Need a new bike, not a clue where to start
Discussion
Hello! Don't think I've ever ventured to this section of PH before.. would be grateful for some help. Have not really ridden a bicycle for a few years after getting a car then motorbikes etc, but went out the other day on my old Marin and really quite enjoyed it. Plus I want to get fit again and running bores the life out of me!
Ideally I want a mountain/trail bike (forgive me if there's a difference but they look the same to me). I'm 6ft2 and about 13.5st... I have got absolutely NO CLUE what wheel size, or frame size I want. All I know is I want a mountain type bike, hard tail but suspension forks that is reasonably comfortable and light. My old Marin is totally solid and also has flat bars, I got on ok with it at 16/17 yrs old but 6 years down the line and a car and a motorcycle accident under my belt I found the thing horrendous on my neck yesterday as it was very much seat up and bars down.
The GF's brother has a Specialized 'Rockhopper' With suspension forks and nice fat tyres, which in comparison felt bloody lovely. So something like that is what I fancy if anyone could recommend a bike to try, price wise I'm hoping to pick something up second hand for around £200-300. Not a massive budget I know but hopefully I can get something reasonably nice in that bracket. I've seen a few nice treks and specialized's on eBay barely used but have no idea if they are the right size etc.
Any pointers would be brilliant
thanks
Ideally I want a mountain/trail bike (forgive me if there's a difference but they look the same to me). I'm 6ft2 and about 13.5st... I have got absolutely NO CLUE what wheel size, or frame size I want. All I know is I want a mountain type bike, hard tail but suspension forks that is reasonably comfortable and light. My old Marin is totally solid and also has flat bars, I got on ok with it at 16/17 yrs old but 6 years down the line and a car and a motorcycle accident under my belt I found the thing horrendous on my neck yesterday as it was very much seat up and bars down.
The GF's brother has a Specialized 'Rockhopper' With suspension forks and nice fat tyres, which in comparison felt bloody lovely. So something like that is what I fancy if anyone could recommend a bike to try, price wise I'm hoping to pick something up second hand for around £200-300. Not a massive budget I know but hopefully I can get something reasonably nice in that bracket. I've seen a few nice treks and specialized's on eBay barely used but have no idea if they are the right size etc.
Any pointers would be brilliant
thanksI literally just sold my bike to a lad from Manchester yesterday! Stuck it on ebay on Wednesday and it went the day after outside of the auction. Anyway, it was this
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=3...
Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc 2008.
I'm 6'4" and about 100kg and that was a 21" frame so would prob fit you fine.
You can't go wrong with a Rockhopper of some description, good resale value too, mine went for £260 (I kept the pedals though). Mine was 5 years old and been on some hard rides,other than having to stick a slightly heavier duty rear wheel on the thing it never let me down and still worked perfectly.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=3...
Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc 2008.
I'm 6'4" and about 100kg and that was a 21" frame so would prob fit you fine.
You can't go wrong with a Rockhopper of some description, good resale value too, mine went for £260 (I kept the pedals though). Mine was 5 years old and been on some hard rides,other than having to stick a slightly heavier duty rear wheel on the thing it never let me down and still worked perfectly.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
This yeah? I like the idea of buying new but then again might get better spec 2nd hand in the budget I had. Is that quite a good spec for the money then?
This yeah? I like the idea of buying new but then again might get better spec 2nd hand in the budget I had. Is that quite a good spec for the money then?
^ Hmm, not bad but you'll get better watching ebay and gumtree imo.
Your budget (£280) got me a Giant XTC 2.5 off ebay recently, 5 years old but good condition and looked after, with RockShox Recon SL (Air) fork, Avid Juicy hydraulic brakes, XT transmission, upgraded DT Swiss wheels & better than oe tyres. These are supposed to be uncomfortable for long rides, but I get on fine with it, it's just an example of what secondhand prices are like.
I was specifically looking for a reasonably local either Voodoo Hoodoo (a Halfords bike, normally £550 new) or Decathlon's Rockrider 8.1 (also about £550 new) which are both similarly equipped and highly rated for the money, but nowt came up. When they do they also go for around £300 but will be newer and more lightly used.
