£1,000 for a Trail Hardtail

[SteveS Cup]

Hi all,

I've just moved house and there are some great trails / woods on my doorstep now so I'd like to buy another bike!

I bought a Boardman Comp a few years back but I sold that as it wasn't getting used. I liked that bike but it was a bit small for me for longer rides.

I would still like something I can drop the seat on and head down hill but also something I can ride!

I just wondered if there's anything I've missed / not considered...


Vitus Bikes Sentier VRS

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/vitus-bi...

I've emailed to see when the medium / large will be back in stock - probably my favourite at the moment.


Commencal Meta HT AM Origin

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/commenca...

I really like this and both medium and large are in stock.


NS Bikes Djambo 2

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/ns-bikes...

Just come across this, I've always known NS Bikes to make jump bikes but this looks great!


Is there anything on any of these that stands out as not very good? I know £1,000 isn't the biggest budget to spend on a bike these days but it's a lot for me to spend on a bike so I'd like something that is fantastic out of the box.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Craikeybaby]

I'd also look at a Bird Zero.

[duff]

Whyte 805 looks good, with £100 off comes in on budget and I think rewards points too. Collect from store only though....

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/368310/products/why...

Edited by duff on Monday 12th June 13:14

[SteveS Cup]

Craikeybaby said:

I'd also look at a Bird Zero.

Way over budget unfortunately.

[Craikeybaby]

SteveS Cup said:

Craikeybaby said:

I'd also look at a Bird Zero.

Way over budget unfortunately.

Oops. They used to do a £999 build, but it looks like £1,100 is the cheapest now.

[Greendubber]

I have the Vitus and its a great bike. I fitted a brand X dropper when I got mine, with the British Cycling discount from Chain Reaction it would leave you about 100 quid in change including the dropper post.

I really dont think you can do better for the money.

[SteveS Cup]

Greendubber said:

I have the Vitus and its a great bike. I fitted a brand X dropper when I got mine, with the British Cycling discount from Chain Reaction it would leave you about 100 quid in change including the dropper post.

I really dont think you can do better for the money.

Hopefully they reply letting me know when they'll have stock!

[Greendubber]

SteveS Cup said:

Greendubber said:

I have the Vitus and its a great bike. I fitted a brand X dropper when I got mine, with the British Cycling discount from Chain Reaction it would leave you about 100 quid in change including the dropper post.

I really dont think you can do better for the money.

Hopefully they reply letting me know when they'll have stock!

I had to email as they had no XL in stock, they replied fairly quickly and said it would be a couple of weeks... I then had another email a few hours later from the same chap saying they had actually just arrived and I could have one.

Took a couple of days to arrive but it was packaged well and set up fairly well so its a thumbs up for Chain Reaction from me. Also came with a chain stay protector and bottle of touch up paint.

[SteveS Cup]

Greendubber said:

I had to email as they had no XL in stock, they replied fairly quickly and said it would be a couple of weeks... I then had another email a few hours later from the same chap saying they had actually just arrived and I could have one.

Took a couple of days to arrive but it was packaged well and set up fairly well so its a thumbs up for Chain Reaction from me. Also came with a chain stay protector and bottle of touch up paint.

How tall are younif you don't mind me asking??

I've always preferred a smaller bike (especially when I was younger and was in to jumps etc) but I made a mistake when buying my Boardman as it was just too small.

I don't like a big frame though but these newer Trail style frames seem shorter in height.

I'm 6ft but I'm leaning towards a medium. Sensible head would go for the Large but hey!

[SoliD]

I managed to bag a Scott Scale 735 2016 for 999 from Evans recently who price matched against Westbrook cycles, worth a punt if they're still available.

[Greendubber]

SteveS Cup said:

Greendubber said:

I had to email as they had no XL in stock, they replied fairly quickly and said it would be a couple of weeks... I then had another email a few hours later from the same chap saying they had actually just arrived and I could have one.

Took a couple of days to arrive but it was packaged well and set up fairly well so its a thumbs up for Chain Reaction from me. Also came with a chain stay protector and bottle of touch up paint.

How tall are younif you don't mind me asking??

I've always preferred a smaller bike (especially when I was younger and was in to jumps etc) but I made a mistake when buying my Boardman as it was just too small.

I don't like a big frame though but these newer Trail style frames seem shorter in height.

I'm 6ft but I'm leaning towards a medium. Sensible head would go for the Large but hey!

6' 4" with a 36" leg so had to go for an XL. Have you had a look at the Vitus sizing chart?

They have a fairly low top tube so mine doesnt look like an XL.

[poo at Paul's]

Pauls cycles have new 2014 Cannondale flash alloy 29ers in with lefty fork for around a grand IIRC.

Real quick, light bike

[yellowjack]

Orange Clockwork 120 for £995?



http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_...

Or one size 'L' @ £950 direct from Orange, as a return due to minor paint damage... https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory/ex_demo...


I might have been on one right now if they'd have had any stock left when I was buying last year.
Surely worth a sniff?

