Which would you choose?

[slf2012]

Looking for a mountain bike, wanting full suspension and have been holding on for a Boardman FS Team. Halfords haven't been able to source one in the right size and now tell me tit is no longer being produced as there is a new range coming out "in September". Having said that, they can't tell me when they will be available, and the Boardman website still shows the old models.

Getting a bit tired of waiting, a friend lent me a Carrera Banshee X which has been a good bike.

I now want to buy, and am caught between either a Banshee X or a Focus Super Bud 3.0. Specs of the two are as follows;

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/focus-sup...

Which would you buy, or would you wait for the new Boardman FS Team model equivalent;

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtb/fs_team.html

[anonymous-user]

I wouldnt bother with full suspension, you are reducing the quality of the ride because to get a full sus bike for that money, the manufacturers have to spec poor quality components to make it all fit. The rebound and scope to adjust the forks and shock will be limited and the bike will weigh a fair bit too.
For £800, you will get a good hardtail which will be far more enjoyable.

[slf2012]

Thanks for the feedback. What would you recommend in terms of hard tail?

[daddy cool]

I have the Boardman Team FS (in medium) - its absolutely brilliant for the money. My times in Swinley forest are way better than with my old GT hardtail. Its also surprisingly light - lighter than that Banshee you listed, and the spec is way better (Sram X7 vs X5 for example). I cant imagine going back to hardtail now, unless it was a very expensive ultra light carbon one. We did Brechfa and Afan Forest a couple of weekends ago, with my mate on His Trek Fuel EX costing 3 times as much... it wasn't 3 times better!
Do you need a particularly rare size (small or large or something?) - they might be able to order it in.
Tip - join British Cycling (for as low as about £18) and that gives you 10% off anything in Halfords (not just bikes). Wait for the regular 10% off bikes event, and you would have a Team FS for ~£850, instead of £1050. Also, order through Quidco and eventually you'll get ~£30 cashback too.

[Thermonuclear]

Agreed with the comment above re: don't waste your time on full suspension. Hard-tail will suffice for 95% of the time. To be quite honest, I could easily cope with solid forks too if it wasn't for the fact that I already have suspension.

I'm not sure on exact prices but it might be worth keeping an eye on some of the last year models sales that crop up. A few years ago I got a spanking superseded Specialized StumpJumper for peanuts. Or have a look on ebay as occasionally something really good crops up there at a bargain price.

[anonymous-user]

I'd get this Radon but I appreciate its not a well known brand with a heavy UK presence and it will need (very) minor spanner activity when it arrives. I wouldnt worry about what if it breaks scenarios, should anything happen it will be a branded part like the forks, brakes and drivetrain. Given the spec, for that money though, its all mid level which from my experience is reliable. It weights 25.3lbs, thats going to make it damn fast!
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/a86732/zr-r...

[bingybongy]

That Radon looks superb.

[bingybongy]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=3...

Also nice.

[Theoldfm]

pablo said:

I'd get this Radon but I appreciate its not a well known brand with a heavy UK presence and it will need (very) minor spanner activity when it arrives. I wouldnt worry about what if it breaks scenarios, should anything happen it will be a branded part like the forks, brakes and drivetrain. Given the spec, for that money though, its all mid level which from my experience is reliable. It weights 25.3lbs, thats going to make it damn fast!
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/a86732/zr-r...

+1

[seadragon]

Me too for the Radon, great bikes. I almost bought one as I wanted great spec for the money but got a great deal on a 2012 Vitus Rapide 1 (from Chain Reaction cycles), which also came with a great spec.