REI.com has a Cannondale 29er 4 Caffeine on sale for $ 999 plus $59.94 PA Sales tax for a total of $1058.94. The shipping is free with in store pickup. So right off the bat it is $463 more expensive than the Fantom 29.
Here are the specs: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8FS294.html
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors while the Caffeine has Shimano BR-485 160/160 mm. The Avid BB5 are about $40 more.
The Fantom 29 has WTB MotoRaptor 29 x 2.1 with FX28 Rims vs WTB Dual Duty FR, 32 hole rims with WTB Prowler 29 x 2.1. I will call it even.
Both have RockShox Dart 3 Fork but the Caffeine has 80 mm travel vs 100 mm for the Fantom 29..
The Motobecane Frame is aluminum, the Caffeine says its is "Caffeine Frame Technology" and is also aluminum. When you compare the 2 geometries they are almost identical for the 17" frame.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs SRAM X-5 at $50 for the Caffeine.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs SRAM X-5 at $40 for the Caffeine.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Shimano FC-M4428 22/32/44. I will call them even.
Both have Shimano Deore front derailleur.
Conclusion:
The Fantom 29 has $125 more in parts. The Caffeine's Relative Value Factor is 0.445, the lowest I evaluated so far. The Fantom 29 is a better value. I guess Cannondale will believe its name will account for something and can charge the higher price.
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike.
Bike Price Delta RVF
Motobecane Fantom Pro: 796, 455, 1.32
Motobecane Fantom 29: 596, 0, 1.0
IBEX Section 29: 1034, 378, 0.942
Raleigh XXIX+G: 1100, 368, 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive : 600, -122, 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er 667, -122, 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er: 760 ,-144 ,0.595
Cannondale 29er 4 Caffeine: 1059, -125, 0.445
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Saturday Ride
This morning I did my usual ride at Springton Manor Farm. I rode 7.9 miles. So far I have 48.6 miles on the Fantom 29. The bike performed flawlessly.
Now 48.6 miles is not a lot of miles on a bike. My fitness routine this winter has been usually strength training Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in my basement. Mountain bike ride Saturday and Road Bike ride Sunday. I always do this first thing in the morning and that is why I have not been bike riding during the week. I will have to wait until there is sunlight at about 6 am. In the Philadelphia area civil twilight will be at 5:56 am on April 14 and sunrise will be at 6:24 am.
What is civil twilight you say?
"Civil twilight is defined when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. This is the limit at which twilight illumination is sufficient, under good weather conditions, for terrestrial objects to be clearly distinguished; at the beginning of morning civil twilight, or end of evening civil twilight, the horizon is clearly defined and the brightest stars are visible under good atmospheric conditions in the absence of moonlight or other illumination. In the morning before the beginning of civil twilight and in the evening after the end of civil twilight, artificial illumination is normally required to carry on ordinary outdoor activities."
Bottom line it is light enough to ride at civil twilight.
So far this year I have ridden:
162 miles on my Raleigh Grand Prix
48.6 miles on my Motobecane Fantom 29
24.3 miles on the Mongoose Pro I was using before I bought the Fantom 29.
Now 48.6 miles is not a lot of miles on a bike. My fitness routine this winter has been usually strength training Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in my basement. Mountain bike ride Saturday and Road Bike ride Sunday. I always do this first thing in the morning and that is why I have not been bike riding during the week. I will have to wait until there is sunlight at about 6 am. In the Philadelphia area civil twilight will be at 5:56 am on April 14 and sunrise will be at 6:24 am.
What is civil twilight you say?
"Civil twilight is defined when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. This is the limit at which twilight illumination is sufficient, under good weather conditions, for terrestrial objects to be clearly distinguished; at the beginning of morning civil twilight, or end of evening civil twilight, the horizon is clearly defined and the brightest stars are visible under good atmospheric conditions in the absence of moonlight or other illumination. In the morning before the beginning of civil twilight and in the evening after the end of civil twilight, artificial illumination is normally required to carry on ordinary outdoor activities."
Bottom line it is light enough to ride at civil twilight.
So far this year I have ridden:
162 miles on my Raleigh Grand Prix
48.6 miles on my Motobecane Fantom 29
24.3 miles on the Mongoose Pro I was using before I bought the Fantom 29.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Motobecane Fantom 29 vs Motobecane Fantom Pro
I received a couple of comments about how the Fantom 29 would compare to the Fantom Pro. So here it is....
How about comparing brothers? Of course the Pro is nicer with higher end components but is it a better value?
The only differences between the two bikes are the fork, brakes and crankset.
The 29 has Avid BB-5 Brakes vs the Pro with Avid Juicy 3 Hydraulic Brakes. The Juicy Brakes are about $130 more.
The 29 has RockShox Dart 3 Fork at $125 vs RockShox TORA RS318 with lockout, 100mm at $380 for the Pro.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset at $70 vs TruVativ FireX 22/32/44T at $140 for the Pro.
Conclusion:
The Pro has $455 more in parts. It costs $795.95 on bikesdirect. Its Relative Value Factor is 1.32 and therefore is the best value of the bikes I evaluated so far. Maybe I should have bought the Fantom Pro, but again I did not want to spend a lot of money. So I am still satisfied with my Fantom 29 purchase.
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike.
Bike Price Delta RVF
Motobecane Fantom Pro 796, 455, 1.32
Motobecane Fantom 29 596 0 1.0
IBEX Section 29 1034, 378, 0.942
Raleigh XXIX+G 1100 368 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive 600 -122 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er 667 -122 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er 760 -144 0.595
How about comparing brothers? Of course the Pro is nicer with higher end components but is it a better value?
The only differences between the two bikes are the fork, brakes and crankset.
The 29 has Avid BB-5 Brakes vs the Pro with Avid Juicy 3 Hydraulic Brakes. The Juicy Brakes are about $130 more.
The 29 has RockShox Dart 3 Fork at $125 vs RockShox TORA RS318 with lockout, 100mm at $380 for the Pro.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset at $70 vs TruVativ FireX 22/32/44T at $140 for the Pro.
