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Sepharad
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
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 Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:56 am Post subject: deciding what kind of bicycle to get |
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First of all, I am 5' 9", weigh 162 lbs and I live in Incheon, Korea. I am thin and the last time I rode a bike for pleasure was back in 1978-1980. It was a BMX bike which was really popular back then. I heard that there are a lot of mountian bikers who ride in the mountains 2 minutes away behind me from where I currently live. I currently ride a scooter and a big motorcycle but I have the urge to get a bike both for mountain biking and for everyday commuting to my job in the mornings (about 15-20 minutes one way). It's mostly highway but with a few bumbs and potholes and one or two inclines. I already began exercising at the gym located at my job site, so I really want to get something that will be both comfortable and fun for everyday use as well as for mountain biking. Plus, I plan to ride my bike in the rain and even in the winter.
I've been to a few bike shops and I've visited this forum as well as some of the well-know bike company websites, but I still can't decide what kind of bike to get. Should I get a xc full suspension, all mountain full suspension, xc hardtail, freeride full suspension or freeride hardtail? This alone confuses me because some people say that I should just get a mountain bike for all my needs. Others say I should get two bikes, one for mountain and the other for my daily commute. And to complicate things more, I wouldn't know what product to buy. I wonder if I'm better off buying a bike in California or Hawaii (since I'll be going to Honolulu for a week in October) because the same bike here in Korea will cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 more than in the US. But then I might have to pay import taxes and other fees if I buy something in the states and then return to Korea with it.
If anyone who knows about bikes lives in Incheon or Seoul, then let me know of a good bike shop where I can actually get some help and where I can test-ride a bike. It seems that Korean bike-shop owners won't allow me to test a bike. That's another reason I hesitate to get a bike here in Korea.
I saw an Elixxir Duralite titanium hard-tail bike for $6000 at a shop near my house. Their website, elixxirbike.com, doesn't have the Duralite model that I saw and it was more beautiful than any of the bikes I saw on their website. I don't think it's a famous brand but it's made in Southern California (about 5 minutes away from my parent's home!) and I loved the lightweight feel of the bike. The saleswoman at the Korean store I visited said that I can use it for both mountain biking and everyday street use. If I can get something like it at a cheaper price, then I will consider buying a bike with a titanium frame if it's really worth getting one. Or I can probably get the same bike for less if I go to their California factory and ask them to build one like the Duralite I saw here in Korea. But I don't know when I'll be going to California again; it may be in winter or summer but I don't want to wait that long to get a bike. I also saw two Rocky Mountain bikes at that Korean bike shop, one for $7400 and the other for about $4500. Neither are titanium but they are beautiful. I can begin riding if I get a bike now but I will wait if it's cheaper for me to buy one in Honolulu and bring it here. Is there any way to avoid paying import taxes and other fees in Korea before hopping on the plane with the bike back to Korea? Would it be considered used if I ride the bike a lot in Hawaii ? Would it make a difference if did that?
Money is not really a problem but I don't want to get something that I really don't need. I don't know what price range I should be looking at. I appreciate your opinions because this is something that I will be doing almost every day and I want to enjoy it. |
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inspector gadget
Joined: 11 Apr 2003
Location: jeollanam-do in the boonies
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:32 am Post subject: |
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If you want a bike to commute and go mountain biking I would suggest that you get a full suspension bike, obviously for the trails but you can adjust the shocks for road riding as well.
The higher quality mountain bikes in Korea are outragous in pricing, much cheaper in Canada to buy high quality bikes, don't know about the US.
Having said that I don't think you need to spend 4000 or 6000 bucks to get a decent bike for yourself. You should be able to get a full suspension bike for less than 2000 bucks in north america, here in korea maybe 3000.
Another option you may want to consider is to order on line, a full bike or in pieces. I bought a frame back in canada and had the freedom to choose all of my components and built the bike myslef from scratch. My custom made full suspension titanium bike is awesome and I built it for 2500 cdn.
