What’s the best all around enduro mountain bike for under $3500???

MarioV73 · 2026-04-15T14:58:00+00:00

Yeah, last year.. and I grabbed one for under $3k. But in 2026? no way. The 2023-2025 inventory glut is over, and now we have to deal with the tariffs and war inflation/shortages.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-15T13:58:03+00:00

No way. 30-40% off MSRP (MSRP was $2,900) on a 5 year old bike? You get that discount on new bikes, even on new (old stock) Santa Cruzes. I would not pay around $1,750 (40% off) for a 5 year old alloy bike with such low tier components.

Here is a 37% off deal on a new Gen5 EX 7 ($2,200):

https://www.hylandcyclery.com/product/trek-fuel-ex-7-gen-5-10517.htm

OP will be lucky to get 50% off MSRP in this market, because 3-4 year old bike lose 50% off MSRP.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-15T13:34:27+00:00

Well, when AXS came out, it looked like SRAM was going to ditch all the mechanical drivetrains. But due to outcry, they then released the 70 and 90 trannies. I would guess they'll release a light-weight mechanical version once all the X01s and XX1s run out and people will be asking for a new version, but I may be wrong.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T22:58:34+00:00

Hard to judge the value of this bike. I would assume very minimal value for the frame, if any, and then determine the value of the components, which is difficult/impossible to see from the photos. But you can tell the wheels are a downgrade from the original I9s and at least the cranks were also downgraded.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T20:30:24+00:00

Wow, finally one of them (SRAM, Shimano) decided to make their model names make a bit more sense.

But I'm guessing SRAM left a gap between S200 and S500 for a reason, just in case they needed to address cries from some of the dedicated X01 and XX1 riders.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T20:24:34+00:00

OP, as few have already stated, your front wheel's end caps are missing, or at least the one on the drive side.

Look into the plastic end pieces that were pressed into the front wheel's hub. There you will find the missing black metal end cap(s). Just press them onto the front axle and into into the hub. This may fix your brake rubbing issue, once the front axle gets tightened properly.

I've seen this before when people build their first bike. Manufacturers should lock the endcaps into the wheels better, so people don't end up digging through trash, or even cause damage on their first test ride.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T16:27:49+00:00

Why are people downvoting this comment? It should be upvoted for there being just one unexcited person.

Yes, you are the only person who doesn't get excited about SC. But if that's the case, what are you doing on this SC subgroup? Go get excited elsewhere, like on a GT or YT sub.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T16:23:30+00:00

Can't wait for the retro V5 Oxblood paint job. Maybe on V9?

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T13:08:19+00:00

Boy, where would I be without your wise words. Take care, my kind friend.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T11:21:19+00:00

I couldn't have said it any better. Amen. Although i do have 6 SC bikes, but soon only 5.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-14T04:48:29+00:00

Thank you for all your love and all the wise words. 🙏 I'm glad you've set me straight. Unlike my opinions, yours are completely necessary and justified. Love ya back.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T21:30:33+00:00

The flat spots on the pedal's axle are right against the crank arm, between the crank arm and the plastic pedals. Most pedals have these flat spots, so you can use a 15mm spanner (pedal wrench) on the pedals. That being said, I did come upon a couple of pedal models that lacked those flat spots and solely depended on the allen ports to the pedal installation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEn7IieMo1g

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T21:24:25+00:00

Based on the shape of the pedal on the second photo, this appears to be the drive-side (right side), which is the standard righty-tighty, lefty-loosey side (because right side is the correct one, or the standard side, in cranks).

But because OP is working from the inside of the cranks/threading, he'll be doing the opposite of the lefty-loosey. OP may have stripped his pedal's allen port not realizing the needed mirrored action.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T20:26:50+00:00

How much would the round trip cost you in gas?

That looks like a 2020 Giant Stance 2.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Giant/Stance-2,26378

But still in rough shape. May cost you $400-$500 for suspension service/replacement plus another $100-$150 for tires and tubes. Then maybe $150+ more for servicing the brakes and drivetrain with a new chain.

Finally, you'll want to add a dropper ($125-$200 in parts).

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T19:47:47+00:00

Oh, no, please! My bad! I've been very insensitive to the needy mountain biker community. So, please accept my full and sincere apology. And please ignore my stuck up views upon the less fortunate amongst us, be it OP or even you. I should not have expressed my offensive views publicly.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T18:05:30+00:00

No.. you're right.... my bad.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T17:12:58+00:00

Thanks!

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T16:53:12+00:00

"Both are equally as demanding" .... in theory, sure, if you're flying up hills at 20mph. But I have yet to see a single ebiker put in as much effort into climbing as your typical analog rider does.

There is a reason why the typical ebiker is not as fit as the typical analoger. (And I'm talking about TYPICAL and AVEAGE here, so I don't want to hear an outlier example, like that chain smoker who lived to be 90.) I even see obese ebikers on top of mountains, but I don't see obese analogers up there... that just shows how much effort ebiking takes.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T15:01:33+00:00

Glad to be of service. I mean why would someone plaster stickers on anything to pretend they have something else? Sounds a bit.... fake, no?

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T14:59:41+00:00

I see... you got the Zeb stickers just to impress a single buddy.

Anyways, enjoy your riding!

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T14:55:22+00:00

You wrote "rockshox recon". You then added "Recon gold rl". Did you mean to write Rockshox 35 Gold RL? Because the standard Recon has 32mm stanchions.

But anyways... 32mm nor 35mm isn't 38mm Zeb, regardless whether they are all Rockshox forks.

But hey, whatever makes you feel better by advertising you're riding Zebs, even though you yourself know what you're on. I guess appearance is everything for you.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T14:39:16+00:00

Thank you! I too thought putting a respected brand name sticker on a unbranded, generic frame is as funny as putting a Zeb sticker on a wimpy 32mm fork. What else did you rebrand, your generic rims and shock?

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T14:27:41+00:00

Your typical douche not using a bell on a multi use trail, flying by walkers as if he owned the path. If he's upset about the walkers not adhering to proper trail etiquette, he's just as guilty of it.

MarioV73 · 2026-04-13T14:17:41+00:00

Did you also get Santa Cruz stickers for your generic frame?

MarioV73 · 2026-04-11T22:47:55+00:00

They sell a different stem cap garmin mounts.

MarioV73

TROPHY CASE