Conclusion:
The Pro has $455 more in parts. It costs $795.95 on bikesdirect. Its Relative Value Factor is 1.32 and therefore is the best value of the bikes I evaluated so far. Maybe I should have bought the Fantom Pro, but again I did not want to spend a lot of money. So I am still satisfied with my Fantom 29 purchase.
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike.
Bike Price Delta RVF
Motobecane Fantom Pro 796, 455, 1.32
Motobecane Fantom 29 596 0 1.0
IBEX Section 29 1034, 378, 0.942
Raleigh XXIX+G 1100 368 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive 600 -122 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er 667 -122 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er 760 -144 0.595
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Price Point
Today I ordered the following from PricePoint.com:
2 Price Point Tube 29er Presta 29 x 2.1-2.35 $3.98
1 Park Tire Lever Set (3) TL-1 $2.98
1 Sette Torx ST-14 Tool Kit - 14 Tools $29.98
Total: $40.92
TAX: $0.00
POSTAGE & HANDLING: $6.49
INSURANCE: $1.25
TOTAL$: $48.66
I usually order from Nashbar and I am satisfied but I thought I would give PricePoint a try because their prices seem good. It looks like the prices at PricePoint on parts and equipment are slightly better than Nashbar. The prices for clothing seem better at Nashbar. PricePoint does not charge sales tax except if you live in California, so this will save me 6% right there. PricePoint does charge $1.25 for "insurance" for each order. Pricepoint's shipping charge is about the same as Nashbar.
I ordered a couple of tubes since I just used my one and only spare. I also ordered tire levers to put in my seat bag once I get it from Nashbar.
I also ordered a Sette Torx ST-14 Tool Kit. It is only $30 and seems to have the tools needed to do most repairs on my bikes. I will be able to report out on the quality and functionality in future posts.
2 Price Point Tube 29er Presta 29 x 2.1-2.35 $3.98
1 Park Tire Lever Set (3) TL-1 $2.98
1 Sette Torx ST-14 Tool Kit - 14 Tools $29.98
Total: $40.92
TAX: $0.00
POSTAGE & HANDLING: $6.49
INSURANCE: $1.25
TOTAL$: $48.66
I usually order from Nashbar and I am satisfied but I thought I would give PricePoint a try because their prices seem good. It looks like the prices at PricePoint on parts and equipment are slightly better than Nashbar. The prices for clothing seem better at Nashbar. PricePoint does not charge sales tax except if you live in California, so this will save me 6% right there. PricePoint does charge $1.25 for "insurance" for each order. Pricepoint's shipping charge is about the same as Nashbar.
I ordered a couple of tubes since I just used my one and only spare. I also ordered tire levers to put in my seat bag once I get it from Nashbar.
I also ordered a Sette Torx ST-14 Tool Kit. It is only $30 and seems to have the tools needed to do most repairs on my bikes. I will be able to report out on the quality and functionality in future posts.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Chainstay Nicks
I noticed on the chain stay on the chain side there are a bunch of nicks where the chain is hitting. There is a glossy thick paint on the chain stay as a form of protection but it does not seem to be working too well. I know on my Raleigh road bike there is a solid strip of material on the chain stay for protection.
I remember reading on the Internet somewhere an idea to wrap an old piece of tire tube on the chain stay for protection. I now have an old tube so...
Voila! I now have a chain stay protector.
I used a strip of the old tube and then wrapped it all up with electrician's tape.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Post Flat Repair Ride
After I repaired the tire I was able to get a ride in. I rode 8.2 miles.It was cold with temperature in the low 30s, windy with some snow flurries.
I rode down to Springton Manor Farm (SMF) and rode the trails. It was a good workout particularly going up the hills.
I had no problems with the bike. When I came home I did hose down the bike as it was pretty muddy.
31.8 mile FLAT FRONT TIRE!
Today when I went down to the basement to get my bike for a ride, I noticed that the front tire was flat. This was only after only 31.8 miles of trail riding. Although it is real easy to fix a flat tire, I am going to classify this as a major repair since it interrupts riding time.
When you fix a flat you need to determine what caused the flat or it will just happen again. Also I usually just replace the tube rather than do a repair since tubes are inexpensive ($5).
I carefully removed the tube from the tire then investigated the possible causes. Here are my findings are:
1.) Leaking valve : with some pressure in the tube I placed the tube in a bucket of water. No bubbles were coming from the valve. This was not the cause. There was about 1 bubble per second coming from the tube 180 degrees from the valve stem location.
2.) An external object punctured the tire and tube: At the location of the leak there were no objects on or in the tire. I also checked the entire inner and outer surface of the tire, there were no objects. This was not the cause.
3.) A sharp point on the rim or a spoke poking through the rim tape punctured the tube: The rim tape was intact. At the area of the leak is also where the rim seam occurs. This is where the aluminum rim is weld to form the circle. It is too coincidental that this was the leak location. The tube leak was more on the outside diameter than the inside diameter so it does not exactly line up to the seam. Although the rim seam felt smooth, it possibly could be the cause.
4.) A tube manufacturer's defect: I cut out the section of the tube to examine the leak. The hole is so small that you cannot see it even when you stretch the rubber. There are 2 main seams in the tube but there appears to be two minor seams also. Each seam is 90 degrees apart. It looks like to me that the leak is on one of the minor seams. I believe this could be the likely cause.
To address the rim seam possible cause, I cut a piece of the old tube and glued it over the rim seam.
To address the tube manufacturer defect possible cause, I replaced the tube. The original tube was schrader valve tube and I replaced it with a presta valve tube. The schrader valve is a bigger diameter hole on the rim, therefore you need to insert a presta adapter into the hole. The presta adapter is just an aluminum sleeve.
The original tube was a Cheng Shin 700 X 52/47 tube #20097632. I googled Cheng Shin and found that they are the 12th largest rubber manufacturer in the world. They go by the name of Maxxis in the United States.
This is a presta valve.
When you put the tire back on the rim, pay attention to the rotation arrow to install the tire correctly. I then inflated the tire to 40 psi.
