Should You Buy Alloy Or Carbon Mountain Bike? | Ask GMBN Tech

Should You Buy Alloy Or Carbon Mountain Bike? | Ask GMBN Tech

Should you buy a carbon mountain bike with cheap components or a top of the range aluminium MTB? Can you ride downhill trails at bike parks with 120mm of suspension travel? Why is your shock leaking oil? Doddy answers all of your MTB tech questions in our weekly ask GMBN Tech đź”§

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50 Comments

  1. Alvey Lucero on June 25, 2019 at 7:00 pm

    Is hardtail with good fork up on the front capable of chunky dh.and large jumps about.50 to 100feet



  2. Dan Angel on June 25, 2019 at 7:00 pm

    Are all SANTA CRUZ bikes made in U.S.A..??



  3. Jack Migasiuk on June 25, 2019 at 7:02 pm

    I can’t afford a better fork than the stock suntour xct is it going to do the job #askgmbntech



  4. LisaPet on June 25, 2019 at 7:03 pm

    #askgmbntech Dear Hell O’Tech! Do you recommend any lubricant/cleaning/conitioninig sprays for suspension and dropper seatpost stantions? Or just cleaning with soft cloth after each ride would suffice? Any knowledge about manufacturers warranty policies regarding such substances?



  5. Peter Kováč on June 25, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    This episode helped A LOT! Thanks and keep it up 🙌



  6. Mountain Man on June 25, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    #askgmbntech
    Somebody told me once that I should shift to the smallest pinion when I don’t use my bike for a longer period of time to relieve the pressure off the derailleur’s springs. Do the springs really wear out by staying in a bigger pinion?
    Thanks for your Q&A – it’s great!



  7. phillip bennett on June 25, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Does the new single crank cog system have more friction than older units, due to the clutch resistance. I have noticed since getting a latest spec bike i feel when i service it things don’t seem so smooth anymore. ie. takes more force to rotate the crank.



  8. Alilie Marcaida on June 25, 2019 at 7:07 pm

    i got a cheap bike doody, the brand name is marin and it is from malaysia not california what i should do to upgrade it?



  9. NoS BOTTLE on June 25, 2019 at 7:07 pm

    I did a red trail on a decathlon rockrider 2007/8 and was fine



  10. Bren Bascos on June 25, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    For the longest time ive been having second thoughts as to whether i buy carbon or alloy, 27.5 or 29, trail or enduro. This video gave me the best insight. Thanks so much!
    Alloy, 29er, trail bike, im coming for you!



  11. Finlay Jeffs on June 25, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    hey #askgmbntech if I want to be able to ride xc trails but also go up to the mountains and ride enduro, what travel bike do you recommend?



  12. SID NT on June 25, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    #askgmbntech is it possible to put hope brake levers on slx shimano brakes



  13. Charlie Doyle on June 25, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    #ASKGMBNTECH I have a sr suntour 140mm fork and it is very stiff. Have changed the pressure and it is always stiff. Anyway to sort this out



  14. Kevin Smith on June 25, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    I have seen in person and on videos carbon bikes taking fairly light hits and that cracks the frame, I think carbon frames are very over rated, and no we’re near as strong when you crash.



  15. G. Fortin on June 25, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    Nice explanations Doddy ! BTW, I changed the chainring after only 1 season (before worn out) to go AB-Oval and it was worth it. Climbing technical trails seems more rewarding now



  16. Tahir Said on June 25, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    #askgmbntech Hi. I have a Scott Spark 920. It’s a carbon framed bike. I bought it used. I noticed that the components are a mixture of SRAM and Shimano. Shifter and Crank are GX SRAM, whilst the brakes are SLX and the rear cassette is a Shimano. Upgrading to a new bike is very expensive and I was wondering what your advise would be for a good reliable upgrade for long marathon XC Sunday rides. We do 60/70kms on average . Many thanks. Tahir.



  17. TheLoneWolf on June 25, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    #askgmbntech hi doddy, i want to buy a new bike for longer trips (50-80km) and for a little shredding… I like the canyon neuron al 7.0 in large and would like to hear your thoughts on this bike.
    Thanks and keep your awesome work!



