This is the bike I've been looking for.

Where should you invest money when upgrading your bike? Well, I aim to help you figure that out! The GT sensor Sport makes a fantastic budget bike that actually worth putting parts on, so over the next year we're going to make this bike the best it can be. Without breaking the bank!
Check out the bike over at Fanatik: bit.ly/Fanatik_GTsensor
--------------------------
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#GTbike #Budgetbike #TrailFeatures

[@TrailFeatures]

WOW! Thank you, everyone! I didn't expect this video to catch on, but I'm *so* happy it did! I've gotten a lot of great feedback, and want to take a moment to address some things: 1. I really shouldn't have called this an entry-level bike. A good hardtail (like the one in Daily MTB rider's vid) is the true entry-level bike. A $1400-$2000 FS bike like this would be the next step up form that. You've learned how to throw a bike around a bit, but don't quite want to put down $3K+. 2. Buying a used bike will, in fact, always be the best way to get the most bike for the least money. The problem with that is you really need to know what you're looking for to make sure you get a quality bike. Not everyone knows what redflags to look for and can buy a bike that turns out to need a lot of work done. That will quickly eat away any savings you made buying used. In that regard, it can be safer for some people to buy a more budget friendly bike that comes with a warranty. Then ride that for a while before thinking about doing anything to it. 3. I didn't want to make it sound like someone should buy a bike and immediately start swapping parts. As I mentioned, it's always cheaper to spend a little more up front for the next trim package up that comes with better parts. Outside of basics like grips, pedals, and maybe tires, people really shouldn't pour money into upgrading a bike until at least riding it for a few 5-8 months . At that point you can start to decide what, if anything, really needs an upgrade and you've had time to save some money. 4. The cost of tools also needs to be addressed when upgrading a bike. I'm going to do my best to start off with upgrades that only need some basic tools and work up from there. I'll also be trying my best to teach basic mechanical skills throughout this project, because I learned so much of what I know by wrenching on my old hardtail. As I said, I should have been a more clear in this video. Given the feedback on this video, I will for sure go into better detail in the next video to help clear some things up! Thanks!

[@nbprotocol5406]

Change the rear wheel to 650b or 27.5 and that will cut your crashes in half.

[@timothyranken4238]

just curious, what trail(s) did you take this on in Moab ?

[@TrailFeatures]

@@timothyranken4238 www.strava.com/activities/1917391741/

[@timothyranken4238]

@@TrailFeatures aah nice, perfect intermediate trails for me :) was wondering if you did something balsy, like the whole enchilada

[@SerialEater274]

This is a mistake I made. Recently just got a 2013 Stumpjumper and evended up needing new bars, stem, chain, headset, bottom bracket, cassette, pedals, seat, seatpost, grips, tools, tires, rims, hubs, fork and shock service, and I'm sure more to come like cranks, and brakes, my $1300 deal turned into a 3.5k nightmare. However I do love it now, I've made it my own, and it will last me a long time. I will day I'm a sucker for having the "best" so I didn't exactly skimp out on parts either ...

[@SethsBikeHacks]

Really good move! The truth is that anything more advanced than this is a luxury. Luxury is something a lot of us decide is important, but it’s not an essential part of getting on the trails.

[@TrailFeatures]

Word.

Wise words of seth bike god

[@vidakgrbovic1283]

Seth i was looking for full suspension bike that is below 1000$

[@RLSteffler]

@@vidakgrbovic1283 you should probably look at some used bikes on Pinkbike if that's your budget, just watch a video on what to look for first

[@vidakgrbovic1283]

@@RLSteffler ok thanks for suggestions

[@username6333]

My first car cost less than this bike. Mountain biking is absolutely nuts when the cost of entry is 1000$+

[@OayxYT]

Eh, tbh the diamondback hook is a good sub 1k bike

[@otoe3534]

Vitus Nucleus

[@ryanwierckx5377]

Oayx not if you consider it has a coil fork up front. I mean if you want to spend $500 on a new fork too then sure. Rocky Mountain Fusion 30 has an air fork only comparably bike I can find but it is a 29er. GT probably makes something similar too.

[@adrianszabelski8105]

@@ryanwierckx5377 vitus has an air fork budget bike there's no gt with an air fork at that price

[@emil3657]

i bought my first mountainhbike for 180 euro's

[@charliepepper7135]

Glad to see someone actually “bought” themselves a decent and capable bike that most of us MTBers can actually purchase and review said bike that isn’t a top tiered carbon $5k-$12k bike given to them by the brand.....I’m so tired of seeing all the mtb KZbin channels review the latest and newest 2020 bikes and they’re all top tier or just right below it models. Does anyone else actually review mid level aluminum bikes anymore!? It’s like checking out Motortrend to see the latest vehicles coming out for the new year that could possibly push me toward buying a new vehicle, but all I see are reviews for Ferrari’s and Lamborghinis. Thank you for being a normal person who actually thinks about the majority demographic 👍🏼👍🏼

[@JessHines]

I'm riding an 06 Stinky I bought from my uncle 10 years ago. Still trying to get my head around $1900 being a "budget bike"

[@bestofthenavy1609]

Jess Hines it’s very budget

[@JessHines]

@@bestofthenavy1609 I guess any amount does qualify as A "budget," but it seems that 10 years ago when I got the Stinky, I could have bought top of the line for that price. But maybe I just didn't really know what that cost back then either.

