Any bicycle riders in the house?

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yoyoma1

Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
15
Hey knife heads,
In the market for a new mountain bicycle.

I'm looking at the Motobecane 600HT or 700HT.

Any body in here have any opinions or experience with thse bikes?

Thanks.
 
I'm a very casual mountain bike rider, so I can't help much other than to add these links to the bikes on your list.

600HT: http://www.motobecane.com/MBUSA6ht.html
700HT: http://www.motobecane.com/MBUSA7ht.html

The only thing that jumps out at me about those bikes, the disc brakes are mechanical instead of hydraulic. My bike has the Avid Juicy 7 hydraulic disc brakes, and I freakin' love them.

One thing you can do, add up the price of the components if purchased seperately and make sure that you're getting a decent deal. I bought a custom-made bike from a local bike shop and it cost less than a comparable brand-name bike and ~way~ less than buying the components seperately.

Happy Shopping!
-Bob
 
Hey Bob,
thanks for the links and replying. I've researched these bikes thoroughly and am trying to find the faults.

Reading other forums, it appears that these are only available from an internet store. And I've read a couple of horror stories. Especially when the store does not have a number to call.

I'm considering going to a local bike shop and asking if they have comparable components to a bike like that.

Thanks.
 
That's a pretty good spec for the price. We don't see much in the way of the Motobecane line here; mostly older roadsters that are still being flogged around. I bought a similarly-equipped Schwinn Moab a few years back that cost me 1000.00.

The Shimano LX group is dead solid, works as good as the top-end stuff and only a bit heavier.
 
I have worked in bike shops for the past 4-5 years. If you are looking to spend around a thousand on the 700HT, go for the trek 6700 or a Gary Fisher at the same price. The suspension fork on the motobecane is not on par for the price, and is on of the most important parts. Let me know if you have anymore questions, PM email or post here again.

Travis
 
You can do a lot better than a Judy TT for not much more cash (can't speak for the RS Dart on the 800 though). My 2001 Kona Kahuna came with a Judy TT, so I paid extra for the shop to swap it with a Marzocchi 100mm, and the difference is night and day.
 
so I paid extra for the shop to swap...
Click to expand...
That's what I thought was so great about buying from a shop. They had two primary configurations, but I was able to upgrade/downgrade any of the components. I was confident at the time, and still am, that I would not be able to tell the difference between a $300 fork and a $600 fork, so I left the extra $300 in my pocket.

And I was an in-between size with the frames. I felt more comfortable riding the larger frame, but it would have neutered me at the first unplanned stop. So the shop installed a longer bar stem to make the smaller frame more comfortable.

The other change I made was to have toe clip pedals installed. Other riders have said (here on bladeforums) that was odd, but I really like being able to wear my regular shoes since I'm on-and-off the bike so much while outdoors.

And on top of all that, I saved a good deal of money. Price for custom bike was at least $500 less than buying a comparable brand-name bicycle or buying the components seperately.
 
I have Avid mech, weigh over 100Kgs and ride like the devil, I have never felt under braked with the single front disk.
 
yoyoma1 said:
Hey knife heads,
In the market for a new mountain bicycle.

I'm looking at the Motobecane 600HT or 700HT.

Any body in here have any opinions or experience with thse bikes?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I did buy a Motobecane LeCampion road bike from a website dealer and I've been very pleased with it so far (rode it across Kansas in BAK last year to test it out). The only thing I've done to it was replace the bottom bracket. It was the only non-high-quality part on the whole bike. The other components are worth more than the purchase price.

Good luck with your choice,
desmobob
 
I don't ride much anymore, but I used to be a very avid, almost obsessed rider. I have an old Rocky Mountain Vertex (circa 1992) and I love it, it's never given me a single problem (although I have replaced worn-out XT derailers 2-3 times). I've been out of the loop for a while, but Rocky Mountain was always one of the best manufacturers around, all their bikes and frames were hand built and very high-quality. In 1992 paying $2000+ for a bike was unheard of and all my buddies thought I was nuts, but I don't regret it for a second, it was a sound investment.

Rocky Mountain Bikes

Before that I had a GT and it was bomb-proof; when I bought it I asked for the heaviest mountain bike I could find, afterall I don't compete, so I figured that the heavier the bike the better the workout and the more durable the bike. Unfortunately it was stolen off my uni campus after having it for only a year, the Rocky Mountain was the GT's replacement. It was just as bomb-proof as the GT but significantly lighter. I also bought a GT here in Peru a couple of years ago but it has an aluminium frame, I guess GT doesn't make their bikes with cro-moly frames anymore. I haven't had any problems with it so far and the aluminium hasn't cracked yet with my now fat-ass 110 kg frame, so that's saying something, it's a lot of bike for the money.

GT Bikes


I don't know anything about Motobecane so can't help you there.
 
Anyone know what a 12 speed kawasaki bike is worth? I've got one that I crashed a couple of years ago. I broke my leg, tore a rotator cuff and messed up my back but the bicycle isn't hurt, go figure.Not sure how to price it as I got it second hand myself.
 
I think your best bet to finding the fair price would be to search eBay for similar used bikes. You can do a Completed Items search to see the actual selling prices from past auctions.

My B-I-L had a nice road bike, about $1500 brand new. It sold for half that, and was in perfect condition.

Good Luck,
-Bob
 
You can be sure that a 12-speed roadster isn't going to be worth much unless it's something exotic. The Japanese put together and marketed a wide variety of such machines during the 70s and 80s. The 6-speed rear end (likely a freewheel at that) pretty much tags it as early 80s at best.
I've rebuilt such bikes and sold them for as much as 50 bucks.....
 
Don't know much about Motobecane mountain bikes.
What I do know is that I never see them on the trails.
The Tektro brakes on that bike are most likely garbage.
And Skye wheels?!?!?! Never heard of them. Most likely complete
garbage, heavy, and weak.
For $800 or so you can do much better.
The most important thing in a bike is fit.
Never buy a bike before sitting on it and riding it.
If you intend to truly ride it off road, spend a little more, like $1000 for a better frame and components. Go to several bike shops in your area and get to know the bikes and sales people. Stick with the shop that you feel most comfortable with. Bike shops make very little profit on bicycle sales, instead making most of their $ on service and accessories. The big thing about buying a gike at a LBS (local bike shop) is that the bike will be properly assembled and adjusted for you. And, if you ever have a problem with it, they're always there to help you.
Look at Specialized, Trek, Giant, and the other more well known brands.
Email me for more specific questions.
Lenny
 
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