Help needed with Hoyt GM purchase

[schatzperson]

Hi everyone, Happy easter!
In the past I have played about with some all glass bows and tinker with home made AFB's (still do), but I am considering purchasing a Hoyt Gm setup (dont ask why, I tried it once and loved it).
I see what look like nice used risers and limbs all the time for sale on Ebay and some archery forums and since I am inexperienced I thought I will ask for advice.
You see risers on their own go for anything between 40 and 100 Euro; There is somebody in Germany offerring me new GM limbs for 70 Eu.
Is this over the top or a good price? Fact is I am 6' 2 and with an orang reach so probably will do better with a 70 inch bow; I have not seen that many GM limbs in long size, but this person has them in all poundages.
Thanks, your learned comments welcome.

[worthipa]

Originally Posted by schatzperson

I am considering purchasing a Hoyt Gm setup I see what look like nice used risers and limbs all the time for sale on Ebay and some archery forums.
You see risers on their own go for anything between 40 and 100 Euro; There is somebody in Germany offerring me new GM limbs for 70 Eu.
Is this over the top or a good price? Fact is I am 6' 2 and with an orang reach so probably will do better with a 70 inch bow; I have not seen that many GM limbs in long size, but this person has them in all poundages.

The Gold Medalist (GM) is a very good first choice it's simple, bomb proof and has few adjustments.

Generally speaking at 6' 2" you have the choice of length of bow to use. You are at the top end for a 68" bow and the bottom end for a 70" bow. If the GM you have seen has Medium limbs you will be fine. I would ask the seller what they are. I would also ask him what he means by "new". Hoyt Gold Medalist limbs haven't been made for some years now, it might be that he is offering a set that is unused, but they won't be "new". The price looks OK too, I would expect them to be the wood core GM limbs rather than the GM Carbonplus at that price.

[schatzperson]

The Gm limbs are described as "new" unused, meaning I suppose old, unsold stock @ 70 Eu a pair. He has a whole bunch of them, so they could be "shop new" or "club re-fit as-new".......big difference ! I will ask.

What would be a fair price for a serviceable 25" riser?

There is also plenty of ready, "retired" setups ( with tournament sights, stabilsers, clicker, rest etc etc) for sale which would be convenient for me, but generally they use medium limbs at 30 to 38 lbs.
I've done a bit of practice with 45 lbs glassbows and would prefer this poundage;But if I choose this arrangement I would spend at least 150 E for the setup and another 70 E for a pair of long limbs in this weight.
A mite overbudget, plus a feeling of having been done; After all we are talking of vintage stuff.
Just a feeling mind, I have no idea what this sort of kit would go for.
Once again, thank you for the valuable input worthipa !

[worthipa]

Have a look at this thread: http://www.archery-interchange.com/f...tml#post104624

You can still buy GM's new for around 100 Euros. Try a search on Google. The other good thing about the GM is that many people buy them as their first "proper" bow, then after they've had them for a year or so get seduced into buying something "better" and the GM ends up on ebay.

I would expect to pay 1/2 to 2/3 the new price depending on condition. Oddly they seem to hold their price very well in the US.

I wouldn't buy a "retired" set-up if I were you, you won't be happy with out-of-date kit for long. Concentrate on getting a good riser and a good pair of limbs and the best sight you can afford at the moment and buy the rest as you develop. And don't go too mad on the limb poundage 45 lbs for a beginner is far too much unless you're built like a gorilla and even then .... Without knowing more about you I would say something in the mid to low 30's would be more like it. With your draw length and a lightish arrow 34/36 lbs should get you out to 100 yards without too much problem.

[Desert Archer]

I have read more than once that more world records have been set by archers shooting Hoyt GMs than any other model of riser. The GM is an excellent starting point and one that would serve for many years to come, except we all get the "want it" syndrome. (smiley face goes here)

Dave

PS: My first take down, ILF riser was a GM, and like everyone else I saw something that looked "cool" and had to have it instead. In my case it was a used Spigarelli 2001...so maybe you can forgive me (LOL).

[schatzperson]

True we all get the want it syndrome. I guess I am lucky enough to have an engineers brain and definitely find the unbroken angular lines of the GM appealing and refreshingly "uncool".
I have a small collection of guns and you would not believe what my favorites are: good old wood and steel thompsons; businesslike, will outlast me and my inheritors and get the job done with no fuss.....no tupperware plastic glocks I'm afraid in my home!

To be honest, I can understand the performance plus of some modern bow design, but must they be so garish?
To my eye, they look "organic", with curves resembling the innards of a large dairy animal.

I must'nt complain too much though, its just fashion after all; Trends in design usually follow from some populist exposure in the media :
One of the first instances that brought the "organic" lines to design was Ridley Scott's movie "Alien", based on artwork by H.R. Giger.
The rest is history.

[William P]

I really like my GM but I have a Nexus coming due to the "want" syndrome. Some people consider the GM a stiff riser but I thought mine was a little lively. Nice riser with the weird verta tune feature and noisy trolly box in the limb pocket.

[Mistake]

Originally Posted by schatzperson

True we all get the want it syndrome. I guess I am lucky enough to have an engineers brain and definitely find the unbroken angular lines of the GM appealing and refreshingly "uncool".
I have a small collection of guns and you would not believe what my favorites are: good old wood and steel thompsons; businesslike, will outlast me and my inheritors and get the job done with no fuss.....no tupperware plastic glocks I'm afraid in my home!

To be honest, I can understand the performance plus of some modern bow design, but must they be so garish?
To my eye, they look "organic", with curves resembling the innards of a large dairy animal.

I must'nt complain too much though, its just fashion after all; Trends in design usually follow from some populist exposure in the media :
One of the first instances that brought the "organic" lines to design was Ridley Scott's movie "Alien", based on artwork by H.R. Giger.
The rest is history.

I've shot a Hoyt GM, and i liked it (but my Axis is much nicer in my mind) and i've seen some very good scores shot with Hoyt GM's. They don't look 'fancy' compared to many risers... but it'll still outshoot most of us (unless twisted/ broken)

[Jerry Tee]

The thing with an engineers brain is that it will see the principles in bow design more than others. A test to see if you really have an engineers brain is what you think of this Oneida Pro Eagle

[schatzperson]

Right on the mark Jerry; I had actaully considered an Oneida (and still might buy one if the desire outlasts my present "temporary problems of liquidity" :-).
The Oneida has a cantilever bridge's grace; It just looks functional and balanced; Besides it still looks like a bow rather than a parallel limb compound that better resembles the chainblock pulley system in my garage.

However bear in mind that we are on thin ice here; Perception of esthetics is generally subjective and at the end of the day its a matter of personal likes and dislikes.
No matter where these preferences originate from, I might poke a harmless bit of fun at what I dont prefer, but actually find most artifacts old and new interesting for some feature or other.