Motobecane Fantom Boost 29. Critique please

[SoCalEpicRyder]

I am thinking of buying this bike for all around  bike for a everything. I'm pretty sure it will work for bike packing after looking over what others are using.I would just like to hear what some bikepackers have to say about it.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/plus-boost-bikes/29er-boost-bikes-ftm-team-ti.htm

P. S. I am a seahawk helicopter mechanic among other things. I can get the bike put together alright. And I already own a Giant FS trail bike that my daughter is going to be taking over. I'm 42 in ok shape with horse legs(navy rescue swimmer and lifelong boulder hopping hiker) and have been riding mountain bikes street to trail for awhile.

[SlimJim]

since no one else has replied...


I have a Motobecane Fantom CX cyclocross bike. A pretty nice bike for the price, assembly was trivial, and it has been really reliable for the last 5 years (or was it six?).

I'd buy another bike from BikesDirect in a heartbeat.

[SoCalEpicRyder]

since no one else has replied...


I have a Motobecane Fantom CX cyclocross bike. A pretty nice bike for the price, assembly was trivial, and it has been really reliable for the last 5 years (or was it six?).

I'd buy another bike from BikesDirect in a heartbeat.

Thanks slim. Do you bike pack the CX? I'm pretty much sold on these titanium motobecane bikes. Just wondering how good a platform this one would be for bikepacking. From what I gather it really doesn't matter. I am just wondering if there are any somehow specific weaknesses regarding issues I should be aware of.

[SlimJim]

Bikepacking,  roads, commuting,  singletrack... It's my only (good) bike.

Almost all frames are made in a handful of factories and released. And the components are standard brands. I think the motobecane bikes are just like any other bike shop brand.

[SoCalEpicRyder]

Yeah. I know their aluminum frames are kinisis which is the same as a bunch of the "REPUTABLE" brands. Bur I have no idea where the titanium and carbon frames are made. But the Fantom frame is just an updated Fly with slightly slacker geometry. And the fly seems to have been a really good cross country bike.

[hubang]

I have a Team Fly Ti. The Titanium frames are made by Ora, out of Taiwan. I believe they're the ones who make Salsa's titanium frames (well, more recently; old ones are Lynskey).

If it helps, I really like the bike overall. I did have a bad failure of a seatpost clamp, but that has nothing to do with the frame. And Bikesdirect sent me a replacement with no fuss.

[SoCalEpicRyder]

Thanks guys. By the time I was able to purchase they sold out in my size. I went with a 2x11 titanium nitetrain bullet hardtail. Had it about2 weeks and love it.