[@finnharkort-berge765]

Jess Hines well its a budget bike compared to his previous yeti bike.

[@JessHines]

@@finnharkort-berge765 yeah I guess like so many things "budget" is relative. My "budget" process consisted of thoroughly cleaning my 06 Stinky and learning how to do fork and derailleur service. Runs like a champ now! Maybe a "budget" bike is a little later in my future :)

[@finnharkort-berge765]

@@JessHines well yeah , it is. Glad to hear youre enjoying your budget tho

[@themtnbikegeek]

The Dropper Post is definitely the first upgrade for any bike that doesn't have one. Love the vid, and can't wait for this series to play out!

[@TrailFeatures]

Yup, I'm looking forward to the day they are standard on all levels of bikes!

[@ardarazi8472]

don't forget slapping on a set of decent pedals {for new people that may not have one that they swap out of their old bike}

[@shafiqjan1474]

Try a G!ant dropper, good bang for the buck. I put one on my fat bike and it rocks even in the cold...

[@PaulThePunter]

YES A TRAIL FEATURES VIDEO! Ok, the best upgrade I ever made was the ODI Elite grips. It's an important contact point and those were really a game changer!

[@TrailFeatures]

Oh man, contact points are so important. And you can spend so little money on it to get such a huge return!

[@cassidysanders977]

I have the same grips on my GT and love them

[@10acebikesjodybennettii19]

ODI Aaron Gwinn grips are the Tits

[@cgreeneblue]

I second that; contact points are really important between you and the bike as well as the bike and the ground...so pedals, grips and tires are my first things to change if needed. If the bike is really a budget ride make sure it's got a decent level shifting component group with a clutched derailleur as this can be really frustrating and annoying esp for new riders if things aren't working properly. But, even 'deore' or NX stuff is pretty solid these days so hopefully it's not something that needs immediate upgrading.

[@bkxc]

Solid! Looking forward to the journey

[@TrailFeatures]

It's going to be a fun one!

[@TheLoamRanger]

Sweet dude! When it comes to best upgrade I've made, it would be one that I would carry over to whatever bike I'm riding, now and in the future. Like Paul, for me that's my grips! DMR Deathgrips fo lyfe. Looking forward to seeing this project progress!

[@TrailFeatures]

This is true. The slip-ons that came with the bike serve the purpose, but I'll be replacing them ASAP!

[@789oGaming]

Dmr Deathgrips are best grips so far that I've tried. Only downside is that they don't last that long. Another great upgrade you can carry over to whatever bike are pedals. Loving my Dmr V12 with terror pins. For 50€ those pedals have to be the best upgrade money/performance wise I've done.

[@TheCrashingDad]

dude.... that EPIC AF intro!.... I can't wait to see the rest of this series..

[@TrailFeatures]

Entry-level bikes deserve epic cinematography also!

[@cybereye2]

Am new to mtb and bought a ‘99 GT Backwoods hardtail as my 1st bike. After a few months as my skills developed I went for a ‘00 GT XCR 5000. On both bikes the single, least expensive, upgrade which made a HUGE difference to both bikes was converting to tubeless and upgrading the tyres. I’m from Northern Ireland and we ride wet trails mostly as it rains plenty across the seasons, so I upgraded to Continental Mountain Kings - 2.2” front and 2.1” rear to the Backwoods and 2.3” front and 2.2” rear for the XCR. Despite my burly 200kg weight and the antiquated but properly functioning suspensions on both bikes, grip, AND riding comfort have been transformed. I’d suggest the best first upgrade to go for on your budget/entry level mtb is your tyres. Consider the type of riding you’ll be doing, go tubeless to lighten the load and reduce tyre pressures and buy a set of good quality tyres.

[@angeryanimal398]

man, i cant believe the quality of videos you make, i did not think ONCE that you had only 19k subs when i was watching this. you are a great filmmaker and i hope you get a lot more subs

[@nofrontbrakes]

Great start to what will be a killer series! We've talked about this a few times, stoked to see it kick off after all the trolling you've done teasing it. Ergon GP1 grips were a great upgrade for me! Increased surface contact = better control. Experimenting with an upgrade from 180-203mm rotors would be fun with brake testing.

[@TrailFeatures]

I think putting better pads, or just upgrading the brakes would be better than putting 203 rotors on. I don't think the fork that came with the bike supports them, and cheap 203 rotors would likely warp like a mother.

