I want to keep my business local so my choices are:
Norco Charger
https://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/cross-country/charger/25-charger-a2/
Salsa Timberjack SLX 29
https://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/2025-timberjack-slx-29
Trek Marlin 6 Gen3
Trek Procaliber 9.5
I live in the western NC range, lots of trails around me.
Budget of <$1700
and i think i want a head tube angle 65-66.5
I've sat on all of these and they feel pretty similar. Right now the Salsa stands out just because of the disc rotor size and slightly beefier forks.
Any advice welcome, thanks gang.
by ChrispyFinch
8 Comments
You can find a used full suspension bike for $1700 on marketplace
If you have the money between these three i would get the Salsa. However if youre considering Trek, why not get the Roscoe? Roscoe 8 is cheaper online on sale right now than the Timberjack and better specced. Additionally the Procaliber is an XC hardtail, different from the other two Trail hardtail options
It’s niche, but the Salsa Timberjack can be converted with the dropouts to be a single speed or to have adjusted geometry. Riding a single speed mountain bike is a hoot. Heard only good things about them with or without gears.
Swapping discs isn’t too costly and only takes 20 minutes or so. So don’t factor that too highly in your decision. A bike shop may even upgrade it as part of the sale if you really want it. 180+ is a good minimum for the front.
Certain Trek Roscoe 7 colors are on sale for $1099. That’s a fantastic bike. Absolutely love mine.
What type of riding are you doing? You have heavy big trail bikes mixed in with lightweight XC bikes here. The Timberjack looks like a great choice but it’s as heavy as a full suspension bike, and based on the prices I’m seeing on 99 spokes it’s also 70% more expensive than the Norco.
It’s definitely a much nicer overall build than the Norco, but it would depend on the price difference.
Look, you can get super nitty gritty and breakdown geo and spec compare, but honestly, which one do you like to look at?
Bikes are so good and these are all so similar I’d base my choice off of “what gets me stoked?”
I love bikes, and as little as 10 years ago I think there was real demonstrable differences in how one brand was killing it vs another. But today, most of the geometry is pretty much dialed, components are effective for their respective price points so the real difference is what is going to make YOU fired up to ride?
I personally like to ride hard and then dust off my bike, drink a beer and at stare at it.
ooo nice lil update on the Timberjack.
Well naturally given the price I feel the need to recommend the Timberjack. Although the Charger is a great value as well. I’d rather have a Trek Roscoe 6 than any Marlin/Procaliber.
I’d also consider a Marin San Quentin 2 if that budget is available. Not sure if you have a dealer nearby.
You could get a full squish Intense 951 trail bike for a little more than your budget right now on bikesonline.com