When you fix a flat you need to determine what caused the flat or it will just happen again. Also I usually just replace the tube rather than do a repair since tubes are inexpensive ($5).
I carefully removed the tube from the tire then investigated the possible causes. Here are my findings are:
1.) Leaking valve : with some pressure in the tube I placed the tube in a bucket of water. No bubbles were coming from the valve. This was not the cause. There was about 1 bubble per second coming from the tube 180 degrees from the valve stem location.
2.) An external object punctured the tire and tube: At the location of the leak there were no objects on or in the tire. I also checked the entire inner and outer surface of the tire, there were no objects. This was not the cause.
3.) A sharp point on the rim or a spoke poking through the rim tape punctured the tube: The rim tape was intact. At the area of the leak is also where the rim seam occurs. This is where the aluminum rim is weld to form the circle. It is too coincidental that this was the leak location. The tube leak was more on the outside diameter than the inside diameter so it does not exactly line up to the seam. Although the rim seam felt smooth, it possibly could be the cause.4.) A tube manufacturer's defect: I cut out the section of the tube to examine the leak. The hole is so small that you cannot see it even when you stretch the rubber. There are 2 main seams in the tube but there appears to be two minor seams also. Each seam is 90 degrees apart. It looks like to me that the leak is on one of the minor seams. I believe this could be the likely cause.
To address the rim seam possible cause, I cut a piece of the old tube and glued it over the rim seam.
To address the tube manufacturer defect possible cause, I replaced the tube. The original tube was schrader valve tube and I replaced it with a presta valve tube. The schrader valve is a bigger diameter hole on the rim, therefore you need to insert a presta adapter into the hole. The presta adapter is just an aluminum sleeve.The original tube was a Cheng Shin 700 X 52/47 tube #20097632. I googled Cheng Shin and found that they are the 12th largest rubber manufacturer in the world. They go by the name of Maxxis in the United States.
This is a presta valve.
When you put the tire back on the rim, pay attention to the rotation arrow to install the tire correctly. I then inflated the tire to 40 psi.
I will now need to buy a replacement tube. Maybe I should get 2 just in case the other tire also has a "manufacturing defect".
I will not preemptively replace the tube so I can report what happens.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Size Matters
On Monday I decided to get a seat bag so I have tools, a spare tube and CO2 inflator for the trail. I figure if I get a water resistant bag I can hose it down with the bike when it gets muddy. So I placed an order with Nashbar.com for the following items:
Crank Brothers M-19 Multi Tool $19.95
INNOVATIONS ULTRAFLATE PRO SE $12.95 $
Nashbar Fly Bag - Small $12.99
Pedros Toothbrush $4.95
Sub Total : $50.84
Less Promotion: $10.00
Ship Total : $9.25
Tax Total : $3.61
Grand Total : $53.70
I got the Pedros Toothbrush to clean my gears better but also to get the total over $50 so I get the $10 discount.
I received the items today and noticed that the seat bag is way too small. There are 2 sizes, a large and small. I did not want a huge bag hanging off my seat so I ordered the small. It is 38 cubic inches and not even big enough to hold a tube all folded up. The large is 100 cubic inches so I think that is really what I need.
I am exchanging the bag. This is the first time I ever had to return anything to Nashbar so I will let you know how it goes. I filled out the back of the invoice per the instructions. There is a return label that you tear off the invoice and tape to the box it came in. I will mail it tomorrow.
I have always found that Nashbar has the best prices. I also usually get the Nashbar brand for items and they always appear to be a good value and quality. The prices change all of the time and if you keep an eye on an item you are interested in you can pick it up when you see a low price. When I was looking for road shoes I was keeping an eye on Exustar Silver/black Sr421 Road Shoes. They were running $33 to $40 which in itself is a good price. I saw them come down to $25 once at bought them. I like it when I get a good deal.
Crank Brothers M-19 Multi Tool $19.95
INNOVATIONS ULTRAFLATE PRO SE $12.95 $
Nashbar Fly Bag - Small $12.99
Pedros Toothbrush $4.95
Sub Total : $50.84
Less Promotion: $10.00
Ship Total : $9.25
Tax Total : $3.61
Grand Total : $53.70
I got the Pedros Toothbrush to clean my gears better but also to get the total over $50 so I get the $10 discount.
I received the items today and noticed that the seat bag is way too small. There are 2 sizes, a large and small. I did not want a huge bag hanging off my seat so I ordered the small. It is 38 cubic inches and not even big enough to hold a tube all folded up. The large is 100 cubic inches so I think that is really what I need.
I am exchanging the bag. This is the first time I ever had to return anything to Nashbar so I will let you know how it goes. I filled out the back of the invoice per the instructions. There is a return label that you tear off the invoice and tape to the box it came in. I will mail it tomorrow.
I have always found that Nashbar has the best prices. I also usually get the Nashbar brand for items and they always appear to be a good value and quality. The prices change all of the time and if you keep an eye on an item you are interested in you can pick it up when you see a low price. When I was looking for road shoes I was keeping an eye on Exustar Silver/black Sr421 Road Shoes. They were running $33 to $40 which in itself is a good price. I saw them come down to $25 once at bought them. I like it when I get a good deal.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Motobecane Fantom 29 vs IBEX Section 29
Before I decided on buying the Fantom 29 I had been looking at IBEX full suspension Ignition 3. I am glad I went with the 29er. IBEX also has a 29er so I was interested in determining how it stacked up in value to the Fantom 29. I did not buy the IBEX Section 29 because it was a little more than I wanted to spend at $999 plus $35 shipping. I also wanted a black bike. The Section 29 is Ruby Red.
The detailed specs can be found on the IBEX website at
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/SEC-29-Details.html
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes vs Avid BB-7 for the IBEX . The IBEX is worth about $30 more.
The Fantom 29 has WTB MotoRaptor 29 x 2.1 tires with WTB FX28 rims vs the WTB ExiWolf 29" x 2.30 with the WTB LaserDisc 29 rims for the IBEX. The IBEX is worth about $50 more.