[@markfulcher6942]

Great video, thank you. Love listening to people who have a passion for riding and are eminently sensible !!

[@geemail369]

🤔 Where does bike fit end and upgrade start?! The *contact points* (grips, saddle, pedals) are somewhat right in the middle i think. But a shorter *stem* is an instant game changer on ANY rig! *Tires* are a big one too - didn't think compound in itself would make _such_ a difference, let alone the tread! *Dropper* (post) imo has been the biggest invention in MTB-ing since shox have been introduced! From there on it just becomes fun i guess. p.s.: What a move to swap your Yeti for an entry level fully! *PROPS!* ✨🏆✨ imho: That's where most current mtb channels fail, riding top of the line bikes pretty much no one can relate to - you, Sir, just earned a sub! 👌🏻

[@WheelersAtLarge]

Solid advice and you learn so much about your bike at the same time...

[@yaderbonilla9482]

Great video, i have a hardtail and i am going through some upgrades already and I am happy so far

[@Fresh2Salt]

This is what got me to start putting up KZbin videos. Just encouraging people to get out and ride what they have for now. Thanks for the vid...

[@silverdentist2333]

Been doing a budget build on my cannondale catalyst. This was a $400 bike from REI I’ve upgraded to a Rockshox recon 100mm travel air fork, Maxxis aggressors and raceface aeffects bars and stem. Totally transformed this bike. Keeping it around $1000.

[@melonproductions1471]

Your bike is honestly as good as the GT in this video, they both have recon forks lol

[@garrettsmith8286]

Just wanted to say thanks for keeping it real! I've been mtb'ing since 94' & the most expensive bike I've owned is my current $1,300 Camber. Got a great deal on a NEW last yr model that was retailed at $1,900. My HT b4 that was retailed $1,400, paid $900. My current bike is set up for what a manufacture would charge $3,000-$5,000 for all because I shopped around and built it up the way I wanted with sale parts, take off parts, hardly used parts! Much like the car scene I'm proud to say mine is built (to a point) rather than just bought & exactly how I want. I personally would never spend $2k plus up front on any bike. This market is over inflated and filled with way to many bike snobs. Its great to see people like yourself inspiring the new & the young to just get out there and have a good time! Plus the look on someones face as you pass them on your "cheap" bike is priceless!

[@clintpeterson7740]

This is such a cool message to send! I've been riding my GT sensor hard for 3 years and loved every minute of it. The best upgrade I made to mine was switching from the rock shox revolution fork to a fox 34 with 150mm of travel

[@CarlosRodriguez-bo4sx]

Thanks for putting this video out there. I have been buying gently used MTBs for years. I finally wanted to treat myself to a new bike. I went for the YT Jeffsy 29er CF pro race. Pretty much because of the value you get for your money. I will use your video for newbies next time they ask me about deciding on an entry level bike. Keep it up.

[@claytonhomer8807]

Got sent this video when I told my friend I want to get this bike. Hopefully it comes back in stock soon

[@brianlehmkuhl8162]

subscribed. Been waiting for a series like this, thank you. best upgrade I ever did on my entry level bike was replace the fork.

[@DailyMTBRider]

Great video Joseph! And the clip at 4:19 made my face go.... 😱

[@B1KER]

Yeah, his leg stuck in the frame looked awful. Not to mention no knee pads. OUCH!

[@TrailFeatures]

Good times!

[@SHREDD-ED]

Love the message!!!! Keep it up! 2-3 year old bikes need a little love and make great bikes for beginners as well.

[@mariana2799]

Great Video Man!! As Always

[@lestergarabito608]

This is a great video and you hit it right on the nail. Thanks

[@MegaMilesteg]

Very nice introduction, good subject too! To speak for myself (265 lbs, 6 ft 3) i usually go for the most solid parts when buying. Upgrades afterwards are usually brakes, tyres and fork. Love to see more regarding this project.

[@AnthonyPieroni]

This is the first video I've seen from you. You earned my subscription on the spot. A great message to all riders alike!! Looking forward to following you, keep the quality content coming!

[@TrailFeatures]

Thanks you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@omarsrigs7480]

2020 and I am still hear looking for entry level bike looking to buy one next month on B-day. Thank you

[@B1KER]

Great video dude. I think you hit it out of the park on this one. Great one.

[@TrailFeatures]

Thanks man! It's going to be a fun series!

[@RusticRussellAdventures]

You nailed it on this video!! Everyone has their idea of what the best components are. But when you start with a well designed frame and work the canvas from there.... I'm racing a sub $2k bike and smashing it. The components selected suit the area I ride. And are all custom. That is what's fun for me. Making a common bike unique to me

[@TrailFeatures]

Man, I'm stoked to hear this! Thinking you need a 5k+ bike to race is another myth I'm hoping to squash. If you're a pro? Sure, you need that edge. But if you're racing for fun, or still working your way up the ranks, then working on skill sets will get you a much better ROI.

