Halfords Mountain bikes any good? A what bike thread!
Discussion
Thinking of buying a mountain bike to use on the Forest tracks (no intention to use on the road!) to get some exercise.
I haven't ridden a bike for around 7 years so a little rusty as to what is what.
I ideally want:
Alloy frame (light)
Disk brakes front and rear.
Full suspension? (At least front)
Gears that work!
I'm 6ft2 so around 20" frame?
I don't want to spend silly money, budget £3-400.
Came across this from Halfords which seems to fit the bill, does this seem ok?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
Or any recommendations for my requirements?
Cheers
I haven't ridden a bike for around 7 years so a little rusty as to what is what.
I ideally want:
Alloy frame (light)
Disk brakes front and rear.
Full suspension? (At least front)
Gears that work!
I'm 6ft2 so around 20" frame?
I don't want to spend silly money, budget £3-400.
Came across this from Halfords which seems to fit the bill, does this seem ok?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
Or any recommendations for my requirements?
Cheers
Edited by R1 Indy on Thursday 6th August 17:37
mickymellon1 said:
I'd also look at BTWin for that budget and for reviews on bikradar etc
Thanks, these look like a great bit of kit for low cost.Thinking this midrange option? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-540-mountain-...
i assume i would want the XL at 6"2?
I bought my voodoo aizan mtb from halfords, I got back into riding a couple years ago now (for the same reason as you OP) it was around £400.
This is the new one they sell now.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
Not had a problem with my 2013 model.
This is the new one they sell now.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
Not had a problem with my 2013 model.
I recently bought a BTwin rockrider 560 and I'm very pleased with it. I paid £500 but they are currently on sale at £400 which is an absolute bargain considering the kit that's on the bike. I ride mainly forest/canal trails with a bit of road and it is superb everywhere. Two year guarantee on all parts and lifetime on frame. Be quick though as I think it's a clearance sale!
The bike you have linked to isn't a good choice. I'd forget about full suspension at this price. The rear suspension on that one will be pointless and just adds weight/bounce.
Look at the Carrera or Voodoo range. The Vulcan may be about the right price. Aim for an air fork if possible.
Decathlon range is also good, but I don't know the exact models.
Look at the Carrera or Voodoo range. The Vulcan may be about the right price. Aim for an air fork if possible.
Decathlon range is also good, but I don't know the exact models.
Out of these two, is the second worth the extra £50?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-500s-full-sus...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-500-s-full-su...
Im not sure of the real difference, looks like a slight difference in the "drive train"?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-500s-full-sus...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-500-s-full-su...
Im not sure of the real difference, looks like a slight difference in the "drive train"?
The following (as pictured above) is a very good deal:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-560-mountain-...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-560-mountain-...
Thanks, no reason other than it sounds better in my head 
If i will get a "much" better bike for the money then I'm happy to go for just front suspension.
Is the 560 you linked to worth the extra over this 520? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain-...
If i will get a "much" better bike for the money then I'm happy to go for just front suspension.
Is the 560 you linked to worth the extra over this 520? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain-...
Quick look says yes.
Much better forks (search for Suntour XCR doesn't look promising but the Rockshox ones appear to have very favourable reviews). You're a good step up in the drivetrain too, can't go wrong with the SLX and Deore stuff, will go well and last. Not sure if the brakes are much better, I've only had Shimano ones and Avid cable ones.
I'd imagine most of the other components see a bit of a jump in quality too.
Much better forks (search for Suntour XCR doesn't look promising but the Rockshox ones appear to have very favourable reviews). You're a good step up in the drivetrain too, can't go wrong with the SLX and Deore stuff, will go well and last. Not sure if the brakes are much better, I've only had Shimano ones and Avid cable ones.
I'd imagine most of the other components see a bit of a jump in quality too.
R1 Indy said:
Thanks, no reason other than it sounds better in my head
If i will get a "much" better bike for the money then I'm happy to go for just front suspension.
The original Halfords bike you posted a link to is what can most politely be described as a BSO (Bicycle Shaped Object). In an industry where quoted weights need to be taken with a large pinch of salt, Halfords list it as 17kg, and that will be for the smallest frame size, probably without pedals. Given your size, I'd not be surprised if that bike ended up coming in at over 20kg for you! It would, quite frankly, put you off mountain biking for life! The rear suspension at that price point would just make you feel seasick, as it boinged around in an uncontrolled fashion, and the front forks probably wouldn't be any better either.If i will get a "much" better bike for the money then I'm happy to go for just front suspension.
