So helpful!! I’m used to seeing “how quickly can I break the cheapest part I can buy” and “I’m going to show you how this part that costs more than your entire bike is amazing in every way”, but I haven’t seen much of the middle ground - “here’s how to balance budget and safety so you can actually get out and ride epic trails (or help your friends to do the same)”. Awesome video, thanks!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Hey Seth if im honest i really dont care about mountain biking pretty much at all but there is something about your videos and they are so entertaining. Ive been watching for years now. keep it up. Always a good day when a new video comes out
Hey Seth just letting you know you are the reason i started mountain biking, you are such an inspiration and put so much effort into every single one of your videos consistently. Keep up the good work
notice he did not answer you; not even to say 'thanks' he doesn't really respond to many of his subscribers, but he will take the money they generate him.
Got a really good deal on a used Hero 8 a while ago, and love it. Had no idea it was smaller than later generations or the first without needing a case. Glad to hear I made a really good purchase.
Same here. Hero 8 was my first GoPro, and I was kind of stunned to find out that earlier cams needed a separate case and that later cameras were bigger and heavier. I'm sticking with my 8.
The MT400 and 500 (and the 4 piston versions) are also fantastic. And you can usually find them as like new takeoffs from folks who swap them for higher end options without trying them
I love high-end MTBs, so I'm usually running code RSC's. Imagine my shock when I put together a budget bike out of take-off parts and the leftover mt-520 brakes were easily outperforming my 4 piston XTR's! They just lack the fancy shiny finish, but for ANYONE, even the snobbiest of us bike builders, there's almost no reason to buy past the MT500. It has insane value for its performance. And since Shimano uses a pretty simple mineral oil system, it's not that difficult or expensive to get some XT or SLX levers with adjustments and pair them to the rock solid 520 caliper. And for builds I'm planning on selling or as a nice upgrade gift to my neighbor's shredding kid, the 420 is my new go-to.
can this be another new series? I love it. Also thanks for getting me into MTB. I made so much progression in the last couple months after getting my first non-walmart bike. I went from barely getting close to clearing a small jump to fully clearing medium jumps and building some sick techy trails with my friends out in a local forest. Thanks for being so great at what you do mate!
Don’t forget about PNW Cycled as well! I have bought two droppers that were recycled. They are fantastic, full rebuilt and we’re cheap. PNW is a rad company!
So.. when Oscar showed up at the end I thought you were going remind us how amazing a value a dog is. The dollars to happiness ratio of a good pup is unbeatable!
Stihl safety glasses, made by 3M, as riding glasses. They are UV protective, have an anti glare coating, high light transmission, great shape and field of view. All that for under $10.
I had the AdventX on a bike that i tested for like a month. I wasn't careful with it! It shifted perfectly, chain never dropped even if i didn't use the clutch, i rode it without the clutch on for 99% of the time. It has 11-48 cassette compared to the basic advent 11-42 and a 30t narrow wide chainring up front. It is also very easy to set up. I messed up intentionally the settings of the derailleur and then reset it just for fun and it took me longer to make it not work then to fix it. 10/10 For the AdventX would buy it for myself!!!
Thanks for getting the word out on CST tires. I feel that you can really tell that the company didn't just make another budget brand. They took the knowledge gained from being the parent company of Maxxis and incorporated it into making an amazingly decent tire that is affordable.
Bonus Tips: try to get the editions for bike repair stores without package (here in Germany it's called "Werkstattverpackung") they are cheeper than normal. Stems: some stores like that who I work have to much stems. We will sell you that for a few bucks or even for free. CST: they produce also under the name Supero the same tires for ZEG partners here in Europe.
I have an advent x I think I sent $170 for everything. Derailleur, shifter, cassette, and chain. And it's awesome, haven't had an issue since I put it on(mb 2 years ago)
Coming from the BMX world into mountain biking where you could get a sprocket for $30 and stems for $40 & $300 wheel sets all day, seeing $250+ dollar dropper posts makes my ass cramp 😂 this video is fantastic. Most people who buy Jordan’s don’t play like he did. Most people who buy team edition bikes don’t ride like that, budget and entry level equipment is getting better and better. I worked at Fezzari and had to remind someone that 20 years ago we were riding the same trails on fully rigid 26ers.
Hey Seth I truly enjoy your videos and other content. I got into mountain bikes shortly after discovering your channel. Your videos have given me the knowhow and confidence to not only slowly up grade my Trek Marlin but also tear down and upgrade almost all of the parts on an old full suspension Mongoose to get my wife into mountain biking as well. Keep up the great work.
I have 8 year old MT200's... They have been bleed only once in their entire life... On my second set of rotors and like 8th pair of pads... Amazing breaks
Just started MTBing this year, and Berm Peak has been invaluable to me. I'm sure Seth has more fun playing with the more expensive toys, but I really appreciate all of the professional insight on the budget end of the spectrum, and it's opening up the world of MTB maintenance and upgrading to me in a really accessible way.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you from someone in the UK. I'm not far off 50 years old and have loved bikes since before I stated BMX racing in 1982. I've had times when I was more or less into bikes over the years (my first two mountain bikes didn't even have suspension forks - I'm that old!). I'd ended up at a point where I had a cheap second hand 26" hard tail which I could not get on with. I swapped out the drive train with Microshift 9x, the bottom bracket/crankset you suggested, and added an external dropper - and I love it. Although I can build a motorcycle engine I was always a bit mystified by bicycle stuff, but I watched this video and went for it. Today I hit the first bike jumps I've tried in the best part of 30 years. I'm back in love with bicycles and I wanted to say thank you.
Great video, please make more that highlight reasonable quality budget friendly components. I'm too old to do hard core mountain biking, don't need and can't afford high end stuff but don't want to die from using knock-off parts that looked good in the photograph. Really appreciate you showing how to attach parts and what to look for, I've taken up bike maintenance as a hobby and am learning a lot from your work!
Just upgraded my new-to-me Specialized Pitch with the 1x10 Advent set (REALLY nice), a cheap crankset with the hollow bottom bracket (also REALLY nice) and the Zoom brakes (amazing performance after my mountain trip a few weeks ago)... also new pedals and grips. Totally worth every penny for an awesome budget build.