Check around the forum I recall recently a thread on bikes and someone posted a whole page of links here in korea |
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huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:53 am Post subject: Re: deciding what kind of bicycle to get |
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| Sepharad wrote: |
| First of all, I am 5' 9", weigh 162 lbs and I live in Incheon, Korea. I am thin and the last time I rode a bike for pleasure was back in 1978-1980. |
Just wondering why you'd need a milti-thousand dollar bike? IMO, those $5000 bikes are for budding professionals or people who have a failed sense of marginal utility. Why not start with a cheapo for commuting and occasional mountain forays. If you like mountain biking and want to stick with it, you can then buy something more expensive - you'll have a better idea of what you're looking for and you can then use the cheap bike for commuting. I picked up a bike for 150,000 today, and while it's certainly not a top model, it'll serve my purposes - commuting and exercise.
But definitely try to get a test ride. The Korean seat heights run on the low side.
I live in Incheon, but don't really have a bike shop to recommend. The place I went to was nice enough - one guy spoke some English, and they threw in a lock and water bottle holder. But the tires were under inflated, the gears weren't adjusted properly, and I'll need to get a different seat post.
What mountain do you live by?
Last edited by huffdaddy on Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:53 am Post subject: Re: deciding what kind of bicycle to get |
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| Sepharad wrote: |
First of all, I am 5' 9", weigh 162 lbs and I live in Incheon, Korea. I am thin and the last time I rode a bike for pleasure was back in 1978-1980. It was a BMX bike which was really popular back then. I heard that there are a lot of mountian bikers who ride in the mountains 2 minutes away behind me from where I currently live. I currently ride a scooter and a big motorcycle but I have the urge to get a bike both for mountain biking and for everyday commuting to my job in the mornings (about 15-20 minutes one way). It's mostly highway but with a few bumbs and potholes and one or two inclines. I already began exercising at the gym located at my job site, so I really want to get something that will be both comfortable and fun for everyday use as well as for mountain biking. Plus, I plan to ride my bike in the rain and even in the winter.
I've been to a few bike shops and I've visited this forum as well as some of the well-know bike company websites, but I still can't decide what kind of bike to get. Should I get a xc full suspension, all mountain full suspension, xc hardtail, freeride full suspension or freeride hardtail? This alone confuses me because some people say that I should just get a mountain bike for all my needs. Others say I should get two bikes, one for mountain and the other for my daily commute. And to complicate things more, I wouldn't know what product to buy. I wonder if I'm better off buying a bike in California or Hawaii (since I'll be going to Honolulu for a week in October) because the same bike here in Korea will cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 more than in the US. But then I might have to pay import taxes and other fees if I buy something in the states and then return to Korea with it.
If anyone who knows about bikes lives in Incheon or Seoul, then let me know of a good bike shop where I can actually get some help and where I can test-ride a bike. It seems that Korean bike-shop owners won't allow me to test a bike. That's another reason I hesitate to get a bike here in Korea.
I saw an Elixxir Duralite titanium hard-tail bike for $6000 at a shop near my house. Their website, elixxirbike.com, doesn't have the Duralite model that I saw and it was more beautiful than any of the bikes I saw on their website. I don't think it's a famous brand but it's made in Southern California (about 5 minutes away from my parent's home!) and I loved the lightweight feel of the bike. The saleswoman at the Korean store I visited said that I can use it for both mountain biking and everyday street use. If I can get something like it at a cheaper price, then I will consider buying a bike with a titanium frame if it's really worth getting one. Or I can probably get the same bike for less if I go to their California factory and ask them to build one like the Duralite I saw here in Korea. But I don't know when I'll be going to California again; it may be in winter or summer but I don't want to wait that long to get a bike. I also saw two Rocky Mountain bikes at that Korean bike shop, one for $7400 and the other for about $4500. Neither are titanium but they are beautiful. I can begin riding if I get a bike now but I will wait if it's cheaper for me to buy one in Honolulu and bring it here. Is there any way to avoid paying import taxes and other fees in Korea before hopping on the plane with the bike back to Korea? Would it be considered used if I ride the bike a lot in Hawaii ? Would it make a difference if did that?