As others have said, absolutely definitely go for a hardtail (front suspension only). As an example, take a look at the Boardman Pro Hardtail 29er which weighs in at 12kg.
OK, at this point, you point out that the Boardman is a £1,000 bike, and you'd be right! That leads on to suggestion number two, which is to consider buying second hand.
If you go for something a couple of years old, you'll be looking at paying half the RRP or less for it, which would put your £400 upper end budget in the £800-1,000 new cost window. For that sort of money, you'd be getting a very nice, sorted hardtail which would actually enhance your enjoyment of the sport, rather than put you off it!
The bike and component manufacturers would have you believe that the rate of progress in the industry is such that you might as well be riding a penny farthing if your bike isn't this year's latest model, but the reality is that you could buy a 2012 or 2013 bike now, and with a few exceptions, there won't be much difference beyond the paintjob and a few minor tweaks here or there to the spec. If a bike was good 5 years ago, you'll still have plenty of fun on it today. If it's s
t new, it's never going to get any better!Pretty much nothing to add to what Kermit power said.
In order of priority, given your budget...
1. A VERY good second-hand hardtail up to five years old
2. A brand new hardtail a few rungs down the ladder, specification-wise
3. Anything except that particular pig of a 'bike' from Halfords. Including walking
...I'm no Halfords-hater. They sell some very well regarded bikes. Voodoo Bizango springs to mind, as does the Boardman range, some of the Saracen bikes, and (for women) the Pendleton stuff. It's just that, at the lower end of the price range, their marketing machine seems to prey on unsuspecting newbies, selling them over-priced junk. The bike in your link will have come out of a Far East factory (not in itself a bad thing) and it's a 'pattern' frame. Any chain of discount shops can buy such a frame, and have it supplied in the paint and decals of their choice. In fact it's probably available far cheaper somewhere else. I'm a fan of Falcon bikes too. Just the 'proper' ones, back when they were independent, or the early Falcon/Claude Butler frames. Like lots of the traditional British names in cycle manufacture, they exist now in name only, the brand and it's trademarks swapping hands between venture capitalists, corporate investors, and modern bike companies looking for a 'sub-brand' that still carries a little of the cachet it once had, and used to 'hook' people who will think "oh, Falcon. I've heard of them" and buy because in their memory Falcon is a trusted British stalwart of the bicycle industry. See 'Planet X/ Holdsworth' for details.
Good luck with your search. I hope you enjoy whichever bike you end up buying. I'd be looking toward the B'Twin Rockrider 560 at £399.99 myself. Rockshox fork, Shimano Deore/SLX running gear, and hydraulic brakes at around 13kg. It looks like a great starter MTB.
In order of priority, given your budget...
1. A VERY good second-hand hardtail up to five years old
2. A brand new hardtail a few rungs down the ladder, specification-wise
3. Anything except that particular pig of a 'bike' from Halfords. Including walking
...I'm no Halfords-hater. They sell some very well regarded bikes. Voodoo Bizango springs to mind, as does the Boardman range, some of the Saracen bikes, and (for women) the Pendleton stuff. It's just that, at the lower end of the price range, their marketing machine seems to prey on unsuspecting newbies, selling them over-priced junk. The bike in your link will have come out of a Far East factory (not in itself a bad thing) and it's a 'pattern' frame. Any chain of discount shops can buy such a frame, and have it supplied in the paint and decals of their choice. In fact it's probably available far cheaper somewhere else. I'm a fan of Falcon bikes too. Just the 'proper' ones, back when they were independent, or the early Falcon/Claude Butler frames. Like lots of the traditional British names in cycle manufacture, they exist now in name only, the brand and it's trademarks swapping hands between venture capitalists, corporate investors, and modern bike companies looking for a 'sub-brand' that still carries a little of the cachet it once had, and used to 'hook' people who will think "oh, Falcon. I've heard of them" and buy because in their memory Falcon is a trusted British stalwart of the bicycle industry. See 'Planet X/ Holdsworth' for details.
Good luck with your search. I hope you enjoy whichever bike you end up buying. I'd be looking toward the B'Twin Rockrider 560 at £399.99 myself. Rockshox fork, Shimano Deore/SLX running gear, and hydraulic brakes at around 13kg. It looks like a great starter MTB.