The Fantom 29 has the RockShox Dart 3 Fork at $125 vs Rock Shox Tora 318 Air at $380 for the IBEX . The IBEX has 80mm travel vs 100mm on the Fantom.
The Motobecane and IBEX frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the Ruby Red of the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs SRAM X7 Trigger at $50 for the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs SRAM X-7 at $45 for the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset at $70 vs FSA Moto MegaExo (44/32/22T) at $140 for the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs SRAM X-7 at $29 for the IBEX.
The IBEX also includes Shimano M520 SPD Clipless pedals w/ cleats at $50. I use clipless on my road bike but not on my mountain bike so this wasn't important for me.
Conclusion:
The IBEX has $378 more in parts. It is about $400 more that the Fantom 29 so the value is close to the Fantom 29.
The Fantom 29 has a better drive train. The IBEX Section 29 has a better Fork, Wheelset and Crankset but it is $1034. I chose the Motobecane over the IBEX because I did not want to pay $1034 for a bike that I am using just for fitness. The $600 Fantom 29 works for me.
I like the Fantom 29!
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike. So far the Fantom 29 is the best value of the bikes I reviewed. The IBEX Section 29 jumps to second place.
Bike: Price, Delta, RVF
Motobecane Fantom 29: 596, 0, 1.0
IBEX Section 29 : 1034, 378, 0.942
Raleigh XXIX+G: 1100, 368, 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive: 600, -122, 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er: 667, -122, 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er: 760 ,-144, 0.595
The detailed specs can be found on the IBEX website at
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/SEC-29-Details.html
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes vs Avid BB-7 for the IBEX . The IBEX is worth about $30 more.
The Fantom 29 has WTB MotoRaptor 29 x 2.1 tires with WTB FX28 rims vs the WTB ExiWolf 29" x 2.30 with the WTB LaserDisc 29 rims for the IBEX. The IBEX is worth about $50 more.
The Fantom 29 has the RockShox Dart 3 Fork at $125 vs Rock Shox Tora 318 Air at $380 for the IBEX . The IBEX has 80mm travel vs 100mm on the Fantom.
The Motobecane and IBEX frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the Ruby Red of the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs SRAM X7 Trigger at $50 for the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs SRAM X-7 at $45 for the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset at $70 vs FSA Moto MegaExo (44/32/22T) at $140 for the IBEX.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs SRAM X-7 at $29 for the IBEX.
The IBEX also includes Shimano M520 SPD Clipless pedals w/ cleats at $50. I use clipless on my road bike but not on my mountain bike so this wasn't important for me.
Conclusion:
The IBEX has $378 more in parts. It is about $400 more that the Fantom 29 so the value is close to the Fantom 29.
The Fantom 29 has a better drive train. The IBEX Section 29 has a better Fork, Wheelset and Crankset but it is $1034. I chose the Motobecane over the IBEX because I did not want to pay $1034 for a bike that I am using just for fitness. The $600 Fantom 29 works for me.
I like the Fantom 29!
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike. So far the Fantom 29 is the best value of the bikes I reviewed. The IBEX Section 29 jumps to second place.
Bike: Price, Delta, RVF
Motobecane Fantom 29: 596, 0, 1.0
IBEX Section 29 : 1034, 378, 0.942
Raleigh XXIX+G: 1100, 368, 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive: 600, -122, 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er: 667, -122, 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er: 760 ,-144, 0.595
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Motobecane Fantom 29 vs Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er
Kozy.com of Chicago has a Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er on sale for $759.99. The shipping is free. So right off the bat it is $164.04 more expensive than the Fantom 29.
The detailed specs can be found on the Specialized website at http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34097
Both have Avid BB5 Brakes but the Fantom 29 has larger 185 mm rotors while the Rockhopper has 6" rotors.
Both have similar 29 x 2.1 tires. I will assume the difference is small.
Both have the RockShox Dart 3 Fork but the Rockhopper only has 80mm travel vs 100mm on the Fantom.
The Motobecane and Specialized frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the Gloss Orange of the Rockhopper.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs Shimano Acera SL-MC40 at $18 for the Rockhopper.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs Shimano Alivio RD-M410 at $29 for the Rockhopper.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Shimano FC-M341-8 for the Rockhopper. I will assume they are similar price and quality.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs Shimano Altus FD-M310-6 at $10 for the Rockhopper.
Conclusion:
The Fantom 29 has $144 more in parts and costs $164 less. Therefore the Fantom 29 is a better value. The Fork is basically the same on the two bikes. The Fantom 29 has a better drive train, and brakes (larger rotor).
I like the Fantom 29!
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike. So far the Fantom 29 is the best value of the bikes I reviewed.
Bike Price Delta RVF
Motobecane Fantom 29 596 0 1.0
Raleigh XXIX+G 1100 368 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive 600 -122 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er 667 -122 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er 760 -144 0.595
The detailed specs can be found on the Specialized website at http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34097
Both have Avid BB5 Brakes but the Fantom 29 has larger 185 mm rotors while the Rockhopper has 6" rotors.
Both have similar 29 x 2.1 tires. I will assume the difference is small.
Both have the RockShox Dart 3 Fork but the Rockhopper only has 80mm travel vs 100mm on the Fantom.
The Motobecane and Specialized frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the Gloss Orange of the Rockhopper.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs Shimano Acera SL-MC40 at $18 for the Rockhopper.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs Shimano Alivio RD-M410 at $29 for the Rockhopper.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Shimano FC-M341-8 for the Rockhopper. I will assume they are similar price and quality.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs Shimano Altus FD-M310-6 at $10 for the Rockhopper.
Conclusion:
The Fantom 29 has $144 more in parts and costs $164 less. Therefore the Fantom 29 is a better value. The Fork is basically the same on the two bikes. The Fantom 29 has a better drive train, and brakes (larger rotor).
I like the Fantom 29!
