Another what bike thread? XC £1500-£2000
Discussion
Morning all,
Sorry to be tedious but looking for a new XC for riding round epping mainly but also needs to be able to take a fair bit of abuse round trail centres etc as well as the odd trip to france.
I've currently narrowed it down to the following choices, but i'm having trouble deciding:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/tr... trance x3 i can purchase one for £1720 through employer discount.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b... Cannondale RZ 140 6 £1500
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/mountain/over-moun... Cannondale Jekyl 4 £2000 (discount again)
http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCProduct.jsp...
Camber expert £1900.
I've looked at the canyon bikes and i agree that they look like terrific value for money, however this represents a fairly major investment for me and i don't really want to be a guinea pig for the new kid on the block. Plus the delivery time negates my desire for a impules purchase.
Any opinions / suggestions welcome.
Thanks
Sorry to be tedious but looking for a new XC for riding round epping mainly but also needs to be able to take a fair bit of abuse round trail centres etc as well as the odd trip to france.
I've currently narrowed it down to the following choices, but i'm having trouble deciding:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/tr... trance x3 i can purchase one for £1720 through employer discount.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b... Cannondale RZ 140 6 £1500
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/mountain/over-moun... Cannondale Jekyl 4 £2000 (discount again)
http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCProduct.jsp...
Camber expert £1900.
I've looked at the canyon bikes and i agree that they look like terrific value for money, however this represents a fairly major investment for me and i don't really want to be a guinea pig for the new kid on the block. Plus the delivery time negates my desire for a impules purchase.
Any opinions / suggestions welcome.
Thanks
Looking at the same at the moment with a weighting to the more extreme side of XC as well as UK based trail centres & singletrack, and finally the slight possibility to go abroad with it and try some of the tamer runs or slow harder ones in the future.
My short list is:-
Trek Remedy 7
Lapierre Zesty 314
Orange 5 s
All just over the £2k mark (£2.2) for 2011 bikes
My short list is:-
Trek Remedy 7
Lapierre Zesty 314
Orange 5 s
All just over the £2k mark (£2.2) for 2011 bikes
Cheers for the suggestions.
I'll take a look at the cube - however on the others £2k is absolute tops i'm afraid and the the basic versions of the Lappiere etc don't seem as good. Boardmans i was interested in but i've been put off by reports of weak frames and cheap 'hidden' components. I intend to keep the bike for 5 years or so, therefore durability is a must.
Thanks againa and keep the suggestions/comments coming.
I'll take a look at the cube - however on the others £2k is absolute tops i'm afraid and the the basic versions of the Lappiere etc don't seem as good. Boardmans i was interested in but i've been put off by reports of weak frames and cheap 'hidden' components. I intend to keep the bike for 5 years or so, therefore durability is a must.
Thanks againa and keep the suggestions/comments coming.
How about this bad boy:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
Getting great reviews and you will not get the same spec level for less IMO.
Edit. Just fully read your OP, sorry!
Also, a 150mm bike is XC now?! Or is the Jekyll one of the new adjustable ones?
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
Getting great reviews and you will not get the same spec level for less IMO.
Edit. Just fully read your OP, sorry!
Also, a 150mm bike is XC now?! Or is the Jekyll one of the new adjustable ones?
Edited by mackie1 on Wednesday 8th June 10:40
Apparently they have UK service centre now. I guess time will tell how they do but there's nothing particularly radical about the frame design and they are probably made in the same factories as the big brands. Lets just hope they don't use chocolate pivot bearings (of which there are a lot!) to keep the costs down :P
One of the chaps I ride with occasionally has one so I'll ask for a report in a few months, once it's got some miles under its bent.
I'd also recommend a Trek Fuel EX but they seem to be sooo bloody expensive now. It was only a couple of years ago that the EX8 was sub-£2k. I think it's stingy that they don't have the 15mm front axle on that model too.
One of the chaps I ride with occasionally has one so I'll ask for a report in a few months, once it's got some miles under its bent.
I'd also recommend a Trek Fuel EX but they seem to be sooo bloody expensive now. It was only a couple of years ago that the EX8 was sub-£2k. I think it's stingy that they don't have the 15mm front axle on that model too.
