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Conference noted::bicycle

Title:	Bicycling
Notice:	Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:	JAMIN::WASSER

Created:	Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3214
Total number of notes:	31946

2847.0. "Buy a new bike or upgrade the old?" by ASIC::PTHAYER (Paul Thayer) Wed Sep 14 1994 02:54

I own a 1990 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp w/XT components and I like 
this bike alot. I have ridden it quite abit but it still is in 
pretty good shape although it is getting on in years (like us all).

I finally have come to the conclusion that I would like a bike
that has a front suspension and also clipless pedals.

The suspension I think I will go with is probably the Girvin Vector.
(I like the idea of not having 2 somewhat independent shocks just
tied together with a front brace that sometimes can twist and squirm
under strain.)

Question:

Do I invest the aprox $500-600 into this older bike or are there any 
equivalent or superior bikes out there in the $1200 range. ($1500 probably 
would be my max.) Preferably with the Girvin Vector front suspension plus
something that still has XT components. (I like the idea of the newer
XT components having 24 speeds too.)

Comments would be appreciated.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2847.1		WMOIS::GIROUARD_C		`Wed Sep 14 1994 09:55`	13
	<- I think the answer is your question... If you like your bike and it's no trashed I'd suggest you retrofit it with the fork and pedals... If you, indeed, have the $1200-$1500 you're willing to part with you'll still have money left to do some other little pieces of magic :-) Chip I'm thinking about getting shocks myself, but will probably go with the Rock Shox Mag 21. It's a little more maintenance (oil) but what the heck...
2847.2	New Proflex = $1000	VMSNET::R_OLSEN	Ron Olsen	`Wed Sep 14 1994 17:07`	8
	FWIW, My brother just bought a Proflex 854, complete bike with Girvin fork with 7 speed XT components, complete with wirless vetta computer, pump, bag, bottle cages, spare tubes, onza bar ends .... for $1000. This from a bike shop in Ft. Walton Beach Fla. Ron
2847.3		CAPO::BURDICK_JI		`Wed Sep 14 1994 17:30`	12
	ouch!! I have the same Pro-flex as .-1, but the tab was $1500. LX components with XT deraillers, SPD's etc. The Girvin fork is very precise - with none of the front wheel washout that you get from independent fork arms. I also had the Stumpjumper with a Future Shock (Mag 21) and loved it (until it was stolen!). I spent a LOT of time standing on rough terrain to compensate for no shock on the rear. Adding a shock is certainly less expensive, as long as the rest of the components aren't about to wear out. The resulting bike would be very capable, IMHO.
2847.4		STOWOA::SWFULLER		`Wed Sep 14 1994 18:58`	9
	Have you looked at the Cannondale Delta V1000? This is the air/oil version, with a mis-mash of parts. This time of year dealers will certainly negotiate. 94 model was 7 speed, I assume 95 will be 8. Even though this bike is a bit more expensive than others, the headshock design is light and efficient. Some dealers are really selling off the full suspensions at near cost, because Cannondale is rumored to be using a Carbon rear end in 95. steve
2847.5	thx for the suggestions	ASIC::PTHAYER	Paul Thayer	`Thu Sep 15 1994 01:55`	17
	re: -1 Yes I have looked at the V1000 and also the V700 and they seem like they could be the bike for me. (I think I really like the XT brakes better than the ones they have on the Cannondales though) The bikes are around $1500 ($1200 for a leftover) for the V1000 and around $1200 ($999 for a leftover) for the V700. (The frame design is different on the '95's compared to the '94's.) These are bikes I am considering although I am still a little leary of aluminum bikes, plus buying Cannondale due to some of the recalls etc., but they seem to stand behind their products and fix the probs. Thanks for the suggestions.
2847.6	Update	ASIC::PTHAYER	Paul Thayer	`Sat Feb 04 1995 02:13`	17