Recommend me a MTB

[8potdave]

I've recently started mountain biking and am absolutely loving it! My current bike was a freebie and my intention was always to invest in a new one if I get going.

The guys I ride with all have really trick bikes and all bar one has rear suspension. However after looking around it seems that the budget I will have will either put me onto a very nice bike without rear suspension such as this:
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p56492/Cannondale-Trail-...

Or something like a Diamond Back with rear suspension. I've never ridden a bike with 'good' rear suspension so cannot really decide whether it is worth opting for the lesser make or saving up a bit more for suspension on the back. I won't be buying one for about 3 months but I would like to know what to aim for..

[rhinochopig]

Have a look on Pinkbike in the classifieds; your money will go much further and might net you a few year old decent full bouncer.

But, don't be put off by a hardtail. Riding HT will make you a better rider IMO as it forces you to pick your lines more carefully, and because they're generally lighter are usually faster around the majority of UK centres.

To give you an idea, Dan Hart used to come out with the group I used to pedal with on an evening when he was a youngster (well younger) and I can remember him flying past me on his HT like I was stood still. I was on a 6" travel bike and going as fast I dared. It's all about the rider and not the bike.

[EventHorizon]

Nothing wrong with riding hard tail. Less weight & less stuff to go wrong. Full suspension is for comfort freaks.

[Vladimir]

I'd definitely go hardtail too. Lighter, simpler, more efficient, cheaper.

[richardxjr]

What's the budget then, £500 odd?

That's not a brilliant spec on that 'dale (like most big bike brands, the higher the model number the lower the spec)... best (new) buys (from my research anyway) are Voodoo Hoodoo (from Halfords but don't let that put you off) or Decathlon's Rockrider 8.1. Both have a decent air fork, the most costly and usually most useless component on budget bikes.

I'd stick with hardtails this side of £1500 (new) personally.

[944fan]

I MTB'd for years in my teens. Used to compete regionally in both downhill and cross country. I always used a hard tail. Unless you are spending mega bucks the rear sus on a cheap bike will be rubbish anyway. Much better to get a better spec'd hard tail with a better groupset.

I can thoroughly recommend a Specialized Rockhopper Pro. Had one for ages. Only just got it out of the shed again recently after a few years of no use. Pumped the tyres up and it was just like new.

[anonymous-user]

944fan said:

I MTB'd for years in my teens. Used to compete regionally in both downhill and cross country. I always used a hard tail. Unless you are spending mega bucks the rear sus on a cheap bike will be rubbish anyway. Much better to get a better spec'd hard tail with a better groupset.

good advice above, adding stuff like rear suspension means quality takes a hit to accommodate it at the price point, anyway here is your new bike

Ive used Bike Discount a few times before and their service is very good. Radon are just another European brand who dont appear to need a UK presence. Dont worry about it arriving in pieces either, it will be complete bar pedals and 4 bolts to fit the bars to the stem.

[8potdave]

Thanks guys, great advice! Budget is going to be around £500 - £600 I reckon. Think I will go hardtail after reading this advice and doing research elsewhere.

Sorely tempted by that Radon as well. There does seem to be a good choice for that money.

[BadRotorFinger]

If you are interested, shameless plug I know.

http://www.mtbe.co.uk/fs-marin-palisades-trail-201...

http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/marin/palisades-trail...

http://www.marin.co.uk/2010/bikepage.php?ModNo=10P...

Edited by BadRotorFinger on Monday 29th April 00:36

[muckymotor]

I've got the Voodoo Hoodoo and it's a great bike for the money. Halfords currently have it on offer at £459.99.

There's a review of the bike here http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/m...

[DMN]

The Saracen Mantra range has had good reviews for years. This spec might be a little heavy for lots of pure xc riding, but it should be fun on trails and single-track:

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p56729/Saracen-Mantra-20...

[Or888t]

That Radon has to be the one to go for!
The spec's great, even has a xt mech!


However personally...
I'd say buy a heavily upgraded 2nd hand bike where the frames a few years old, but the upgraded components aren't, then you can rebuild the bike as a full suspension bike, if and when you feel you need it.

[Panclan]

Take a look here too http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p0/Mountain-Bik...

[8potdave]

Panclan said:

Take a look here too http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p0/Mountain-Bik...

Serious bargains to be had on there!

[944fan]

I hadn't previously heard of Radon but it looks like a very good buy. Good branded components.

[Pablo16v]

There's quite a few decent hardtails in your price range but lately the Carrera Kraken has been getting good write-ups in mags and online.

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/m...

[dave_s13]

Don't we need to be arguing about whether he should get a 26 or 29er??

I've been riding quite regularly lately with a couple of pals, one of which let me borrow his Scott Scale Carbon framed HT 29er and on the same routes I was a good 10-20% quicker, they just seem to fly along.

This is what tempted me into a new bike
http://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s356p3029/SCOTT_...


It's a bloody bargain that too ^^ and probably the last one left in the UK by the look of it

My bike at the time (a few weeks ago) was a Specialised Rockhopper comp disc 2008 26er - nowt wrong with that. Anyway I replaced it with this very bike

http://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s356p3028/SCOTT_...


It's not just the wheel size but compared to the older specialized bike this thing is a bloody revelation, so much nicer to ride in every way.

So now, in our group of 3 there's 2 of us on 29ers and one on a 26 and the 26er is always left someway behind. Hence why we have my other pals bike on ebay and trying to get him to buy this...
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s155p4266/CANNOND...



So, what was I trying to say again........yeah, have a look at 29" wheeled bikes, they certainly make me go quicker. Also, up you budget if you can, £5-600 is fine for your average rider but IMO, if you're going to be out regularly with lads on much more expensive stuff you will eventually get an itch to change, cheaper in the long run to get something proper shiny.

[Rolls]

I've just changed to a niner hardtail from a santacruz superlight (the components of which will be an auction website near you soon!) - it does feel to glide along nicely, but its not a comfy as my SL was :-(

[guffhoover]

I've just upgraded from my 8 year old 26er (which still had v-brakes) to this:



I've been looking in earnest for around a year, didn't expect to be on a 29'er or a Scott.

For the price the spec on the Scott 9 series is impressive compared to its rivals......Fox Fork

[dave_s13]

Nice

When you go from something a few years out of date to something like that ^^^ it's fecking cool isn't it?

I've got fork envy now.