Hi all! I've moved to vancouver and will be commuting a short distance by bike. I hope to explore some gravel riding here as well, nothing too gnarly as I don't have a MTB background (I used to ride road).
I have a budget of about $1400 and have yet to find something suitable in the second hand market. I'm looking at aluminium frames with a carbon fork for comfort and weight. Some Devinci bikes on sale have caught my eye, namely
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Devinci Hachet (Claris 16 speed for about $1400, or Sora 18 speed for $1600). It's the brand's gravel bike and comes with a nice road groupset but mechanical Tektro MD-C511 disc brakes. Link
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Devinci Hex (Deore 9s peed for $1000). It's marketed as a fitness bike but seems gravel worthy with 35mm tyres. It has has Shimano MT200 Hydraulic disc brakes which I understand to be significantly superior to mechanical disc brakes. Link
The Hex seems to be the better deal especially with the hydraulic disc brakes. I'd love to hear what you guys think! What's the best value? I'm leaning to the hex at 2/3 the price with better brakes. The 1×9 gear ratio seems adequate enough. What would warrant the Hachet's higher price? Just the groupset, or a superior geometry?
Thanks a lot!
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by sir_cleverpants