Mountain bike - £500

[trickywoo]

What mountain bike (new or used, for sale now) would you go for?

I'm 5'10" in normal dimensions and the bike would be for light trail use. No major downhill or big distances.

My main concern is for getting something as high quality as possible. I've put 4k miles on a good quality road bike I currently have with minimal repairs but in the past have suffered failed bearings / worn gears etc after very few miles on MTBs (this is with good cleaning and lubing).

[blackburnlad]

Cant go wrong with a rockrider 8.1 from decathlon had mine over a year and its taken some beatings and rides as good as new

[bingybongy]

What he said ^^. Great bike for the money.
(Don't put a rear mudguard on though)

[Woody]

How about CALIBRE BIKES - they have the one on offer for £500 instead of £600.
Seem like a really good spec.

[Woody]

Double post!

[dienamic]

Voodoo Bizango with a bit of voucher work?

[Usget]

I'd have the Rockrider 8.1 as above for that money. Great spec, and have never heard anything but good things about the frame.

[trickywoo]

Thanks All.

Went to have a look at the Voodoo today. Looked OK and the reviews elsewhere are outstanding however, it didn't look like £600 worth of bike from a components point of view.

Hopefully having a look at the Rockrider soon.

[DoubleU]

I've had my 8.1 coming up to a year now. I've given this bike an absolute thrashing, and it still asks for more. Degla black route is my local weekend ride, and it handles it no problem. I've stuck wider handlebars on it and better pedals. Personal preference though. Oh and bin those Michelin tyres that come with it, they're awful

Its coming up to needing a new rear cassette and chain now, along with gear cables. However its been ridden pretty much every weekend since June last year, and through most of the winter. Still no issues whatsoever. I've done a fork service myself, super easy with Rockshox anyway.

And don't listen to what you may hear about issues with Elixer brakes. Mine have been absolutely spot on.

I cannot honestly think of a better bike for £550. It just won't break!