Looking at a new bike for 15yr old for Christmas, he wants dual suspension- coz “it’s bouncy”
Most of his riding is road or maybe fire trail, nothing serious.
Is it worth buying a low end dual suspension like this https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-22-one-twenty-400-orange-black
Or spend (close to) the same money on a hard tail?
Are there extra servicing requirements for the dual suspension?
by chrispychritter
5 Comments
That is a horrible bike for the price. Look at a Siskiu T8 if he wants a full sus: [https://www.bikesonline.com/polygon-siskiu-t8-dual-suspension-mountain-bike~21415](https://www.bikesonline.com/polygon-siskiu-t8-dual-suspension-mountain-bike~21415)
Or get a decent hardtail if its his first bike, hardtails are cheaper to service as you only have to service the fork and there are no bearings in the rear triangle that can seize up. Hardtails also build skill and are good to start on.
While full suspension is definitely worth it, I would take a nicer hardtail at that price point instead. The terrain you mention also doesn’t warrant a full suspension.
It’s difficult to say, like for road and fire trail a hardtail of that price is overkill also, but maybe he is limited in what he rides by his current bike. When I was that age I was way more into bikes and MTB than it sounds like he is though, like I knew more about FS bikes than they’re bouncy. It might just be he thinks it will look cooler to his mates.
> Are there extra servicing requirements for the dual suspension?
Yes, pivot bearings, the shock. Also and lower end components on an FS vs hardtail of the same price mean stuff breaking is more likely. Like forks on that bike have steel stanchions that will go rusty and crap out like [this](https://i.redd.it/hjprghpg5i981.jpg) if he leaves it out in the rain a lot, a hardtail would/should have alu stanchion forks at that price.
a couple things.
first and foremost, yes to getting your kid a bike. good stuff right there.
then, if he’s anything like my boy he’ll outgrow that bike, any bike in about 2 point 5 seconds. something to keep on mind.
“because it’s bouncy” is probably the worst reason to get a full sus. on the other hand, the better a bike he rides the more he’ll potentially explore more demanding terrain.
your reasoning is spot on, however. you’ll get a better bike for your buck when chosing a hardtail.
at the end of the day it’s all about what he wants to do with it. on street and fire roads he’ll be well better served with a ht, if he intends to hit the trails and get more into the technical stuff a full sus is the way forward.
If you came into my bike shop and said:
> Most of his riding is road or maybe fire trail, nothing serious.
The last thing I would do is put you on a full suspension bike. I’d be showing you a hardtail XC bike.
> Are there extra servicing requirements for the dual suspension?
Yes. You’ve got another shock to service as well as linkages.
I’d put you on something like this [Scott Scale](https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/product/scott-scale-970-red-bike?article=290179006) or a [Trek Roscoe](https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-mountain-bikes/roscoe/c/B342/). The Scott leans XC, the Trek is a trail bike. It sounds like your kiddo might be leaning towards trail riding if he wants a full sus.
What I think you are looking for is a trail bike. Does he have friends that ride? What are they riding?