Best xc/trail bike ? £2500-£3000

[PWE]

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

[rhinochopig]

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

[smifffymoto]

well I've ordered a Cannondale RZ120 1 without a test ride and that's 3000 Euro that I'm risking and it won't arrive until March.If I were you I would test a few out,for £2500-£3000 the selection is is vast.

[theboymoon]

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?

nothing useful to add other than it does look, just, lovely.

[anonymous-user]

yeti 575, when you absolutely, positively, have to waste everyone else on the trails...
http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/shop/custom-builds/ex...

[PWE]

pablo said:

yeti 575, when you absolutely, positively, have to waste everyone else on the trails...
http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/shop/custom-builds/ex...

That looks like a cool bike !!!

Do you know where there's a local retailer to camberley ?

[ratbane]

smifffymoto said:

well I've ordered a Cannondale RZ120 1 without a test ride and that's 3000 Euro that I'm risking and it won't arrive until March.If I were you I would test a few out,for £2500-£3000 the selection is is vast.

You'll love it. My Rize has had some thrashings since I bought her in Nov last year. Awesome bike. Tried all the competition, and the Dale was easily my favorite.

[Gooby]

What your question amounts to is a poll of what bike people have and why they like it.
So in this spirit, I will answer with zero impartiality.

I was put in the position where I had to buy a new bike with a budget of £3-4k. I test rode loads. Specialised, Commencal, Turner, Yeti, Lapierre, Orange, santa cruz, trek, gary fisher .....

I even rode some 29ers...

The one that won by a country mile was the Orange 5 SE. I got EVERY optional extra and a trike thrown in for my little boy, XTR clipless pedals the full monty all for £3500. The build is flawless, the kit is the best out there and the ride is unsurpassed. It will tackle every bit of trail without breaking or ruining your day and it puts a great big grin on your face.

[hondafanatic]

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

[ratbane]

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

Do tell, as if it's the one I'm thinking of - I agree on the assessment.

[rhinochopig]

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

MK1 Whyte 46. Shabby build quality. Appalling paint quality. Back end that is so flexy that it's like riding a jelly. Massive fork flex and poor reliability - TFT stopped handling them shortly after I'd sent the them back for the third time. Geo is awful when forks are compressed.

The only positive is that the rear suspension control is superb and it does offer a very plush ride down the fall line.

Still, I only have myself to blame as I didn't have the chance to properly test ride it, and was coming off the back of a hard-tail so anything full sus felt great.

[hondafanatic]

rhinochopig said:

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

MK1 Whyte 46. Shabby build quality. Appalling paint quality. Back end that is so flexy that it's like riding a jelly. Massive fork flex and poor reliability - TFT stopped handling them shortly after I'd sent the them back for the third time. Geo is awful when forks are compressed.

The only positive is that the rear suspension control is superb and it does offer a very plush ride down the fall line.

Still, I only have myself to blame as I didn't have the chance to properly test ride it, and was coming off the back of a hard-tail so anything full sus felt great.

Bugger.

[anonymous-user]

PWE said:

pablo said:

yeti 575, when you absolutely, positively, have to waste everyone else on the trails...
http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/shop/custom-builds/ex...

That looks like a cool bike !!!

Do you know where there's a local retailer to camberley ?

no idea but to be honest i would recommend taking a day out and going to see the guys at noahs. there muyst be a yeti dealer closer but if you let them know you are coming and they will probably sort out a test bike.

[hondafanatic]

pablo said:

PWE said:

pablo said:

yeti 575, when you absolutely, positively, have to waste everyone else on the trails...
http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/shop/custom-builds/ex...

That looks like a cool bike !!!

Do you know where there's a local retailer to camberley ?

no idea but to be honest i would recommend taking a day out and going to see the guys at noahs. there muyst be a yeti dealer closer but if you let them know you are coming and they will probably sort out a test bike.

I'm with Pablo here.

One of the bikes I ride is a Trek EX9. I bought it for £2200. But with your budget, I would have gone for the Yeti.