As an on going recap here is a list of the bikes I reviewed. They are ranked by a Relative Value Factor (RVF) . The RVF is the price of the Fantom 29 + or - the value of the major parts difference (Delta) divided by the price of the bike. So far the Fantom 29 is the best value of the bikes I reviewed.
Bike Price Delta RVF
Motobecane Fantom 29 596 0 1.0
Raleigh XXIX+G 1100 368 0.876
Diamondback Overdrive 600 -122 0.790
Marin Alpine Trail 29er 667 -122 0.711
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 29er 760 -144 0.595
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Today's Ride Evaluation
The Fantom 29 performed well on my ride today. The 29er easily rolls over obstacles. On the Indian Run Trail, the park service has placed a series of pressure treated 2x4's with a rubber lip sticking out the top to hold up any trail erosion. They are no match for the 29er.
On the hills and asphalt roads, I put on the lockout and can climb well. There is a about a 300' elevation change from the north end of the park to the south end so there are some pretty good, long hills.
I think my height and reach adjustment on the handlebars are good but I will give it a few more rides to make sure.
One problem I did feel was on my wrists. I had the handlebars rotated back so my wrists were actually bent. When you are in the riding position and holding the brake lever your wrist should follow the line of your arm so they are not bent. I adjusted this after the ride as I am riding without a seat bag with tools. I may need to rethink not having a seat bag. I have not installed a seat bag yet because my rides have been too muddy.
One other minor problem developed on the bike. The upper bolt on my vertical bottle cage holder came loose and dropped out on the trail. I replaced it but before doing so I wrapped the threads of the bolts for both bottle cages with Teflon tape to get a good tight fit. I could have used Locktite but I did not have any. (Mileage 31.8)
So far I am completely satisfied with the Fantom 29!.
On the hills and asphalt roads, I put on the lockout and can climb well. There is a about a 300' elevation change from the north end of the park to the south end so there are some pretty good, long hills.
I think my height and reach adjustment on the handlebars are good but I will give it a few more rides to make sure.
One problem I did feel was on my wrists. I had the handlebars rotated back so my wrists were actually bent. When you are in the riding position and holding the brake lever your wrist should follow the line of your arm so they are not bent. I adjusted this after the ride as I am riding without a seat bag with tools. I may need to rethink not having a seat bag. I have not installed a seat bag yet because my rides have been too muddy.
One other minor problem developed on the bike. The upper bolt on my vertical bottle cage holder came loose and dropped out on the trail. I replaced it but before doing so I wrapped the threads of the bolts for both bottle cages with Teflon tape to get a good tight fit. I could have used Locktite but I did not have any. (Mileage 31.8)
So far I am completely satisfied with the Fantom 29!.
Springton Manor Farm Ride
Today I took a ride at Springton Manor Farm (SMF). My ride total was 7.7 miles. I also took some pictures as promised.
SMF has a lot of open field trails as well as trails through the woods. There are a lot of good long hills to get a good workout.
Here is that tree I was writing about in a previous post. First I get get up some speed for the approach :)
Then as the bike slips under the tree, I leap over the tree :)
As the bike comes out the other side I jump back on to continue down the trail :)
And here is the Fantom 29 taking a well deserved rest by the pond before the ride back home.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tweaking the Fit
Today I received my Adjustable Stem from Nashbar.com. It was easy to replace and fit perfectly. The stack height is 40 mm which is identical to the existing stem so I did not need to change any spacers on the headset.The existing stem was actually 100 mm with a 30 degree rise. This stem is 95 mm and I set it for the maximum 40 degree rise. This elevated the handlebars about 1/2 inch and brought the handlebars about 3/4 inch closer to the seat. It felt like a comfortable position and I definitely don't have as much weight on my hands. I will see how it feels after a couple of rides.
First I removed the old stem.
Then I removed the sleeve that is used for 1" Heasdsets on the new stem. Then I adjusted the angle to the maximum 40 degrees. I then installed the new stem.
Here is how it looks completed.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Comments & Solutions
Comments
I have received some comments on my last few posts. I really appreciate the comments. It did not dawn on me that anyone might think that this blog was an advertisement for Motobecane or bikesdirect or that I maybe I was working for them. But I now see how that could happen.
I want to set the record straight. I do not work for Motobecane, bikesdirect or any other bike company. I am an engineer at the local power company. The intent of this blog is to share my experience of selecting a mountain bike, buying it online and describing how it performs.
Solutions
So I am going to do two things. First I will update my profile and blog description to make it clear that I do not work for Motobecane, or bikesdirect or any other bike company. Secondly, I will post some pictures of my ride this weekend as suggested.
Speaking of solutions I am continuing to work on my bike fit. Yesterday I ordered a stem from Nashbar.com to bring in and up the handlebars to get a better fit. I ordered an adjustable stem because I think I will be able to tweak in the fit. The stem is 95 mm with a 0 to 40 degree angle adjustment. My current stem is 100 mm with a 5 degree rise. The downside of an adjustable stem is the extra weight but that is not a big concern to me. A fixed stem in this price range is 200 grams. So we are not talking about a lot of weight here anyway.
I also ordered some chain lube. Here is my order:
1 Nashbar Adjustable Threadless Stem 95mm $14.95
1 Pedros SynLube 4oz. $4.95
Sub Total : $19.90
Ship Total : $5.75
Tax Total : $1.54
Grand Total : $27.19
I have received some comments on my last few posts. I really appreciate the comments. It did not dawn on me that anyone might think that this blog was an advertisement for Motobecane or bikesdirect or that I maybe I was working for them. But I now see how that could happen.
I want to set the record straight. I do not work for Motobecane, bikesdirect or any other bike company. I am an engineer at the local power company. The intent of this blog is to share my experience of selecting a mountain bike, buying it online and describing how it performs.
Solutions
So I am going to do two things. First I will update my profile and blog description to make it clear that I do not work for Motobecane, or bikesdirect or any other bike company. Secondly, I will post some pictures of my ride this weekend as suggested.