Hey Seth I'm 72 years old and just now getting into mountain biking I watched so many of your videos I'm going dizzy really appreciate your videos very much although I live in Canada and the prices you're quoting are two to three times lower than what I can get here I know I'll never be in the same caliber as you and your friends but it's still fun keep up the good work and the good videos and have a fantastic day! PS I cheated I got an Ebike to make those Hills for me
Fun fact: The difference between Shimano mt200 and mt201 is that Mt200 has steel levers while Mt201 has aluminum levers. Btw mt200 and mt201 has the same prices.
I bought MT201 levers and MT200 calipers a few months ago for $40 and they work great for my style of riding. Big improvement over Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes.
Even the mt400/420 and mt500 are amazing value. Tbh I had better long term performance with some mt520's I got for $110 each vs xtr m9100's which were like $400. Each. I personally love the feel of Sram and the wide temp range of dot fluid, but Shimano's "unamed" number series brakes are their best valued products. And they're easily bleedable at home.
Hey Seth just thought you are doing great love the videos. Each day you upload it’s a GOOD day! You are the one person that made me start mountain biking 2 years ago. And now I’m racing! Thanks for everything❤
The micro shift advent is actually really good. We set up a customer with a 1 by conversion and I was pleasantly surprised with the way it felt. Definitely recommend it for the price!
I just bought this MT200 shimano brake kit, that includes the levers, cables, calipers and discs for 115$ canadian including shipping, that is pretty amazing. Thanks for that tip, i surely won't regret my new hydraulic brakes.
I can vouch for PNW - I had a more expensive Fox Transfer but could not service it without a lot of specialty tools. Turns out I had to send it in for $120 to Fox to get it back to feeling good and not sticking. On a trip right now with my PNW loam and it got sticky. Just threw some slick honey in the unthreaded collar and it’s back to perfect!
PNW droppers are very easy to service and only require standard tools that anybody will have in their toolbox. PNW even encourages self-servicing, and you can find instructions on their website.
AdventX stuff is awesome. I’ve started swapping all my bikes with it. 10 speed with an 11-48 cassette is fantastic. I just swapped my SRAM EX1 to Advent X with Steel cassette on my Ebike. Commencal metaPower
This video couldn’t have come at a better time! I have been struggling with rear brake issues on my entry level Trek and was balking at the cost of replacing them with a Shimano MT-200 setup. Having been to the ortho I see that that’s a pretty good deal; splints are way more expensive!
I’ve been watching your video for YEARS, learning little by little about MTB knowing I would eventually buy a bike. I just bout a YT about a week ago and I have to just say it’s all thanks to you.
The manitou markor air fork is great and it’s cheap for an air fork. My buddy has one and he hits some pretty big jumps with it and rides it hard. I also have it too. It comes with 100mm of travel but it can be converted to 80mm or all the way up to 120mm.
Thanks Seth! Your videos are so entertaining and helpful - even for a fixed gear hold out! (No brakes!) watching your videos have inspired me to rent an excavator myself and do my own landscaping
I haven't properly ridden my mountain biking in over a year but last time I did the mechanical disk brakes were not enough for me and the 70mm coilfork was nearly bottoming out. As always you videos are of high quality.
for a cheap dropper the Brand X ones are AMAZING. not sure who actually makes them but they are the same posts as some of the PNW and Shimano posts. They also come with a lever and cable in the $150 range. I've had 3 of them that all worked flawlessly. Much less trouble than both my Fox Transfer and One Up V2. although the OneUp is considerably lighter and has a much lower stack height
CST has been around for decades! I remember them making affordable BMX tires back in the '70s, which was great for the simple fact that my friends and I went through tires pretty quickly, and money was always a concern. Also they make a lot of the tires for the big name manufacturers budget lines. If you have tires that are marked "made in China", you can bet that they were actually made by Cheng Shen!
There's other brands in China, such as Kenda, who are probably CST's biggest competitor. However, there's plenty of tyres coming out of Thailand these days, notably Vee Tire (aka Vee Rubber), Vittoria, Schwalbe...
When I got home from the Army I needed a hobby bad. I found cycling through this channel and today a few years later I don’t even own a car. Big respect bro
Great video! If you want an even better value from PNW, they also sell refurbished dropper posts. I just put one on my 2011 Stumpjumper Carbon and it's fantastic.
Just remember that when you buy inexpensive parts, buy ones that can be serviced. For example: if you see cheapo pedals that have no rebuild kit, you're going to be stuck buying a whole extra set of pedals when the bearings fail. Meanwhile, if you had bought the brand-name ones, you could just buy a rebuild kit and service them. Pinkbike is a great resource for buying used components, older and newer, and there are plenty of these components that will be better than buying cheapo no-name brand components which are trash when worn out.
Pedals, stems, grips etc you can get actual name brand version with quality control and probably better internals, screws, bearings, for $10 more especially on sites like planet cyclery or backcountry.
Seth is absolutely right about those Shimano brakes. I have them on my giant and they are great! They stop well, they’re quiet, and they last! Had mine for 3 years now and no bleeding or maintenance has been required.
Feels like a solution looking for a problem. To get a tyre off, you only need to pop the bead out a little bit (easy using normal levers) and then just slide the lever around the rim. Simple & quick, unlike that finicky glider, which you need to carefully install and push up on it so that it doesn't fall out. When installing a tyre, you really should not be using a tyre lever, that's just covering poor technique with force, get that bead in the middle of the rim and you can get the last part of the bead on with just your fingers.
@@patrik9666 some tire/rim combinations can be nightmares, and for those, a lever is necessary. IME the Tyre Glider is a one-piece solution to a problem that has always been solved with 2 conventional levers. You should try it too. It's marvelous
100% on the Shimano MT-201s. Used these to replace cable operated disk brakes that were so bad, you’d get bruises on your fingers if you tried to lock up a wheel. Now the bike stops amazingly quick.