[@MegaMilesteg]

Love your channel and this point of view!

[@reactivemtnbiking9871]

Epic my friend, GT should hire you to do their videos lol. Upgrades I have found to be most beneficial on a new bike would be tires, carbon bars and carbon wheels. You get what you pay for so choose wisely. Thanks again for sharing this epic video reveal.

[@TrailFeatures]

I would definitely be very picky on which carbon bars I put on my bikes. I've heard way too many horror stories of people breaking carbon bars!

[@MegaMilesteg]

Very nice introduction, good subject too! To speak for myself (265 lbs, 6 ft 3) i usually go for the most solid parts when buying. Upgrades afterwards are usually brakes, tyres and fork. Keep it up!

[@downundermtb4744]

Good vid I bought a trek Roscoe and upgraded to the carbon fat bars only having a blast on this bike had expensive bikes in the past even now have a one Sixty travel bike which I don’t use as much as this bike ...It’s good to see your keeping it real and showing new comers you don’t have to spend a fortune to have fun..

[@YourFavoriteCyclist]

Love the video man! My favorite upgrade on my bike so far was definetly my dropper post, followed closely by my ESI grips! Looking forward to seeing more great content!

[@TeamCykelhold]

Most useful upgrades in order of importance vs budget balance: Dropper, tyres, saddle, pedals, grips, bar and then the rest

[@MrTonka]

Have you thought about the possibility of selling the bike after a year to see how much of your cash you could recoup after the upgrades? Or even turning it back to stock and selling the bike stock and the upgrade parts separately? Could be interesting.... :)

[@TrailFeatures]

We'll have to see! Who knows? I may decide that I like this too much to sell it at the end of the year! 😎

[@MrTonka]

@DempseyTheDog I tend to agree, but i'm not new in to MTB. If i were new, getting an entry level bike i could grow with for a year or so would be beneficial in many ways. I think the biggest intangible is learning how to wrench on your bike by changing out parts. :)

[@Forthetimebeing72]

Mr Tonka yes this is why I would like to see

[@hooharmandennis9074]

Best budget upgrade that makes a difference definitely handlebars it feels so diffère

[@CobraKyle]

Great project Joseph! I'm always looking for the budget friendly bikes and this seems like a great offering. I typically make tires my first upgrade depending what comes on the bike. Excited to see this build progress!

[@TrailFeatures]

I'd like to see GT either bring the spec up, or the cost down on this trim. However, for a Steep/slack geo you're going to be hard pressed to find a more budget friendly option!

[@craighenry7915]

Great video,i do agree you don't have spend a lot of money on say your first bike.Ithink as you get better riding you can upgrade the bike as you go,in a few year you mit want a better bike but you can save money over the year to spend the big bucks for that dream bike.

[@MILTONATOR]

Man, great job with this video and the story you’re about tell. It’s a story absolutely worth telling and sharing. Subbed 🤘🏼

[@TrailFeatures]

Thank you! Since bike manufacturers don't really give a lot of love to their more budgeted options, I wanted to go over the top with this one really give the bike some love.

[@MTBFlowRider]

I love your bringing this point up! Great video and can’t wait to see what low cost upgrades you add to the bike.

[@TrailFeatures]

I'm glad people are stoked on the message. I really just want to get back to the core of why we ride: Because it's fun! I've already got a few low-cost upgrades slated. I just want to finish up the review in its stock form before I go nuts.

[@helmetless]

Loved your channel. Also, the intro was very cool!

[@TrailFeatures]

Thanks!

[@dazholi]

I’ll be checking out GT because of this video. Thanks!

[@TrailFeatures]

Their new lineup is pretty awesome!

[@DigitalProclaimer]

Awesome video. Thank you for focusing on entry level bikes, which can be upgraded! The best upgrade I made was changing the drive train to a 1X system!

[@robertwyland7770]

Been riding same bike for 4 years with no up grades ( basic maintenance, chain, cassette, pads, tires). As Eddy Merckyx said " If you want to faster, don't get upgrades, go up grades"

[@Rad_MTB_Rage]

Just started following your channel... excited to see what's next... I just bought a 2018 Giant Stance 2 ( $980 killer deal) ... My first full suspension and a non-hand me down bike ... love to see what you do with the GT

[@FloridaTrailrider]

Right on! I just built up a $350 Nukeproof and I ride it more than my Trance. I think it is more about customizing the bike to your needs. great content.

[@TrailFeatures]

For sure! There are parts on this bike that I'll likely leave as is to have more money for other parts.

[@thecakeisalie7070]

In my fuel ex 5, the biggest changes have been shorter stem (35mm from 60mm), adding tokens to the rear shock and extending the fork travel by 10mm. Not sure if these count as upgrades as they're mostly bike fitting changes. When the bike fits, it rides well.

