MTB - Which Full Suspension bike for under £2000?

[S5V8]

Probably been done to death here but with new bikes arriving all the time the market is moving quickly and I thought you may want to assist.

I have been riding trails for about 9 months on a new hardtail I bought for £700. Now ready to move up a gear to a full suspension bike as riding more single track and trail centre tracks.

Dont really wont to go past £1500 but depends. I ride with a group of people and tend to like to buy something a bit different.

A few of the guys have Giant, Lapierre , Orange , Trek, Scott etc probably because they are all good but I dont really wont to get the same so am looking for something different. If those makes are the best under £2k then I will go for one but want to look at others first.

Ideally, I want to buy new so its mine out of the box etc but understand the used market and the value it brings.

So far I have been looking at a 2014 Ghost Cagua or a 2015 Canyon Spectral AL or Nerve. I think the Canyon looks great and price wise it seems good because its direct I am ok with that and happy to order online.

Would also consider the following if anyone has any thoughts on these

Boardman Team or FS Pro just for value for money
Commencal? Any good?
Cube Stereo 160 HPA looks nice
ghost, marin, merida ,mondraker, norco, orbea, rose also offer something different but are they not mass sellers for good reason?

Which would you shortlist and which would you discount at this stage.

Thanks in advance phers

Edited by S5V8 on Saturday 2nd May 21:53

[Herman Toothrot]

Commencal Meta AM Essential Plus, model under the Race reviewed below comes in just under £2k at current exchange rate. I want one, won bike of the year.

http://youtu.be/uiG7FgfgEtQ

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Saturday 2nd May 22:25

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Saturday 2nd May 22:29

[ecsrobin]

Before Yellowjack mentions it: http://www.birdmtb.com/aeris-150-2/ that's what I'd be buying. £1550 for the poverty spec bike I'd go for the £2050 bike though but that's me.

A good way to see the differences http://www.birdmtb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/...

[cava]

Last year I bought a giant trance x2 and don't rate it at all to be honest. Initially I was very happy, but quickly started to have issues and the bike shop support was pretty poor. The Fox forks are pretty poor, I'd be looking for something with Rockshox Pike instead. My sister has bought a Cube Stereo 160 Hpa and is very happy indeed. Components are great for the price, it looks like a quality piece of kit. Tempted to get one myself and ditch the Giant. Hopefully you're not a lanky freak like me, then you'll be able to get demo rides in a bike your size. I had to buy blind.

[nammynake]

I'm selling my Canyon Nerve AL+ (150mm travel). Ridden less than 10 times but need to clear some bikes from my garage. Can PM you details if interested.

Edited by nammynake on Sunday 3rd May 07:49

[SwissJonese]

cava said:

My sister has bought a Cube Stereo 160 Hpa and is very happy indeed. Components are great for the price, it looks like a quality piece of kit.

I was looking at these yesterday, seemed like really nice bit of kit. A few years ago wife and I hired Cube full suspension bikes in Switzerland and both loved them. Compared that to Specialized in Mallorca which neither of us liked even though we both ride Specialized hard tail bikes. I was thinking of getting the Cube Stereo 140 as don't need the extra travel of the 160mm.

[S5V8]

nammynake said:

I'm selling my Canyon Nerve AL+ (150mm travel). Ridden less than 10 times but need to clear some bikes from my garage. Can PM you details if interested.

Edited by nammynake on Sunday 3rd May 07:49

Yes could be interested. please pm me details, size and price please?

[Gren]

What are you going to be riding? You've got everything from XC bikes to 160mm in your list.

Under 2k I'd definitely be looking at Canyons. But then again I'm a bit biased.

[S5V8]

Gren said:

What are you going to be riding? You've got everything from XC bikes to 160mm in your list.

Under 2k I'd definitely be looking at Canyons. But then again I'm a bit biased.

A bit of everything really. Single track, cross country, trail centre reds and blacks and a few miles too.

[DanCup]

I'd be looking at either a Whyte T129/130 or a Specialized Camber Evo 29, both get fairly good reviews and I would think 120mm drop would be sufficient for what you intend to use it for.

[Gren]

DanCup said:

I'd be looking at either a Whyte T129/130 or a Specialized Camber Evo 29, both get fairly good reviews and I would think 120mm drop would be sufficient for what you intend to use it for.

