Help me decide £800-£1000 MTB
Discussion
Its fair to say i'm a novice, want to ride places like Sherwood pines and Dalby. Eventually progressing to somewhere like bike park wales on a boys weekend away.
I don't want to buy twice so there is a bit of pressure to get it right first time. I'm thinking hard tail, 650b rim size but after that i'm open minded. i'm 6ft and would prefer to feel like i'm sat in the bike not on top if that makes any sense.
Budget is fixed no higher than 1k inc pedals. I'm happy to consider ex demo or a last years model.
What would you recommend?
I don't want to buy twice so there is a bit of pressure to get it right first time. I'm thinking hard tail, 650b rim size but after that i'm open minded. i'm 6ft and would prefer to feel like i'm sat in the bike not on top if that makes any sense.
Budget is fixed no higher than 1k inc pedals. I'm happy to consider ex demo or a last years model.
What would you recommend?
I think if my next bike is a hard tail, I'm going to build up a Bird frame. They seem to get good reviews, British company set up by enthusiasts and they have Demo bikes right next door to the trails!
http://shop.birdmtb.com/
http://shop.birdmtb.com/
H100S said:
Its fair to say i'm a novice, want to ride places like Sherwood pines and Dalby. Eventually progressing to somewhere like bike park wales on a boys weekend away.
I don't want to buy twice so there is a bit of pressure to get it right first time. I'm thinking hard tail, 650b rim size but after that i'm open minded. i'm 6ft and would prefer to feel like i'm sat in the bike not on top if that makes any sense.
Budget is fixed no higher than 1k inc pedals. I'm happy to consider ex demo or a last years model.
What would you recommend?
The two places you mention are poles apart. I did a week of MTB with my lad last summer, we took in Dalby, Cannock, Sherwood, Forest of Dean. We also regularly ride Bedgebury and Swinley. I don't want to buy twice so there is a bit of pressure to get it right first time. I'm thinking hard tail, 650b rim size but after that i'm open minded. i'm 6ft and would prefer to feel like i'm sat in the bike not on top if that makes any sense.
Budget is fixed no higher than 1k inc pedals. I'm happy to consider ex demo or a last years model.
What would you recommend?
Dalby is Wales grade red, Sherwood is take your adventurous 8 years old red with the other trail centres listed above being somewhere inbetween. Your budget will get you a bike that will not break sweat in Sherwood and chosen well be just enough for Dalby.
Personally I'd be looking at a mid range Hardtail instead of an entry level full susser based on the trails you mentioned, the former will cope with both and the later is unnecessary at Sherwood and arguably no better at Dalby.
The Bird Zero.3 at £950 is getting great write ups and being a direct to consumer model gives great spec for the money (on my radar as N_1)
Edited by JustinF on Friday 29th May 00:25
A couple of others to consider.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sen...
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BX9/on-one-45...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sen...
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BX9/on-one-45...
In that price range I'd be looking at Vitus & Canyon or Cube if you need it from a local shop.
What you say about buying twice strikes a chord with me. Although I love my Kona hard tail, I bought with relatively little research as I just wanted to get back into biking quick. I sort of wish I'd gone for the Cube I had been looking at at the time as I've spent a fair bit just upgrading the Kona. That said, it was more or less all stuff that has worn out and would have needed replacing anyway as I've hammered the bike for the 13 months I've had it!
I would like to recommend Canyon, but what stopped me is the hassle of sorting things when they go wrong. A local bike shop should sort you out quickly, posting parts back to Germany when you have a problem is the trade off for that great price. A Cube bought from a shop to me offers the best of both worlds.
Like those Bird's, although if I was having another hard tail I'd without doubt be looking at Stanton or Cotic.
What you say about buying twice strikes a chord with me. Although I love my Kona hard tail, I bought with relatively little research as I just wanted to get back into biking quick. I sort of wish I'd gone for the Cube I had been looking at at the time as I've spent a fair bit just upgrading the Kona. That said, it was more or less all stuff that has worn out and would have needed replacing anyway as I've hammered the bike for the 13 months I've had it!
I would like to recommend Canyon, but what stopped me is the hassle of sorting things when they go wrong. A local bike shop should sort you out quickly, posting parts back to Germany when you have a problem is the trade off for that great price. A Cube bought from a shop to me offers the best of both worlds.
Like those Bird's, although if I was having another hard tail I'd without doubt be looking at Stanton or Cotic.
Built this last month for £900 - mix of SLX and XT with 15mm Rebas 120mm, MT66 wheels and Crank Bros cockpit. It's actually very easy to put a bike together and really interesting to select every component based on price / weight. 23lbs without pedals is not too shabby either for the money.
Thank you for all the replies, i'm finding the choice is just staggering. i have however grown fond of the Vitus Sentier VR, Cube Ltd Pro 27.5 or maybe a Norco Charger 7.1. should i choose to buy new.
Maybe got a option on a used Specilized Camber 2011 that a mate is debating selling. He will let me know in the next couple of weeks if he is selling. its a bike i know he has cherished however quite different to the bikes i mentioned before. I simply could not afford a new Camber.
Maybe got a option on a used Specilized Camber 2011 that a mate is debating selling. He will let me know in the next couple of weeks if he is selling. its a bike i know he has cherished however quite different to the bikes i mentioned before. I simply could not afford a new Camber.
JustinF said:
H100S said:
Its fair to say i'm a novice, want to ride places like Sherwood pines and Dalby. Eventually progressing to somewhere like bike park wales on a boys weekend away.
I don't want to buy twice so there is a bit of pressure to get it right first time. I'm thinking hard tail, 650b rim size but after that i'm open minded. i'm 6ft and would prefer to feel like i'm sat in the bike not on top if that makes any sense.