Edited by mackie1 on Wednesday 8th June 10:49
stock answer is whatever Giant Anthem you can afford because its suspension design is fantastic at maintaining traction and its always been quite light compared to the rest.
also i would look at the scott spark 40 or the commencal meta 5.5 team (which is currently on offer at evans though availibility appears to be a bit tight?) the spark is very popular amongst the enduro xc racers who prefer a bit of bounce at the back.
both might seem a bit short on travel compared to other suggestions but that just makes you a better rider
focus used to make a really nice xc bike in a similar design to the scott spark but i cant find it on the wiggle website.
specialized epic, whatever model you can afford, the one i borrowed for a day at cwmcarn was fantastic and if i could affford one i would have bought one, that was the most confidence inspiring bike i have ever ridden. took trails way faster than i have ever done so on that bike
the Santa Cruz Superlight is also worth a look.
also i would look at the scott spark 40 or the commencal meta 5.5 team (which is currently on offer at evans though availibility appears to be a bit tight?) the spark is very popular amongst the enduro xc racers who prefer a bit of bounce at the back.
both might seem a bit short on travel compared to other suggestions but that just makes you a better rider
focus used to make a really nice xc bike in a similar design to the scott spark but i cant find it on the wiggle website.
specialized epic, whatever model you can afford, the one i borrowed for a day at cwmcarn was fantastic and if i could affford one i would have bought one, that was the most confidence inspiring bike i have ever ridden. took trails way faster than i have ever done so on that bike
the Santa Cruz Superlight is also worth a look.
This Cannondale from Pauls Cycles would be my choice:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Front suspension only bikes are so much more feathery than full sussers, so unless your getting uplifts to the top of mountains and purely downhilling then i would forget the marketing hype and step away from anything with rear suspension. It just adds unnecessary weight. This is really just my two penneth worth, but I have a Cannondale hardtail and mates with full suss bikes, they are not really any quicker on descents and i have a definite advantage on the climbs.
Also it has a proper Cannondale fork, which really are superb once you get your head around the single strut construction.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Front suspension only bikes are so much more feathery than full sussers, so unless your getting uplifts to the top of mountains and purely downhilling then i would forget the marketing hype and step away from anything with rear suspension. It just adds unnecessary weight. This is really just my two penneth worth, but I have a Cannondale hardtail and mates with full suss bikes, they are not really any quicker on descents and i have a definite advantage on the climbs.
Also it has a proper Cannondale fork, which really are superb once you get your head around the single strut construction.
just bought a giant anthem x4 and can really vouch for this. i think the x3 is the same but better 'bits'. i guarantee you would not be disappointed if you went down the giant route
edited to add just noted you are looking at the trance, not the anthem, so i have actually no idea, except to reassert my point that the anthem x4 is excellent and i bought it for £1650 which seems to be the standard price and in your budget...
edited to add just noted you are looking at the trance, not the anthem, so i have actually no idea, except to reassert my point that the anthem x4 is excellent and i bought it for £1650 which seems to be the standard price and in your budget...
Raoul Duke said:
This Cannondale from Pauls Cycles would be my choice:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Front suspension only bikes are so much more feathery than full sussers, so unless your getting uplifts to the top of mountains and purely downhilling then i would forget the marketing hype and step away from anything with rear suspension. It just adds unnecessary weight. This is really just my two penneth worth, but I have a Cannondale hardtail and mates with full suss bikes, they are not really any quicker on descents and i have a definite advantage on the climbs.
Also it has a proper Cannondale fork, which really are superb once you get your head around the single strut construction.
I have a cannondale front suspension bike (a F900SL), a front suspension single-speed and my turner flux (105mm travel rear, 120mm travel front)... the front suspensions bikes now just sit in the garage as the flux is just infinitely better everywhere. so I'm sorry to stick my neck on the block here, but I completely disagree with your comments.http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Front suspension only bikes are so much more feathery than full sussers, so unless your getting uplifts to the top of mountains and purely downhilling then i would forget the marketing hype and step away from anything with rear suspension. It just adds unnecessary weight. This is really just my two penneth worth, but I have a Cannondale hardtail and mates with full suss bikes, they are not really any quicker on descents and i have a definite advantage on the climbs.
Also it has a proper Cannondale fork, which really are superb once you get your head around the single strut construction.
The benefits with the full susser are that you get better grip going uphill, far more control going downhill, and infinitely more comfort (and therefore real-world speed) on flat bumpy stuff where the discomfort of being bucked about on a hardtail just wears you out. If you really want to lock out, most decent full sussers now come with Fox pro-pedal shocks anyway, although a really well designed suspension setup (such as the DW Link on the Turner) means bugger all pedal bob, so you can usually just fit and forget the shock once you have dialled in the sag.
If I lived up North or in Wales, I would probably go for something around 140-160mm travel, but down South (and the odd trip to Wales etc), 120/100mm is just the right balance.
