Hello y’all, I am interested in getting my first mountain bike. I am curious as to which of these 3 bikes would be the best ride. I would mostly use it on some DFW trails I’ve seen, nothing crazy like those Redbull guys. Thank you beforehand for the help & input.
by YSNJoker
17 Comments
Get a hard tail for like a quarter of the price new or even less for used. If you end up actually sticking with it then upgrade later down the road.
If you’ve got the dough, get the Salsa.
I feel like diamondback is always on the verge of bankruptcy, and Co-op is a cheaper built Giant.
Depends on the riding you want to do. The Salsa has the best quality spec but with a 180 mm fork, it’s aimed at Enduro riding. That’s a ton of travel you’re unlikely to need as a newbie unless you’re are ready to absolutely send it. REI coop would be a good entry choice for general trail and has a decent spec. The used market is very good right now, so you might check there for a Stumpjumper or a Giant Trance – other good all rounders – before taking the plunge on a brand new one.
That Salsa is a long travel enduro bike. Way more bike than you need and not optimal for the riding you are describing. Are you limited to REI? With a $2500 budget there are better options than that lot.
That said, of those options I would pick the Diamondback. It’s a solid set of components that you are not likely to need to outride for years.
Those are not beginner bikes. You shouldn’t buy a monster truck to learn how to drive.
I would skip the Diamond Back at that price. I think REI had the Cannondale Habit on sale on that price range too. That and the Salsa would be what I would consider from REI. The Salsa seems nice, I was considering them a little over a year ago, but read that there had been some issues with the rear triangles cracking.
The terrain you’re going to rode the most is going to determine the type of bike/travel you need. Being overbiked is no fun, so talk to the riders in the shop. More travel doesn’t mean better.
From what I’ve seen of the DFW area, you don’t need a full suspension, find a good hardtail. You don’t need one of the slack hard chargers either.
Diamond back and Coop bikes have really bad pivot bearings. It’s why they are so inexpensive. Salsa is marginally better, but will spend less time with a mechanic.
YT has a huge sale on right now. Go grab an Izzo or a Jeffsey if you have the cash. Go this route and you won’t be feeling the need to upgrade in a year or 2.
I mean for a beginner.. I’d say the diamondback out of these choices. Though I feel like you can find better for that kind of money right now. Maybe go have a look at Jenson USA as well. They have some crazy deals going on
Edit: Also YT industries! Awesome sales on their site as well. Maybe look at Jeffsey and Izzo
Go buy from a real shop, not REI
Check out pinkbike. For that budget you can get a great used bike with better components and a lighter frame
Don’t limit yourself to REI. Go to some local shops and ask questions. Test ride some bikes. I’d recommend Bikes Inc, Colonel’s, and Trek in DFW. You can also order lots of bikes online. Check out DORBA and FWMBA events where bike companies show up and let you test ride their bikes.
You can get a GT Sensor full suspension cheaper than that at Jenson UsA.com .
Salsa by a long shot. SLX is workhorse, has clutch switch on derailleur. I’ve used SLX and XT and they are both so good. Also, Cassidy has the strongest wheel spec in MTB, 157×12. 28% of pinkbike riders reported breaking a wheel in 2024, yet the bike industry does not address this issue or even discuss it. Lastly, 157×12 wheels are~20-22% stronger than 148×12 rear wheels.
https://www.pinkbike.com/u/redfoxrun/blog/1-in-4-pinkbike-readers-broke-a-wheel-in-2024.html
Some people have good luck with sram SX/ NX, I have not.
By DFW do you mean Dallas Ft. Worth? If so, You are three hours from Spider mtn & Station Mt. bike parks near Austin. Salsa!
Do you have experience with other sports similar to MTB? Are you a sender?
For example, i have a friend who is a skiier, and he picked up mountain biking and he was sending jump runs at the bike park no problem the same year. Id tell him to get the Salsa.
Someone who has s healthy fear for their life like me, id recommend a 130mm-140mm trail bike. I personally dont like hard tails because im accustomed to rear suspension from dirt bikes. But if you are doing XC or groomed trails a hardtail is way better value. I prefer chunky stuff.
My first mountain bike was a 130mm/125mm Marin, and I still have it because I dont really hit really big chunk or massive drops. Kinda wanna upgrade soon though
At that price, you could get an IBIS Ripley AF on sale, and it’d be a fantastic bike to ride trails on for years!