Something very tough for under £400?
Discussion
Looking for some recommendations for a tough bike, preferably available in a range of sizes, to be used by inexperienced riders off road. Preferably with discs and hardtail frames.
So far have looked at Specialized Hardrock Sport and P1 All mountain, but also wondering what brands if any would be best suited to this kind of purpose. Bikes would need to last a minimum of 2 years any ideas?
So far have looked at Specialized Hardrock Sport and P1 All mountain, but also wondering what brands if any would be best suited to this kind of purpose. Bikes would need to last a minimum of 2 years any ideas?
I bought a Spesh HRS before Xmas & so far I've been very impressed with it.
Good thing about Specialized is, you get a lifetime Guarantee on the frame
BTW, I know next to f
k all about bikes, so I expect someone will pop along shortly & tell me to wind my neck in
Good thing about Specialized is, you get a lifetime Guarantee on the frame
BTW, I know next to f
k all about bikes, so I expect someone will pop along shortly & tell me to wind my neck inEdited by ol' dirty on Monday 2nd February 12:37
Is that the 09 Hardrock? Where's the chunky rear triangle and industrial looking head tube gone 
I know spesh know what they are on about, and the new design is bound to be lighter and stronger, just a shame it looks a little less hardcore.
Anyway, can confirm they are good budget bikes. Does the OP require them for hiring out, or something? Why not look for a stockist with a load of 08 models kicking about that they might want to deal on for a sensible discount for bulk.
I know spesh know what they are on about, and the new design is bound to be lighter and stronger, just a shame it looks a little less hardcore.Anyway, can confirm they are good budget bikes. Does the OP require them for hiring out, or something? Why not look for a stockist with a load of 08 models kicking about that they might want to deal on for a sensible discount for bulk.
i doubt a warranty would be valid on a hire ike but its worth investigating. cheaper specilaized bikes are bombproof but really heavy and not the ideal choice for a beginner. i still think you pay for the name to a large extent and the bikes are overpriced. have a look at claud butler, dawes, saracen or raleigh. they should have something to suit, you wont be paying for the name and they will be reasonably strong with suitable components. if the bikes are for inexperienced riders, its unlikely they will need venture onto anything too serious (i guess its mostly fire road stuff etc) so something comfortable and reliable would be more suitable in terms of geometry and components.
Bikes wouldn't be for hire, more to be used by teenagers, mainly on forest trails nothing too serious.
Have spoken to a couple of bike shops and they are very helpful but also push the brands they get the best deals on themselves, the main bits I need to be tough are the wheels and the geary components and that doesn't seem to easy to work out.
Have spoken to a couple of bike shops and they are very helpful but also push the brands they get the best deals on themselves, the main bits I need to be tough are the wheels and the geary components and that doesn't seem to easy to work out.
the wheels arent likely to take that much punishment on forest trails and fire roads, unless the kids aim for potholes etc to "test the suspension" or something. even then, with some regular TLC they should be upto the job.
same with gears really, if each bike is well maintained, fresh cables every now and then, well lubed derailleurs etc, even cheap components shouldnt be too much of an issue. of course if you dont look at the bikes week in week out and give them to teenagers to ride, you wil lobviously get a higher proportion of component failures.
as i said, if its anything like 10+ bikes, go wholesale not to shops and speak to raleigh, dawes or saracen. shops will naturally push brands at you but you wont get a good deal and they will sell you what they get the most £££ for!
same with gears really, if each bike is well maintained, fresh cables every now and then, well lubed derailleurs etc, even cheap components shouldnt be too much of an issue. of course if you dont look at the bikes week in week out and give them to teenagers to ride, you wil lobviously get a higher proportion of component failures.
as i said, if its anything like 10+ bikes, go wholesale not to shops and speak to raleigh, dawes or saracen. shops will naturally push brands at you but you wont get a good deal and they will sell you what they get the most £££ for!
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Something like that would be good as the deore stuff is pretty bomb proof (some of the stuff on my bike is 7/8 years old and new cables/jockey wheels and there as good as new). I'd prefer the hardrock to the p1 for riding as i think the p1 is a bit more style over substance where as the hardrock will take loads of abuse.
Something like that would be good as the deore stuff is pretty bomb proof (some of the stuff on my bike is 7/8 years old and new cables/jockey wheels and there as good as new). I'd prefer the hardrock to the p1 for riding as i think the p1 is a bit more style over substance where as the hardrock will take loads of abuse.
W00DY said:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Something like that would be good as the deore stuff is pretty bomb proof (some of the stuff on my bike is 7/8 years old and new cables/jockey wheels and there as good as new). I'd prefer the hardrock to the p1 for riding as i think the p1 is a bit more style over substance where as the hardrock will take loads of abuse.
if the objective was to "rntice" the person to hire the bike, a brand name might be a good idea. if they are already there however (like centerparcs as an example) then its irrelevant. they will ride what you give them.Something like that would be good as the deore stuff is pretty bomb proof (some of the stuff on my bike is 7/8 years old and new cables/jockey wheels and there as good as new). I'd prefer the hardrock to the p1 for riding as i think the p1 is a bit more style over substance where as the hardrock will take loads of abuse.
personally i think cheap disc brakes (mechanical or hydraulic) are as useful as cheese. well set up v-brakes are far more effective too. at £400 there is a compromise to be made somewhere and for hire bikes its not brakes... disc brakes on cheap bikes are to entice punters to part with their cash, the punter thinks "old style (v-brakes) or disc brakes? expensive bikes have disc brakes, disc brakes must be good....." and top qulaity disc brakes are good, but at the other end of the pricing scale.....
http://www.saracencycles.com/index.php?option=com_... saracen element 2, looks ok, a bit "off-roady" and if well maintained, will easily take whatever a teenager on a forest path could throw at it....
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 4th February 16:24
Cheers, Pablo. As you say the bikes are not for hire but to be used by people already here so brand is largely irrelevant. The shops I have spoken to have all told me discs are a better option but the bikes that I have looked at the only component difference has been the brakes and that is accounting for a £60-100 price difference. I have also been offered reasonable discounts but am about to try ringing a couple of british based manufacturers directly.
at the price differential dealing directly. My 12-14 bike order may now swell. 
Virtual pint for Pablo 
as I would have overlooked going direct. Thanks to PH, well a suggestion made here by Pablo. I have saved a shed load of money on bikes by buying at trade price (-50% of RRP) from the manufacturer. Meaning I now have much more to spend on spares and tools to keep them running properly. I have also thrown one in for myself so I can get back into riding on something thats not 12 years old.
Chris_w666 said:
Thanks to PH, well a suggestion made here by Pablo. I have saved a shed load of money on bikes by buying at trade price (-50% of RRP) from the manufacturer. Meaning I now have much more to spend on spares and tools to keep them running properly. I have also thrown one in for myself so I can get back into riding on something thats not 12 years old.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff