol

I'm getting pretty heated cuz all the homies are out riding and I have no bike. Snow's gone and I guess I could take up skateboarding but it's just not the same

Bikes are sold out literally everywhere. Decent priced used bikes on fb marketplace go within 5 minutes of posting. Most sellers don't even reply to my messages since they're probably getting 50+ offers in a day.

Or I could pay 3-4 grand for a used 2017 which is fucking ludicrous

My question is.... should I try building my own?? I wonder if it'd be easier to source out parts separately and just build my own fuckin bike. Or do I give up and start climbing? Suck dick for cash on the side to afford an 8 grand bike? Sell my little brother? Move to Mt.Hood for the summer and keep skiing to fill the empty void in my heart?

Halp
May 28 2021 12:19AM
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Celery
Posts: 1511 - Karma: 16,880
Building a bike isn’t the worst idea, but you could get to a point where you’ve got all of your parts except for one, and that one part wont be available till next year. I was able to build a bike last summer, but I had a lot of carryover from my previous bike.
May 28 2021 8:59AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 12747 - Karma: 15,124
Buy/sell/trade is the solution. I used pinkbike.com to find sellers. Take your time, do your research, and compare bikes and prices to find the optimal bike. My buddy picked up a 2018 demo8 for 2,000$ in perfect shape and recently maintained.

I bought a Devinci Wilson 08 in 2010 and just upgraded the bike as time went along. Spent over 3,000$ on replacement parts over 10 years!

You dont need a 4-8G bike to start riding.
May 28 2021 9:02AM
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dognuts
Posts: 1940 - Karma: 24,472
take your time on the pinkbike buy and sell. might take a while but really nothing else you can do in the stupid market these days.

also dont only look where u are located
May 28 2021 10:52AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7407 - Karma: 11,022
If you plan on buying and building up your own bike, good luck sourcing parts for reasonable prices in a reasonable timeframe.

The bike industry was hit hard by factory shutdowns across Asia accompanied by an uptick in demand and still hasn't recovered. My LBS told me they don't expect to see any sort of inventory normalcy till 2022.
May 28 2021 10:59AM
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BrandoComando
Posts: 1469 - Karma: 18,466
Some of the direct-to-consumer brands are restocking sizes and models daily as they get inventory. You could rotate through brand websites like Canyon, YT, Commencal, Fezzari, etc. to see if bikes get restocked. I snagged my YT Izzo this way. Won't be as cheap as used, but it's an option
May 28 2021 11:18AM
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switchlip2
Posts: 1588 - Karma: 20,059
twinkle_toesAs we all know the market is absolutely fucked.

Not sure where all these beginners came from and why they all think they need a 150mm suspension for learning to bike on gravel trails/ nearly flat green runs. I bet half of these people are going to get hurt within their first season, then decide the sport's not for them and move on to the next fad once covid blows over. Anyways. Whatever

All decent bikes are cleared out of stores and all that's left are carbon frame e-bikes that cost 8 grand lol

I'm getting pretty heated cuz all the homies are out riding and I have no bike. Snow's gone and I guess I could take up skateboarding but it's just not the same

Bikes are sold out literally everywhere. Decent priced used bikes on fb marketplace go within 5 minutes of posting. Most sellers don't even reply to my messages since they're probably getting 50+ offers in a day.

Or I could pay 3-4 grand for a used 2017 which is fucking ludicrous

My question is.... should I try building my own?? I wonder if it'd be easier to source out parts separately and just build my own fuckin bike. Or do I give up and start climbing? Suck dick for cash on the side to afford an 8 grand bike? Sell my little brother? Move to Mt.Hood for the summer and keep skiing to fill the empty void in my heart?

Halp


Lowball the fuck out of everyone on pinkbike
May 28 2021 11:49AM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,948
.MASSHOLE.If you plan on buying and building up your own bike, good luck sourcing parts for reasonable prices in a reasonable timeframe.

The bike industry was hit hard by factory shutdowns across Asia accompanied by an uptick in demand and still hasn't recovered. My LBS told me they don't expect to see any sort of inventory normalcy till 2022.


LBS's have been hit the hardest by part shortages, due in part to just not being able to get parts when they hit distributors before they are swooped up by online retailers. Some shops have even had to help their customers find the parts they need from online.

My buddy had been doing a frame-up build and has been sourcing parts for it since early last summer and is still waiting for a BB and chain.
May 28 2021 12:05PM
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CoolChillGuy420
Posts: 35265 - Karma: 95,054
In the same boat as well. But also trying to figure out a housing situation so that is more of a priority.

But yeah, demand is demand and it is what it is, but huge pricetags on outdoor fun is getting annoying.
May 28 2021 2:07PM
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
DeebieSkeebiesIn the same boat as well. But also trying to figure out a housing situation so that is more of a priority.

But yeah, demand is demand and it is what it is, but huge pricetags on outdoor fun is getting annoying.

Yea dude. My cars a piece of shit and I need to buy a truck soon which is more of a priority...

Too bad we dont have rich daddies to buy us new bikes
May 28 2021 2:14PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 20961 - Karma: 7,448
Message me. What size? I might be able to help if you're interested in a Diamondback Release (solid bike for someone getting into the sport and some) after our shop opens next month. We want to have a mountain bike one the floor for opening at least for a few days hahaha.





Either way, I don't recommend building one right (especially now) for two reasons.

1. Components are the biggest thing right now holding back the bike industry. So you MAY be able to get a frame, but no parts to put on it. I can't even get a replacement brake lever right now. I picked up a DJ frame, and I can't find any parts to put on the damn thing.

