I found a 2008 Specialized FSR XC Comp online for $100. Would it be worth it to service. I am new to mountain biking so i don't need anything to expensive yet, i am looking to get back into the sport and start doing blue trails and maybe after a while getting into some black trails. I see the immediate downsides of older tech, 26in tires and outdated geometry but even then would it be better than a used modern hard tail for the same price as the bike and maintenance / replacement parts?
Edit: I believe this is the exact model:
https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/value-guide/2008%20Specialized%20FSR%20XC%20Comp/
by andrew_r_art
7 Comments
I mean, if you want it
Buying a MTB from 2008 is like buying a car from 1968.
Well I had a 2004 stump jumper and a 2006. I upgraded in 2018 to 27.5 and I have a 29er too. Honestly the 26er was fine and the bikes were stellar for over a decade. For $100 if it’s rideable I’d say it’s a good starter. You could probably sell it for more than that I’d you decide to upgrade.
No.
Even if it was free, you will need to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars in differed maintenance. Only to have a bike that cost the same as a modern hardtail but is slower and less confident.
https://preview.redd.it/pm7hpk86vt2f1.png?width=1601&format=png&auto=webp&s=3e79c3b476e6d07b05487d29b3980073539aea09
I was literally riding that same bike I got for that same price for 4 years. I replaced it last August with a transition sentinel V2. It was a great bike to get me hooked even though it was a size too small. It’s a fine entry point,l of you have nothing else. Even better if you have a local bike co-op that can help you assess what does or doesn’t need repairs, and can teach you how to. I sold mine to my nephew for the same price after throwing a dropper and a set of minions on and now he has the bug.
Nope. With how bad c2008 full suspension could be, I’m sometimes surprised it survived long enough to get good. Also full suspension bikes are more prone to having weird parts, and there are more things to break.
Hardtails from that era are outdated but I was having fun riding mountain bikes in 2000 – one way or another you should be able to keep something that age rolling, though suspension forks over 15 years old can be a problem.