what's practical, what's truly needed?

Just reviewing some pics, noted this one, inspired this post:

 

  2010 Trek Session8, pretty much stock as hell, but for the RaceFace bar and fresh Nevegals.  1200$ used last year it ran me, and I have zero complaints.

  It not an up-to-date ride, heck no!  lol  26" wheels for god's sake, upper end Elixirs for brakes.  But it is in such good operating condition, which is my point.

  For a humble all-rounder of a mountain biker as myself, with the usual 'bike worth more than the car' lifestyle, this bike rocks!  As I said, it is in perfect operating condition, and suits ALL my needs, which include budgetary, very well.

  I'm blown away at the entry price for an enduro-type bike these days; right snug near to 3000 Canadian dollars.  Rocky Mountain starts at $3000.  Beauty bike but I suppose they've made a statement regards their market...?  Now, Norco has a pretty good selection (if I recall correctly you can get something decent at closer to $2500, check their site www.norco.com, look for their bike finder, very slick feature) but its still a steep chunk of change to let go.

  Maybe even worth it!  Our one rider aka Shoeback has a sweet Norco Range KillerB edition, I am jealous as heck.  Having ridden a Kona Process a while back, those 27.5 wheels sure roll nicely, and with the specified travel and geometry, an enduro bike is a good thing to have.

  Have we mentioned that the only differences between all-mountain bikes are the wheel size and frame angles?  As much as I would very much like to have a newer enduro (currently running a Norco LT, in excellent running condition, natch,) I'm not too stoked to incur debt for a bike.  Ya!    No.

  Conflicted?  Maybe a little bit... ha ha

  Run what you have, and maintain it.  I'm notorious for running vehicles for long periods of time based on sensitivity to how well they're running and getting that fixed asap.  Same with the bikes.  

  There comes a time when it's time to let it go, but I truly don't believe the newest item on the market that season is it.  I believe that replacing a bike once it's too small, needs too much work, or has become too dated in design (no one is seriously running the RockShox Mag21SL Ti, no matter how nice that fork is, for example) makes best fiscal sense, for the most of us.  In my honest opinion.

  

Asked for Advice

  Asked about a new bike by a parent yesterday at the local school league's cyclocross race:

 

....and here's my thinking for them at this moment.  Of course all deals are their own entity, who knows if you ever find the best deal EVAH next week, yeah right.

I'm liking this one;

  27.5 wheels, higher end parts, decent fork and frame, but not dual suspension at $1000 msrp.

Ay, comes the rub.  Upon further browsing Rocky Mountain's site, I fin to step up to a dually with 27.5 wheels starts at $3000msrp.  Wow.

Brodie doesn't even have a bike in this market.

Norco... now I'm stoked.

Dual suspensions using the better wheel choice with a price range more of the riding public can work within!  Tho duallys still start at 2000$, at least they don't start at 2900$.  There would be a compromise within parts spec tho... always with the give and take in this bike-buying game.

It's tough to find the right bike.  The thing about the fellow we're thinking about is a strong and keen who's bike is done (stick a fork in it).  It's way too small and so worn out that a new bike is hugely indicated, and he might yet grow from currently six foot...

So what budget?  As much as you can and shop well, I say.  Seems to me, finding the Norco bike finder, that a dually 27.5 bike is doable without jeopardizing college.

And I feel done with used unless you're willing to put some work in.  It's easy to get in over your head with the used bikes I reckon.

OK, that'll do for now.  Always glad to be a reference person for hardworking parents interested in spending their money well to keep their kids into the offroad biking.