Basic RC hardtail build for my wife. Suggestions?

[recumpence]

Hey Guys,

I have been looking for an excuse to build a very basic mountainbike (or hybrid mountain/road bike) for a year or so. A few minutes ago my wife said she wants a basic (though high quality) upright bike (high bar frame, not a women's frame) for longer distance riding. She is also, finally, warming up to electric. So, to that end, I am researching ideal bikes for her. I want a few suggestions from you guys. Cost is not a big factor. Ideally, it would have disc brakes with V-brake option on the rear and a suspension fork. I want high quality, not cheapo. But, I am not looking to spend $1,000 on the bike either. She is 5 foot 4 inches tall and about 148 pounds. I will be setting it up with a very wide and comfy seat for her with riser bars to be super comfortable for long rides. Hill climbing ability is not a huge issue considering I will be setting it up with a drive.

Suggestions?

Oh, the electric side will be a ten turn 3210 with a slipper clutch and, obviously, left side drive. It will be setup for 20 to 25mph top speed and very smooth operation. I do not want a wheelie machine. It must be EXTREMELY user friendly for my wife to feel comfortable with it. It will also be focussed on extreme efficiency. That is to save weight in battery capacity as well as minimizing the effort required to pedal without the motor running. I would expect somewhere around 14wh per mile. I will probably set it up with a 12S 5 ah pack.

Matt

 

[spinningmagnets]

I know you have stated you're looking at a mountainbike, perhaps consider one the comfort frames that are growing in popularity. The Giant Suede, Trek Pure, Electra Townie...also, I have a Thudbuster and I like it.

Has lady in question expressed any preferences?

 

[MitchJi]

Hi Matt,

I'd use either a 29er hard tail. Mybe something like this Marin Lagunitas.

Marin Lagunitas '09 is made for casual travel for fitness or fun. With lightweight aluminum frame this comfort bike make getting fit fun. Comfort comes from smooth riding suspension forks and comfortable saddle, coupled with the high-rise adjustable handlebars to give a great heads up position. The Marin Lagunitas is a comfort bike sitting on a 700c wheels for faster rolling.

YOUR SALE PRICE: $499.99

Or a Salsa Dos Niner softail.

The softail probably isn't in your price range (if you find one that is let me know ).

http://www.zinncycles.com/side-29wheel.php

That is not to say that it requires a higher degree of skill to ride a 29er; in fact, it may be quite the contrary. Curiak, who works as a mountain-bike guide much of the year in Crested Butte, Moab, and his hometown of Grand Junction , says, “Timid, technically inept women, for lack of a better way to say it, particularly benefit from them. The women I ride with around here call them “big girl wheels.” They love 29ers because they have so much traction, and they can ride lots of stuff they can’t on a 26er. They attribute it to having more stability and more confidence.”

Small riders can run into pedal-overlap problems with a short top tube, but Curiak thinks that anyone over five feet tall can be accommodated. “My wife rides a small Lenz Leviathan with a 22-inch top tube, and her foot doesn’t hit the front tire.”

 

[damonjackson_spl]

I built an old ride of mine for my gf. I got her a kona dew deluxe 29er disc front and rear, even sourced a grip shift shifter to make life simpler (rapid fire made her head spin) also got some ladies tourer bars (a must for a girl on a mens frame) making it light as possible is a must I think she is allot more confident on a bike she can lift and maneuver easily, he'll the cheeky little thing also chose a carbon seatpost cause it looks pretty!!!

29er is the go!!!

 

[mabman]

This looks like a good deal and the size is right. http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/bik/2185933324.html No sus fork but they are easy enough to come up with these days for 700c . You can use your WB connection to source a nice one with only 50mm of travel? Also you can get a top hat adapter or make one so you can use the left side for both drive and disc.

 

[MitchJi]

Hi Matt,

How about this one (steel)?:
http://www.genericcycles.com/dj.htm

Light, fast, air.

Is the urban rally more your style? Or perhaps the perfection of a manicured set of dirt mounds?

This bike is built for the abuse. One size. Great. 26" wheels, super short chainstays. Single speed specific, disc brakes.

Did I forget anything?

Titanium | $1100
Steel | $600

You could use a Nexus 3 speed or 8 speed hub. Round down-tube so your clamps would work.

You could also use it as the basis for a dual motor 26" version of the PK Ripper .

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

I know you're thinking steel, but I'd also think that Oatnet's Tidal Force bikes (complete minus front and rear tire, he offers a front wheel for a little more) would be a good option too, very beefy, but also light. Normally I wouldn't consider Aluminum, but the Tidal Force is really nice and has the channel to tuck away all the wires and cables too!

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18112

These are factory sealed, so nothing short of new for $375, and add your choice of wheels. 8)

 

[slowbuild]

great to see another Matt build! And with a 10 turn 3210 as well - I'll be following this very closely
as I have in mind to build an e-bike for my daughter.