[@TrailFeatures]

Very true!

[@TwitchyNick]

Congrats on the new ride. I look forward to you sharing your perspective on the upgrades. My favorite upgrades I made this year are adding a dropper post and going from a 2x to 1x. Dropper has been the biggest game changer though. And I can’t speak highly enough about the PNW Components Bachelor 150.

[@chrispy7202]

I love how people are trying to inspire and show the truth about how expensive of a bike that they need to even ride! I am deeply inspired and I really thank the you tubers and the mountain bike community for this.

[@TrailFeatures]

Awesome, man! I'm really hoping this series gets more people out on bikes without having to stress about the bike they're on!

[@chrispy7202]

I think that’s great! I’m trying to find a new bike and I’m 15 years old. This has cleared up some envy between me and other friends of mine.! Thanks for replying.

[@sketchytrails6574]

Good video and nice shirt ;) I also love the quote "Marry your frame, date your components"

[@keksfabrik5909]

Great video! It´s nice to see more and more videos about entry-level MTB. I think you should do a review of some of the budget Hardtails that Vitus is making. They seem to have a great value for money ;D

[@gtxtx3]

Its good seeing videos showing its not the bike that makes the rider, my “upgrade” bike is a second hand ex hire 2017 Trek fuel ex 7 which has been a great all round bike, iv learnt soo much in it and built it the way I wanted it, best upgrades iv found so far were getting a ks lev intera dropper post with a southpaw thumb lever and wolftooth fatpaw grips

[@Knifecarry]

Excellent video and thank you

[@MTNcorps]

My first full squish was the 2015 carbon version of this bike. It was a great starter.

[@lordmarshall5239]

I bought a low end Specialized Camber. 1,600 bucks, then got a dropper for it. I’m older and not as aggressive as I used to be. The shocks got better after tuning, breaks are good for trails, it shifts and the geometry is great. I don’t big mountain or big hit ride anymore, so the package works for my routine. Today’s stuff is so good, it’s so much better than several years ago for the money, geometry and features in particular. I’m happy. Cool bike and your right, great job

[@DontAskHowIGotIt]

as a new rider I find this to be an outstanding message. Subscribed.

[@MloVisual]

This video hits home for me. 2 years ago when I first got into biking I took borrowed money to get my first bike. Long story very very short, life happened hard a year later. I now have zero bike and is still paying back what I owe. It sucks but I definitely learned from it.

[@TrailFeatures]

Ouch! Sorry to hear that man. Life can hit hard some times, we've all felt it at some point. Keep up the good fight!

[@bigbuggabear7179]

thank you, thank you, thank you...I'm so tired of individuals thinking high cost = better rider...it's the rider not the bike in most cases. Looking forward to your videos as you progress this project.

[@MrTonka]

This is going to be an awesome series!

[@TrailFeatures]

I'm stoked!

[@taxidermyboy]

This really spoke to my hearth, good video. As a beginner the best upgrade you can do for your bike is your own skills. Watch videos on fundamental skills that you can practice. This will really up your game. Also, easy to fit in to your schedule. A lot of things you can practice in your backyard. I agree that drop post is a killer. But things i also like is nice wide pedals with good grip. A small splash guard to the front is nice if you do any time biking fast on really wet/muddy gravel roads. Really keeps your face and eyes free from mud. I have to bike through some traffic to get to the forest and home, so putting on a small reflex in front and back helps to be visible. Not pretty, but I rather be safe. This is not for the bike. But cant stress enough that anyone that starts to ride MTB should get a good helmet with MIPS or similar, knee pads and a backpack with back protection. You'll need somewhere to keep your water, tools and extra clothes anyway. This protection has helped me walk away from more falls without any bad damage that I can count. The knee is a complex joint, so take care of it. Both head and back is items without any warranty, if you brake i you'll regret it, if you are still alive that is.

[@thee-biker932]

You sir....just got yourself a subscriber 👍. Absolutely great video and great idea. I'm from the UK and people don't think a bike is any good unless it has a big price tag (at least £2000 or $3000). There's so many new riders that think they are not able to do things because they don't have that shiny expensive bike when in reality the best bike out there...is the bike you've got. Because that's the bike you can go out and have fun on. I think entry level (but not superstore cheap) bikes are great and if you look after them and keep them clean can be a great upgrade project even if you buy that shiny expensive bike a few years down the line. Always nice to have a upgrade project that's personal to you 👍

[@TrailFeatures]

Yup. I think people may have felt I was saying a $1900 FS bike was "entry-level", but that was mostly poor choice of words. A bike like this is a great stepping stone from a good HT that you've learned how to ride and work on!

[@MTBScotland]

Getting the bar/stem combo sorted was the best bang for buck. The suspension was the greatest change I made. I did build my ride frame up though so a most parts were specd properly from the beginning.

