What hardtail bike secondhand for around the £200 mark

[dubbs]

Can anyone give me any advice as to buying a secondhand hard tail? I'm expecting....

2009ish model
Mainstream make but decent - Trek/Spec/Kona/Cannondale/Scott/etc.,
Hardtail with propr front shocks rather than elastomer
Reasonable spec with disc brakes


Reckon around £200 should get me something decent - I'm looking around now for one on a medium frame for general basic XC as getting missus in to cycling for fitness plus us walking the dog longer distances.

Sound about right? Feel free to PM me if you have any suggestions sitting unused in the garage of your mind

[Gizmoish]

Elastomer shocks?

Like the Raleigh Activator?

[Matt106]

Have a look on Pinkbike, the buy/sell forum is good and you can pick up some bargains.

[dubbs]

Like the 2005 Specialized Rockhopper range

I changed mine on that bike for Rock Shock Reba's (I think) - still have that one but sold the all singing and dancing Ibis Mojo as it was just gathering dust - shame.

[dubbs]

Thanks will check that out.

[nammynake]

You're probably going to struggle to find anything "good" for £200. Bike residuals tend to be pretty strong. You will find something for £200 but I suspect it won't have the spec you expect.

[Rolls]

I bought a planet x small womens MTB complete with XT groupset (and disc brakes), with carbon forks for 180 off of ebay. (admittedly the groupset is a few years old, but works perfectly!)
Transfered the lot onto my old Trek 8500 frame for my brother to use - perfect bike for him for under 200!
Keep your eyes open - there are certainly deals out there!

[anonymous-user]

The problem is despite the bike having "proper front shocks", they could be utterly fked if they haven't been maintained and are dry or have worn out seals, drivetrains could be worn out (chains, cassettes, chain rings) etc too. there are bikes out there for £200 but temper your expectations, the spec when new was probably very good, after three or four years of riding and a quick spray with wd40, it will most likely need money spent on it in the short term.

sorry to be doom and gloom but its better to be aware of these things when looking at a s/h bike.

[scubadude]

dubbs said:

Like the 2005 Specialized Rockhopper range

Exactly what I have- donated for free by brother after one of his many upgrades, still going strong with weekly rides with the MTB club, keeps up with the current spec £3000+ carbon full-sus wonder bikes... or perhaps the riders are all sh*te and I'm a god? (although it seems unlikely)

If you have a few tools and service yourself (why wouldn't you, only a fool takes a bike to a shop for servicing) then keeping the drivetrain and forks in top condition is easy.

The best thing about a "cheap" bike is if you prang it and totally write it off you don't need to sell a body part to replace it :-)

[dubbs]

pablo said:

The problem is despite the bike having "proper front shocks", they could be utterly fked if they haven't been maintained and are dry or have worn out seals, drivetrains could be worn out (chains, cassettes, chain rings) etc too. there are bikes out there for £200 but temper your expectations, the spec when new was probably very good, after three or four years of riding and a quick spray with wd40, it will most likely need money spent on it in the short term.

sorry to be doom and gloom but its better to be aware of these things when looking at a s/h bike.

I think these are all common sense and completely right however, as most of us are reasonable aware, I'd hope I can pick out a fooked one from a non-fooked one

Now just to find the right steed for the right price..... what sort of frame/year combination do we think I could get for that money? Spec Rockhopper? Trek 6700? Hydraulic discs all round a must.

[Justin Cyder]

I picked up a 2010 Rockhopper off the bay for £280 & it's fine. They are out there if you keep an eye out.

[gog440]

why buy second hand?
Just bought one of these (the 20d) and I like it a lot http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/mounta...