Yes, another which bike should I get question?!

[elkoman]

First let me say thank you as I have been reading everyones feedback regarding other questions like mine. I will try to keep it short; I have been riding a road bike for over 20 years and have been riding a Mountain Bike for about 2 years and I want to get better at it, i.e., climbing, technical trails where I live, etc., but my bike is full supension and I don't know how to explain it, but I just don't like it... Anyway I want to buy a hardtail 29er and I have it down to these 2 bikes:
2012 Marin CRX 29er 22" Carbon Hardtail Mountain Bike Fox 32 Shimano SLX New | eBay

or

GT Zaskar Cabon Niner Expert 29er - Giantnerd®

Yes, both are carbon frames and are the same price.

I want a 2 x 10 like the GT, but Marin seems like they just might make a better bike and I could always upgrade/change it to a 2X10 later.

Any input is welcomed AND appreciated.

Thanks

[DMills]

I ride with a guy who is a mechanic in a LBS that pimped out his Marin and it's a beast (it's now a 2x10, carbon wheelset with Chris King hub, etc)...his shop sells Marin, Orbea, Scott, and Specialized and he chose Marin for a plethora of reasons. The frame on that bike is really nice. I admittedly do not know all that much about the Zaskar but the obvious bit of advice is ride and see which fits better.

[elkoman]

Thanks, but therein lies the problem, no one locally sells either so I am purchasing without riding either, that's why I was asking for help.
I have only test ridden a Stumpjumper carbon at a lbs, nice, but but too much money to spend right now while I'm still "new" and falling frequently.

Thanks again

[Hophead1]

If you do a lot of technical riding maybe you would like something like a trek Stache 8 with 120mm travel and a slacker HTA. I just took a quick look so i don't know if anyone else makes anything similar but just a thought. If you are doing most xc trail i'm sure the above will fit the bill.

[DMills]

In that price range you do have some other options...e.g., the Giant XTC (you can find the bike for under 2k XTC Composite 29er 1 (2013) - Bikes | Giant Bicycles | United States )

Marin is a solid brand, can't go wrong with it. I'm personally not a GT fan (no longer built in the US, their entry carbon frame is rigid). The CRX is nicely equipped and the geometry is similar to hardtail 29ers in that price range. I like that Giant a lot as it's a great handling bike that will allow you to grow as your riding develops. The Giant also uses XT/SLX versus X9/X0 (I prefer the new Shimano parts). The AVID brakes are also a problem on the Marin...I'd upgrade those before I left the store. Giant comes with SLX.

[Giantxtc29]

In that price range you do have some other options...e.g., the Giant XTC (you can find the bike for under 2k XTC Composite 29er 1 (2013) - Bikes | Giant Bicycles | United States )

Marin is a solid brand, can't go wrong with it. I'm personally not a GT fan (no longer built in the US, their entry carbon frame is rigid). The CRX is nicely equipped and the geometry is similar to hardtail 29ers in that price range. I like that Giant a lot as it's a great handling bike that will allow you to grow as your riding develops. The Giant also uses XT/SLX versus X9/X0 (I prefer the new Shimano parts). The AVID brakes are also a problem on the Marin...I'd upgrade those before I left the store. Giant comes with SLX.

P
i was looking at bikes for a while and royal distributing had a Marin on sale for $1899 reg $4200 but I don't know a lot about bike so I was hesitant on buying it, a few weeks later I found myself at a bike shop and walked out with a gaint xtc 29er for $2000