[@TrailFeatures]

Funny you mention that, some of the first upgrades will be contact points and getting the cockpit sorted!

[@MTBScotland]

grips are another thing but I already had them fropma previous bike

[@BikesTrailsandGreenways]

Great idea Joseph, I'll venture that most of your young/beginner/amateur watchers have never upgraded their bike. I went from a Craigslist dirt bike to a department store hard tail. Got rid of them and purchased a decent entry level hard tail with good components. Then I found a deal on a full squish that is 3 years old. The only upgrade I have done on them so far is changing to Chesters flat pedals. I'm wanting a dropper but there are a few things higher up on the list right now. I look forward to your upcoming videos.

[@TrailFeatures]

You bring up a good point. A lot of what I'll be covering is not just what the best bang for buck part is, but how to install them and the tools needed. Half of why I know so much about bikes is all the tinkering I did on my $400 hardtail. While the bike is long gone, the knowledge I gained is still giving me value to this day!

[@hicksvillemtb]

I totally agree. My first "real bike" was a 2017 Marin Hawk Hill., which I financed. (yes, i'm dirt poor :) ) After a few months and several problems with the bike I bought a 2017 Diamondback Recoil out right and upgraded it over the course of a few months. On paper the recoil is still a lower spec bike but in the real world it just suits me better and works better with the trails I tend to ride. 9 times of of 10, I grab the recoil went going out for a ride and couldn't be happier.

[@Arthur-mh2uo]

Mine best upgrade was a 1x12 drivetrain. It just gave me the ability to upshift and downshift quicker on v shaped valleys

[@stevethesmazsmathers9112]

Cool video and great intro! Best upgrades I've made so far wider bars, Fat Paw grips, saddle in the correct width and shape, PNW dropper and brakes better suited for CO riding. #1 upgrade - wider carbon wheels with really good hubs. Made the bike more responsive and spread the tires out for better traction and feel. Looking forward to see where you go with the GT.

[@TrailFeatures]

PNW FTW! Glad you enjoyed the intro!

[@pauldoyle2554]

Just subscribed, really looking forward to this series as earlier this year i purchased a budget entry level bike (Calibre Triple B, UK £1400) It has been one of the best things i have done in years and really has improved my life. I go out every weekend sun or rain doing around 20 miles and am totally happy with this bike. I have upgraded the pedal, Raceface Chesters and the tyres, Maxxis Aggressor on the back and Minion DHF on the front, (bike came with a dropper post) I understand what you are saying about the young kids, I have met a few who seem to think they need a 3k+ bike to go mountain biking. Also have to factor in the shoes, pants, gloves and tops, these can be quite expensive too as I have found.

[@nestercapuyon2037]

I agree, ride until parts break then upgrade. at the same time, save up while the stock parts/components are still working properly. had a '99 SC heckler and upgraded the drive train components when the stock parts when they started failing as an example.

[@imnotgivingmynametoamachine683]

Solid idea and definitely worth talking about, so many other channels focus on the best of the best tech which can give the idea that you need a super expensive bike to have a good time. I'm glad you did mention though to get the best bike you can afford at the time since the OEM components will likely be cheaper than what you can buy. Solid idea and definitely worth talking about, so many other channels focus on the best of the best tech which can give the idea that you need a super great bike to have a good time. I'm glad you did mention though to get the best bike you can afford at the time since the OEM components will likely be cheaper than what you can buy.

[@TrailFeatures]

Yup. Going to the $2600 model is what I'd point people towards if they have a little more in the budget.

[@richarde1355]

I’m updating an old school 2000 Cannondale Bad Boy. It’s an awesome bike - about 26 pounds stock weight-wise, without trying to drop any weight, 44/33/22 with 11/34 9 speed allows me to climb up anything. The brakes are with weak point, so I updated the brakes to modern hydraulics. I think you are right on about the cost of bikes. An expensive bike won’t make a person a better rider, it will just allow them to ride better a little easier. It’s nice to buy the best a person can afford, but for a beginner, it’s good to buy a quality entry level bike on which to get some experience, and then graduate from there to whatever kind of bike style or characteristics they need.

[@rekamniar]

I want i see the budget buikd slowly becoming the badass build while seeing it being ridden in the process

[@arod4084]

Nice! Definitely contact points, grips, pedals, saddle, tires, and the dropper post. Look forward to your videos.

[@TrailFeatures]

Thoes are all on the list to swap out!

[@Smowling]

My bike had dropper, most important for me was tires. It makes a big difference.

[@TrailFeatures]

The stock tires on the bike were great for green and some blue trails, but I wouldn't have tried a double black without some good grip!

[@Rubenjr005]

Thanks for creating this video. For a noob like myself this video made me realize I can get a bike. To be honest it would be hard for me to come up with 5 grand. Thanks again I already subscribed. 👍

[@RLSteffler]

Such an important message here. That GT bike looks like everything you need and nothing you don't. Awesome

[@mtbboy1993]

My last upgrade is E thirteen dropper post, due to full mechanical system, but it has not arrived yet. I hope it will work, and I won't destroy it.