Speaking of solutions I am continuing to work on my bike fit. Yesterday I ordered a stem from Nashbar.com to bring in and up the handlebars to get a better fit. I ordered an adjustable stem because I think I will be able to tweak in the fit. The stem is 95 mm with a 0 to 40 degree angle adjustment. My current stem is 100 mm with a 5 degree rise. The downside of an adjustable stem is the extra weight but that is not a big concern to me. A fixed stem in this price range is 200 grams. So we are not talking about a lot of weight here anyway.
I also ordered some chain lube. Here is my order:
1 Nashbar Adjustable Threadless Stem 95mm $14.95
1 Pedros SynLube 4oz. $4.95
Sub Total : $19.90
Ship Total : $5.75
Tax Total : $1.54
Grand Total : $27.19
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Springton Manor Ride
This afternoon I gave myself and the Fantom 29 a good workout at Springton Manor Farm (SMF). SMF is a Chester County Park near my house that has some bike trails. I never rode them until now. So this review is as much for the trail as it is the bike. I rode a total of 7.5 mi.
Here is the link for a map of SMF: http://dsf.chesco.org/ccparks/lib/ccparks/springton/smf_trail_map_2.pdf
First I took the streets from my house down to Burgess Park on RT 282. I used the lockout and was able to get into the highest gear easily. The shifters and derailleurs were smooth. Once you get up to 20 mph on asphalt those tires really roar. I guess they don't call them MotoRaptors for nothing.
Once at Burgess Park I popped onto an old railroad trail. I believe this will be part of the Struble Trail when it is extended. For now it is a dirt trail with even some of the old railroad ties present. I unlocked the fork and the Dart 3 Fork easily handled these railroad ties. This ride is actually the first time that I used a lockout. I can easily reach the switch and it is easy to use. I have seen bikes with a remote lockout on the handlebars but it seems unnecessary. I rode this trail for until it came back up to Rt 282. I then rode down Rt 282 with the lockout back on until I came to the SMF service road on Springton Road.
I then entered the park and took the Indian Run Trail counter clockwise. This trail has white markers. This part of the trail seems more for hikers as there are at least 3 bridges with steps. It is very scenic along the Indian Run Creek. The trail has a lot of rocks and roots but this was no problem for the 29er. I lost the trail so I doubled back and took the trail clockwise. This trail was extremely "boggy" and all up hill. I am sure if I didn't have a 29er I would have been stuck in the mud several times.
I some how made it back to the road and got on the Blue Bird Trail and then back onto the Indian Run Trail across a ridge at the top of the Farm. I then took the Bartol Trail east. This trail is an old road and flat to downhill. I really opened up here. Again the Dart 3 Fork and 29er wheels were awesome!
At this point the Bartol Trail is below grade, that is the road is almost like a ditch with a berm on either side. As I was ripping down the trail I noticed this huge downed tree across the trail. You could probably fit a bike under the tree but not with me on top of it. I noticed a trail immediately to the left and took it.
This unmarked trail was awesome. It was a good fast downhill ride. I then noticed the white markers which meant I was back on Indian Run Trail. I took this trail quickly downhill even though it was "boggy" in places.
I then got back on the service road and took the reverse route home. The bike wasn't as muddy as my Marsh Creek rides but I washed it anyway. Again later this week I will lube the chain.
Evaluation:
The southern end of the park is 300' greater in elevation that the northern end of the park. It is also a lot drier. The next time I ride at SMF I will stick to the southern end.
The Fantom 29 is smooth shifting and can roll over and through anything on these trails. The brakes also have excellent stopping power so I always felt in control.
As far as the fit goes, I think I am leaning too far forward and have too much weight on my hands. I will have to get a shorter stem and/or higher angle. That will be my next project.
Here is the link for a map of SMF: http://dsf.chesco.org/ccparks/lib/ccparks/springton/smf_trail_map_2.pdf
First I took the streets from my house down to Burgess Park on RT 282. I used the lockout and was able to get into the highest gear easily. The shifters and derailleurs were smooth. Once you get up to 20 mph on asphalt those tires really roar. I guess they don't call them MotoRaptors for nothing.
Once at Burgess Park I popped onto an old railroad trail. I believe this will be part of the Struble Trail when it is extended. For now it is a dirt trail with even some of the old railroad ties present. I unlocked the fork and the Dart 3 Fork easily handled these railroad ties. This ride is actually the first time that I used a lockout. I can easily reach the switch and it is easy to use. I have seen bikes with a remote lockout on the handlebars but it seems unnecessary. I rode this trail for until it came back up to Rt 282. I then rode down Rt 282 with the lockout back on until I came to the SMF service road on Springton Road.
I then entered the park and took the Indian Run Trail counter clockwise. This trail has white markers. This part of the trail seems more for hikers as there are at least 3 bridges with steps. It is very scenic along the Indian Run Creek. The trail has a lot of rocks and roots but this was no problem for the 29er. I lost the trail so I doubled back and took the trail clockwise. This trail was extremely "boggy" and all up hill. I am sure if I didn't have a 29er I would have been stuck in the mud several times.
I some how made it back to the road and got on the Blue Bird Trail and then back onto the Indian Run Trail across a ridge at the top of the Farm. I then took the Bartol Trail east. This trail is an old road and flat to downhill. I really opened up here. Again the Dart 3 Fork and 29er wheels were awesome!
At this point the Bartol Trail is below grade, that is the road is almost like a ditch with a berm on either side. As I was ripping down the trail I noticed this huge downed tree across the trail. You could probably fit a bike under the tree but not with me on top of it. I noticed a trail immediately to the left and took it.
This unmarked trail was awesome. It was a good fast downhill ride. I then noticed the white markers which meant I was back on Indian Run Trail. I took this trail quickly downhill even though it was "boggy" in places.
I then got back on the service road and took the reverse route home. The bike wasn't as muddy as my Marsh Creek rides but I washed it anyway. Again later this week I will lube the chain.
Evaluation:
The southern end of the park is 300' greater in elevation that the northern end of the park. It is also a lot drier. The next time I ride at SMF I will stick to the southern end.
The Fantom 29 is smooth shifting and can roll over and through anything on these trails. The brakes also have excellent stopping power so I always felt in control.
