Looking to work on my health; been a smoker for close to 15 years. Found this Specialized 650b enduro from 2017. I got him down to $900. Would this be a good first bike and not a bad deal?
by john5547
Looking to work on my health; been a smoker for close to 15 years. Found this Specialized 650b enduro from 2017. I got him down to $900. Would this be a good first bike and not a bad deal?
by john5547
22 Comments
Just get a turnkey mid level hard tail. Cheap, easy, reliable and good at everything. You don’t need this bike (or the maintenance/expense) until you are doing a pretty specific type of cycling.
This is a really big bike for just getting into riding. 170 travel is also a lot and will be bouncy when peddling. An enduro is meant for going downhill and won’t be as efficient on flatter trails, climb, etc.
But you’ve never actually ridden a MTB?
Threw me off with the “working on my health” and “first bike” comments. Kinda like saying you’re looking for your first car but it specifically has to have a roll cage and slicks because there’s a racetrack that you know about. Whatever floats your boat
Great! Get it! Get out and ride!
Those x wing frames are iconic but you probably want something newer
I’d build it for fun but 27.5 is kind of a bummer
The x wing is a classic but do yourself a favor and get like a specialized fuse or some other hardtail. More capable than you think and teaches you a ton.
People are being critical of your experience, rightfully so, I’d recommend a hard tail. This bike is old and maintenance fees always add up. Less to take care of a hard tail and will still serve you well
Not a bike for trail riding and for climbing. Thats has a lot of slack.
https://www.mtbdirect.com.au/blogs/product-guides/understanding-mountain-bike-geometry-part-2-head-t?srsltid=AfmBOopeR4dGYnJ3r_zxgSsOsHoKytUrLlX_MNGKOT7Q42EvlrQ3OWS2
Get a 29 inch spec enduro or other enduro style bike from 2019 newer. Will be much better
I had one of these! Great bike, would still be a fun rig. Albeit a little dated for that price. If you are wanting a budget friendly full suspension for bike parks and such, a specialized status would fit the bill.
Just out of genuine curiosity; theres a canyon spectral 5 near me brand new; but its an xtra large frame. Im 6’0 and about 32” inseam. How well would that fit the bill?
It’s old and outdated tech. You can get something newer and better for around 1k
Bunch of elitist knobs in here. That looks like a great first bike and $900 sounds reasonable if it’s ready to go.
Man I’m gonna go against the grain here and say don’t buy a hardtail to get back into riding.
Few reasons: sounds like you’re surrounded by parks, this is a good park bike. A cheap hardtail will self destruct in lift access park.
15 years off makes me assume your pushing 30? Suspension is nice. A bunch of it is really nice.
You do not need to ride a hardtail to learn, that is a stupid myth. As a matter of fact riding a hardtail will likely only make develop bad habits and inhibit your progression. It’s actually infuriating how often this is parroted. I’ve coached all levels of riders for over 20 years, not once have I encountered someone who would have been better on a hardtail. Especially not in a bike park or any sort of gravity fed riding. (Keep riding flats forever though).
It’s hard to know what a good deal for your area is, but that is a decent bike and for my area 900$ would be a good deal. Enduros pedal just fine. I rode the 29” version of that bike across Arizona.
that tyre combo has to be illegal!
Geometry has seemed to really stabilize around 2021, anything older than that is pretty antiquated. But for learning it’ll be just fine.
I sold one of these for $900 last summer (Pacific Northwest for reference. I had upgraded the shock and fork though, so $900 with that stick monarch seems pretty steep to me. That shock is definitely not the best.
If you have the money for maintenance, then buy it. Hardtails are great for learning, but dual suspension is great if you are old and dont feel like getting vibrated to death while learning something new. You’ll learn either way.
Find a banshee rune from same time.
Waste of money at that price and age. I got a ‘21 Status 160 for 1k a couple months ago, keep looking. Also good luck supporting a cigarette habit with a mtb addiction, you’ll be free of the stench in no time!
I paid $900 for a used hardtail for my first bike. I think this seems like a pretty good deal if you live somewhere where most people ride long travel bikes.
I suggest to go to a social event put on by your local trail org and ask people what is the best type of bike for a beginner in your area. Or go to your local bike shop or trailhead and see what bikes people are riding.
It is super rare to see anyone on a 170mm bike in our area. Even at the trails with 25ft tables, most people are on 120-150mm trail bikes.