Which 6" trail bike on a budget?

[Darkslider]

Hey guys, I know this is a mostly roadie forum and I find it great for discussing my commutes on the road bike and such, but I know there's a few mountain bikers in here so after some options!

I want a long, low and slack 6" travel trail bike, something with a DH bike feel that I can happily spend all day on. Loads out there I know but my budget is the issue, needs to be a good chunk under £1k for a full bike (2nd hand obviously) and closer to £750 would be preferable.

All I've managed to come up with so far is the Specialized Pitch, it seems £700 will get you a good 2011 Pro or Comp model all day long on Ebay, and in their class they are the longest wheelbase and slackest headangle which is what I'm after. Are there any other contenders out there that I might not have thought of? Needs to be something that is likely to come up second hand so no niche/rare brands I suppose. I'm just a bit out of the loop when it comes to newer bikes as everything else I own is at least 8 years old!

[alfabadass]

2nd is the best way but even then it'll be something old a that level.

Or check out Vitus bikes on CRC. It's their own brand

[Darkslider]

Yeah I'm skint so definitely going second hand no question. Just wanted to see if anyone had any alternatives to the Pitch as that's all I'm looking for on Ebay at the mo.

[BOBTEE]

A fiver under a grand... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lapierre-spicy-216-all-m...

[Flippin' Kipper]

How about a Trek Remedy, this went for £840




Giant Reign, went for £950



Santa Cruz Heckler, for £1040

[Darkslider]

Some good suggestions there guys I'll add those onto my morning search list on the Bay! The Trek especially looks a good deal, I'll do some research into the specs of each one to see how they stack up.

[P-Jay]

Spicy's come up at about a grand sometimes, I only gave £1100 for mine about a year ago, but I was lucky with the auction and it needed some work. They're great, but sold in huge, huge numbers so are always available.

I'd avoid anything not wearing 36s, they don't ride nearly as well.

Obviously you want to ideally try before you buy, so much bullst goes on with bikes on eBay / Pinkbike.

[timbo48]

Two pitches in the family, still worth a look.

[Darkslider]

P-Jay said:

Spicy's come up at about a grand sometimes, I only gave £1100 for mine about a year ago, but I was lucky with the auction and it needed some work. They're great, but sold in huge, huge numbers so are always available.

I'd avoid anything not wearing 36s, they don't ride nearly as well.

Obviously you want to ideally try before you buy, so much bullst goes on with bikes on eBay / Pinkbike.

I'm good mates with the local LBS owner (were mates before he started the shop up) he used to deal in Lapierre but doesn't anymore, gave them the nickname Snapierre after the huge amount of warranty replacements he had to process! As beautiful as they look I want something that can take a bit of abuse coming from a downhill background!

[P-Jay]

Darkslider said:

P-Jay said:

Spicy's come up at about a grand sometimes, I only gave £1100 for mine about a year ago, but I was lucky with the auction and it needed some work. They're great, but sold in huge, huge numbers so are always available.

I'd avoid anything not wearing 36s, they don't ride nearly as well.

Obviously you want to ideally try before you buy, so much bullst goes on with bikes on eBay / Pinkbike.

I'm good mates with the local LBS owner (were mates before he started the shop up) he used to deal in Lapierre but doesn't anymore, gave them the nickname Snapierre after the huge amount of warranty replacements he had to process! As beautiful as they look I want something that can take a bit of abuse coming from a downhill background!

Yeah I heard the same, I think some of the MK1 frames had issues, you don't see many about these days - I know all Spicys since 2010 have had rider weight limits of 100Kgs.

But what I DO know is I've had two (first got nicked) I've ham-fistedly bashed them around all the trail centres, bike park Wales and the Alps and never had an issue - and I weigh more than 100Kgs.

I have however cracked my Endruo, a 2006 era bike usually thought of as one of the best / toughest bikes of it's type to ever turn a wheel.

I really wouldn't let 'Snapierre' put you off, catchy names stick, I still know people who say "ooo Snapandfail" every time they see a Cannondale, 10 years after they had some frames go.

[P-Jay]

timbo48 said:

Two pitches in the family, still worth a look.

Good bikes, I'd take one over a Enduro of the same era, so upgradable too!