As far as the fit goes, I think I am leaning too far forward and have too much weight on my hands. I will have to get a shorter stem and/or higher angle. That will be my next project.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Motobecane Fantom 29 vs Marin Alpine Trail 29er
REI.com has a Marin Alpine Trail 29er on sale for $629 plus $37.74 PA Sales tax for a total of $666.74. The shipping is free with in store pickup. So right off the bat it is $70.79 more expensive than the Fantom 29.
The detailed specs can be found on the Marin website at http://www.marinbikes.com/2008/us/bikes/specs_alpine_trail_29er.php
The Marin Alpine is almost identically spec'd as the Diamondback Overdrive that I compared in a previous post.
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors while the Marin has Hayes HMX-4 Disc w/ 6" rotors. I don't know what the cost difference is so I will assume it is small. The reviews on MTBR indicate that the AVID BB-5 are better brakes.
Both have similar WTB 29 x 2.1 tires with the Marin having Alex TD-20 rims vs the WTB FX-28 Rims for the Fantom 29. I will assume the difference is small.
Both have the RockShox Dart 3 Fork.
The Motobecane and Marin frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the "brushed silver" or "solar" of the Alpine. The smallest Marin frame is 17" but has a 833 mm (32.8 in) stand over. This would only give me 1 inch of clearance and therefore would be too big for me. So buy these bikes carefully! I am 6' tall and couldn't buy an Alpine.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs Shimano Alivio 8spd Rapid Fire at $40 for the Marin.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs Shimano Alivio at $29 for the Marin.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Truvativ ISO Flow 3.0 for the Marin. A commenter on my previous post indicated that the crakset on the Fantom 29 is better quality.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs Shimano Altus FD-M310 at $10 for the Marin.
Conclusion: The Fantom 29 has $122 more in parts and costs $71 less. Therefore the Fantom 29 is a better value.
Most of the major components are basically the same on the two bikes The Fantom 29 has a better drive train, crankset and brakes (larger rotor).
I like the Fantom 29!
The detailed specs can be found on the Marin website at http://www.marinbikes.com/2008/us/bikes/specs_alpine_trail_29er.php
The Marin Alpine is almost identically spec'd as the Diamondback Overdrive that I compared in a previous post.
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors while the Marin has Hayes HMX-4 Disc w/ 6" rotors. I don't know what the cost difference is so I will assume it is small. The reviews on MTBR indicate that the AVID BB-5 are better brakes.
Both have similar WTB 29 x 2.1 tires with the Marin having Alex TD-20 rims vs the WTB FX-28 Rims for the Fantom 29. I will assume the difference is small.
Both have the RockShox Dart 3 Fork.
The Motobecane and Marin frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the "brushed silver" or "solar" of the Alpine. The smallest Marin frame is 17" but has a 833 mm (32.8 in) stand over. This would only give me 1 inch of clearance and therefore would be too big for me. So buy these bikes carefully! I am 6' tall and couldn't buy an Alpine.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs Shimano Alivio 8spd Rapid Fire at $40 for the Marin.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs Shimano Alivio at $29 for the Marin.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Truvativ ISO Flow 3.0 for the Marin. A commenter on my previous post indicated that the crakset on the Fantom 29 is better quality.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs Shimano Altus FD-M310 at $10 for the Marin.
Conclusion: The Fantom 29 has $122 more in parts and costs $71 less. Therefore the Fantom 29 is a better value.
Most of the major components are basically the same on the two bikes The Fantom 29 has a better drive train, crankset and brakes (larger rotor).
I like the Fantom 29!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Motobecane Fantom 29 vs Diamondback Overdrive
I thought it would be interesting to compare my 29er to the Diamondback Overdrive. I did not ride the Diamondback but I had seen on a MTBR forum post that it was available at a LBS for $600. This is the same price I paid for the Fantom 29.
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors while the Diamondback has Hayes HMX-4 Disc w/ 6" rotors. I don't know what the cost difference is so I will assume it is small. The reviews on MTBR indicate that the AVID BB-5 are better brakes.
Both have similar WTB 29 x 2.1 tires with FX28 Rims Wheelset.
Both have the RockShox Dart 3 Fork.
The Motobecane and Diamondback frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the "sparkling silver"of the Overdrive.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs Shimano Alivio 8spd Rapid Fire at $40 for the Diamondback.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs Shimano Alivio at $29 for the Diamondback.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Truvativ ISO Flow 3.0 for the Diamondback. I believe these cranksets are similar quality and cost.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs Shimano Acera at $10 for the Diamondback.
Conclusion: The Fantom 29 has $122 more in parts. Therefore the Fantom 29 is a better value since they are both $600 bikes.
Most of the major components are basically the same on the two bikes The Fantom 29 has a better drive train and brakes (larger rotor).
I like the Fantom 29!
The Fantom 29 has Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors while the Diamondback has Hayes HMX-4 Disc w/ 6" rotors. I don't know what the cost difference is so I will assume it is small. The reviews on MTBR indicate that the AVID BB-5 are better brakes.
Both have similar WTB 29 x 2.1 tires with FX28 Rims Wheelset.
Both have the RockShox Dart 3 Fork.
The Motobecane and Diamondback frames are aluminum. I like the Fantom 29 black color over the "sparkling silver"of the Overdrive.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs Shimano Alivio 8spd Rapid Fire at $40 for the Diamondback.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs Shimano Alivio at $29 for the Diamondback.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset vs Truvativ ISO Flow 3.0 for the Diamondback. I believe these cranksets are similar quality and cost.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs Shimano Acera at $10 for the Diamondback.
Conclusion: The Fantom 29 has $122 more in parts. Therefore the Fantom 29 is a better value since they are both $600 bikes.
Most of the major components are basically the same on the two bikes The Fantom 29 has a better drive train and brakes (larger rotor).
I like the Fantom 29!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Motobecane Fantom 29 vs Raleigh XXIX + G
I thought it would be interesting to compare my 29er to the Raleigh that I test drove at Shirks.