Those cranks are very popular budget hollowtech cranks. originally marketed as IXF, they are replicas of the old XT cranksets...for best budget brakes, Tektro is also a good option. Often found in Trek and Giant built bikes, i actually like them better than the mt200 bcoz they have more modulation compared to on/off braking of the Shimano
I have a set of MT200s that are several years old and they are going strong. Modulation feels fine on them. I bleed them like twice a year/500 miles. They’ve never felt like on/off switches.
I have 200s on 4 bikes, typically you can balance a bike on the front wheel while braking without going over the bars, which is much harder with rim brakes for example (they don't have such a modulation) . To be fair I can't evaluate the Tektro hydros since I haven't ridden them yet
I can second PNW products. I’m a 180 lbs rider who rode the hell out of my bike in the Indian Ocean Territory, humid as hell as hard on stuff. The PNW products I had on my bide held up amazing.
seth and ryan from fortnine have this weirdly similar type of person that watches their videos, the ones that don’t ride motorcycles or mountain bike but just like the content because it’s so entertaining, im more interested in motorcycles in fact i’m getting one hopefully pretty soon but i have sorta little to no interest in mountain biking but like these videos are just so entertaining to watch, and that’s what keeps me subscribed even if i don’t do any sort of mountain biking
hey Seth, might as well try out Spank stuff, from my personal experience they are the best value to our market nowadays, they have amazing handlebars, grips , hubs, rims and other good stuff.
I recently picked up my first GoPro for use at the track on my sport bike (motorcycle). I've had action cameras before, but they were cheap Amazon and eBay GoPro clones. A lot of my research turned up that the Hero 7 Black is argued as one of, if not THE best model in the bang for your buck department, and so far it has NOT disappointed. I even have it wired to a charger that's hooked to the bike so I don't even have to use a battery in the camera... It comes on and off with the bike.
Seth it would be cool if you started with two identical frames and then built the bikes out. One with the cheapest components you can find and one with the most expensive. I would love to see that as a series or something
While I see what you're going for, I have to Disagree, I think he should do one bike with, great value, budget but still quality components that perform well and the other bike with high end, high quality components but not the most expensive and then compare those two!!!😀
Microshift AdventX is 10 speed, 11-48. Cassette slides onto an HG freehub. I got the cassette, chain, shifter/cable, and derrailleur for $130. I have an old steel cyclocross bike, I put 40 teeth on the front and I think it's perfect. BOOM! 1X drivetrain. So easy. 700 miles in, and no issues.
Spot on with the shimano brakes. Have those 201's on my propain downhill bike with 203mm rotors. Never fade, never fail, great pad life, don't leak and still work after nasty crashes. My oldest set is on my training bike where I work. I think they are 11 years old. I have them on all my bikes and my kids DH bikes.
Absolutely LOVE these videos!! I'm in my 30s so I can afford more premium components, but for kids or someone not so fortunate, it's great to know the barrier to entry doesn't have to cost thousands of $$$ ... You're doing great work Seth, keep it up!!!
I picked up a 2009 Gary Fisher Piranha a couple weeks ago for $50, the stock Shimano M486 hydraulic brakes were still on it. Firm lever feel, no need to bleed them, no leaks, they still work fantastic for being 12yr old brakes that have probably never seen a service. Also The Hussefelt Stem was my Go to stem for building on a budget. The Piranha might be my new winter ride, I dunno...
I really appreciate Seth making these videos understandable to people like me who know nothing about mountain biking, and also actually giving good recommendations for people without as much money instead of top of the line equipment.
I've had great success with the continental trail king tires in the 27.5x2.2 size I haven't used them tubeless but I found them to last forever even when commuting with a 60lb backpack on a mile long commute. They grip well in snow, ice, mud, deep gravel and have a amazing feel on trails on the weekend
I use stuff like raceface, xtr, x0 on my main bikes, but also can easily recommend these brands from Ali, whose products I have used: ZTTO, MUQZI, DECKAS, SNAIL, Litepro, LTWOO, Microshift, VXM, Toopre, Cooma pads, Wanyifa ti bolts There's also stuff to ignore: Any aluminum bolts, any aluminum products that look porous(they WILL snap), cheap air forks like Bolany and Pasak and Kootu pedals
your channel is by far the best.. your personality and calm but also passionate vibe is unmatched.. and that's Good content no matter what ur talking about or reviewing .. Thanx for all you do Brotha...!!
i run the Microshift advent groupset on my bike, i got the whole set (derailerur, cassette, shifter) as a package for 120€ its been working flawless for being on a budget !
Both CST and Maxxis are brands of Cheng Shin Tires. Cheng Shin also manufactures for other brands. The original Snake Belly tires that were so popular on slick rock trails in the 80s were Cheng Shin. Some of the modern tread patterns are recycled from their original offerings, with minor design changes.
Just my $.02, I agree with your upgrades for the crankset, brakes and rear derailleur. When the crankset starts creaking again (after about a year or so) you can get a new bottom bracket for about $35 or so and keep going. Best thing about upgrading the crankset is going to changeable chainrings. One thing that is essential when upgrading a 'budget' bike is a good set of pedals. I happen to be using metal Stamp3 pedals, after breaking a couple of sets of plastic ones... Lastly, don't skimp on handgrips and even padded gloves, if needed.
This was a very important and very relevant posting. Many of us find ourselves, working, fixing, other people's bikes. Because they are beginners or just don't have the knowledge, we end up working on bikes that are not ours and the rider will not get in as deep as we do, thus not spend as much, yet they have crappy or old parts which need replacing. What to get? this article helps you with that question, what is a great value for the money yet a good part as well. Well done young man.
CST is a parent company for Maxxis tires. I use CST Rock Hawk tires and love these tires. The sidewalls are stiffer but the rubber is tougher than nails. Low rolling resistance and still has a ton of grip for a multitude of terrain.
I put the Shimano mt200 on my motorized push bike. It’s a bike with a combustion engine. And they worked so good. I could pull the bike up in under 10ft going over 45mph
Purchased a set of mt200 off of aliexpress for an old rigid 26 inch bike was building, super impressed with the power of them and have since brought 2 more sets for various other projects. Also purchased a few shimano deore groupsets from aliexpress which are great value for money.