Money is not really a problem but I don't want to get something that I really don't need. I don't know what price range I should be looking at. I appreciate your opinions because this is something that I will be doing almost every day and I want to enjoy it. |
Elixxir Duralite does not exist. Google it. Not a single hit. I'm pretty sure you saw an Elixxir Divine, with some "Duralite" sticker on it, usually in reference to the frame construction or something.
Getting a bike here, you'll usually pay 40-90% markup (over North American prices), depending on the brand. But sounds like you have cash, so get a bike here.
But if I were you, I'd research ALOT more. Try here for starters: http://mtbr.com/ check out the forums and reviews there. |
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Sepharad
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:06 am Post subject: import taxes |
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| Did you pay any fees or taxes when you had your frame shipped to you? I think Korea will charge import fees for foreign imported goods mailed to your address. I was thinking about doing what you suggested but one person warned against buying anything online. And in my case, how would I know what frame or bike is most suitable for me if I can't test it or at least see it? Isn't body size and weight important in matching the bike that's right for you? I wouldn't know what kind of frame or even what size to get. That's why I started out my last post with my body information. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:33 am Post subject: Re: import taxes |
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| Sepharad wrote: |
| Did you pay any fees or taxes when you had your frame shipped to you? I think Korea will charge import fees for foreign imported goods mailed to your address. I was thinking about doing what you suggested but one person warned against buying anything online. And in my case, how would I know what frame or bike is most suitable for me if I can't test it or at least see it? Isn't body size and weight important in matching the bike that's right for you? I wouldn't know what kind of frame or even what size to get. That's why I started out my last post with my body information. |
I bought mine here in Korea. If they change the duty fee, great.
Just caught the part where you say you're going to Hawaii in October. I would definately do that. Shipping it is simple, just tell the bike shop in Hawaii you need a box for the plane. Spend the next month on some biking message boards, researching benefits of X and Y bike, for the biking you envision doing. You can do some serious mountain biking here in Korea if you're up for that, and there is at least one ex-pat MTB club in the Seoul area. Thing is, if you buy an "all-round bike," and you get hooked on the trails, you'll immediately regret not buying a full suspension bike. If you get a full suspension, and you do alot of commuting, well, the reverse. I have a hard-tail, but envy the full-suspension guys. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: Re: deciding what kind of bicycle to get |
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| huffdaddy wrote: |
| Sepharad wrote: |
| First of all, I am 5' 9", weigh 162 lbs and I live in Incheon, Korea. I am thin and the last time I rode a bike for pleasure was back in 1978-1980. |
Just wondering why you'd need a milti-thousand dollar bike? IMO, those $5000 bikes are for budding professionals or people who have a failed sense of marginal utility. Why not start with a cheapo for commuting and occasional mountain forays. If you like mountain biking and want to stick with it, you can then buy something more expensive - you'll have a better idea of what you're looking for and you can then use the cheap bike for commuting. I picked up a bike for 150,000 today, and while it's certainly not a top model, it'll serve my purposes - commuting and exercise.
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I don't think you have ever ridden one of those bikes, have you? They are heaven...light, flexible, responsive...an absolute pleasure to ride. |
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huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:16 am Post subject: Re: deciding what kind of bicycle to get |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
| huffdaddy wrote: |
| Sepharad wrote: |
| First of all, I am 5' 9", weigh 162 lbs and I live in Incheon, Korea. I am thin and the last time I rode a bike for pleasure was back in 1978-1980. |
Just wondering why you'd need a milti-thousand dollar bike? IMO, those $5000 bikes are for budding professionals or people who have a failed sense of marginal utility.