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=11&itemid=382
Both have Avid BB5 Brakes but the Raleigh has 160 mm rotors vs 185 mm rotors for the Fantom 29.
The Fantom 29 has WTB 29 x 2.1 with FX28 Rims Wheelset at $150 per set vs WTB Speed Disc at $150 without tires for the Raleigh. Tires are WTB ExiWolf 29x2.3 about $70 per pair
Fantom 29 has RockShox Dart 3 Fork at $125 vs Rock Shox Reba SL 29" Air w/Rebound Adjust at $400 for the Raleigh.
The Motobecane Frame is aluminum, the Raleigh is 4130 CrMo steel.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs SRAM SX-5 at $50 for the Raleigh.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs SRAM X-7 at $45 for the Raleigh.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset at $70 vs Truvativ Fire X 22/32/44t at $175 for the Raleigh.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs SRAM X-7 at $29 for the Raleigh.
Conclusion:
The difference in parts cost excluding the frame is that the Raleigh has $368 more in parts. It is about $500 more that the Fantom 29 so the value is not as good.
The Fantom 29 has a better drive train and brakes (larger rotor). The Raleigh XXIX-G has a better Fork, Wheelset and Crankset but it is $1100.
I chose the Motobecane over the Raleigh because I did not want to pay $1100 for a bike that I am using just for fitness. The $600 Fantom 29 works for me.
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=11&itemid=382
Both have Avid BB5 Brakes but the Raleigh has 160 mm rotors vs 185 mm rotors for the Fantom 29.
The Fantom 29 has WTB 29 x 2.1 with FX28 Rims Wheelset at $150 per set vs WTB Speed Disc at $150 without tires for the Raleigh. Tires are WTB ExiWolf 29x2.3 about $70 per pair
Fantom 29 has RockShox Dart 3 Fork at $125 vs Rock Shox Reba SL 29" Air w/Rebound Adjust at $400 for the Raleigh.
The Motobecane Frame is aluminum, the Raleigh is 4130 CrMo steel.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift at $90 for pair vs SRAM SX-5 at $50 for the Raleigh.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 at $85 vs SRAM X-7 at $45 for the Raleigh.
The Fantom 29 has TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset at $70 vs Truvativ Fire X 22/32/44t at $175 for the Raleigh.
The Fantom 29 has Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26 vs SRAM X-7 at $29 for the Raleigh.
Conclusion:
The difference in parts cost excluding the frame is that the Raleigh has $368 more in parts. It is about $500 more that the Fantom 29 so the value is not as good.
The Fantom 29 has a better drive train and brakes (larger rotor). The Raleigh XXIX-G has a better Fork, Wheelset and Crankset but it is $1100.
I chose the Motobecane over the Raleigh because I did not want to pay $1100 for a bike that I am using just for fitness. The $600 Fantom 29 works for me.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Is the Motobecane Fantom 29 a good value?
To answer this question I did an analysis of the parts cost for the bike. The costs are typical costs found based on a google search. The following are the results:
Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors $170 per pair
WTB 29 x 2.1 with FX28 Rims Wheelset $150 per set
RockShox Dart 3 Fork $125
Frame (on ebay $95 plus $25 shipping) $120
Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift $90 for pair
Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 $85
TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset $70
Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26
Total for "major" parts $836
The total cost of the bike was $595.95 so it seems there is a good value here. However, probably the sum of the parts is always going to cost more on any bike.
On the quality side, the derailleurs and shifters are Deore which are on the higher end of quality.
The Avid BB5 brakes have received good reviews and seem to have good stopping power with the 185 mm rotors.
The Dart 3 Fork is an "entry level XC" fork. It seems good to me.
The TruVativ 5D is a lower end crankset and seems to perform adequately.
I like the WTB wheelset. The tires are very good and "grippy".
I also like the frame. I like the color, the geometry and fit for me. I also think it is strong.
So overall I think the bike is a good value.
The link for the specs:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_08.htm
Avid BB5 Brakes with 185 mm rotors $170 per pair
WTB 29 x 2.1 with FX28 Rims Wheelset $150 per set
RockShox Dart 3 Fork $125
Frame (on ebay $95 plus $25 shipping) $120
Shimano Deore Mega-9 Rapid Fire 27 speed trigger shift $90 for pair
Shimano Deore XT long cage rear derailleur RD-M761 $85
TruVativ 5D 22/32/44T Crankset $70
Shimano Deore FD-M510 front derailleur $26
Total for "major" parts $836
The total cost of the bike was $595.95 so it seems there is a good value here. However, probably the sum of the parts is always going to cost more on any bike.
On the quality side, the derailleurs and shifters are Deore which are on the higher end of quality.
The Avid BB5 brakes have received good reviews and seem to have good stopping power with the 185 mm rotors.
The Dart 3 Fork is an "entry level XC" fork. It seems good to me.
The TruVativ 5D is a lower end crankset and seems to perform adequately.
I like the WTB wheelset. The tires are very good and "grippy".
I also like the frame. I like the color, the geometry and fit for me. I also think it is strong.
So overall I think the bike is a good value.
The link for the specs:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_08.htm
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Second Ride
I rode today at Marsh Creek State Park on my usual route. Now that I have a computer I now know that the ride is 8.3 miles. It is a good work out with lots of hills. The weather was nice and sunny with the temperature in the low 40's. There was still a lot of mud.
Now that I have the seat height properly adjusted I can now say that the 29er ride is awesome! It had good traction going up the hills and I could easily role over most of the roots and rocks on the trail. I did notice that I may have too much weight on my hands and therefore am leaning too far forward. This would mean that I need a shorter stem. I will ride a few more times to make sure.
So far I am completely satisfied with the bike.
Now that I have the seat height properly adjusted I can now say that the 29er ride is awesome! It had good traction going up the hills and I could easily role over most of the roots and rocks on the trail. I did notice that I may have too much weight on my hands and therefore am leaning too far forward. This would mean that I need a shorter stem. I will ride a few more times to make sure.
So far I am completely satisfied with the bike.
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