Getting into MTBing where do i start?

[Paddymcc]

Going to give this biking a bit of a go as the football is winding down sadly plus i have Bigwood and Rostrevor on my doorstep.

Whats a decent bike to get started on for doing some cross country and trails?


Something like this Giant Xtc 3 2011

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/giant-mtb-xtc-/...



Or better going for something like this new B'Twin 520 or a 540

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain...


or a second hand voodoo hoodoo

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/voodoo-hoodoo-h...


Or a bit more expensive than the others, a Voodoo Canzo:

https://www.donedeal.co.uk/adview/view/18485617

So much choice and dont want to make the same mistake when i bought my first road bike!!!!

Edited by Paddymcc on Tuesday 10th April 22:28

[mikey P 500]

Any of them look fine for starting out (my first bike in recent years MTBing again was a giant revel O (basically the same as giant XTC linked too) which was fine and a good way back in for me. I would certainly go for a hard tail rather than a full suspension bike as will learn more technical skills faster. Just accept you will want to upgrade either parts or whole bike as you get more into it.

[vwsurfbum]

Buy something cheap, as come the first proper ride you'll want to replace everything.

OR

take your budget, triple it, and after your first ride tyou'll want to upgrade everything.

[Harpoon]

Calibre Rake for £450 too steep?

https://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/...

[opieoilman]

I used to ride loads, but stopped for a few years. Last year I decided to start again and bought a Carrera Fury for about £430 as it had a really good spec for the money. As above, after a little bit of use, I wanted to change things (mainly little things like the grips and saddle as they were uncomfortable). After a couple of months, I started thinking I wanted full suspension and I've recently bought a Calibre Bossnut. I like the Carrera and I'm still keeping it to use with the kids, but the Calibre is a lot nicer. I wish I had heard of Calibre before as I probably would have gone for something like the one above. Also with some of the offers Halfords run, some of the Carreras and Voodoos can be bargains.

[Tall_Paul]

At your budget, go second hand - anything new at £250 probably won't last many rides without something breaking/bending. Look for a used voodoo bizango, they're a well specced bike for £500-600 new, should be a few about.

If you get into it, don't bother upgrading whatever you buy, you'll be better off saving your money and buying a 'proper' MTB, either new or used - new prices £500-£1500 will get a very good hardtail and £1000/£1500+ starts to get into decent full suspension territory.

Make no mistake, mountain biking isn't a cheap sport, but the technology that goes into bikes these days does justify the price.

[dhutch]

I've not bought a new bike for years, but if you can pickup up a low-hours Specialized Rockhopper on pinkbike or even eBay for your budget you could do a lot worse. You can pickup some bargains where people have bought a bike and then never used it.

On a hardtail the things to look for, aside from a frame that gets reasonable reviews, is the front forks and brakes, as well as maybe the drivetrain.

Like a car these components are much more expensive to buy standalone than with a new or used bike.
On the same note, be very wary of second hand bikes that might have had more use than servicing/replacements as part wear out reasonably fast and again cost a fortune.


Daniel