You can never have too many What Bike Threads....

[TedMaul]

I have my Norco Sight 2 for big rides, but in the true spirit of Velomonati, I need a second bike as my 10 year old Marin snotter is deceased and cylce recycled.

Needs to be £750 there or therabouts
I'm 5'7" so 29" wheels feel like a penny farthing
Hardtail as needs to pull a trail gator
Light and fast enough to be fun when I crash the Norco... ahem
Discrete enough to leave on back of car with kids bikes at mway service stations

So a really decent quality, subtle, light hardtail... a bike for all seasons... Thus far I have:

Trek Elite 8.5 26"
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/elite-85-...

Cube Acid 650b but think out of stock my size
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-acid-27-5-...

Scott Scale 770 - non air fork and fiting an air fork makes it a 760 wchich is nearly a grand
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/scale-77...

I'm leaning towards the trek as great spec for the price and Norco is 26" wheels and spares will be round long enough for me at least

[MiseryStreak]

Funnily enough I just came on here to read some of these threads, my budget is a bit higher than yours (I want to max out the cycle to work allowance of £1,000 if possible) but I've come across some great bargains.

KTM Ultra 1964 650B Ltd. Edition - £949.00
http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/650_0005_...

On One 456 Evo Carbon - £1,099.00
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOO456CDEO/on-one-45...

Specialized Carve Comp - £950.00
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ca...

But I think this is the one for you, as it's a 26" wheel Scott which you seem to like and £300 off, so a £1,000 bike for within your budget:

Scott Scale 660 2013 - £698.99
http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/har_0081_...

Its bigger wheeled brother won MBR Best hardtail £1,000 category last year:
http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/scott-scale-960-review-9...


I'm ordering the KTM, I just love it.

[AC43]

I just bought a (very) lightly used 2013 Trek Cobia 29er which listed at £950 and retailed at £850+.

Similar spec to the Elite. Happy with it after the first 500 miles (of city commuting).

New it was on sale for about £100 less than the equivalently-specced Specialized.

FWIW I did swap out the saddle and grips for something more comfortable.

Edited by AC43 on Tuesday 25th March 16:13

[MiseryStreak]

I've just ordered mine, I have to wait until the end of April though as I'm a long streak of piss and need the circus freak 22.5" size.

I'm in love with it already.


http://www.ktm-bikes.at/en/bikes/hardtail.html?act...

Although I'll be fking pissed if I snap the orange spoke!
Have you made a decision on yours yet Ted?

[Gren]

I'd normally be looking for something from Canyon at that price https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html... but they only make hardtails with mahoosive wheels now

Discrete branding with quality frame and components.

[dienamic]

I got a good deal on a cube acid when I had a similar budget, what about a Radon?

http://www.radon-bikes.de/xist4c/web/ZR-Team-7-0_i...

26" with Reba fork, under £750 delivered

Edited by dienamic on Wednesday 26th March 13:16

[MiseryStreak]

That does look good value, a Reba fork is around £4-500 on its own.

There's a used 21" KTM Ultra 1964 Ltd 27 on Gumtrree going for £750 in South East London:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/-ktm-ultra-limit...

I'd get this myself but I doubt the seller is on the Cycle to Work scheme?

[TedMaul]

MiseryStreak said:

But I think this is the one for you, as it's a 26" wheel Scott which you seem to like and £300 off, so a £1,000 bike for within your budget:

Scott Scale 660 2013 - £698.99
http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/har_0081_...

Now that is one seriously good value piece of kit.... its now down to that one and the Trek thank you!

[MiseryStreak]

TedMaul said:

Now that is one seriously good value piece of kit.... its now down to that one and the Trek thank you!

The Scott Scale's are seriously nice bikes, great geometry and hydroformed tubing (which is even better than triple butted apparently). Trek's are also very good value though. Try and ride them both if you can (but that's advice I'm not taking myself as I've just ordered a bike over the internet without even seeing it, which is pretty bloody stupid).

[TedMaul]

MiseryStreak said:

TedMaul said:

Now that is one seriously good value piece of kit.... its now down to that one and the Trek thank you!

The Scott Scale's are seriously nice bikes, great geometry and hydroformed tubing (which is even better than triple butted apparently). Trek's are also very good value though. Try and ride them both if you can (but that's advice I'm not taking myself as I've just ordered a bike over the internet without even seeing it, which is pretty bloody stupid).

I rode a lesser spec Trek with same frame and the 27.5" scott equivalent as all I could fine. WAs planning to wfh Tuesday and have the bike delivered then but have to be in the office now, but think the Scott is perfect... see whether I change m mind by Wednesday when I order