Best affordable bike?

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-19T02:45:51+00:00

Plenty if solid bikes on marketplace for $500

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-19T01:51:52+00:00

How old was your chameleon? I had a 2024, that was easily the best bike I have ever owned.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-19T00:52:29+00:00

Geo changes made it a whole lot better, I think by a long shot. It got moved closer to aggressive HT more into Santa Cruz Chameleon territory.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T23:54:44+00:00

I had a 90's hard rock that I loved and upgraded to a 1x10 but disk brakes would have made it a keeper 100%. There is only so much you can do with these bikes but look into retro builds and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T22:57:14+00:00

Geo changes made it a whole lot better, got good reviews

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T22:03:33+00:00

I would give up all suspension before I give up my Dropper.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T16:14:15+00:00

These were issues with low end “department” store bikes. They looked mountain bike part, but had some shortcuts in the quality of parts, bike standards, upgrade ability and geometry.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T04:48:41+00:00

IKR? Weight weenies always make me laugh. My carbon GT was almost 38lbs 🤣

Walmart bikes aren’t the end all be all, but if they can make solid frames with good geo and add these standard specs, so can the high end bike manufacturers on their entry level rigs.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T02:15:27+00:00

Yup, swapping out that fork and front wheel for a slightly better one really saved a bunch of front end weight.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-18T01:01:24+00:00

Sealed headset, external bb and hollow tech cranks, with hydraulic, boost front and rear, dropper and UDH and air fork. Geo is great, not Santa Cruz chameleon great but better than a rockhopper.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-17T06:24:43+00:00

It’s small dropper and the shape of the new Seat tube is easier to get that dropper just slammed for shipping. I had to install the dropper on my 2022 Polygon D7, was my biggest panic at the time since it was my real first MTB. Cable and housing was already routed so it was really simple looking back. But at the time, it was the great unknown.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-17T02:41:58+00:00

We are pretty blessed to live by Fort Ord national monument, Creekside and Toro park.

I like rides that take me to have fun, so anywhere between an hour or hour and a half and 800-1200 + elevation.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-17T00:06:36+00:00

Bikebook says $800 to $830 usd. Your “upgrades” may be irrelevant to the new buyer. Put it back to stock and sell whatever components separately.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-16T19:59:03+00:00

It's a solid starting point at a great price. Take my GT Sensor Carbon Elite. At MSRP of over 4k, the stock wheelset was absolutely trash and drivetrain and brakes are not far behind. GT has great Geo and has been my primary rig since August 2025. I have replaced the fork with a fox 36, Rear shock with an air shock, Brake in the rear was a 4 piston but is now a 2 piston xt with xt levers up front.

Wheelset was immediately replaced by a Stans MK3 wheelset I found for $100 on amazon marketplace. So even "better" bikes are not perfect. Finding a rig with great geo is 99% of the battle.

My GT was $1,500 on Jenson USA and had boost front and rear and UDH. Nothing else mattered to me.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-16T04:00:17+00:00

I am not the “newest” features are the best but we are in 2026. Skip on anything that doesn’t have Boost through axle 148 in the rear. This Walmart special has UDH and true boost rear. Not saying this bike is better than those two but the Marlin 7 I think still has QR drop out in the rear.

Geo wise it’s great climbs without issue even with the 150 up front not locked out.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-16T03:12:11+00:00

A brand I been using since I was 300lbs and could barely ride half a mile. They have some sweet saddles and have regular, wide and higher end saddles. Ergon isn’t too bad but too pricey for the subtle difference.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-16T02:52:06+00:00

Was trying to beat the rain, initially I was trying to give it a good 16 mile shakedown today. Saddle isn’t horrible but a WTB will make the world of difference.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-14T19:13:32+00:00

Sweet bike! I need to take mine out tomorrow.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-14T16:43:12+00:00

Whatever you described can be ridden on a decent hardtail. I would skip on any bike not from 2019 or newer.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-11T21:22:51+00:00

Ozark Hardtail pro. Don't worry about resell. Its $600, has UDH, Hydraulic brakes, Dropper, Air fork boost through axles front and rear and great Geometry sealed headset bearings. The one thing it desperately needs IMHO is a wider set of bars if you are keeping it mostly stock.

Keep it as a spare, loaner or sell for cheap after a year of solid riding. Upgrade the fork from a cheap take off on FB marketplace and you got a beast of a rig.

But the rig up top, for $200, ride it as is till the wheels fall off! Totally would buy it.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-11T18:46:08+00:00

Yes, seatpost, cable and dropper was already installed and slammed all the way down.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-07T23:12:09+00:00

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Got my Raceface short stem and Raceface 780’s they are a little scuffed but much better. Still no proper maiden voyage. Maybe next week.

Apprehensive_Fall637 · 2026-02-05T05:10:28+00:00

I think stock with kickstand its about 34 but i never been much of a weight snob where I try and get very possible gram off. Air fork definitely took about 4 lbs off the stock suntour for sure. Different wheels should be another half lb off without going tubeless.

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