[@rachaelbuker]

truly rivetting. brought chills down my spine bc so cool

[@josephhenderson7284]

The biggest bang I got for my bike was upgrading the tires I went from a slant 6 2.35 to a maxxis minion dhf 2.5 and it made I huge improvement

[@TrailFeatures]

The tires on this bike are for sure a limiting factor for more aggressive riders. To be fair, even higher-end bikes seem to come specd with some pretty weak rubber.

[@larrybing4216]

I actually just upgraded to a used Yeti SB5 from a Cannondale Habit 4 alloy and it’s made a huge difference in my riding and confidence.

[@lmc333]

I totally agree with you and Josh... Major props to both of you for making real down to earth videos and choices !! This particular bike, the GT was definitely high on my list (top 2) until I fell on the Canyon Spectral AL 6.0 for about $500 more... But This GT is a fantastically beautiful bike !!!

[@Vences5]

Do they stock the Canyon often or is it always sold out?

[@emaildanielnow]

I am really glad u made this video and I totally agreed with you. I started mountain biking in 2015 when I was 45 years old. I didnt know whether my new hobby would catch on me. So I read up alot about mountain biking. Looking at the prices of "good" bikes, I felt they were really very expensive ... (I recall reading about riders experience with Mondraker brands, but they cost so much more than other brands). Finally, I decided to buy my first bike - a Specialized stumpjumper 6 Fattie comp alloy bike, which was the cheapest alloy version offered by Specialized. I read that many riders have commented that the new 650B+ wheels were easier to ride for beginners, and more importantly, was fun. I also knew that the basic entry level parts on the Comp model were good value for money, and the bike frame allowed me to upgrade easily. I never regretted my decision.... since then I have gradually upgraded different parts of my bike over 3 years, first by replacing the alloy 750mm bar to a carbon 780mm bar that helped to reduce vibrations on the handle bars anc gave me a more confident feel with the wider bars. Then I changed the 60mm stem to a 40mm stem to give it a bit more responsive and agile steering. I switched between a few pedals, starting from the nylon ones that came stock with the bike to cheap Xpedo pedals, to HT AE5 to a pair of 2nd-hand Shimano XT clipless pedals that I bought for a song, to finally the big Crank Brothers STAMP 7 pedals that was just perfect for my size 47 feet. The best upgrades I did was to change the SRAM GX 10-42T cassette to a E13 9-46T cassette, giving me a 511% gear range (yeah). I also changed my brake calipers from the stock 2-piston shimano XT brake caliper to the new 4-piston calipers. The upgrade I was most proud of was to send the original Fox34 performance fork that came with the bike to an authorised Fox agent for a upgrade to change to "Factory" version charger-damper piston and a e16 tune for less than one-third the price of a brand new 2018 Fox34 Factory fork. I also played with different tyres over the years, from the original 27.5+ 3inch wide tyres, to 2.5 inch tyres which was faster and more agile to ride, but lowered the BB height too much that I was often having pedal strikes on my 170mm crank arms. I just recently decided to make a more expensive upgrade by purchasing a pair of 29" carbon wheelset with new 2.5 inch wide tyres - still testing, but the 29er wheels with 2.5inch tyres feels like the best of a 27.5+ and a regular 27.5 wheel, giving me faster acceleration with less effort but still allowing me to run over bumps and roots like a 3inch wide tyre. One thing I greatly enjoyed doing all these upgrades over a 3 year period is the process of researching and finding what is best for me and my style of riding. I am definitely not an aggressive downhill or free-style rider (but wish I were), so I know I won't be needing the most high-end parts on the market, but choosing the right upgrades and spending money on where it counts gives a sense a satisfaction more than buying a high-end bike equipped with the latest gear. Also, in the course of adding these upgrades, I become a better mechanic myself (if I should say so myself).... I invested in an inexpensive set of Chinese-brand workshop tools, bought a 2nd-hand shock pump, air pressure guage etc, and found myself visiting the local bike shop less often and doing all the maintenance and simple upgrades myself. It's definitely beats spending alot of $$$ buying an expensive branded bike. My next project that I am contemplating now is to change my specialized stumpjumper frame to a low-long-slack frame...maybe a Pole Evolink 140 frame, and transfer all my parts to the frame (am waiting for a bargain sale from Pole). Yes, the evolink is not a carbon frame, but I have a view that expemsive carbon frames may be an over-rated hype for most average trail riders, a well-designed crash-proof aluminium frame that allows for future upgrades may just turn out to be more fun in the long run.

[@dmonhuntr75]

Awesome advice! That's what I tell people too.

