Lightweight Hardtail Weapon £1k - £2k

[BeirutTaxi]

Hi everyone,

Aisde from the Specialised Chisel, are there any other lightweight hardtails for between £1k and £2k?

Ideally x1 ring up front, 29 inch wheels, aluminium and no very bottom of the range Suntours.

Kind regards and many thanks

Matt

[Watchman]

Whyte 901?

Edit: Bah 27.5"

Whyte 629 is a 29er.

Edited by Watchman on Saturday 10th August 20:57

[BeirutTaxi]

Thanks Watchman I'll have a look

[Evanivitch]

Boardman MHT8.9 seems to review well.

I've not ridden my Boardman 29er Team too hard but I think it's a decent piece of kit. Just be reasonably suspicious of the guys assembling it in store.

[DukeDickson]

Watchman said:

Whyte 901?

Edit: Bah 27.5"

Whyte 629 is a 29er.

Edited by Watchman on Saturday 10th August 20:57

Isn't there little/no difference between the overall size of fat 27.5 and normal 29?

I'd be looking at the 905, if you can live with the colour, rather than the 901. Or some of the other good equivalents.

[leyorkie]

Take a look at the Cube range
Chain Reaction have started clearing 2019 models
That price range will get you a good spec bike. Two years ago I got carbon, XT di2, 29er Rockshok for £1500

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-reaction-...

Edited by leyorkie on Sunday 11th August 22:02

[astroarcadia]

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mountain-bikes/trail-...

[andySC]

Canyon? I’ve got a Grand Canyon AL 9.9. A few years old now so specs have altered slightly. DT Swiss wheels (Spline 1400?) full XT & Fox Factory forks (the fancy Terralogic ones...amazing bits of kit). I paid around £1500.

[velocgee]

I second Whyte 905. Proper L-O-L Hardtail fun.

Might still be able to get the outgoing 2019 model (try: https://www.moosecycles.com/)


edit:

sorry, missed the 29 wheel bit. any burning reason as to why you want this size? also, are you looking for XC or Trail style?

Edited by velocgee on Tuesday 13th August 12:43

Edited by velocgee on Tuesday 13th August 12:44

[BeirutTaxi]

There is no right or wrong with the wheel size.

Basically what I'm looking for is an XC hardtail that has 'some' road bike qualities (low weight, high stiffness, racy geometry) but can handle a day out at Afan.

Something about the simplicity of the Specialised Chisel that draws me to it. However would be good to know other member's experiences?

[Bill]

Love my Whyte 901! 3 years old now, or 4 possibly.

What do you mean by race geometry? The Whyte is the long and slack, fun end of the scale AIUI. And are you planning to use it in road? 1x gearing spins out quite easily imo.

[WestyCarl]

I got a Canyon Exceed CF earlier this year and it's awesome. On trail centers I now prefere it to my full sus.

[bmwmike]

+1 for cube reaction. I've got a TM and its been pretty good. Nice geometry. I wanted alu rather than carbon, but they come in both.

[Leggy]

I’m looking too for similar money
Grand Canyon AL 9.0 has the best spec for the money.
My only slight reservation is ordering direct from Germany with no uk sales network. But that’s why the prices are so good.
Whyte look good but spoilt by cheap Tekra brakes on some models. Which is a shame.

Edited by Leggy on Tuesday 13th August 22:37

[gazza285]

I have a Cube Reaction GTC, cannot really fault it.

[DomVrs]

Pretty much the same budget I have and my money is going on a Sonder Signal Ti

[velocgee]

BeirutTaxi said:

Basically what I'm looking for is an XC hardtail that has 'some' road bike qualities (low weight, high stiffness, racy geometry) but can handle a day out at Afan.

OK, the scratch the suggestion of 905 as it's a pure 'slack' trail bike.

[GravelBen]

I thought about a Chisel briefly when I was bike shopping earlier this year, but my local shop had 30% off the full suspension Epic which made it not much more expensive for a more capable and versatile bike (and not much heavier), so I forgot about the Chisel and bought that.

Reviews seem to suggest the Chisel has quite a flexy feeling frame, which won't be everyone's cup of tea.

There does seem to be a bit of a hole in the market for lightweight but capable hardtails.

[Andy JB]

BeirutTaxi said:

Hi everyone,

Aisde from the Specialised Chisel, are there any other lightweight hardtails for between £1k and £2k?

Matt

Matt not sure if you are sorted but have a look at the Scott Scale Carbon series 900/910/920/930 to fit your budget. I personally ride the 650b versions 700/710 etc but they are essentially the same bike bar wheel size. Pedal-on for example usually start selling off prior year models which are rarely much different to the new version save new paint job.

I ride mine a fair amount on road and fast trails and a lot more extremes in bike parks, they are good allrounders. I did a coast to coast on it recently in place of my road bikes too.

I still use a double chainset for the wider range so don't get hung up on single set ups on trend. My kids also ride them and they weigh between 10-11kg ride ready depending on spec, so nice n light for an MTB.

[lufbramatt]

One of my riding buddies has just got a KTM Myroon. Carbon framed XC hardtail, weighs f-all. Bit of a weapon judging by how many Strava KOMs he's been picking up. They do a couple of builds that fit your budget.