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I'm looking at changing my bike soon, but want to make sure I buy something that I can easily get spares for in the future.
Current MTB is 4 years old and I'm always one for trying to keep replacements parts like to like or an upgrade.
Outer front chain ring (Race Face) needed replacing a year ago and all I could get was a Shimano Saint that would fit (without a 3 month wait), similar happened with the front mech, SRAM X7 split and LBS had to replace with a Shimano Deore, which was front mounting and meant a cable reroute.
Is there anything I can look for that will make parts easier to find when they start to wear out?
A better LBS, from the sounds of it
If you're looking for longevity of products, I'd say stick with brands like Shimano from the outset. Places like Merlin hold a lot of the older shimano products in stock - you can still get 9 speed stuff from them should you need it. Depending on funds, I'd also look at stuff like hope hubs as they seem pretty future proof with swappable end caps. Possibly also stick with a hardtail, or at least a FS that doesn't have some odd linkage like the older Stump Jumpers and Treks. Basically keep it as simple as possible and you'll be reet
I've been looking at models with no front mech and hardtail still. Possibly spending £1500 to £2000.
I really want a bike that I can keep for a fair few years and just fix when it goes wrong. Love my current bike but it's more of a keep it running than something with parts that match properly if you know what I mean.
The other option is spend less and change more frequently.
A better LBS, from the sounds of it
Yep, or just buy online. I don't think I have ever been not able to get a part I need online (even if it ends up coming from Germany)
4 years should be fine. Again, your LBS doesn't sound great. Places like SJScycles have every part you'd every conceive of needing. If you wanted an X7 front mech there are loads of NOS options on Ebay. Chain rings are much of a muchness - match the colour and it'll be good.
A better LBS, from the sounds of it
Agreed, stuff changes, the 9sp mech you ran 5 years ago might be 11sp now, but, especially with Shimano you can usually still buy the 9sp version and if not, it will have trickled down to a lower model (XT becomes SLX, becomes Deore, becomes Alvio etc).
Although, thankfully we do, hold onto 'standards' in MTBing, changing a Raceface chain ring for a Shimano isn't a bad thing, this stuff it meant to be interchangeable.
Some good advice cheers, the problem is gears are one thing I'm not great with setting up and it's easy getting the wrong parts if you try and source yourself.
I’d go single ring at the front in a common bb size type - preferably threaded. Make sure the frame / fork are tapered or has a 44mm headtube so you can still get forks.
Gear wise you can still get older standards, just sometimes you have to look around for it. I’m surprised your lbs couldn’t get a replacement sram mech in for you - unless you wanted it repaired right there and then with stuff they already had in stock.
Make sure the new bike is bolt through and boost spaces at both ends - although 142 / 100 spacing is likely to be supported from a hub perspective for some time. And you can get spacers to fit non boost hubs into boost if you ever had to change a fork.
Wheel size I guess is a thing to think about - 29ers seem to be getting more traction now in the market although 650b is so big I can’t see that being phased out for a fair time to come.
Start with Shimano drive chain, you can still pick up stuff from man generations back at places like SJS cycles.
Brakes either treat as disposable or get Hope.
I'd look for ideally a threaded BB or if not, a common standard (again, ideally one Shimano use) like BB86.
Wheels I'd be looking at 29", likely Boost as that standard looks like it's hanging around.
And as above, a hardtail with a common, round seatpost size, 31.6, 30.9 or 27.2.
Yes you need a better LBS.
I regularly replace 5/6/7 speed transmissions and last month I was able to get parts to repair the rod brakes on a 1930's post bike.
Yes you need a better LBS.
I regularly replace 5/6/7 speed transmissions and last month I was able to get parts to repair the rod brakes on a 1930’s post bike.
Yes any LBS worth its salt carries parts for pre war bikes just in case 🙄
Unless they have a warehouse and budget the size of wiggle no lbs can stock parts that were old even 4 years ago & importers like Madison who all LBS are tied to for Shimano parts will only stock present or fairly recent model year parts. They sell dll the old stuff to the likes of SJS etc.
