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| *Vultures Knob>>>Mountain Bike |
Trek 4300 or 6500 mountain bike? |
Recommendations on these bikes? Will the 4300 disc be good for me (a beginner with a somewhat limited budget) or should I pop for the 6500 which has better components and will be better for me when I advance? Chime in on the quality of these bikes too. Are Treks made in the USA like gary fishers? Thanks. All budget bikes - $500 and under are made overseas! That is one point for the 6500 if that's what you are buying about! 6500 is a different frame - lower, longer, lighter - SLR frames have a more substantial butting to the tubeset. Components for the 6500 YES! Most people that get into the 4300 Disc quickly start to outperform it and constantly look to upgrades - which cost more than double in the long run. Trek own's Gary Fisher brand bikes, along with Kieth Bontrager, Gary Klein, and Greg Lemond - All Have bikes made overseas AND here in the US. If you want an American made bike - Spend the money for it... Per capita, China has the largest concentration of cyclists in the world - it would only make sense that they would be REALLY good at building bikes! TREK IS THE INDUSTRY LEADER IN CYCLING NOW AND FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS - THEY ARE FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, NOT CORPERATE LIKE THE OTHERS... THEY ARE THE DIFFERENT COMPANY AND HARDLY THE 800 POUND GORILLA! Now you know - I hope this helps Source(s): Bike Shop Manager - Top100 and Tennessee's LARGEST Trek dealer! The cheaper you go the more you Will end up upgrading. Go for the 6500.Trek frames are mostly made overseas. So unless you are willing to expend over $1,500 on a bike frame forget about the patriotism of made in the USA. . Wow, Trek commercial aside, both your bikes you are looking at are good bikes for the money. If I were you though, I would go for the 6500 because of the better (lighter and just as strong) frame and upgraded components. However, if you are limited on money and can't come up with a couple hundred extra, there is nothing wrong with the 4300. If you are beginner though, be prepared to catch the addiction!!! I rode a 2003 Trek 4900 for 4 years & at least 3000 miles, mostly on dirt trails. Nothing ever broke on it and it suited me fine. It took about 3 years for me to become a better biker than my bike. I recently bought a Trek Fuel EX 8. I have a couple of comments based on my experience. -If you go for the 4300, don't waste your money on disc brakes. I honestly don't notice much difference in stopping power between my old 4900 rim brakes and my new EX8 disc. The Disc make a lot more noise. -The 1 thing I wish I had was 9 gears in the rear for those really steep climbs. You might consider splitting the difference and getting the 6000. -When you do advance, you'll want a nicer bike than the 6500. Full suspension makes all the difference in the world. -I personally would go for the 4500 because the 4300 has some cheap parts in the drivetrain, and plan on upgrading in a couple of years. Having only 8 gears will make you stronger. I currently own the 6500, and have had it for about a year, so I give it high marks. I recently had the chance to ride the 4300 as a rental, and I was quite surprised how well it compared to my 6500, even after what appeared to be months of use. I would still spend the money for the 6500 and enjoy the better components and longevity. Also, it's a great platform to upgrade. The Alpha SLR frame is quite sturdy, and lightweight by MTB standards. Unfortunately, the frames are not made in the USA, but unless you're willing to spend 1000 plus, most aren't. |
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