And the other one that's worth finding extra for (in my opinion) is the Bird Zero. Again, I might be on one of these, if the chaps at Bird hadn't been having issues with stock of wheels when I was buying. I ended up with a full sus Giant Anthem in the end, with a £600 saving to bring it under budget. But those two hard tails I've mentioned are still the front runners if I ever scrape together the budget to fund one...


Where abouts are you to have great trails on the doorstep? The Bird HQ is near Eversley, Hampshire and you can go see, and speak to the owners. If you're within travelling distance, of course. They also have demo bikes you can book, and plenty of good riding locally to try them out on.


For anyone else hankering after a new Orange bike, here's the factory outlet website for ex-demo, ex-magazine loaner, and 'factory seconds' bikes direct from Orange themselves... https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory

[SteveS Cup]

Not a huge fan of the Orange but I've just come across the Norco Fluid 7.2 HT Plus which was MBR's bike of the year? I need to do some proper research in to all of the standard components. MBR we're talking about clutches in the rear derailleur, I don't think I've ever come across that before!

[yellowjack]

So far as I can tell, after 16 months with a 'clutch' rear mech, the only real difference is that you get less "chain slap" and fewer chain derailments. It's been a very positive thing as far as I'm concerned. Basically a small lever on the derailleur body that stiffens up the spring to keep the lower return section of the chain pulled tighter, stopping it from bouncing around and smacking into the chainstay over rough rooty terrain.

Flip the switch to 'On' when you buy the bike, and leave it there. setting it to 'Off' is only to make things easier to do maintenance, when you actually want to be able to pull the chain to join or split it, or to take a wheel off and put it back on. I only notice the "clutch" when I don't put it to 'On' after working on the bike. It quickly reminds you to stop and turn it on again!

There may be some negative effects on component wear. Specifically the derailleur guide and tension pulley wheels, as I've changed them twice in 3,700 miles because the teeth become pointed, and chainrings as I've changed a set on this bike recently yet in the past I've only ever worn out one set on any previous bike. But again, that's what? An outlay of £60 over 16 months and 3,700 miles, with the benefit of a more secure, reliable chain/sprocket interface every single time you ride the bike. For trails and other off road riding, I wouldn't go back to a non-clutch rear derailleur now.

[yellowjack]

...oh, and that Norco Fluid? It looks like a good bet. I'm not in the market for a new bike at the moment so I find I'm not keeping up with the 'Bike of the Year' reviews and tests, to try to keep away from temptation.

[Craikeybaby]

yellowjack said:

Orange Clockwork 120 for £995?



http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_...

Or one size 'L' @ £950 direct from Orange, as a return due to minor paint damage... https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory/ex_demo...


I might have been on one right now if they'd have had any stock left when I was buying last year.
Surely worth a sniff?

And the other one that's worth finding extra for (in my opinion) is the Bird Zero. Again, I might be on one of these, if the chaps at Bird hadn't been having issues with stock of wheels when I was buying. I ended up with a full sus Giant Anthem in the end, with a £600 saving to bring it under budget. But those two hard tails I've mentioned are still the front runners if I ever scrape together the budget to fund one...


Where abouts are you to have great trails on the doorstep? The Bird HQ is near Eversley, Hampshire and you can go see, and speak to the owners. If you're within travelling distance, of course. They also have demo bikes you can book, and plenty of good riding locally to try them out on.


For anyone else hankering after a new Orange bike, here's the factory outlet website for ex-demo, ex-magazine loaner, and 'factory seconds' bikes direct from Orange themselves... https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory

Thanks for the sunset link, it is rare to see current season new Orange bikes at discount. I'm in the market for an Orange Four and they have the Pro version with £600 off, which brings it into budget, even if it isn't available in my first choice colour. Im hoping to use my local Orange dealers price match, but failing that, are Sunset any good? Have you used them before?

[yellowjack]

Craikeybaby said:

Thanks for the sunset link, it is rare to see current season new Orange bikes at discount. I'm in the market for an Orange Four and they have the Pro version with £600 off, which brings it into budget, even if it isn't available in my first choice colour. Im hoping to use my local Orange dealers price match, but failing that, are Sunset any good? Have you used them before?

Sunset just came up in the search results when I googled for the bike. I've not heard of them, nor used them before so I can't really say one way or t'other I'm afraid...

[Craikeybaby]

yellowjack said:

Craikeybaby said:

Thanks for the sunset link, it is rare to see current season new Orange bikes at discount. I'm in the market for an Orange Four and they have the Pro version with £600 off, which brings it into budget, even if it isn't available in my first choice colour. Im hoping to use my local Orange dealers price match, but failing that, are Sunset any good? Have you used them before?

Sunset just came up in the search results when I googled for the bike. I've not heard of them, nor used them before so I can't really say one way or t'other I'm afraid...

Thanks, hopefully I can get someone to price match them, ideally with the blue frame too.

[Ynox]

Used Sunset a lot when I lived in Cardiff.

They're a decent bike shop.