I think you are being unrealistic blaming the bike shop for not being able to get old old stock off a dusty shelf or off a distributor only interested in new model stuff
Kinda thinking along the lines of the OP,
I’ve held back from buying a new bike. Wanted wheel size geom etc to settle down before I bought My bike for life (I know 😁)
Can’t see any new standards being developed anytime soon, 12speed/boost/fork offset etc have all been covered,,,,,,,
Shirley it’s settled now ?!?!
Some great advice thanks, have been looking at Orange Hardtails so will make sure I opt for Shimano rather than SRAM.
Shimano.........
In 4 years they'll have obsoleted HG cassettes for anything higher than deore.
I wouldn't worry about it, despite the hooha about new standards they actually move very slowly. Boost is new, but 135/142 hubs are still available (same size as road bikes now). BB's are pretty much all interchangeable with adapters, steerers have been tapered for over a decade, 29ers are getting on for 28 years old (i just checked, pannaracer made a 29" smoke in 1991!).
Outer front chain ring (Race Face) needed replacing a year ago and all I could get was a Shimano Saint that would fit (without a 3 month wait)
3 months for an outer chainring? Surely CRC had something?
3 months for an outer chainring? Surely CRC had something?
Both myself and the LBS checked, nothing around from RaceFace that would fit.
Similar with the front mech, several months wait. At least it works, but as I said earlier once a bike gets a few years old its more keep it running with part you can get, rather than replacing parts with something simiar (e.g. newer model in the same brand).
I really want a bike that I can keep for a fair few years and just fix when it goes wrong.
You worry too much. My bikes are either 12 years old or have 12 year old parts, I can still get consumables without issue online. Only problem might be forks - the Marzocchis still have seals available but will be difficult to replace if they break totally. But not impossible.
Both myself and the LBS checked, nothing around from RaceFace that would fit.
Similar with the front mech, several months wait. At least it works, but as I said earlier once a bike gets a few years old its more keep it running with part you can get, rather than replacing parts with something simiar (e.g. newer model in the same brand).
I think you're just being slightly precious about wanting things like for like and slightly disingenuous to imply that a bike is obsolete because race face no longer make double chainrings, or SRAM don't make front mechs.
I think you'd struggle to identify many bikes that actually were obsoleted entirely by components. Off the top of my head: formula mount callipers (the ones from the late 90's that bolted to both the chainstay and seatstay?). Individual components get discontinued, but that's not obsolescence.
I think you’re just being slightly precious about wanting things like for like and slightly disingenuous to imply that a bike is obsolete because race face no longer make double chainrings, or SRAM don’t make front mechs.
Not necessarily like for like but if it has a top pull front mech that I could replace with a similar spec top pull mech, not having to replace with a front pull and a cable reroute.
Also don't want to be left having to replace a full gear system just because the rear mech needs replacing and front chainrings worn. Which I've been told in the past on my older bike.
In your price range more or less every hardtail will be 1×11/12 shimano/sram with a rockshox/fox fork. You'll get parts for those brands for years to come, so no problem there. With something like this its only the OEM wheels and dropper that could be a problem. But but a spare freehub body when you first get the bike, and if the dropper gives up the ghost and you can't get parts just fit a £100 brand X and your rolling 👍
If your LBS is telling you you need a whole new drivetrain over a rear mech and a chainring then either find a new LBS or learn to spanner and sort it out yourself.
30 seconds on Google found me new 2xWhatever Race Face chainrings and SRAM GX top pull front mechs (low and high mount), in stock at various online retailers. Hell, I can still get 6-speed screw-on freewheels for my Saracen commuter and that's bloody 32 years old. If you can't find the right parts for something 4 years old you're not exactly trying!
Replacing even a few year old parts can sometimes be frustrating at work. Ideally I want to get a bike in, assess what it needs, get it ordered if need be then crack on.
What I'm finding, especially with chainrings, is they can be a ball ache to track down. It's alright saying go online and sort it if your at home but in the shop searching for stuff takes time, which is money...
I do my best to match stuff were possible as our place is pretty chill but other shops, I imagine, would rather just put on what they can get you from their trade accounts instead of taking time to track down a specific part to then have to pay retail for it.