As long as you do your due diligence looking at the frame specs and geometry, you can consider a bike like this as a quality but inexpensive frame that just happens to have Get-you-by-for-now parts on it. A bike shop brand name aluminum hardtail frame can easily cost more than this whole bike. Don't get me wrong, we know there are tons of inadequate bikes at Walmart and Target etc. but a bike like this Kent (and some of the newer Schwinn's) will work out fine as long as you're skilled and want to take on a project to save a small amount of $$. Glad to see a major MTB channel giving BBB a fair shake, realizing that some or most of the parts and pieces will, at some point, need to be upgraded.
@@armadillito I sort of agree, One of the issues with used frames is their semi-rarity. Whereas a Kent or Schwinn is usually available at your local big box store today. The biggest downside to BBBs for me, is considering that I usually buy a bike and ride it for 4-5 years then sell it. So resell value is important to me because you'll never get near the $$ out of a BBB build as compared to a Bike Shop Brand.
Have used most of these products. I've also had no problem with the $15 Wake stems and bars. Their stems just need to be fully tapped and swapped out with longer bolts.
Surprisingly, about 1 month or so I was searching up the internet to find beefy and kind-of fat knobby tires and I came across these CST Rock Hawk! Next thing you know after I saw them I bought them instantly and installed them in my 29 mtb rims. So far I have only changed one inner tube and nothing else! I’ve stepped on sooooo many things and it’s holding on pretty darn well! I would buy these tires again for sure although they are kinda hard to push at first!
Actually Seth, here in the Philippines they sell the MT200 and MT201 for as low as $35 and they are original and with the original box. They are sure reliable and can hold the pressure of mountain biking. Nice video as always Seth.
@@bindingcurve Yes Front and Back. Here in the Philippines online sellers sell it ranging 1800-2000 pesos, which if it converted to dollars it will range from $35 to $40. I think its much cheaper here than online sellers in the US like amazon or ebay.
Bruh 😂 I bought a bike a few year ago, sold it a few years ago and never stoped watching his videos 😂😂 just feel good content, something to be said about his editing style and content that even people who are not “in the sport” watch it. If I had to put it simply watching some one preform their craft expertly is entertaining and while I know your an amazing biker I think your one of the best at filming it and making it fun for people watch. Would love to see a feature length documentary or something like that, I’d definitely spend some money on it
Great video Seth! I just got the PNW Cascade for $99! I've never been in the realm of buying brand new premium bikes, always upgrading my 10+ year olds. I love how this video will help those like me who want to shred with their "classic" bikes and keep up with friends who rock $6K+ brand new bikes! Thanks Seth!
Had two MT200 Brakes, both with leaky calipers causing oily brake pads after ~2 Weeks. Kept the levers and witched to Magura MT4/MT5 calipers and had no problems since.
For anyone curious about the CST tires, cst is Cheng Shin Tire the parent company of maxxis. Great tires for the money coming from an established tire manufacturer.
PNW all the way. Hadn't a Scooby as to which dropper I should get, size etc... Sent them my bike model, size, year and how high I set my seat. They were straight back with the model for me. It's been flawless since installing
So helpful!! I’m used to seeing “how quickly can I break the cheapest part I can buy” and “I’m going to show you how this part that costs more than your entire bike is amazing in every way”, but I haven’t seen much of the middle ground - “here’s how to balance budget and safety so you can actually get out and ride epic trails (or help your friends to do the same)”.
Awesome video, thanks!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Any good fork recommendations for 26"? Preferably not a no-name China model.
0:23 - Zoom hydraulic breaks;
0:49 - Shimano MT 200 hydraulic breaks;
1:55 - Truvativ stem;
3:33 - PNW dropper post;
4:48 - crankset;
6:19 - Microshift derailleur/drivetrain;
7:37 - CST tyres;
8:50 - GoPro hero 8;
I did this for likes ngl
Appreciated - Here's your like good sir!
Thanks
Thx
Anyone know one of the names for the crankset?
@@raffieb762 GANOPPER 170mm Crankset 30T 32T 34T 36T 38T Single Speed Mountain Bike Cycling Road Bike Crank Arm Set
Hey Seth if im honest i really dont care about mountain biking pretty much at all but there is something about your videos and they are so entertaining. Ive been watching for years now. keep it up. Always a good day when a new video comes out
Wow ok
@TheButler not any subject matter lol
I’m not totally there with what your saying but I’m a road biker and I watch.
He’s good at what he does!
He is a very good story teller...
I think that’s called charisma
Hey Seth just letting you know you are the reason i started mountain biking, you are such an inspiration and put so much effort into every single one of your videos consistently. Keep up the good work
He inspired me as well to start mountain biking!
I agree I am in to bike life but his vids are so good
Same here. He, his content, his attitude, and his information is truly inspiring. Can't wait to get to Berm Peak and hopefully shake his hand.
notice he did not answer you; not even to say 'thanks' he doesn't really respond to many of his subscribers, but he will take the money they generate him.
@@31acruz bro he cant respond always hes busy he responds when he can
Got a really good deal on a used Hero 8 a while ago, and love it. Had no idea it was smaller than later generations or the first without needing a case. Glad to hear I made a really good purchase.
Hell yeah Rory!!!
Same here. Hero 8 was my first GoPro, and I was kind of stunned to find out that earlier cams needed a separate case and that later cameras were bigger and heavier. I'm sticking with my 8.
The MT400 and 500 (and the 4 piston versions) are also fantastic. And you can usually find them as like new takeoffs from folks who swap them for higher end options without trying them
Agreed. The MT400 are pretty much the same as the MT200 but with shorter 2 finger levers.
Yup, I got MT420s on my bike, super solid.
I love high-end MTBs, so I'm usually running code RSC's.
Imagine my shock when I put together a budget bike out of take-off parts and the leftover mt-520 brakes were easily outperforming my 4 piston XTR's! They just lack the fancy shiny finish, but for ANYONE, even the snobbiest of us bike builders, there's almost no reason to buy past the MT500. It has insane value for its performance. And since Shimano uses a pretty simple mineral oil system, it's not that difficult or expensive to get some XT or SLX levers with adjustments and pair them to the rock solid 520 caliper.
