Good cheapish hardtail

[JB8]

Following a house move, and renovation over the last 6 months, my old MTB has been neglected and needs c£200 spending on it to make it usable. It's an old, heavy frame which I don't really want to spend money on, so want to get a new bike instead.

Max budget is £700, and I'm after a hardtail which will mainly be used for cross country trails, canal paths, and an occasional bit of downhill. Nothing serious.

Top of the list is the Voodoo Bizango, which seems hard to beat at the price, but wondering if there is anything else I should consider?

Thanks

[Type R Tom]

Would you consider second hand?

[Maxeh]

Also in a similar boat, the Vitus Nucleus is a great shout but stock levels are very low at the moment.

That aside theres the Whyte 605, Trek Marlin 7, Canyon Grand Canyon.

Lot's of choice and I think all of them are fairly evenly specced, it will just come down to personal preference.

[JB8]

Type R Tom said:

Would you consider second hand?

Possibly. Realise £700 would get me a lot more 'bike' second hand, but wary of buying a something which has components towards the end of their lives.

I'm ok at bike maintenance, but not confident I'd be able to spot a lemon.

At my budget, what second hand bikes would I be looking at?

[JB8]

Maxeh said:

Also in a similar boat, the Vitus Nucleus is a great shout but stock levels are very low at the moment.

That aside theres the Whyte 605, Trek Marlin 7, Canyon Grand Canyon.

Lot's of choice and I think all of them are fairly evenly specced, it will just come down to personal preference.

Cheers. The Whyte is on my radar, will check out the others.

[Daveyraveygravey]

JB8 said:

Possibly. Realise £700 would get me a lot more 'bike' second hand, but wary of buying a something which has components towards the end of their lives.

I'm ok at bike maintenance, but not confident I'd be able to spot a lemon.

At my budget, what second hand bikes would I be looking at?

If you get lucky you could pick up something that has hardly been ridden. I was looking on Ebay the other week and anything with a 26" wheel seemed amazing value - everybody wants 29ers.

If I was buying new, I'd be looking at Calibre bikes, which are sold at Go Outdoors shops. I know you said Hard tail, but this seems hard to beat - http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-bossnut-full-s... Ok so it is nearer £900, but you deserve it!

[Type R Tom]

JB8 said:

Type R Tom said:

Would you consider second hand?

Possibly. Realise £700 would get me a lot more 'bike' second hand, but wary of buying a something which has components towards the end of their lives.

I'm ok at bike maintenance, but not confident I'd be able to spot a lemon.

At my budget, what second hand bikes would I be looking at?

I was thinking more along the lines of something someone has got on the cycle to work scheme and not used. There are some bargains to be had

[gazza285]

Just bought this for £750.



Hardly been used Cube Reaction GTC. Personally I'd buy a better bike second hand, if you are prepared to watch and wait there's some bargains on offer.

[Mave]

JB8 said:

Cheers. The Whyte is on my radar, will check out the others.

Are you eligible for cycle to work? I picked up a clearance 2016 Whyte 605 which was reduced to £410, which dropped to ~ £250 on C2W... Great bike for the price!

[JB8]

Don't fancy C2W, going to change jobs soon!

Some good suggestions on the second hand front, I'm not in any particular rush so will keep an eye out on eBay/gumtree.

Singletrackworld forum has a classified, but is there anywhere else to look?

Thanks for the input everyone!

[milu]

I've just bought a Diamondback heist 2.0. Available from big sport.com for £650. Good spec!

[The Mad Monk]

What about this one from Wiggle and you will get £500 change from your £700 budget?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/wiggle-mountain-bike/

[Maxeh]

Well after going around most bike shops in the south coast today I'm more confused than ever!

It appears you need to spend nearly £1k to get anything beefy and future proof...

Looking at the Trek X-Caliber 9/Superfly 5, Whyte 529, Grand Canyon AL SL 7.9.

It's a mind field!!

[The Mad Monk]

Maxeh said:

Well after going around most bike shops in the south coast today I'm more confused than ever!

It appears you need to spend nearly £1k to get anything beefy and future proof...

Looking at the Trek X-Caliber 9/Superfly 5, Whyte 529, Grand Canyon AL SL 7.9.

It's a mind field!!

Well I think you should get a Wiggle on!

[Greendubber]

Have a look at Vitus bikes, available from Chain Reaction & Wiggle.

I have just ordered a Vitus Sentier VRS, £999 down to £899, join British Cycling and get another 10% off and its a bargain. Great spec for the money, has excellent reviews and should be here tomorrow

[anonymous-user]

cubes are good racy bikes but i prefer Saracen and currently have a Voodoo Wanga, voodoo frames are rated highly.

[Maxeh]

I had my heart set on the Vitus Nucleus 29er or 275 but its out of stock everywhere.

Going to try see a Voodoo Bizango 29er in the flesh later.

[Greendubber]

Maxeh said:

I had my heart set on the Vitus Nucleus 29er or 275 but its out of stock everywhere.

Going to try see a Voodoo Bizango 29er in the flesh later.

Have you emailed Chain Reaction? Mine was out of stock so I emailed them, had an email saying a couple of weeks and then another saying they'd actually just come in. Worth an email.

[Hubris]

Another bizango owner here.

Great bike made even better with upgraded forks and dropper post.

[Maxeh]

Did you get yours in one of the Halfords sales? They seem to come along fairly frequently.

I do have the British Cycling discount which helps though.