Budget is fixed no higher than 1k inc pedals. I'm happy to consider ex demo or a last years model.
What would you recommend?
The two places you mention are poles apart. I did a week of MTB with my lad last summer, we took in Dalby, Cannock, Sherwood, Forest of Dean. We also regularly ride Bedgebury and Swinley. I don't want to buy twice so there is a bit of pressure to get it right first time. I'm thinking hard tail, 650b rim size but after that i'm open minded. i'm 6ft and would prefer to feel like i'm sat in the bike not on top if that makes any sense.
Budget is fixed no higher than 1k inc pedals. I'm happy to consider ex demo or a last years model.
What would you recommend?
Dalby is Wales grade red, Sherwood is take your adventurous 8 years old red with the other trail centres listed above being somewhere inbetween. Your budget will get you a bike that will not break sweat in Sherwood and chosen well be just enough for Dalby.
Personally I'd be looking at a mid range Hardtail instead of an entry level full susser based on the trails you mentioned, the former will cope with both and the later is unnecessary at Sherwood and arguably no better at Dalby.
The Bird Zero.3 at £950 is getting great write ups and being a direct to consumer model gives great spec for the money (on my radar as N_1)
Edited by JustinF on Friday 29th May 00:25
OMG it's a forum first, OP stated a goal, the rest gave advice based on experience and didn't do horrendous budget creep, the OP listened and changed from his initial set-up, adjusted his purchase and is seemingly happy with the outcome!
I need a little lie down to get my head around it
I need a little lie down to get my head around it
The_Jackal said:
Just be aware, as a novice the urge to upgrade to a full susser will be huge once you take your hardtail to the trails for the first time.....just saying.
Decathlon, Go Outdoors and Halfords all do well respected sub grand FS bikes.
Just in case the OP thinks back on the above post in the future, I would say that the urge to upgrade to full susser is a "grass is always greener" thing, and not something that necessarily reflects reality.Decathlon, Go Outdoors and Halfords all do well respected sub grand FS bikes.
I bought my first non BSO mountain bike (a Spesh FSR XC Pro full susser) back in 2004. I eventually got round to replacing it just before Christmas with a Spesh Stumpjumper full susser. However, I also bought a second hand hardtail frame, and transferred over most of the components from my old bike.
This is the first time I've owned a hardtail, and I'm staggered at just how much I've been missing over the years! Yes, I have huge amounts of fun riding reasonably challenging trails on the Stumpy, but I've taken the hardtail round the red routes at Bedgebury and Haldon Forest with my kids (much the sort of riding the OP has in mind) and had an absolute blast whilst also thinking that if I'd taken the Stumpy, I'd be getting a bit bored because there wouldn't be any challenge.
Speaking as someone with 11 years riding full suss and 4 months riding hardtail, if I was forced to choose just one bike tomorrow and stick with it, I think I'd end up with the hardtail, albeit maybe one with a bit more suspension travel up front than my current 115mm.
Anyway... OP, nice bike! Have fun on it, and you can always rent a full susser for a weekend at some point when you've picked up more experience to see if you want one of those too!
Kermit power said:
Just in case the OP thinks back on the above post in the future, I would say that the urge to upgrade to full susser is a "grass is always greener" thing, and not something that necessarily reflects reality.
Agreed, full sus has its place and it really depends where you ride and how you ride on if it's worthwhile.Last night I went out on my Vitus 275 Rapide, hard tail 100mm forks and it reminded me what a perfect bike for the Chilterns it is, absolute no need or want of suspension here.
When I go to Cwmcarn or the Quantocks it'll be on my Commencal Meta Am 150mm full sus and that's the perfect bike for that terrain where the real fun is nailing it down fast rough rocky tracks.
If you never or hardly ever ride really rough stuff all suspension does is add weight and reduce efficiency.
Glad the OP is happy with the Vitus, Chain reaction is producing great bikes at great prices under the Vitus brand.
Thanks for all the kind words. I dont really have much of a benchmark so i can only report how i feel. The air shocks have 140mm of travel, this so me seems plenty. The hard tail and the 650b rim combination seems to ride roots and rough ground really well and does not feel too stiff either. The bike feels light and the wide bars are a absolute joy to use. The 180mm front and 160mm rear brakes feel powerful but progressive. The bike has given me a huge amount of confidence already to push myself. Right now i am the weak link.
A dropper post is something i'm considering, i have already smashed my tinter on a jump! Forgot to say the bike climbs really well and the riding position feels quite aggressive.
For the contributor who asked about the shocks, i have no real comparison however they appear well made, nice thick paint, very smooth in the action. The lock out is achieved by turning the dial at the top of the stanction unlike rockshox that seem to turn and click into place. Turning the dial gradually removes the travel in the shock. Its easy to do on the move too, i dont feel the need to fit a remote lockout just yet.
I chose Shimano Saints, they looked well made and i liked the wide grippy nature of the pedal. They seem to get good reviews and a good price on Chain Reaction.
Bike was £854 with free delivery.
A dropper post is something i'm considering, i have already smashed my tinter on a jump! Forgot to say the bike climbs really well and the riding position feels quite aggressive.
For the contributor who asked about the shocks, i have no real comparison however they appear well made, nice thick paint, very smooth in the action. The lock out is achieved by turning the dial at the top of the stanction unlike rockshox that seem to turn and click into place. Turning the dial gradually removes the travel in the shock. Its easy to do on the move too, i dont feel the need to fit a remote lockout just yet.
I chose Shimano Saints, they looked well made and i liked the wide grippy nature of the pedal. They seem to get good reviews and a good price on Chain Reaction.
Bike was £854 with free delivery.
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