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I don't think you have ever ridden one of those bikes, have you? They are heaven...light, flexible, responsive...an absolute pleasure to ride. |
A $5000 bike? No. My most expensive bike ever cost about $250. I seriously doubt the extra pleasure is worth $4750. At least to me. Kind of like buying a $5000 camera when a $500 camera is good enough for 99% of the people who take pictures. If you don't need the marginal extra performance, why pay such an elevated price for it?
Anyways, why would you need to ride a $3000+ bike for 15 minutes to get to work? |
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Sepharad
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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[/quote]If you want a bike to commute and go mountain biking I would suggest that you get a full suspension bike, obviously for the trails but you can adjust the shocks for road riding as well.
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That's probably what I needed to hear. Either your suggestion or two bikes, one for mountain and the other for street. But a bike only for moutain biking is kind of unrealistic unless I will have lots of time to go there. So I think I'll get a full-suspension bike that I can take anywhere.
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What mountain do you live by?
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I don't know the names of places here yet because I moved here less than a month ago. I do know it's in Yeonsu-Dong 1, Yeonsu-Gu.
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Just wondering why you'd need a milti-thousand dollar bike?...Anyways, why would you need to ride a $3000+ bike for 15 minutes to get to work?
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Well...I just want to get something that's really light for commuting not just to work but everywhere and even to other countries if and when I decided to travel. I was going to go to Japan and that would have been a good place to take a bike because I would avoid all those expensive taxis, and I would enjoy myself more on a bike there. And of course, I'd like to get something that's good for the mountains too. But I also don't know if it's really worth it to spend so much money on a bike. A few people say yes but most say no. I just want to get opinions before I decide.
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Elixxir Duralite does not exist. Google it. Not a single hit. I'm pretty sure you saw an Elixxir Divine, with some "Duralite" sticker on it, usually in reference to the frame construction or something.
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I also noticed that and you're probably right. But I also saw the same frame with the same name at another bike shop about a half hour away from the other shop.
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Try here for starters: http://mtbr.com/ check out the forums and reviews there.
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My brother recommended that sight as well but it just raised more questions after I looked over it. I realized that there are so many options out there after looking at the website.
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I don't think you have ever ridden one of those bikes, have you? They are heaven...light, flexible, responsive...an absolute pleasure to ride.[quote]
I did get on a Specialized mountain bike and it felt a little strange. I was just used to riding a BMX bike many years ago, and a ten-speed bike many more years ago. Your description of those bikes makes me want to get one with a titanium frame. I think it will be well worth it since I plan to ride it even in the rain and when it's cold. I want some adventure! |
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huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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Your quote /quote tags are messed up.
| Sepharad wrote: |
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| What mountain do you live by? |
I don't know the names of places here yet because I moved here less than a month ago. I do know it's in Yeonsu-Dong 1, Yeonsu-Gu. |
If it's the big one to the north of Yeonsu, that's Mt. Munhak. There are some paths that you could bike on, but it's a lot more oriented to hikers than bikers. I work in Yeonsu, but I believe I'm in Dongchun-dong. Just a bit west of Dongchun subway station.
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| Just wondering why you'd need a milti-thousand dollar bike?...Anyways, why would you need to ride a $3000+ bike for 15 minutes to get to work? |
Well...I just want to get something that's really light for commuting not just to work but everywhere and even to other countries if and when I decided to travel. I was going to go to Japan and that would have been a good place to take a bike because I would avoid all those expensive taxis, and I would enjoy myself more on a bike there. And of course, I'd like to get something that's good for the mountains too. |
I did some biking in Japan and SE Asia, and it's a great way to see the country. But you don't really want a mountain bike. Those studded tires are nice for traction on trails, but really give you a lot more resistence on the road.
You've really got about three different uses you're looking at - commuting, mountain biking, and touring. None of them are really compatible with each other.