And for builds I'm planning on selling or as a nice upgrade gift to my neighbor's shredding kid, the 420 is my new go-to.
The levers make a big difference. Even a huge one
Xtr's weren't and aren't hi performance brakes. I had 970 and 980 ones and the way they work was way from being good
can this be another new series? I love it. Also thanks for getting me into MTB. I made so much progression in the last couple months after getting my first non-walmart bike. I went from barely getting close to clearing a small jump to fully clearing medium jumps and building some sick techy trails with my friends out in a local forest. Thanks for being so great at what you do mate!
Don’t forget about PNW Cycled as well! I have bought two droppers that were recycled. They are fantastic, full rebuilt and we’re cheap. PNW is a rad company!
Only complaint is they don't include the barrel nut adapter, a $3 part needed to get the dropper running
So.. when Oscar showed up at the end I thought you were going remind us how amazing a value a dog is. The dollars to happiness ratio of a good pup is unbeatable!
The microshift cassette is really good - it's much lighter than pretty much all other wide range cassettes
I have the micro shift advent groupset on my gravel bike it’s excellent!
I’ve got the Advent shifter and derailleur on my mountain bike and I love them!
Stihl safety glasses, made by 3M, as riding glasses. They are UV protective, have an anti glare coating, high light transmission, great shape and field of view. All that for under $10.
I had the AdventX on a bike that i tested for like a month. I wasn't careful with it! It shifted perfectly, chain never dropped even if i didn't use the clutch, i rode it without the clutch on for 99% of the time. It has 11-48 cassette compared to the basic advent 11-42 and a 30t narrow wide chainring up front. It is also very easy to set up. I messed up intentionally the settings of the derailleur and then reset it just for fun and it took me longer to make it not work then to fix it. 10/10 For the AdventX would buy it for myself!!!
Thanks for getting the word out on CST tires. I feel that you can really tell that the company didn't just make another budget brand. They took the knowledge gained from being the parent company of Maxxis and incorporated it into making an amazingly decent tire that is affordable.
I use cst bft btw hehe just sharing
Love my cst setup tbh
Bonus Tips: try to get the editions for bike repair stores without package (here in Germany it's called "Werkstattverpackung") they are cheeper than normal. Stems: some stores like that who I work have to much stems. We will sell you that for a few bucks or even for free.
CST: they produce also under the name Supero the same tires for ZEG partners here in Europe.
I have an advent x I think I sent $170 for everything. Derailleur, shifter, cassette, and chain. And it's awesome, haven't had an issue since I put it on(mb 2 years ago)
Coming from the BMX world into mountain biking where you could get a sprocket for $30 and stems for $40 & $300 wheel sets all day, seeing $250+ dollar dropper posts makes my ass cramp 😂 this video is fantastic. Most people who buy Jordan’s don’t play like he did. Most people who buy team edition bikes don’t ride like that, budget and entry level equipment is getting better and better. I worked at Fezzari and had to remind someone that 20 years ago we were riding the same trails on fully rigid 26ers.
Hey Seth I truly enjoy your videos and other content. I got into mountain bikes shortly after discovering your channel. Your videos have given me the knowhow and confidence to not only slowly up grade my Trek Marlin but also tear down and upgrade almost all of the parts on an old full suspension Mongoose to get my wife into mountain biking as well. Keep up the great work.
I have 8 year old MT200's... They have been bleed only once in their entire life... On my second set of rotors and like 8th pair of pads... Amazing breaks
Just started MTBing this year, and Berm Peak has been invaluable to me. I'm sure Seth has more fun playing with the more expensive toys, but I really appreciate all of the professional insight on the budget end of the spectrum, and it's opening up the world of MTB maintenance and upgrading to me in a really accessible way.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you from someone in the UK. I'm not far off 50 years old and have loved bikes since before I stated BMX racing in 1982. I've had times when I was more or less into bikes over the years (my first two mountain bikes didn't even have suspension forks - I'm that old!). I'd ended up at a point where I had a cheap second hand 26" hard tail which I could not get on with. I swapped out the drive train with Microshift 9x, the bottom bracket/crankset you suggested, and added an external dropper - and I love it. Although I can build a motorcycle engine I was always a bit mystified by bicycle stuff, but I watched this video and went for it. Today I hit the first bike jumps I've tried in the best part of 30 years. I'm back in love with bicycles and I wanted to say thank you.
Great video, please make more that highlight reasonable quality budget friendly components. I'm too old to do hard core mountain biking, don't need and can't afford high end stuff but don't want to die from using knock-off parts that looked good in the photograph. Really appreciate you showing how to attach parts and what to look for, I've taken up bike maintenance as a hobby and am learning a lot from your work!
Your channel is the best I'm recently getting in to bikes and I've watched about 30 of your videos. Best on RUclips
Just upgraded my new-to-me Specialized Pitch with the 1x10 Advent set (REALLY nice), a cheap crankset with the hollow bottom bracket (also REALLY nice) and the Zoom brakes (amazing performance after my mountain trip a few weeks ago)... also new pedals and grips. Totally worth every penny for an awesome budget build.
Hey Seth I'm 72 years old and just now getting into mountain biking I watched so many of your videos I'm going dizzy really appreciate your videos very much although I live in Canada and the prices you're quoting are two to three times lower than what I can get here I know I'll never be in the same caliber as you and your friends but it's still fun keep up the good work and the good videos and have a fantastic day!
PS I cheated I got an Ebike to make those Hills for me
Fun fact: The difference between Shimano mt200 and mt201 is that Mt200 has steel levers while Mt201 has aluminum levers. Btw mt200 and mt201 has the same prices.
I bought MT201 levers and MT200 calipers a few months ago for $40 and they work great for my style of riding. Big improvement over Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes.
Even the mt400/420 and mt500 are amazing value. Tbh I had better long term performance with some mt520's I got for $110 each vs xtr m9100's which were like $400. Each.