  18. Jim Toffo on June 25, 2019 at 7:19 pm

    #askgmbntech how do you remove volume spacers



  19. GMBN Tech on June 25, 2019 at 7:19 pm

    Keep your questions coming in for next week by emailing hellotech@gmbn.com or using #askgmbntech 👇



  20. Justin Bohner on June 25, 2019 at 7:21 pm

    With the way you guys love coasting down hill like you’re on an amusement park ride, your frame could be lead and you’d never notice.



  21. Papasiak on June 25, 2019 at 7:22 pm

    #askgmbntech I am a mtb starter and it has been 3 months since i bought a cube aim pro xc starter level hardtail , i also shoved a rockshox recon rl 100 mm last month . Should i keep upgrading it with better wheels , bars and drivetrain , or should i buy another bike ? I ride lots of roots and rock gardens btw. Thanks in advance



  22. Onechill Braj on June 25, 2019 at 7:23 pm

    #askgmbntech what frame protection, if any, do you and the guys at GMBN use? Considering how far I should go with frame protection.



  23. McMuffin on June 25, 2019 at 7:24 pm

    Fox vs rockshox



  24. Kyle fergusson on June 25, 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Hi Doddy , I am buying a new bike, it has a fox fork , in one of your videos you gave a link to a rebound calculator based on your weight however that only works for RockShox forks is there an equivalent for fox forks ? Thanks #askgmbntech



  25. Will mtb uk on June 25, 2019 at 7:26 pm

    #askgmbntech the next bike I want to get has suntor fork and shock (120mm travel) I was wandering weather that would be enough to go to bike parks such as 417. If not should I upgrade, but what to.



  26. Hargrid Ford on June 25, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    #Askgmbntech does is it really matter which way you put the rear shock? I’m think of upgrading mine thanks!



  27. kirk patrick cabigas on June 25, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    #askgmbntech great show! very informative does carbon wheels become weak over time? How long can you use it for?



  28. Oleg Petelevitch on June 25, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    I upgraded all picked from DNM back floater front 120mm travel DNM ! alloy aluminum 7500 frame frame hand made ! breaks hydrolic  27.5 Loud volt !



  29. arx125 on June 25, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    What do you think about Propain bikes? #askgmbntech



  30. lux on June 25, 2019 at 7:34 pm

    4:48 Doddy, I think the question was about floating brake calipers 🙂



  31. Rodrigo N on June 25, 2019 at 7:34 pm

    #askgmbntech is the scott scale 980 a good beginner bike?



  32. Valentin Hummel on June 25, 2019 at 7:34 pm

    #askgmbntech Floating brake I first thought of floating brake calipers. Had one on my first MTB which was actually my dads. No idea what it was. But why aren’t there any floating brake calipers in the mtb industry while its the most common brake type in the automobile industry?



  33. Craig Gruber on June 25, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    I will definitely go for an aluminium frame on my next mountain bike. I have broken two Lapierre carbon mountain bike frames. Worst bikes I have ever owned.



  34. ShermanStrike on June 25, 2019 at 7:37 pm

    #askgmbntech Last Christmas I was given the promise of a new bike of my choosing. I live in the northern parts of Sweden and temperatures regularly drop beneath -20°C, and I love to be able to ride in the snow. I’m currently borrowing a 2015 Fuji Wendigo (on 26×4.7 Vee Bulldozers) fatbike for the first time and I must say that I’m loving it even though it’s a 17.5 frame and I need a 21.5er. Either way, no matter where I look I always seem to come back to the 2019 Trek Farley 5, a 27.5×4.5 fatbike. The thing is, I doubt I want to run a fully rigid fatbike in the summer. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about changing to 29+ wheels, both with and without adding a suspension fork, during the summer. Not only do they fit, but it won’t "compromise the geometry". Now, finally to my question. Do you think that changing to 29+ tires on a fatbike is a good idea, and what does the aforementioned quote mean?
    Also, from what I’ve read, it’s not worth bothering with a suspension fork when it gets this cold, would you agree with that?
    A little sidenote, I currently own a Merida Maroon Matts. I mostly do urban mountainbiking and commuting, but I’m getting into trail riding more and more. I should note that rolling resistance is not my biggest concern. The way I see it, it’s just more calories being burnt and I really need to loose a few extra kilos, gone from 99 to 86kg last year, I still have ways to go.