[@ZychuZychu]

My greatest upgrade... When I bought my Trek Stache 7 2016 model, it came with 80mm stem. I switched that immediately to 65mm I had because I was feeling really stretched. It was ok after that, but due to fact, that mountains here in Poland are mostly steep I decided to go for a 45mm to give me that safe feel. What turned out after a half year of riding is that when I did some flow trails, or hand build trails I felt like going over the bars! The bike was too short with that 45mm stem! I decided to go for 60mm stem and found it out to be perfect :) The bike now feels just right. So there we go :) Love the channel and the video!

[@TrailFeatures]

Fit is always #1. Everything after that is a bonus!

[@jensonusabicycles]

Hey Joseph, great video! The best bang for buck upgrades to start with would be some new rubber setup tubeless. A dropper post is also a must; I even run one on my gravel bike! Stoked to see the changes coming to this bike over the coming months!

[@greasycervelo]

I love this. Everyone I follow on my two passions as they become more successful lose touch and end up riding premium bikes or super bikes while still calling themselves the everyday rider.

[@bullseye0112]

Dropper post. First thing to do, second- tubeless and tire choice, third- customize handlebar and stem set up, fourth- grips

[@jaywest5790]

Wow this video is awesome, seems as everyone is trying to compete out on the trails these days of who has the better bike. I also proved a point to one of my friends , taking my old trek marlin 6 to one of our local trails called Mission trails in san diego, the end result of my ride, no crashes and had fun. My friend still ended up buying an expensive bike as the local bike shop said he needed to spend a lot if he wanted a well rounded bike. He now regrets not listening to me as he had financed the bike.

[@dm6string]

Great vid. I recently purchased a 2018 Marin RiftZone 2 (for $1,850) with similar specs but with a dropper for the same reasons. I'm a older XC racer looking to get back into riding after 15 years off and didn't want to jump in with a $5k bike I might not like. This $1500 to $2500 price range has so many great bikes. Like so many others, my first upgrade was grips. I then went tubeless and added a carbon bar(got on sale). Looking forward to your follow up upgrades videos.

[@TrailFeatures]

Totaly! There are a ton of great option in that price rang for people who are looking to get back into the sport, or who are looking to move from a hard tail.

[@trailladymtb7700]

this is my story as well...off the bike after 15 years... 51 yrs old... easing back in. I originally got the rift zone 1 at first..then had a few issues, bike decent still just issues...and so the manager of the place offered me a rift zone 2 as a free upgrade for all the hassles and traveling I had to do. the rz 2 has been great for me.. been riding it daily. perfect of me..I love the dropper, it is a first for me to have. and rift zone 2 is what I originally wanted..but didn't have the funds...they were great help and kept their promise. so basically I got it for 1300.00...now on a 29 er...its fast and fun.

[@classydays43]

My current bike is a 2017 Giant ATX1. I can't exactly afford a duallie, so it's a pretty standard entry-level hardtail that does the job and gets me on the trail with no worries. The best upgrade I made were the tyres, from the stock ones to a set of Maxxis Ikons. While i did get used to the slippage of the stock ones and learn to control it, the Ikons are rubber mountain goats in comparison.

[@trailladymtb7700]

Ouch buddy! hang in there. Im so happy you got this bike,,,,I got an "entry level trail bike" Rock Shox front and rear suspension..120 mm travel bike.., and it did come with a dropper post. a lot of bang for the buck. it was in similar price range as your new one, but I got a special deal and actually ..the reason is the 1st version I got didn't work out for me,,,,,so they gave me a 700 upgrade for free thank God. I did have to travel far.a few times to deal with issues ... for all my hassles. so, ...I picked up my replacement ride two weeks ago, and with the longer top tube...it works much better, ready to ride and enjoy. the only upgrade was a womens seat and ergo hand grips.

[@krisfaver1775]

Another great entry bike is the Giant Stance, for $1500 it’s full suspension and comes with a dropper post. I absolutely love this bike

[@larsherbes8275]

Spend 700$ on a 2012 specialized enduro best decision I ever made people were telling me that it is gonna be trash but it has modern geo 170 mm of travel and exceeds my every need and I feel like I’m not even using the bike to its full potential people need to more open minded about budget bikes love the vid man and looking forward to the next one

[@josebernalmartinez9932]

That’s an awesome bike!!

[@bencmad]

Best bang for buck in my opinion is cockpit upgrades (stem, bars, and grips) Completely changes the feel for a relatively cheap price

[@ianpallini468]

Awesome video! Purchased a 2018 Kona Process 153 SE for $2000 because of the same belief you have. Modern geometry and decent components with the plan to upgrade as necessary. Only thing I felt needed replacing immediately was the fork. New OEM Fox 36 takeoff from a friend for $400 and it completely transformed the bike. Looking forward to seeing the rest of this series!!

[@TrailFeatures]

I rode the 153 last year in B-ham. It's an awesome bike. Kona bikes are great because they often go on massive sales at the end of the year and always come well specd!