I personally love the feel of Sram and the wide temp range of dot fluid, but Shimano's "unamed" number series brakes are their best valued products. And they're easily bleedable at home.
@@RD1R magura sport brakes are same price
Is there any difference?
Hey Seth just thought you are doing great love the videos. Each day you upload it’s a GOOD day! You are the one person that made me start mountain biking 2 years ago. And now I’m racing! Thanks for everything❤
The micro shift advent is actually really good. We set up a customer with a 1 by conversion and I was pleasantly surprised with the way it felt. Definitely recommend it for the price!
They are good. But not better then the Shimano 1x11 set-up which is compatible with the same hub and not that much more expensive.
@@1barnet1 absolutely
I just bought this MT200 shimano brake kit, that includes
the levers, cables, calipers and discs for 115$ canadian including shipping,
that is pretty amazing.
Thanks for that tip, i surely won't regret my new hydraulic brakes.
I can vouch for PNW - I had a more expensive Fox Transfer but could not service it without a lot of specialty tools. Turns out I had to send it in for $120 to Fox to get it back to feeling good and not sticking. On a trip right now with my PNW loam and it got sticky. Just threw some slick honey in the unthreaded collar and it’s back to perfect!
PNW droppers are very easy to service and only require standard tools that anybody will have in their toolbox. PNW even encourages self-servicing, and you can find instructions on their website.
AdventX stuff is awesome. I’ve started swapping all my bikes with it. 10 speed with an 11-48 cassette is fantastic. I just swapped my SRAM EX1 to Advent X with Steel cassette on my Ebike. Commencal metaPower
This video couldn’t have come at a better time! I have been struggling with rear brake issues on my entry level Trek and was balking at the cost of replacing them with a Shimano MT-200 setup. Having been to the ortho I see that that’s a pretty good deal; splints are way more expensive!
I’ve been watching your video for YEARS, learning little by little about MTB knowing I would eventually buy a bike. I just bout a YT about a week ago and I have to just say it’s all thanks to you.
The manitou markor air fork is great and it’s cheap for an air fork. My buddy has one and he hits some pretty big jumps with it and rides it hard. I also have it too. It comes with 100mm of travel but it can be converted to 80mm or all the way up to 120mm.
Seth you inspired me to restore and old mtb i found at my work, i got it running and this video is just what i needed thx
Thanks Seth! Your videos are so entertaining and helpful - even for a fixed gear hold out! (No brakes!) watching your videos have inspired me to rent an excavator myself and do my own landscaping
I haven't properly ridden my mountain biking in over a year but last time I did the mechanical disk brakes were not enough for me and the 70mm coilfork was nearly bottoming out. As always you videos are of high quality.
for a cheap dropper the Brand X ones are AMAZING. not sure who actually makes them but they are the same posts as some of the PNW and Shimano posts. They also come with a lever and cable in the $150 range. I've had 3 of them that all worked flawlessly. Much less trouble than both my Fox Transfer and One Up V2. although the OneUp is considerably lighter and has a much lower stack height
The PNW dropper post is a great value and worth the money. It does offer one thing no other companies offer, and that’s a lifetime warranty.
Really cool content lately seth, love it
thank you Seth for this video. Very informative
CST has been around for decades! I remember them making affordable BMX tires back in the '70s, which was great for the simple fact that my friends and I went through tires pretty quickly, and money was always a concern. Also they make a lot of the tires for the big name manufacturers budget lines. If you have tires that are marked "made in China", you can bet that they were actually made by Cheng Shen!
Cheng Shin Tire is parent company of Maxxis actually.. i agree they look kinda underwhelming. But i use jack rabbit and rolls pretty well
@@agunlogisteam yup the Jack Rabbit mold is the Maxxis IKON
I don't think that Maxxis is too expensive. I have assegai and it cost me less than 50$
There's other brands in China, such as Kenda, who are probably CST's biggest competitor. However, there's plenty of tyres coming out of Thailand these days, notably Vee Tire (aka Vee Rubber), Vittoria, Schwalbe...
@@Metal-Possum I think Schwalbe's factory was in Indonesia.
When I got home from the Army I needed a hobby bad. I found cycling through this channel and today a few years later I don’t even own a car. Big respect bro
Great video! If you want an even better value from PNW, they also sell refurbished dropper posts. I just put one on my 2011 Stumpjumper Carbon and it's fantastic.
Yeah i agree with shimano mt200 brake and CST tires, that products really saves a lot of money in a long run while still having a good performance
Just remember that when you buy inexpensive parts, buy ones that can be serviced. For example: if you see cheapo pedals that have no rebuild kit, you're going to be stuck buying a whole extra set of pedals when the bearings fail. Meanwhile, if you had bought the brand-name ones, you could just buy a rebuild kit and service them.
Pinkbike is a great resource for buying used components, older and newer, and there are plenty of these components that will be better than buying cheapo no-name brand components which are trash when worn out.
The same principle as welted sole shoes eventually working out cheaper than injection moulded trainers.
Pedals, stems, grips etc you can get actual name brand version with quality control and probably better internals, screws, bearings, for $10 more especially on sites like planet cyclery or backcountry.
Seth is absolutely right about those Shimano brakes. I have them on my giant and they are great! They stop well, they’re quiet, and they last! Had mine for 3 years now and no bleeding or maintenance has been required.
The Tyre Glider is a game changer compared to tire levers in shape we've used for decades. I think that would be a fantastic one to check out
Feels like a solution looking for a problem.
To get a tyre off, you only need to pop the bead out a little bit (easy using normal levers) and then just slide the lever around the rim. Simple & quick, unlike that finicky glider, which you need to carefully install and push up on it so that it doesn't fall out.
When installing a tyre, you really should not be using a tyre lever, that's just covering poor technique with force, get that bead in the middle of the rim and you can get the last part of the bead on with just your fingers.
@@patrik9666 some tire/rim combinations can be nightmares, and for those, a lever is necessary. IME the Tyre Glider is a one-piece solution to a problem that has always been solved with 2 conventional levers. You should try it too. It's marvelous
100% on the Shimano MT-201s. Used these to replace cable operated disk brakes that were so bad, you’d get bruises on your fingers if you tried to lock up a wheel. Now the bike stops amazingly quick.