    Also, excuse the mile long question. It’s my first time doing this.



  35. David Rich on June 25, 2019 at 7:39 pm

    Pasta



  36. Filip Kryspin on June 25, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    #askgmbntech Hi I’m riding 2018 Spectral 8.0CF L. It has 140 mm rear travel. the 2019 Spectral has 150 mm rear travel. On 2019 Spectral the damper has 5mm more stroke. 2018 – 230x60mm, 2019 – 230×65 . Do you think I can put longer travel damper to upgrade my rear travel to 150mm?



  37. Windband1 on June 25, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    #askgmbntech Hi Doddy, I’m starting with the Tech Channel first, since this is about the actual bikes. It would be fun and interesting if you put together an overall count of World Cup riders running 27.5 and count of 29ers, including privateers? Maybe for EWS too. Love the show and your passion! Cheers from the States.



  38. Arif Khan CAN on June 25, 2019 at 7:44 pm

    #askgmbntech Hi Doddy love the show watch it everyday and has taught me lots about bike history. I have a question relating to broken spokes. I have a 26" rear wheel ( transition revolution 25), which is a Norco fluid lt2, a bike that spends most of its time riding park and jumping. In the last 3 months, I’ve had 5 or 6 broken spokes ( all at the j bend). I was wondering if there was anything you recommend doing to prevent spokes breaking, finally, it would be awesome and useful if you could do a video on how to replace spokes. Thx Arif Khan



  39. Tobias Rasmussen on June 25, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    Would you recommend using something like the Velosolo hub spacer kit to run a boost fork with a non boost frame/wheel? #askgmbntech #askgmbn



  40. Loris Foucart on June 25, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    askgmbntech I can’t get off my xx1 cranks, it’s like seized, or should I remove the little 4 holed cap first ? And how ?



  41. William Sulas on June 25, 2019 at 7:48 pm

    Can you put a fox 36 and an bigger shock on the back on a cannondale habit so you can have more travel so you can do bigger jumps and some downhilling



  42. Radukku Panda on June 25, 2019 at 7:49 pm

    #askgmbntech Hi Doddy, i got a small problem with my 2008 RS Pike , its a 454 Dual Air, and what ever i do i feel like the fork its not stiff enough for me. I’m a big rider, 115kg , but i don’t know if that should be such a big problem to make my fork a lil bit more stiffer.



  43. Hans Wurst on June 25, 2019 at 7:49 pm

    i went with a good spec aluminium bike rather than a low spec carbon bike.
    I paid 2,6k euros for my mountainbike which is a lot of money for me. a similarly spec’d carbon bike would have cost me over a grand more



  44. Grayden Fraser on June 25, 2019 at 7:49 pm

    Hey doddy. At the moment I ride a Merida big seven 40 and I’m wanting to upgrade and I’ve been considering the new Marin san Quentin I ride a lot of easy trails and street riding and just thrashing around but I was wondering if the Marin will be a better bike to ride more aggressive trails and bigger jumps. What are your thoughts



  45. Louis Stanley on June 25, 2019 at 7:53 pm

    I used to ride grade 5 tracks and hit 1.5m drops on a 100mm travel hardtail and it was fine, bike still running well to this day.



  46. AB1357 on June 25, 2019 at 7:53 pm

    Hi gmbn I want to build a ebike with a 5 kw motor and a cvt but that is a lot of work so the question is if I should buy a ebik or build one? #askembn



  47. Windband1 on June 25, 2019 at 7:53 pm

    Steel!! LOL, JK!



  48. Tom Hughes on June 25, 2019 at 7:54 pm

    #askgmbntech for about ÂŁ1500 should I buy an aggressive hardtail, full suspension or secondhand full suspension.Love the vids keep em coming !



  49. Crickby 417 on June 25, 2019 at 7:55 pm

    I ride loads of reds and even black on an XC hardtail



  50. Hmmm on June 25, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    Never would I go carbon.