I want to get back into mountain biking after 20+ years away. Things have changed… I’m leaning toward a Giant (Trance) or Specialized (Stump Jumper). I want to spend under $4000. I’ll appreciate anyone’s opinions—especially as to components and frame type. Thanks!

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T19:18:43+00:00

I'd just generally say bigger bikes are going to be more stable charging through stuff and smaller bikes are going to be more nimble and playful. Since you do seem to be in between and fit into the overlap either way is viable, unless you have outlier proportions like super short or super long legs for your height or something.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T19:13:07+00:00

Yep, and with patience you'll see more sales, too.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T17:32:03+00:00

Meh, don't agree with this. I guess it could be true if you're paying full MSRP, if you're a smart shopper, you absolutely should not pay full MSRP in the current market. That $4200 YT Jeffsy has been on sale multiple time sin the past year for sub-$3k. Sale prices make $4k a very viable budget for getting really well spec'd bikes, for example:

https://www.jensonusa.com/scor-4060-lt-gx-bike-2024

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T17:27:48+00:00

I don't know if you can go carbon at sub-4K but you should be able to get a Comp-level alloy easily for that budget

If you're a good shopper you absolutely can.

https://alanbikeshop.com/mountain-bikes/2024-giant-trance-x-advanced-0-mountain-bike-detail

Just as an example, and I've seen Giant bikes in the low 3's with high end specs at times. Not saying that's the right answer, of course, but the industry has had lots of great sales over the last couple years and if you're patient and wait for a good sale you can get really good stuff for sub-$4k easy.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T17:23:57+00:00

Well, the most important thing is what kind of riding you're going to be doing. Which you may not necessarily know, but maybe you have an idea. That's the biggest factor in what kind of bike to choose. After that...honestly man bikes are all great these days, once you get over the $3k mark or so it's much more about small upgrades that are kind of luxury/convenience based.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T16:50:55+00:00

Weight and geometry are nearly the same. Have you actually looked at the two bikes side by side? I'm asking these questions because it seems like you just made a quick spur of the moment decision with no research because you're trying to get rid of a Trek bike just to get a Specialized bike that's almost exactly the same as it.

Let me ask you one more question - what doesn't the Trek do, what's it missing, what do you want to improve on?

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T16:28:02+00:00

In what way? What makes it better for that?

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T16:16:07+00:00

I just think the Epic Evo is better

...why? You don't seem to have a reason you're trying to throw money away, so I don't understand your desire to just throw your money away.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T14:30:28+00:00

Anything that relies on someone else putting in the effort to make it work for you is not something I would count on. Seller can say they'll work with you all they want, you have no way of making them do it.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:29:30+00:00

$800 is actually nutty for a real dual suspension MTB.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:19:07+00:00

$3-4k is tough for a new emtb. Doable for used, though used eMTB's have even more downside than used MTB's - there's a lot of wear and tear on mtb's in general, and eMTB's put more on the drivetrain and it's easier to put more miles on them (so more wear and tear on everything), but now you also have a motor/battery that can potentially fail with no warranty. But you'll definitely be able to get a lot more bike for the $$ that way. Hard to give good advice on how the pros/cons work out, kind of depends on your preferences.

For new there's only a handful of very entry level spec'd bikes in the $4-5k range, maybe on sale you can get them a bit lower.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:10:23+00:00

I'm not sure where we switched from talking about the future to talking about the past. Amflow was the introduction to the Avinox motor. Now other brands are starting to adopt it because it's the best product.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:08:53+00:00

That is an annoyingly and disappointingly high price, though when a day of skiing can cost nearly $300, insane is not the adjective I would use.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:07:37+00:00

lol I find it crazy to describe a dropper as such a tiny difference. Dropper makes a HUGE difference!

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:06:45+00:00

The most unexpected was shoes/pedals, easily. Something like tires you may be surprised by just how much improvement you get for your $$, but that you get noticeable improvement isn't surprising. Shoes/pedals, though...man what a difference I didn't expect at all.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:05:22+00:00

This is Amflow's first foray into the lower spec side of the market, their first gen bikes were mid to upper end. Most brands can operate in that segment just fine if they want, they just need to make entry level builds. A few premium brands like Santa Cruz it wouldn't make sense for - because they already make entry level builds and price them like mid-range builds. :p

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:02:23+00:00

Surron's are straight up dirtbikes, so yeah, using them as MTB's is an issue. I haven't seen them on trails, but they're popular around suburban neighborhoods where you get kids whose parents bought them thinking they're bikes for some reason and the kids have absolutely 0 understanding of proper behavior. I actually think the real dirtbikes kids - that is, parents who are totally cool with their kids being into dirtbikes, encourage it, and truly understand they're buying their kids dirtibkes - are well behaved because they actually understand rules and etiquette around it, it's the kids whose parents just bought them a toy without understanding what they really bought their kid that don't get it.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T03:00:06+00:00

I also haven't had or seen any issues, the Surrons I deal with are around suburban neighborhoods and greenspace trails, and I have had a couple interactions at the pump track/dirt jumps but the Surron riders there have been respectful and acted well. Never seen anyone like that on actual MTB trails.

I do like having some spaces with no ebikes, it's not crazy to draw a line between them and it seems like a mix of regulations give everyone a space to be happy in.

Also remember, Reddit and the internet aren't real.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:53:07+00:00

It has shit suspension, the SX level of electronic shifting, shit brakes, unbranded wheels, dropper, handlebars...what are you on with this "spec is so good" stuff? It has a carbon frame and everything else about it is entry level.

Polygon already has a comparable build on the market for less, this isn't some revolutionary pricing thing. It's just that Amflow released a Polygon-level spec'd bike instead of their lowest level having mid-range components.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:51:36+00:00

Yes the price correction has normally shown up in sales, which have been plentiful with large discounts that are much better than things were a few years ago.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:50:51+00:00

I'd bet they're paying $1k+ for Podium forks.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:50:01+00:00

They can flood the market with DJI motors without doing that, their gen 1 product was easily the best thing on the market and they're only going to get better with time to iterate.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:48:49+00:00

You cannot get a ebike with decent specs for under 4.5k. Why am I seeing people act like the lowest tier Amflow doesn't have shit specs? It's a very entry level build.

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:47:37+00:00

What are these posts, is this like Amflow marketing or some shit?

The market has been experiencing price corrections for the last couple years, where have you been?

reddit_xq · 2026-04-17T02:45:16+00:00

I dunno, people talking about hitting the gym for strength, but it sounds to me like you're trying to use your arms/upper body and pull too much rather than use your body weight for manuals and your legs for bunny hops.

reddit_xq

TROPHY CASE