Those cranks are very popular budget hollowtech cranks. originally marketed as IXF, they are replicas of the old XT cranksets...for best budget brakes, Tektro is also a good option. Often found in Trek and Giant built bikes, i actually like them better than the mt200 bcoz they have more modulation compared to on/off braking of the Shimano
I have a set of MT200s that are several years old and they are going strong. Modulation feels fine on them. I bleed them like twice a year/500 miles. They’ve never felt like on/off switches.
I have 200s on 4 bikes, typically you can balance a bike on the front wheel while braking without going over the bars, which is much harder with rim brakes for example (they don't have such a modulation) .
To be fair I can't evaluate the Tektro hydros since I haven't ridden them yet
Dropping that sponsorship seems to have been great for everyone if this is the kinda content we get now. This is great.
Obligatory PNW dropper post comment: I've purchased and used inexpensive KS and PNW droppers, PNW is by far superior to the KS post.
I can second PNW products. I’m a 180 lbs rider who rode the hell out of my bike in the Indian Ocean Territory, humid as hell as hard on stuff. The PNW products I had on my bide held up amazing.
More videos like this please! There aren't many places to find this kind of experienced advice
0:50 i have those brakes on my bike they are greate i use them for weelieng sorry for my bad english im finnish
seth and ryan from fortnine have this weirdly similar type of person that watches their videos, the ones that don’t ride motorcycles or mountain bike but just like the content because it’s so entertaining, im more interested in motorcycles in fact i’m getting one hopefully pretty soon but i have sorta little to no interest in mountain biking but like these videos are just so entertaining to watch, and that’s what keeps me subscribed even if i don’t do any sort of mountain biking
hey Seth, might as well try out Spank stuff, from my personal experience they are the best value to our market nowadays, they have amazing handlebars, grips , hubs, rims and other good stuff.
I recently picked up my first GoPro for use at the track on my sport bike (motorcycle). I've had action cameras before, but they were cheap Amazon and eBay GoPro clones. A lot of my research turned up that the Hero 7 Black is argued as one of, if not THE best model in the bang for your buck department, and so far it has NOT disappointed. I even have it wired to a charger that's hooked to the bike so I don't even have to use a battery in the camera... It comes on and off with the bike.
Seth it would be cool if you started with two identical frames and then built the bikes out. One with the cheapest components you can find and one with the most expensive. I would love to see that as a series or something
While I see what you're going for, I have to Disagree, I think he should do one bike with, great value, budget but still quality components that perform well and the other bike with high end, high quality components but not the most expensive and then compare those two!!!😀
Microshift AdventX is 10 speed, 11-48. Cassette slides onto an HG freehub. I got the cassette, chain, shifter/cable, and derrailleur for $130. I have an old steel cyclocross bike, I put 40 teeth on the front and I think it's perfect. BOOM! 1X drivetrain. So easy. 700 miles in, and no issues.
Love the videos keep it up
Spot on with the shimano brakes. Have those 201's on my propain downhill bike with 203mm rotors. Never fade, never fail, great pad life, don't leak and still work after nasty crashes. My oldest set is on my training bike where I work. I think they are 11 years old. I have them on all my bikes and my kids DH bikes.
I would really like to see you review a "suspension seat tube" I believe they completely transform any hardtail 😯
Absolutely LOVE these videos!! I'm in my 30s so I can afford more premium components, but for kids or someone not so fortunate, it's great to know the barrier to entry doesn't have to cost thousands of $$$ ... You're doing great work Seth, keep it up!!!
Hello can I convert a 3×8 to 1×10? Will it be OK??
Yes you can, you do have to change the crankset since some bikes comes with chainrings riveted to the cranks.
yeah it should be ok, just do some more research into what bottom bracket you have, and what crankset you may possibly have to purchase
Depending on your hubs
Switch to a 2x10 for more range.
@@RealMTBAddict not the best idea, to much chain flapping around making noise, also if your going for a serious look on your bike, a 2x10 won't help
I picked up a 2009 Gary Fisher Piranha a couple weeks ago for $50, the stock Shimano M486 hydraulic brakes were still on it. Firm lever feel, no need to bleed them, no leaks, they still work fantastic for being 12yr old brakes that have probably never seen a service. Also The Hussefelt Stem was my Go to stem for building on a budget. The Piranha might be my new winter ride, I dunno...
Did you forget to render the thumbnail 😂
Hey georgegeolover you need to poop in the next pizza you make 😂😂😂
This should totally be a main channel video, so much valuable information!
I miss the trail building videos or trail riding videos
I really appreciate Seth making these videos understandable to people like me who know nothing about mountain biking, and also actually giving good recommendations for people without as much money instead of top of the line equipment.
I've had great success with the continental trail king tires in the 27.5x2.2 size I haven't used them tubeless but I found them to last forever even when commuting with a 60lb backpack on a mile long commute. They grip well in snow, ice, mud, deep gravel and have a amazing feel on trails on the weekend
I use stuff like raceface, xtr, x0 on my main bikes, but also can easily recommend these brands from Ali, whose products I have used:
ZTTO, MUQZI, DECKAS, SNAIL, Litepro, LTWOO, Microshift, VXM, Toopre, Cooma pads, Wanyifa ti bolts
There's also stuff to ignore:
Any aluminum bolts, any aluminum products that look porous(they WILL snap), cheap air forks like Bolany and Pasak and Kootu pedals
Perfect timing! I started researching hydraulic brake maintenance today because my spare bike has terrible brakes.
your channel is by far the best.. your personality and calm but also passionate vibe is unmatched.. and that's Good content no matter what ur talking about or reviewing .. Thanx for all you do Brotha...!!
i run the Microshift advent groupset on my bike, i got the whole set (derailerur, cassette, shifter) as a package for 120€ its been working flawless for being on a budget !
Both CST and Maxxis are brands of Cheng Shin Tires. Cheng Shin also manufactures for other brands. The original Snake Belly tires that were so popular on slick rock trails in the 80s were Cheng Shin. Some of the modern tread patterns are recycled from their original offerings, with minor design changes.