If it were me, I'd buy something relatively cheap. Then you can see if you're doing more road riding or mountain biking and upgrade based upon that. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:39 am Post subject: Re: deciding what kind of bicycle to get |
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| huffdaddy wrote: |
A $5000 bike? No. My most expensive bike ever cost about $250. I seriously doubt the extra pleasure is worth $4750. At least to me. Kind of like buying a $5000 camera when a $500 camera is good enough for 99% of the people who take pictures. If you don't need the marginal extra performance, why pay such an elevated price for it?
Anyways, why would you need to ride a $3000+ bike for 15 minutes to get to work? |
It's like anything. A Lada or a Benz kind of thing. There is a reason things cost more money. I'm not saying that a $5000 bike is an expenditure that I could or would make, but you get what you pay for.
I had a $2500 Gary Fisher in Canada, and I tell you, it was a whole different world from pushing a $250 Canadian Tire special around. Gorgeous bike, it was. Now I have an $800 Trek...meh. |
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Cohiba
Joined: 01 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:53 am Post subject: Bikes |
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There is a pretty good bike shop near Baegun Stn. The guy is really
friendly and generous, but his English is minimal. PM me if you want
the exact location. I was actually going to buy a bike from him. I
went there with cash in hand. He phoned the distributor and they were
sold out. So, being really pissed, I ordered a bike online. When it
arrived he assembled it for me for 100,000 plus he through in a shock
pump and other cool stuff.
This bike is a 2005 so it was marked down from an outdoor store
in the US. I paid:
US$1800 bike
US$200 tax
US$500 shipping
The same bike would be US$4000+ in Korea.
IF YOU LIKE CYCLING DON'T BUY A CHEAPO KOREAN BIKE.
You will look like crap, the bike will perform like crap and even the
Koreans will laugh at you! |
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Sepharad
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| huffdaddy wrote: |
Your quote /quote tags are messed up.
If it's the big one to the north of Yeonsu, that's Mt. Munhak. There are some paths that you could bike on, but it's a lot more oriented to hikers than bikers.
I did some biking in Japan and SE Asia, and it's a great way to see the country. But you don't really want a mountain bike. Those studded tires are nice for traction on trails, but really give you a lot more resistence on the road.
You've really got about three different uses you're looking at - commuting, mountain biking, and touring. None of them are really compatible with each other.
If it were me, I'd buy something relatively cheap. Then you can see if you're doing more road riding or mountain biking and upgrade based upon that. |
Sorry about the quotes but I tried to correct it then gave up. I don't know if the mountain behind me is Mt. Munhak but it seems that way. One of the reasons I decided to get a mountain bike was because one of the other teachers who has been living here next door to me for five years told me that the mountain behind us is used by a lot of mountain bikers. So it could be a different mountain. Now what you said about the different uses for bikes kind of complicates things more for me but I may just end up doing what you said at the end of your post. Although I'm tempted to get what to me seems to be the Jaguar of bikes...a titanium one. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Bikes |
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| Cohiba wrote: |
This bike is a 2005 so it was marked down from an outdoor store
in the US. I paid:
US$1800 bike
US$200 tax
US$500 shipping
The same bike would be US$4000+ in Korea.
IF YOU LIKE CYCLING DON'T BUY A CHEAPO KOREAN BIKE.
You will look like crap, the bike will perform like crap and even the
Koreans will laugh at you! |
How did you avoid paying duty, which add at minimum another 20%? |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Sepharad wrote: |
| Although I'm tempted to get what to me seems to be the Jaguar of bikes...a titanium one. |
Titanium frames for a mountain bike are not really ideal. They are brittle, manufacturers haven't really figured out how to make a reliable frame for mountain biking, consequently, the few custom shops that will make you a Ti frame will not guarantee them. The very very high end Ti is good, but you'll be paying double your $6k for a reliable build.
If you want high end, why not just consider some of the high end bikes from some of the best companies--Yeti, Kona, Santa Cruz, Rocky Mountain, Iron Horse, Haro, Intense, Turner, Specialized. For $6k you can get any one of these companies' top end bikes. |
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