2. Building a custom bike always takes longer and is almost always more expensive than getting it complete and upgrading as you can (you can sell the parts you don't want to help pay for upgrades).
May 28 2021 2:21PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 6833 - Karma: 27,426
All the stores in my area were pretty much completely out of everything, except for one store that looked completely full when we went to pick up my wife's bike. Most were just commuter bikes because of the large amish/mennonite population, but I was still very surprised.
May 28 2021 7:00PM
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byubound
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 9,862
If you're ever in ut I'd cut you a sweet deal on my 2016 rig. Need the funds to build another
May 28 2021 7:23PM
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
byuboundIf you're ever in ut I'd cut you a sweet deal on my 2016 rig. Need the funds to build another

a little far from vancouver unfortunately :'(
May 28 2021 7:41PM
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1621 - Karma: 24,531
Didn’t you just buy a knolly or am i thinking of someone else?
May 28 2021 8:58PM
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kayakiit
Posts: 27 - Karma: 88
Just commenting to follow for advice on the same, the prices are insane everywhere I've checked too. Good luck to you OP.
May 28 2021 11:11PM
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
ski_salmon69Didn’t you just buy a knolly or am i thinking of someone else?


No good memory! That was me! I actually ended up selling it because the front fork was toast :'(
May 28 2021 11:24PM
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
freestyler540Buy/sell/trade is the solution. I used pinkbike.com to find sellers. Take your time, do your research, and compare bikes and prices to find the optimal bike. My buddy picked up a 2018 demo8 for 2,000$ in perfect shape and recently maintained.

I bought a Devinci Wilson 08 in 2010 and just upgraded the bike as time went along. Spent over 3,000$ on replacement parts over 10 years!

You dont need a 4-8G bike to start riding.


Oh those are downhill bikes no? There's more of those on the market for sure. I'm not riding the whistler bike park tho, I'm looking for an enduro to start riding black trails. My old bike was 110/110 and could only handle so much abuse haha so I'm trying to upgrade.

I actually have a buddy who climbs on a DH bike though hahaha, doesn't seem to bug him! So if all else fails....
May 28 2021 11:33PM
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dognuts
Posts: 1940 - Karma: 24,472
twinkle_toesOh those are downhill bikes no? There's more of those on the market for sure. I'm not riding the whistler bike park tho, I'm looking for an enduro to start riding black trails. My old bike was 110/110 and could only handle so much abuse haha so I'm trying to upgrade.

I actually have a buddy who climbs on a DH bike though hahaha, doesn't seem to bug him! So if all else fails....

yeah my first bike about 3 years ago was a downhill bike from 2004. weighted like 45 lbs but if u just stiffened the fork and shock up a bit it was sorta doable
May 29 2021 12:12AM
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
dognutsyeah my first bike about 3 years ago was a downhill bike from 2004. weighted like 45 lbs but if u just stiffened the fork and shock up a bit it was sorta doable


Oh shit i didn't know you could lock out the suspension on those at all! So i didn't even consider those as an option haha
May 29 2021 12:31AM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12274 - Karma: 111,378
Imagine building/buying a bike when theft exists
May 29 2021 1:00AM
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dognuts
Posts: 1940 - Karma: 24,472
twinkle_toesOh shit i didn't know you could lock out the suspension on those at all! So i didn't even consider those as an option haha

the guy who had it before me had put a shock with a lockout on it so definitely all dh would have a lock out but lots of ppl seems to be putting them on nowadays for an easy way to stiffen things up without screwing with compression or air pressure/spring rate
May 29 2021 1:57AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 12747 - Karma: 15,124
twinkle_toesOh those are downhill bikes no? There's more of those on the market for sure. I'm not riding the whistler bike park tho, I'm looking for an enduro to start riding black trails. My old bike was 110/110 and could only handle so much abuse haha so I'm trying to upgrade.

I actually have a buddy who climbs on a DH bike though hahaha, doesn't seem to bug him! So if all else fails....

DH and long travel bikes have way more foregiveness and error margin than a 100mm travel bike. The head angle is more dialed for steeps and drops. The feeling of riding a DH bike is better on the way down. Its like riding your couch down the mountain.
DH bikes are being phased out so you can find cheaper, used models all over.

Just keep the old bike for pedaling XC trails and take your DH/freeride bike for the bigger descents. These things are bombproof too!

I actually walk my bike up hills. There are no lockouts and 200mm of front and rear travel. Its takes longer to get to the top, but it does give me the time to enjoy my surroundings. Plus, once in a while, I will find something interesting that I might miss if my focus was on balance. Last year, I found a rock with visible gold on it in a ditch! This year, I found a Hero 5 that was dropped by sledders and pushed to the side on a distant forest service road.
May 29 2021 6:45AM
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skierman
Posts: 7521 - Karma: 497
twinkle_toesAs we all know the market is absolutely fucked.

Not sure where all these beginners came from and why they all think they need a 150mm suspension for learning to bike on gravel trails/ nearly flat green runs. I bet half of these people are going to get hurt within their first season, then decide the sport's not for them and move on to the next fad once covid blows over. Anyways. Whatever



You sound like an entitled cunt. Anyways. Whatever
May 30 2021 6:47PM
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twinkle_toes
Posts: 811 - Karma: 9,630
skiermanYou sound like an entitled cunt. Anyways. Whatever

Yeah I probably am honestly. Whatever
May 30 2021 9:23PM
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dognuts
Posts: 1940 - Karma: 24,472
i mean shes not wrong
skiermanYou sound like an entitled cunt. Anyways. Whatever
May 30 2021 10:31PM
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