Just getting back into riding and looking at getting a new bike to replace my old cannondale. I was looking at the fs 29er bikes, and one that won't cost as much as a used motorcycle. For the money it seems like the Hobgoblin gets you much more of a bike for the money. Is there any reason to get the camber over the hg..better frame, company..etc.?
From a value standpoint alone, it appears based on specs./components that the Hobgoblin is a better value than the entry model Camber. The price is also $150 less. However, you have to pay $75 (within the U.S.) to have the Airborne shipped, so now the net difference is only $75. My big problem and why I would never buy a bike over the internet is b/c I would never get to test ride it or even sit on it. You then have to hope it arrives at your door undamaged and then spend time completing the assembly, which I would not be comfortable doing and would probably cost me the remaining $75 in cost difference. This is direct from Airborne's website and would be reason for concern, IMO:
"We strive to have derailleurs and brakes tuned/adjusted at the factory before packing, however cables do stretch during break-in period (actually, the housing compresses), and can even begin to "stretch" in the box. Other aspects of a correct tune will normally need adjustment after the break-in period. Also, suspension set-up is subject to personal discretion and is not included in factory build and tune.
Derailleur and brake settings, headset compression, brake adjustment, and fork/shock setup are not guaranteed. While we will be happy to supply tuning instructions, we do not guarantee state-of-tune and we will not cover labor costs for any tuning procedures."
Now, I bet your local Specialized dealer has a Camber demo. bike that you can rent for a day and try it out before you buy it. They'll probably be very helpful in answering all your questions and make sure you get the right fit on the bike and maybe throw in free tune ups for a year. I personally think buying local and establishing a good relationship with the LBS is the way to go but you may feel differently. I'm not trying to talk you into or out of either bike, just providing a different perspective. There are probably other bikes besides these two that fit your budget , that you can test ride and so forth. Good luck whatever you decide.
"Derailleur and brake settings, headset compression, brake adjustment, and fork/shock setup are not guaranteed."
The set-up steps listed above are relatively easy to do on your own. In my opinion, every rider should be comfortable with them, or be comfortable with learning them.
If you (OP) are not, then you should probably exclude all mail-order bikes from your list.
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