Two bikes I'm comparing are these:
Links:
https://bikesonline.com/products/superior-xf-939-rc-xc-mountain-bike?variant=50526162649380
https://bikesonline.com/products/superior-xf-929-rc-carbon-xc-race-bike?variant=50309932351780
With fall here I got the itch to go back out and hit the trails. Currently only have an old Schwinn Homegrown, which is fun in its own right but I'm looking to N+1 into a more modern setup. These two bikes stuck out as they seem like a great deal, but also right in my price range. Interestingly I'm a bit stuck on which one would be a better pick. The carbon one is only $200 more, which would seem like a great deal, but the components are actually more budget. It comes with a Rockshox Recon Silver RL R fork and a Deore drivetrain, compared to the aluminum version which comes with a seemingly much better Rockshox SID RL fork and a step up XT/SLX groupset. I'm curious what this community would suggest?
- Type of riding and where
- I live in WI, so there is no big downhills or anything like that. Most trails are cross country up and down hills. This is why I've settled on an XC style bike.
- Your budget (with included currency).
- Around $2k
- What you like/didn't like about your current bike.
- Want to experience a fast "modern" bike that can handle more terrain than my rigid 1997 aluminum Homegrown
- Your experience level and future goals.
- Last time I seriously mtb'd was a decade or so ago. I did some WORS (Wisconsin Off-Road Series) races when I was a teen (on the same Schwinn Homegrown), but no off road racing since. That being said, I've been an avid roadie (eyeroll) for a long time. During summer I ride 250-300 miles per week. I also road race frequently and have had some top regional results. I love racing on the road, so I plan to continue, but this year after some major accomplishments and also setbacks, I took a few weekends to go trail riding and rediscovered the fun of off road biking. I was no longer staring at my power meter for a 3 hour ride to hit training numbers, or doing intervals on the roadside while cars blow past me. It was refreshing, hence why I'm asking about these bikes. I don't plan on jumping into off road racing right away, as I'm more looking at it as a less stressful way to enjoy biking to offset my road riding. Knowing I love to race though and that I live close to lots of WORS races, I'm not ruling out joining one for fun in the future to experience it.
As for comparing these bikes, I have what would be considered a very high end carbon road race bike as well as a newer aluminum. I can tell the difference, but only very minimally, and this is on the road with fully rigid race bikes. In mtb, I'm assuming since you have full sus as well as much larger tires, the differences in frame feel are almost negligible? At the same time though, if the carbon frame is better, would it be worth the $200 knowing that you could upgrade the frame down the road with higher end components if I ever wanted to?
by Data_Is_King
12 Comments
Any reason you are hung up on these. I’m not sure what brand they are or to familar with them. Can you share direct links instead of a screenshot.
I’m a midwest rider so I can relate to your trails.
If you are one to upgrade and swap stuff and try new stuff out, get the carbon frame and upgrade as you go. If you don’t plan on touching it or changing things, I’d get the one with better parts.
Alloy vs Carbon is less of a difference on mtb then it is on road.
Also, I would not get any mtb without a dropper post. You can add it later, but I’d factor that in. I get if you haven’t mtb in a long time you may not see the need, but it’s game changing even for casual and trail riding.
For an XC bike, when you don’t expect any crashes, I would go for carbon frame and upgrade the components later if needed.
Unless you’re racing carbon really isn’t worth the upgrade vs an aluminum frame with better components, especially if they’re the same price range. If budget is not concern and you want a never ending upgrade project then carbon is worth it then as well.
Better components > carbon frame.
Full disclosure, though, I dislike carbon frames because they are less durable and shorter lived than aluminum frames for small weight savings. To me. The tradeoff is just not worth it.
Can only speak for myself, but I’ve had bad experiences w/ carbon cranks and pedal strikes.
Carbon can be tuned to have very specific flex patterns which can affect the feel, but if you dont know that about the frame I wouldnt count on it. Realistically unless you are a very high level rider doing very long challenging rides I doubt you’d notice the flex patterns between the two, especially since it is full suspension. The suspension feel is going to make a much bigger difference.
Realistically the primary difference between the two frames is going to be weight. Whether a couple pounds is going to make a difference to you is your choice. It is an XC bike so often the goal is going to make it as light as possible. And also this is going to be a future difference because the heavier components on the carbon bike are going to eat into any weight savings. I personally can’t really feel the difference between mountain bikes if they are within 2 lbs of each other. The rolling resistance of your tires makes a bigger difference to me for that type of feeling.
The deore 12s drivetrains works great but the cassette is noticably heavier. I’m not a huge fan of the Recon fork, the SID has a much better damper and is a lot lighter.
I dont know much about that rear shock or wheels which will both have a big affect on ride quality, but they look like they are the same on both models.
If it were me, I’d probably buy the carbon bike but have a plan to upgrade the fork and maybe cassette relatively soon. That’s looking at another $350-450 to the bike, plus paying someone to install things if you dont have that ability yourself (easy, but needs a few specific tools).
If I had exactly that much money to spend and had no plans or just couldnt afford any upgrades for the next several years, I’d get the aluminum one.
Since everyone for the most part is echoing how I’d roll (better components over carbonara frame) I just want to say that you have made the best ‘Which bike is best for me post I’ve probably ever seen. So big ups.
Carbon frame, you can potentially replace everything as needed on a bike, but changing the frame is mad expensive.
Carbon frames are nice. They tend to be stiffer -which you’ll notice, regardless of what the commentariat claims. They are lighter too.
In this case, though, I don’t think it is worth it. The fork I’m not sure is a big difference, the SID uses a Charger RL damper, which is not the same as the Charger 3. The Recon has a good, old Motion Control.
But the XT drivetrain will be nicer, and the carbon one doesn’t have a dropper post. That’s a deal breaker for me.
Now, the geometry on those bikes is definitely old school. I know you come from a hardtail from the 90s and road riding, so it may work for you. Just thought it should be pointed out
Both of those are either old geometry or XC race bike geometry, with steep head angles, short reach requiring longer stem, long ETT for a racy body position when pedaling seated.
If you’re not racing you’d be more comfortable on modern trail bike geometry, you might want to look at what’s now called “downcountry” bikes.
Not familiar with these brands but you can always upgrade components as things wear out but you can’t upgrade the frame. I’d probably go with the carbon
Never heard of them, but as they look like XC bikes I’d get the lightest one.