(I've not even ridden one, I've just always wanted a Yeti from having posters of them on my bedroom walls along with a Zasker LE which I do own)

On the Trek front, I love my 9, so a 9.8 can only be better.

[smifffymoto]

ratbane said:

smifffymoto said:

well I've ordered a Cannondale RZ120 1 without a test ride and that's 3000 Euro that I'm risking and it won't arrive until March.If I were you I would test a few out,for £2500-£3000 the selection is is vast.

You'll love it. My Rize has had some thrashings since I bought her in Nov last year. Awesome bike. Tried all the competition, and the Dale was easily my favorite.

I bought it on your recommendation and that the Cannondale dealers was the only shop that wanted to sell me a bike

[g_stacey]

Just spent a long weekend in North Wales. 16 different bikes. 16 riders who wouldn't swap to another bike. They all love what they ride. We are spoilt for choice. Go with your heart.

G.

[ratbane]

smifffymoto said:

ratbane said:

smifffymoto said:

well I've ordered a Cannondale RZ120 1 without a test ride and that's 3000 Euro that I'm risking and it won't arrive until March.If I were you I would test a few out,for £2500-£3000 the selection is is vast.

You'll love it. My Rize has had some thrashings since I bought her in Nov last year. Awesome bike. Tried all the competition, and the Dale was easily my favorite.

I bought it on your recommendation and that the Cannondale dealers was the only shop that wanted to sell me a bike

Scoots uphills, and laughs going down the other side! Superb design.

[Gooby]

rhinochopig said:

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

MK1 Whyte 46. Shabby build quality. Appalling paint quality. Back end that is so flexy that it's like riding a jelly. Massive fork flex and poor reliability - TFT stopped handling them shortly after I'd sent the them back for the third time. Geo is awful when forks are compressed.

The only positive is that the rear suspension control is superb and it does offer a very plush ride down the fall line.

Still, I only have myself to blame as I didn't have the chance to properly test ride it, and was coming off the back of a hard-tail so anything full sus felt great.

I would agree... shyte

[rhinochopig]

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

MK1 Whyte 46. Shabby build quality. Appalling paint quality. Back end that is so flexy that it's like riding a jelly. Massive fork flex and poor reliability - TFT stopped handling them shortly after I'd sent the them back for the third time. Geo is awful when forks are compressed.

The only positive is that the rear suspension control is superb and it does offer a very plush ride down the fall line.

Still, I only have myself to blame as I didn't have the chance to properly test ride it, and was coming off the back of a hard-tail so anything full sus felt great.

Bugger.

I suppose the lesson I learnt was to NEVER trust magazine reviews of stuff - be that Bikes or other stuff.

The problem is that unless you fit the medium frame you're knackered; getting an XL in any bike for a test ride is nigh on impossible.

[hondafanatic]

Gooby said:

rhinochopig said:

hondafanatic said:

rhinochopig said:

PWE said:

Is it worth pushing to 3.5k for the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 ?
Been looking at the Giant trance x1/Trek fuel ex 9 but don't know whether to go the extra grand for the 9.8 ?
Anyone here had any experience with these or similar bikes that i'm missing ?

Horses for courses. Book some test rides and make the decision yourself.

It's a trite response, but I have a 3k bike sat in the garage that I bought on the strength of MBR and MBUK 10 out of 10 reviews and quite frankly it's ste IMO.

What's the bike?

MK1 Whyte 46. Shabby build quality. Appalling paint quality. Back end that is so flexy that it's like riding a jelly. Massive fork flex and poor reliability - TFT stopped handling them shortly after I'd sent the them back for the third time. Geo is awful when forks are compressed.

The only positive is that the rear suspension control is superb and it does offer a very plush ride down the fall line.

Still, I only have myself to blame as I didn't have the chance to properly test ride it, and was coming off the back of a hard-tail so anything full sus felt great.

I would agree... shyte

You don't really see Whyte Shyte anymore....ahhhh....see what I did there?

- Sorry, I'm doing cash flow forecasts and I'm bored senseless.