Just my $.02,
I agree with your upgrades for the crankset, brakes and rear derailleur. When the crankset starts creaking again (after about a year or so) you can get a new bottom bracket for about $35 or so and keep going.
Best thing about upgrading the crankset is going to changeable chainrings.
One thing that is essential when upgrading a 'budget' bike is a good set of pedals. I happen to be using metal Stamp3 pedals, after breaking a couple of sets of plastic ones...
Lastly, don't skimp on handgrips and even padded gloves, if needed.
As an owner of two mountain bikes I can relate to some of the stuff you talk about in your videos I love your content Seth and keep making yt videos
This was a very important and very relevant posting. Many of us find ourselves, working, fixing, other people's bikes. Because they are beginners or just don't have the knowledge, we end up working on bikes that are not ours and the rider will not get in as deep as we do, thus not spend as much, yet they have crappy or old parts which need replacing. What to get? this article helps you with that question, what is a great value for the money yet a good part as well. Well done young man.
CST is a parent company for Maxxis tires. I use CST Rock Hawk tires and love these tires. The sidewalls are stiffer but the rubber is tougher than nails. Low rolling resistance and still has a ton of grip for a multitude of terrain.
I have the mt200 on an 2012 bike and i have never bleed them, still working great 👍
I put the Shimano mt200 on my motorized push bike. It’s a bike with a combustion engine. And they worked so good. I could pull the bike up in under 10ft going over 45mph
I have an advent micro shift derailleur and it shifts so smooth I can even shift while wheeling
Purchased a set of mt200 off of aliexpress for an old rigid 26 inch bike was building, super impressed with the power of them and have since brought 2 more sets for various other projects. Also purchased a few shimano deore groupsets from aliexpress which are great value for money.
One up also has an amasing dropper post. Its around 200 - 250 bucks and can go up to 240 mm! they arent big either when down and fit on most bikes
As long as you do your due diligence looking at the frame specs and geometry, you can consider a bike like this as a quality but inexpensive frame that just happens to have Get-you-by-for-now parts on it. A bike shop brand name aluminum hardtail frame can easily cost more than this whole bike. Don't get me wrong, we know there are tons of inadequate bikes at Walmart and Target etc. but a bike like this Kent (and some of the newer Schwinn's) will work out fine as long as you're skilled and want to take on a project to save a small amount of $$. Glad to see a major MTB channel giving BBB a fair shake, realizing that some or most of the parts and pieces will, at some point, need to be upgraded.
I can see the argument, but if you have the expertise aren’t used alloy frames a better bet in most cases?
@@armadillito I sort of agree, One of the issues with used frames is their semi-rarity. Whereas a Kent or Schwinn is usually available at your local big box store today. The biggest downside to BBBs for me, is considering that I usually buy a bike and ride it for 4-5 years then sell it. So resell value is important to me because you'll never get near the $$ out of a BBB build as compared to a Bike Shop Brand.
Seth’s magic is that he seems like such an honest, good dude.
Thanks for commenting you have been selected among my bicycle winners🎁🎁
Super glad you're covering cst and advent and not just top of the line components
Have used most of these products. I've also had no problem with the $15 Wake stems and bars. Their stems just need to be fully tapped and swapped out with longer bolts.
Good to know about the wake stems. I've been eyeing one for a while now but feared for my life.
I use those Shimano 200 brakes! Got em on sale for $38. Shimano is the GOAT brand, never had a bad time with any Shimano parts.
Surprisingly, about 1 month or so I was searching up the internet to find beefy and kind-of fat knobby tires and I came across these CST Rock Hawk! Next thing you know after I saw them I bought them instantly and installed them in my 29 mtb rims. So far I have only changed one inner tube and nothing else! I’ve stepped on sooooo many things and it’s holding on pretty darn well! I would buy these tires again for sure although they are kinda hard to push at first!
Actually Seth, here in the Philippines they sell the MT200 and MT201 for as low as $35 and they are original and with the original box. They are sure reliable and can hold the pressure of mountain biking. Nice video as always Seth.
For both front and back? The list price is $70 for both (if you can find them)
@@bindingcurve Yes Front and Back. Here in the Philippines online sellers sell it ranging 1800-2000 pesos, which if it converted to dollars it will range from $35 to $40. I think its much cheaper here than online sellers in the US like amazon or ebay.
Flipping a bike right now. Actually found brand new tubeless Maxxis DHF tires for $45. Love it.
I'm 100% sold on my Microsoft 10 speed drivetrain. Couldn't be happier
Bruh 😂 I bought a bike a few year ago, sold it a few years ago and never stoped watching his videos 😂😂 just feel good content, something to be said about his editing style and content that even people who are not “in the sport” watch it. If I had to put it simply watching some one preform their craft expertly is entertaining and while I know your an amazing biker I think your one of the best at filming it and making it fun for people watch. Would love to see a feature length documentary or something like that, I’d definitely spend some money on it
Seth your channel is of excellent value, I wouldn’t have progressed at all if not for your content
Great video Seth! I just got the PNW Cascade for $99! I've never been in the realm of buying brand new premium bikes, always upgrading my 10+ year olds. I love how this video will help those like me who want to shred with their "classic" bikes and keep up with friends who rock $6K+ brand new bikes! Thanks Seth!
Had two MT200 Brakes, both with leaky calipers causing oily brake pads after ~2 Weeks. Kept the levers and witched to Magura MT4/MT5 calipers and had no problems since.
For anyone curious about the CST tires, cst is Cheng Shin Tire the parent company of maxxis. Great tires for the money coming from an established tire manufacturer.
CST tires are made in same factory as MAXXIS. Great value. Great tip on the camera and now looking for a good deal on a GoPro 8.
Your videos are awesome! Not only are they funny and entertaining but I always come away with something useful
PNW all the way.
Hadn't a Scooby as to which dropper I should get, size etc... Sent them my bike model, size, year and how high I set my seat. They were straight back with the model for me. It's been flawless since installing