I wrote earlier looking for a MTB with ultra-low standover for a short short-legged rider. After trying several the only candidates are the Norco Charger 26 or the Trek Marlin XXS(also 26”).
This a a 60+ adult beginner who just wants something to ride in the woods, meaning doubletrack and green-level trails. We don’t need to be Rampage-ready.
Given the low cost of these bikes, there’s room in the budget for some upgrades. What makes sense?
I’m thinking:
An inexpensive dropper post, for ease of mounting/dismounting if nothing else.
Replacement fork. Not for fork performance, but a low-end fork with aluminum stanchions(Judy Gold?) could save a pound or two over the stock steel, and that’s significant for a small person. Might be able to find a used one.
Sounds like a plan, though I would first investigate if the frames are dropper compatible, and if suitable forks actually exist, there’s not many 26” options these days.
if you ca find a bike with those features I would do that, will be better long term than the cost of upgrading.
I’m not sure what these come with but tire upgrades can make a big difference. You can find some good deals on 26” ones
This, as it could make a surprisingly huge difference.
Cheap tires tend to use hard rubber, that wears quickly and grips poorly, and are the opposite of supple. Spend out on some really good tyres to improve ride quality, grip and rolling resistance. Not sure what’s available in 26 any more, but Conti Race Kings would be ideal for your use case.
Regarding the fork, I’d suggest your best bet could be second hand market. Good 26 forks will be hard to find new, and given planned usage, an ok second hand set will be just fine.