Your budget (£280) got me a Giant XTC 2.5 off ebay recently, 5 years old but good condition and looked after, with RockShox Recon SL (Air) fork, Avid Juicy hydraulic brakes, XT transmission, upgraded DT Swiss wheels & better than oe tyres. These are supposed to be uncomfortable for long rides, but I get on fine with it, it's just an example of what secondhand prices are like.
I was specifically looking for a reasonably local either Voodoo Hoodoo (a Halfords bike, normally £550 new) or Decathlon's Rockrider 8.1 (also about £550 new) which are both similarly equipped and highly rated for the money, but nowt came up. When they do they also go for around £300 but will be newer and more lightly used.
treat gumtree with caution, loads of suspiciously cheap stuff on there with badly worded ads and spec copied straight from the internet that doesnt match the pictures. Ebay is a safer bet but sniper bids just annoy the arse off me and I gave up trying to win auctions.
Ideally you are probably looking at a 20/21" frame, do the dishonourable thing and swing your leg over a few at your local bike shop for a rough guide, then hit ebay hard. Widen your search for Kona, Trek, GT and the like, its hard to go wrong but also try places like bike radar and mtbr forums.
Ideally you are probably looking at a 20/21" frame, do the dishonourable thing and swing your leg over a few at your local bike shop for a rough guide, then hit ebay hard. Widen your search for Kona, Trek, GT and the like, its hard to go wrong but also try places like bike radar and mtbr forums.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 12th April 11:57
Just to add my 2p's worth.
I bought a Specialized Rockhopper A1-FS Pro in 1999 (which at the time was the top of the range Rockhopper) for £699. The kit is all Shimano, with Ritchey wheels.
From 1999 to about 2005, I used it fairly relentlessly, as a training tool for my motorbike racing. As I'm terrified of cycling on the road, most of the use has been off-road. I'm not a trick mentalist, but it has been used pretty hard, with plenty of jumps, and I'm not the lightest of chaps either.
Since I stopped racing in '05, it doesn't get used quite as much, but I reckon it comes out maybe once a fortnight in winter, and at least once a week in summer. Each time it cops around 30 miles of off-road use, or more if it's a nice day and I'm having fun with mates.
I had to strip and re-build the slightly flaky Manitou suspension forks once, but all I did was clean and grease bits to get a better action (they're not hydraulic) and out of mechanical sympathy I've just recently replaced the chain and rear gearset, plus the small front ring, as I thought that the drive was looking a little slack. That said, it was still working perfectly.
Apart from that, it is all original, and rides like it did the day I rode it out of the shop, 14 years ago. It still looks good too. Nothing has broken, fallen off or given me grief whilst out on a ride. It's boringly reliable and solid.
If that's not an endictement of decent build quality, I don't know what is. So in 2010 I bought a Specialized road bike as well, and it's the same story so far - perfect 3 years later, no problems at all.
Specialized stuff appears to be top notch.
I bought a Specialized Rockhopper A1-FS Pro in 1999 (which at the time was the top of the range Rockhopper) for £699. The kit is all Shimano, with Ritchey wheels.
From 1999 to about 2005, I used it fairly relentlessly, as a training tool for my motorbike racing. As I'm terrified of cycling on the road, most of the use has been off-road. I'm not a trick mentalist, but it has been used pretty hard, with plenty of jumps, and I'm not the lightest of chaps either.
Since I stopped racing in '05, it doesn't get used quite as much, but I reckon it comes out maybe once a fortnight in winter, and at least once a week in summer. Each time it cops around 30 miles of off-road use, or more if it's a nice day and I'm having fun with mates.
I had to strip and re-build the slightly flaky Manitou suspension forks once, but all I did was clean and grease bits to get a better action (they're not hydraulic) and out of mechanical sympathy I've just recently replaced the chain and rear gearset, plus the small front ring, as I thought that the drive was looking a little slack. That said, it was still working perfectly.
Apart from that, it is all original, and rides like it did the day I rode it out of the shop, 14 years ago. It still looks good too. Nothing has broken, fallen off or given me grief whilst out on a ride. It's boringly reliable and solid.
