Bicycle guys – Gary Fisher 2004 Tassajara for $450 – should I buy it?

[scottmandue]

Mkay... my friends car keeps breaking down so she borrowed my bike.

Option are:

Buy her cheap bike and take my five year old $300 Schwinn mountain bike back.

But of course I'm looking on craigslist and I see this,

Cut and paste from the ad:

**********************

2004 Tassajara, Sea Foam Metallic... HARDLY used. 0 on trail, 4-5x on casual bike ride to and from store. Size Med.

Frame
Gold Series 6061 T6 internally and externally butted aluminum, Genesis Geometry



Wheels
Alloy front, Shimano RM30 rear hub; Bontrager Camino rims | Bontrager Jones XR tires, 26x2.2/2.25


Componentry
Shimano Deore rear derailleur, Shimano EF50 shifters, Shimano Acera front derailleur | Shimano M341 42/32/22 crank | Tektro V brakes w/Shimano EF50 levers | (Full Specs)


Suspension
RockShox Dart 1 w/preload, 100mm travel

************************


So bike guys... should I buy it?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Sounds like a decent deal for 400 bucks.

Have you ridden it? Is it comfortable for you?

[gassy]

It's seafoam though Jeff...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nothin' a can of flat black paint can't cure.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nothin' a can of flat black paint can't cure.

[VincentVega]

If it's the right size go for it. It's not the bike to take offroad through the big stuff, but it's a decent bike for most uses.

[scottmandue]

I only ride on weekend and no heavy off road.

The ad says "Size Med."?

I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam what size frame (in inches) should I be looking for?

TIA

[CORNICE6]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I only ride on weekend and no heavy off road.

The ad says "Size Med."?

I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam what size frame (in inches) should I be looking for?

TIA

A size Medium (17.5") Tassajara has a 28.7" standover measurement with an effective top tube length of approx 24".
The Large (19") has 29.8" standover and 24.7" effective top tube length.
The X-Large (21") has 31.4" standover and 25.4" effective top tube length.
The above geometry numbers are from GF's site for 2008 frames. I doubt the geometry will change much from an '04.

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/tassajara/geometry

Depending on how often and length of ride you would do on this bike, you can always extend the seatpost and the stem to fit you for short easy rides w/o sacrificing too much. Personally, I would look for either a 19" or 21" for your height.

good luck!

[VincentVega]

x2

try it out, but I think you'll fit a large/19" better.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I think you're too tall for a medium. Large would be better. Riding with a too small frame size will get uncomfortable if you plan on spending more than a few minutes a ride.

[scottmandue]

Thanks guys!

Didn't notice the sea foam thing.

Nice to know I would need a 19" or 21" I will keep that as a reference.

It would be far cheaper (and my original plan) to get my friend a cheap ($100) Specialized and get my bike back.

[nostatic]

If you're riding more off-road, go with a smaller size. More on-road, the larger.

Price seems high. It is a mass-market commodity mtn bike with mid level components. Offer $300.

[David]

I ride a large GF and I have a 36" inseam, although it is a 29er. I prefer the smallest frame I can use to minimize weight and wheelbase. With a 32" inseam, I think you'd be better off with a medium frame unless you'll ride it 100% on road.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Sounds like a decent deal for 400 bucks.

Have you ridden it? Is it comfortable for you?

Bike is in Santa Monica, so no.

[scottmandue]

OK guys how about this one?

*****************

2001 Medium/17.5" USA-MADE Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo - $375

THIS BIKE'S FRAME IS ONE OF THE LAST U.S.-MADE GENESIS FRAMES MADE BY GARY FISHER BEFORE FRAME MANUFACTURING WAS FARMED OUT TO TAIWAN AND CHINA. BOTH THE FRAME AND FORK ARE DISC AND V-BRAKE COMPATIBLE!

This bike is built on a classic, top-of-the-line U.S.-made Genesis frame (American-Made) in purple/yellow/red. The bike has absolutely beautiful welds that rival the likes of Yeti, another U.S. company that used to do similar work, especially in the unique yoke and stays assembly.

The Evil Trek Empire (Owner Of Gary Fisher Bikes) just doesn't make frames like this anymore folks, so get one of the last good ones while you can.

The components are top notch, and you won't find a nicer aluminum hardtail frame from any other maker. This bike was one of Gary Fisher's finest, boasting a handmade American frame that represents the pinnacle of the company's achievements.

She is equipped with: Manitou Magnum R suspension fork, Promax V-Brakes, Deore shifters, and Deore/Deore LX dérailleurs. She is also a beautiful looking bike in nice cosmetic shape, and runs she like clockwork.

[nostatic]

price is more realistic

let me know if you want me to take a look at the bike in SM.

[scottmandue]

Is all that talk about the frame true?

[nostatic]

might be. DK their history, but frames have been made overseas for a long time, and crappy US-made frames have been around for years as well. To me it isn't that big of a buying point unless you want to flip it and think you can find some bike geek who gives a crap.

I won't own an aluminum frame bike, but that is a personal bias. You certainly can get a lighter/stiffer frame that way.

[nostatic]

might be. DK their history, but frames have been made overseas for a long time, and crappy US-made frames have been around for years as well. To me it isn't that big of a buying point unless you want to flip it and think you can find some bike geek who gives a crap.

I won't own an aluminum frame bike, but that is a personal bias. You certainly can get a lighter/stiffer frame that way.

[Tobra]

Yes, the earlier Fisher bikes had hand made frames, built them on a jig as I understand it.

I always liked the smallest frame possible for off road with a long seat post. Raise seat if you are sitting and pedaling, drop it down to get it out of the way for technical stuff. Smaller is lighter, and stiffer because the legs of the triangle are shorter. Fisher made a nice bike before they got swallowed up