Best hardtail for £1300?

[Nubbin]

OK chaps, give me some ideas - my insurance are willing to pay up to £1300 for a bike, but only from www.bikereplacement.co.uk (i.e. Wheelies) so I'm limited to Cannondale, Specialized, Giant, a couple of Konas, and Felt Nine.

My reaction is just to max. out the cash, which means a Cannondale Trail SL 1, but any thoughts?

[Watchman]

No chance of a Whyte 901 then?

[Vladimir]

What sort of hardtail would suit you? Full on racer XC or something a bit more versatile?

I had a pretty focussed Stumpjumper and it was fast but a PITA downhill. I changed the frame to a Cotic Soul, fatter tyres, riser bars and it became MUCH more fun!

[anonymous-user]

depends what you really want to be honest, given you are considering the Cannondale, some form of do-it-all kind of thing with an XC bias, then I would look at a 29er, the Merida big nine has some nice spec kit and it will cover the ground quickly.

If 29ers dont appeal, I'd probably opt for the Charge Cooker Hi, its a nice steel frame and 20 speed is definately the way forwards. Modern steel frames are considerably more responsive than their counterparts these days and are a lot of fun to ride.

[Nubbin]

It's a very restricted list - Giant, Cannondale, Specialized Carve Comp, Bianchi 26.5 genesis 265 Zaskar 9R Elite, and a Merida Big Nine TFS XT.

I'm a cruising trail rider, nothing hardcore unless I get a bit of downhill lumpy stuff, and I ride to work on roads and old rail beds. Trouble is if I ask for the money rather than a bike, I only get £1000 because the £1250 includes accessories. It was a Boardman Pro that was stolen which was incredible spec for the money, and hard to match from the list I have available.

[Vladimir]

Does it have to be current?

This is a rather tasty XC bike:

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p48854/Cannondale-Flash-...

And this is a decent nutters loon bike:

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p56682/Kona-Taro-2013-Mo...

Edited by Vladimir on Monday 25th February 19:51

[anonymous-user]

I think the Merida sounds ideal then, dont worry about spec, it will be far better than the 2014/5 bikes!

[Nubbin]

Vladimir said:

Does it have to be current?

This is a rather tasty XC bike:

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p48854/Cannondale-Flash-...

And this is a decent nutters loon bike:

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p56682/Kona-Taro-2013-Mo...

Edited by Vladimir on Monday 25th February 19:51

I don't know if I have to choose from the "bike replacement" section, but I'll ring tomorrow and ask - I'm loving the Carbon Cannondale, and the Taro is available as well. Mmmmmm, carbon.... (rubbing thighs vigorously!)

[Vladimir]

Nubbin said:

I don't know if I have to choose from the "bike replacement" section, but I'll ring tomorrow and ask - I'm loving the Carbon Cannondale, and the Taro is available as well. Mmmmmm, carbon.... (rubbing thighs vigorously!)

The 'Dale is a great spec too but it's definitely a very racy XC bike (e.g. fork travel is only 80mm) - if that's what you fancy, go for it! It'll weigh naff all!

[TAZ 215]

The market for hard tails is 29er led, and for the riding you describe a 29er would be a great choice.

Most brands are dropping 26" wheel hard tails and swapping to 29er and 650b.

[billzeebub]

Cannondale or Specialized for me..but maybe that's just my prejudices! Aways had bikes from those manufacturers

[Nubbin]

I'm giving Wheelies a ring this morning to see what they say about choice - being over 15stones, any weight saving for me is a bonus, or a waste of time, depending which way you look at it! A couple of reviews on the Cannondale Carbon suggest the shifters are a bit sticky and the brakes are noisy. But it's a great looking spec and a nice frame...

[anonymous-user]

sticky shifting is either cheap cables, bad cable routing or poorly aligned mechs and noisy brakes are either new pads on new discs or contamination on one of those. Neither should put you off a bike!

[Vladimir]

Nubbin said:

I'm giving Wheelies a ring this morning to see what they say about choice - being over 15stones, any weight saving for me is a bonus, or a waste of time, depending which way you look at it! A couple of reviews on the Cannondale Carbon suggest the shifters are a bit sticky and the brakes are noisy. But it's a great looking spec and a nice frame...

Are you tall? 29er may suit. Sub 6ft and I would stick with a 26.

[anonymous-user]

Surely rider height has very little to do with the difference between a 26" and 29" wheel bike as the geometry is altered to suit? I'd need a day on one to see if I believe the marketing hype surrounding them but I see lots of sub six footers on them these days.

[Nubbin]

I'm 6' 2" but I suppose the frame size will sort it out. I'm just ringing Wheelies to see if I can have the cash rather than a bike, so I can widen my choice.

[Vladimir]

pablo said:

Surely rider height has very little to do with the difference between a 26" and 29" wheel bike as the geometry is altered to suit? I'd need a day on one to see if I believe the marketing hype surrounding them but I see lots of sub six footers on them these days.

I'm fairly well connected in the industry and believe me, look past the hype and most can't understand the hype around 29ers.

However if you're 6ft plus, it makes sense and looks "right" on a big frame. Sub 6ft and you look like you haven't grown into your bike yet.

I've ridden a 29er (with a frame to fit) and it was just odd. Will stick to my 26; I'm only 5'8" anyway!

[TAZ 215]

As always the right bike is personal and dependent on what you use it for.

A national champion rider friend of mine has won everything on a 26" super lightweight full suspension bike despite all the competition being on according to conventional wisdom, faster 29ers.

A man who can take 4 mins out of a national level field is obviously capable regardless of the bike.

This year he has a Superlight 29er hard tail but he still has the 26".

World class XC and marathon racing is predominantly now 29er or 650b certainly at that level the hype seems to be believed and covers even very small riders.

[Fluffsri]

Im surprised at the limits. Its been a while but I had my Orange E8 damaged ( i have an accidental damage policy) and the insurance company through wheelies stumped up for a brand new Orange no questions asked. Surely they should replace like for like?

[Nubbin]

Got the insurance money rather than a bike, so I think I will replace like for (nearly) like and try to get hold of a carbon framed Boardman. But I'll go for a hardtail rather than the hybrid that got nicked. I might buy a reasonable set of 29er wheels to try out as an option. Boardman has 29ers on the current framests on their main website. At least I have the option then. Thanks for all the really helpful comments guys!