Take that Cannondale RZ, run away and don't look back... it's a steal!
Haha all so much clearer now 
Thanks for the comments they are very useful.
I've been riding a full suspension for a number of years now, the one i have wasn't a particularly good one (i actually intended to by a HT) but i'm now a full convert.
Can anybody explain the difference between the trance and the anthem, i understand the latter is lighter and has less travel.....i guess this makes it more of a xc machine? While i'm not a downhiller i want something that will absorb the impacts of my bravery combined with lack of skill.
ETA: Sorry for all the noob questions, i've been riding requarly for about 10 years but never really invested that much in mountain bikes (winter sports drain my cash) so a bit out of touch with whats hot and whats not.
Thanks for the comments they are very useful.
I've been riding a full suspension for a number of years now, the one i have wasn't a particularly good one (i actually intended to by a HT) but i'm now a full convert.
Can anybody explain the difference between the trance and the anthem, i understand the latter is lighter and has less travel.....i guess this makes it more of a xc machine? While i'm not a downhiller i want something that will absorb the impacts of my bravery combined with lack of skill.
ETA: Sorry for all the noob questions, i've been riding requarly for about 10 years but never really invested that much in mountain bikes (winter sports drain my cash) so a bit out of touch with whats hot and whats not.
Edited by waterwonder on Wednesday 8th June 13:34
trance vs anthem:
when i went into the bike shop the guy said the trance was more a downhill / trail bike, whereas the anthem was a more versatile all rounder for xc / single track and better suited for what i was going to use it for (riding in chilterns and the odd trip to swinley forest). in the end i went with the anthem as i thought it looked better. in any event the bike is much more capable than i am... a joy to cycle, very fast, light and comfortable. on line reviews (bikeradar) is extremely positive.
when i went into the bike shop the guy said the trance was more a downhill / trail bike, whereas the anthem was a more versatile all rounder for xc / single track and better suited for what i was going to use it for (riding in chilterns and the odd trip to swinley forest). in the end i went with the anthem as i thought it looked better. in any event the bike is much more capable than i am... a joy to cycle, very fast, light and comfortable. on line reviews (bikeradar) is extremely positive.
Raoul Duke said:
This Cannondale from Pauls Cycles would be my choice:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Front suspension only bikes are so much more feathery than full sussers, so unless your getting uplifts to the top of mountains and purely downhilling then i would forget the marketing hype and step away from anything with rear suspension. It just adds unnecessary weight. This is really just my two penneth worth, but I have a Cannondale hardtail and mates with full suss bikes, they are not really any quicker on descents and i have a definite advantage on the climbs.
Also it has a proper Cannondale fork, which really are superb once you get your head around the single strut construction.
are you serious? either your mates ride like mincers or your trails are for girls. seriously, not only should something like a good full susser be as quick on the rolling terrain (singletrack type) trails, but by locking out the suspension they should easily be able to climb as fast as you and on a good trail centre course like coed y brenin, when the gradient steepens they should be losing you on the twisty bits. http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Front suspension only bikes are so much more feathery than full sussers, so unless your getting uplifts to the top of mountains and purely downhilling then i would forget the marketing hype and step away from anything with rear suspension. It just adds unnecessary weight. This is really just my two penneth worth, but I have a Cannondale hardtail and mates with full suss bikes, they are not really any quicker on descents and i have a definite advantage on the climbs.
Also it has a proper Cannondale fork, which really are superb once you get your head around the single strut construction.
people dont choose full suspension to go downhill, they choose it to go faster or you are a rob warner and feel no fear?
i was a hardtail diehard till i saw the light....
Rob_T said:
trance vs anthem:
when i went into the bike shop the guy said the trance was more a downhill / trail bike, whereas the anthem was a more versatile all rounder for xc / single track and better suited for what i was going to use it for (riding in chilterns and the odd trip to swinley forest). in the end i went with the anthem as i thought it looked better. in any event the bike is much more capable than i am... a joy to cycle, very fast, light and comfortable. on line reviews (bikeradar) is extremely positive.
Thanks confirms my thoughts. when i went into the bike shop the guy said the trance was more a downhill / trail bike, whereas the anthem was a more versatile all rounder for xc / single track and better suited for what i was going to use it for (riding in chilterns and the odd trip to swinley forest). in the end i went with the anthem as i thought it looked better. in any event the bike is much more capable than i am... a joy to cycle, very fast, light and comfortable. on line reviews (bikeradar) is extremely positive.
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