Agree on the 120 travel. All I've ever needed. Depends on where you get your grins though.... The ups and miles or the downs

[Phooey]

In May's MOUNTAIN BIKING UK magazine - "Budget Trail Full-Sussers" £1500-£1600 bike test the Vitus Escarpe came out tops.

[LasseV]

What about Santa Cruz Superlight? It uses it's suspension travel very well, so it is very capable machine for every kind of driving, going downhill too. It is simple, active and robust.

[ecsrobin]

LasseV said:

What about Santa Cruz Superlight? It uses it's suspension travel very well, so it is very capable machine for every kind of driving, going downhill too. It is simple, active and robust.

Although at the top of the budget for him and only comes with Deore

[snowdude2910]

SwissJonese said:

cava said:

My sister has bought a Cube Stereo 160 Hpa and is very happy indeed. Components are great for the price, it looks like a quality piece of kit.

I was looking at these yesterday, seemed like really nice bit of kit. A few years ago wife and I hired Cube full suspension bikes in Switzerland and both loved them. Compared that to Specialized in Mallorca which neither of us liked even though we both ride Specialized hard tail bikes. I was thinking of getting the Cube Stereo 140 as don't need the extra travel of the 160mm.

I have a stereo 140 and while my past experience of mountain bikes is zero I've found no faults with it, it hasn't broken yet and at 110kg I'm not exactly light and the spec isn't bad from the little research I did. The reverb dropper post it comes with standard is a lifesaver too I probably wouldn't have shelled out for one on its own before but now I've got one I wouldn't be without.

[LasseV]

ecsrobin said:

Although at the top of the budget for him and only comes with Deore

It is pointless to look spec sheet really. Deore is a good, honest system which simply works when you need it. I have deore front derailleur and brakes in my enduro machine. They are not fancy or something but thei just work. I would take high quality frame before high spec sheet.

[Herman Toothrot]

Santa Cruz isn't high quality, it's just expensive and fashionable, Super 8's used to crack and fall apart back in the day just like the current models do. Never have I seen or heard of any companies frames breaking as frequently or people complaining how short lived the linkages and bearing are.

[Freegs]

Consider a Saracen Ariel 142 or 152 so long as you're not still concerned over the badge snobbery associated with the brand.

I came from a £3000 downhill build and was blown away by just how good my 2013 Ariel 142 is. It is super fun and playful, feels well built, climbs enthusiastically (although I am less of a fan) and descends almost quicker than my DH bike. Only criticism is over the rough/bumpy stuff where I wish I had fox 40's again but for the UK and smooth trail centers it is a delight.

It does have a few upgrades (just configuration stuff) but considering I got it for £1200 and it was essentially brand new there is plenty of room in your budget for upgrades (dropper etc).

Lots to choose at your budget and some amazing bikes out there. Don't write Saracen off, I'm glad I didn't.

p.s. When you see the state of the second hand market and the immense depreciation of bikes, I don't know how people even consider buying brand new.

Edited by Freegs on Sunday 3rd May 20:52

[dienamic]

Ok, I could have written your post myself! I'm hoping to get a Radon Slide later on this year http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-slide-27....

[Reardy Mister]

Great post OP, I'm in a similar situation. I've enjoyed a couple of Giant Anthem recently but would also rather have something a bit different.

nammynake said:

I'm selling my Canyon Nerve AL+ (150mm travel). Ridden less than 10 times but need to clear some bikes from my garage. Can PM you details if interested.

Edited by nammynake on Sunday 3rd May 07:49

Superb looking bike! Was beginning there was no form left in bike's function these days but the geometry and compononentry there really appeals to my eye.

What size is it? Looks small(?) PM me details if you can, sold or not.

I have recently converted to the benefits of full sus cause I'm too old and fat and slow for a hard tail these days. But I'd still want only a limited amount, not a big sloppy thing.

So about 120mm is the way to go by the sounds of it? I find it easier to compensate for a bikes compromises going downhill and want all the help I can get going up or accelerating. So if anyone knows what type of bike i need in today's myriad of bike types (seriously, wtf is "all mountain"?), I am all ears. So far I've established I think I want 27.5 over 26 or 29.

Are there *any* full suspension bikes that really feel like they put your power down well? Responsive, dare I say it?