If that's not an endictement of decent build quality, I don't know what is. So in 2010 I bought a Specialized road bike as well, and it's the same story so far - perfect 3 years later, no problems at all.
Specialized stuff appears to be top notch.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Specialized stuff appears to be top notch.
True, but bought this today to replace my Rockhopperhttp://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s356p3028/SCOTT_...
Lets hope it's as bullet proof....
dave_s13 said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Specialized stuff appears to be top notch.
True, but bought this today to replace my Rockhopperhttp://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s356p3028/SCOTT_...
Lets hope it's as bullet proof....
Well jell.
Let us know how it performs! And go easy
dave_s13 said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Specialized stuff appears to be top notch.
True, but bought this today to replace my Rockhopperhttp://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s356p3028/SCOTT_...
Lets hope it's as bullet proof....
I was looking at this rockhopper pro yesterday which was a lovely bit of kit, if I were to stretch the budget - £1000
Alternatively there was a second hand specialized s-works enduro, unsure of age but no doubt a very expensive bike when it was new and had some tasty upgrades plus new chain, gears and race face crank set, fox suspension etc, for around £750. Same as this...
Only thing I'm uncertain of is, I'm not sure how old it is - does this matter really long as its in good condition?
I was probably going to go for a 29er, but this has 26 inch wheels being an older model. However the rest of the spec is much bigger than anything I could get new for much less than £2k.
Help!
Alternatively there was a second hand specialized s-works enduro, unsure of age but no doubt a very expensive bike when it was new and had some tasty upgrades plus new chain, gears and race face crank set, fox suspension etc, for around £750. Same as this...
Only thing I'm uncertain of is, I'm not sure how old it is - does this matter really long as its in good condition?
I was probably going to go for a 29er, but this has 26 inch wheels being an older model. However the rest of the spec is much bigger than anything I could get new for much less than £2k.
Help!
Budget creeping up nicely... 
Work out what sort of riding you're actually going to do. Big full sus bikes are great but pointless if all you'll be doing is canal towpaths: hard tails are far lighter, simpler
Bikeradar have a reviews section with 'best mountain bikes for £x' - the Voodoo Hoodoo at £500 with an air fork seems to be very popular.
Work out what sort of riding you're actually going to do. Big full sus bikes are great but pointless if all you'll be doing is canal towpaths: hard tails are far lighter, simpler
Bikeradar have a reviews section with 'best mountain bikes for £x' - the Voodoo Hoodoo at £500 with an air fork seems to be very popular.
So what's the budget now? £300 or £1000?
I was in same position as you. Bought 2 boardmans off eBay. Both new with massive savings.
HT comp and an HT pro for £1000 when they would be nearer £1700 in Halfords.
Fantastic bikes and both very light and superbly specced.
I can't recommend them enough.
I was in same position as you. Bought 2 boardmans off eBay. Both new with massive savings.
HT comp and an HT pro for £1000 when they would be nearer £1700 in Halfords.
Fantastic bikes and both very light and superbly specced.
I can't recommend them enough.
Yazza54 said:
Well new I might be able to get a ride to work scheme bike for the £1k, or buy one outright for up to 800 second hand of I can get higher spec doing it that way.
Well I got my HT pro for £700 off eBay and I'm sure you could do the same.It's won every award going and the frame is a work of art.
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtb/ht_pro.html
+1 for the Rockhopper.
My wife has had her 2008 one from new (non girl version) and its been very good. New back wheel, cassette and chain set but other than that, no issues except one rather off one; the red frame is incredibly faded (white in places!) even though its always been inside. Contacted Specialized about it but they weren't interested.
We also have a 2010 Allez Elite. I'm no road bike expert but it seems to work well and has done me well in two triathlons.
My wife has had her 2008 one from new (non girl version) and its been very good. New back wheel, cassette and chain set but other than that, no issues except one rather off one; the red frame is incredibly faded (white in places!) even though its always been inside. Contacted Specialized about it but they weren't interested.
We also have a 2010 Allez Elite. I'm no road bike expert but it seems to work well and has done me well in two triathlons.
- *goes to garage to give them some tlc***
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