Hardtail, every time. Seriously, don't even toy with a full-susser, you don't need it.
My advice is also to seek out something with a decent fork (e.g. even the cheapest Rockshox will be better than most of the Suntours fitted to almost all <£500 bikes) and it'll be a much better investment in the long run, and more pleasurable to ride to boot.
A few years ago I bought a Specialized Hardrock with a lowish-end Suntour XCM V3 and the fork is definitely the limiting factor with the bike. The trouble is, when looking for your first XC bike you don't really know what you should be looking for and aren't really equipped to assess the differences between bikes/forks, even assuming you are actually able to do worthwhile test rides.
After flinging it down hills for a year or two though and, critically, then trying a bike with a much better fork, I was able to appreciate the shortcomings of my own fork.
To change it now for a decent fork will cost at least 50% of the bike's purchase price though. As it is I'll probably wait until it is knackered and needing a rebuild then junk it. That makes me wish I'd researched things a bit better and sought out something better initially.
Of course, there is the alternative view that you ignore all the spec list guff and ride the arse off it anyway - it's not about the bike (yeah, right
)
EDIT: That B'Twin looks to be a perfect place to start.
My advice is also to seek out something with a decent fork (e.g. even the cheapest Rockshox will be better than most of the Suntours fitted to almost all <£500 bikes) and it'll be a much better investment in the long run, and more pleasurable to ride to boot.
A few years ago I bought a Specialized Hardrock with a lowish-end Suntour XCM V3 and the fork is definitely the limiting factor with the bike. The trouble is, when looking for your first XC bike you don't really know what you should be looking for and aren't really equipped to assess the differences between bikes/forks, even assuming you are actually able to do worthwhile test rides.
After flinging it down hills for a year or two though and, critically, then trying a bike with a much better fork, I was able to appreciate the shortcomings of my own fork.
To change it now for a decent fork will cost at least 50% of the bike's purchase price though. As it is I'll probably wait until it is knackered and needing a rebuild then junk it. That makes me wish I'd researched things a bit better and sought out something better initially.
Of course, there is the alternative view that you ignore all the spec list guff and ride the arse off it anyway - it's not about the bike (yeah, right
)EDIT: That B'Twin looks to be a perfect place to start.
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Friday 7th August 12:20
Just to add my voice to this, my MTB has a (low travel) rear shock. If I was buying again, I'd get a hardtail without a shadow of a doubt. You just don't want the extra weight or the pedalling inefficiency a rear shock brings. Unless you're into World Cup type downhill .
If this will be you:
Get full suspension
If this will be you:
Get a hardtail.
IMO
If this will be you:
Get full suspension
If this will be you:
Get a hardtail.
IMO
Sarkmeister said:
The following (as pictured above) is a very good deal:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-560-mountain-...
Get this bought - it's an amazing price for the spec.http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-560-mountain-...
Hardtail every-single-time at your price point.
I had a quick look on the Halfords site and spotted this
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
It's probably the best bike on there for the (top end) of your budget - it's a decent brand frame with entry-level parts, but they're all current standards so if the bug bites (and it often does) it can be upgraded.
As it stands it's not overly heavy - weight not a deal breaker on MTBs, but you don't want it to weigh as much as the moon. It's got hydraulic brakes which make all the difference when you're building confidence and it wears the new standard 650b (or 27.5" wheels) with good tyres - "future proof".
If you really get into it and want to go faster over rougher ground - the fork would probably be the first weak link - £200 will get you a good one, £400 a great one.
It's worth noting that Bike generally dip in price in September when the new ones come out (the MTB year runs sept-sept) and Halfords have has some massive discounts in the past.
I had a quick look on the Halfords site and spotted this
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
It's probably the best bike on there for the (top end) of your budget - it's a decent brand frame with entry-level parts, but they're all current standards so if the bug bites (and it often does) it can be upgraded.
As it stands it's not overly heavy - weight not a deal breaker on MTBs, but you don't want it to weigh as much as the moon. It's got hydraulic brakes which make all the difference when you're building confidence and it wears the new standard 650b (or 27.5" wheels) with good tyres - "future proof".
If you really get into it and want to go faster over rougher ground - the fork would probably be the first weak link - £200 will get you a good one, £400 a great one.
It's worth noting that Bike generally dip in price in September when the new ones come out (the MTB year runs sept-sept) and Halfords have has some massive discounts in the past.
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