What mountain bike under £3500

[Ecosse79]

I wonder if anyone could help as it’s a total minefield out there with so much choice. I am looking for a trail or enduro mountain bike with a budget of £3,500. I’ve trawled eBay for a high spec used bike, but now gone off that idea so looking at new. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Happy to look at older models that may be discounted at the current time. Thanks.

[Pablo16v]

What's the majority of your riding made up of? If it's mostly trail orientated but with the odd uplift day or visit to Bike Park Wales etc then something like the new Bird Aether 7 could be a good choice...

https://www.bird.bike/product/aether-7-shimano-12-...

I've had my Bird Aeris 29er for 2 years so I know they ride well and the early reviews of the Aether are very positive. Warrantied for a 150mm fork as well should you feel the need to add some travel up front.

[GravelBen]

Maybe have a think about what characteristics you prefer... stable vs agile, 'poppy' vs planted etc. That could help narrow it down, otherwise you'll just get suggestions of what other people like which may not be what you like.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 8th April 11:37

[Ecosse79]

Ok. I would be looking for an agile poppy bike. Would mainly be used for local rides on the Scottish hills and also organised trails such as Innerleithen mountain bike park.

Edited by Ecosse79 on Wednesday 8th April 12:20

[Pupp]

Innerleithen perhaps... ?

[lufbramatt]

Pablo16v said:

What's the majority of your riding made up of? If it's mostly trail orientated but with the odd uplift day or visit to Bike Park Wales etc then something like the new Bird Aether 7 could be a good choice...

https://www.bird.bike/product/aether-7-shimano-12-...

I've had my Bird Aeris 29er for 2 years so I know they ride well and the early reviews of the Aether are very positive. Warrantied for a 150mm fork as well should you feel the need to add some travel up front.

The guys from Bird have hinted there will be a 29er version of the Aether coming soon, I'm waiting for that.

[vwsurfbum]

Nice budget means nice bikes.

One composed mega bike
https://uk.intensecycles.com/collections/inline-bi...

Or the poppy great value bike
https://www.yt-industries.com/uk/cat/index/sCatego...

[Ecosse79]

Pupp said:

Innerleithen perhaps... ?

Yes. Bloody autocorrect!

[sam.rog]

Ibis ripmo af
Probably the best all round bike out there for £3k
https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product...
10%off makes it £2830. With the leftover money you can buy the new 12 speed shimano xt and ditch the crap sram.

[Pupp]

Only on PH could there be a recommendation to buy a £3K bike and then replace the gear train because it's 'crap'

[sam.rog]

Pupp said:

Only on PH could there be a recommendation to buy a £3K bike and then replace the gear train because it's 'crap'

Why do you think sram nx is good?

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

sam.rog said:

Pupp said:

Only on PH could there be a recommendation to buy a £3K bike and then replace the gear train because it's 'crap'

Why do you think sram nx is good?

It's just as good functionally as the higher end stuff... Just heavier and not as bling.

Unless you race xc, and weight is important, your money better spent elsewhere.

[snobetter]

Don't know mountain bikes so much these days, but 60% off Kona's here: -

https://bikesy.co.uk/tag/mountain+bikes/

[sam.rog]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

It's just as good functionally as the higher end stuff... Just heavier and not as bling.

Unless you race xc, and weight is important, your money better spent elsewhere.

Nope its junk. It’s in no way functionality as good as what shimano or even sram gx (thats junk too).
Sram engineering tolerances are a joke which means premature ware to components. Ask any bike shop how many warranty mechs and shifters they have with sram. Their cassettes are quality and their brakes are ok (I run guide g2).

I personally run 11speed as it is more reliable than sram 12 speed, but I will upgrade to 12 speed shimano when as things ware out.
I currently run
Xtr shifter
Xt cranks
Xt derailleur
Sram x01 11 speed cassette.
Guide g2 brakes.

Edited by sam.rog on Thursday 9th April 15:24

[Pupp]

So, when you buy a new car, do you throw expensive chunks away and replace them?

Surely easier just to buy what suits...

[Sa Calobra]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

It's just as good functionally as the higher end stuff... Just heavier and not as bling.

Unless you race xc, and weight is important, your money better spent elsewhere.

I personally wouldn't spend 3k on a bike with NX. I've got full GX on my commuter/light trail bike. It's heavy fragile even at GX. I've read a few issues on Sram stuff failing.

Buy from Canyon or Commencal.

I'm sure Cotic have deals on a full Rocket(?) at the moment? My money's on Canyon though.


I'm already replacing a crank arm on a barely used GX.

[sam.rog]

Pupp said:

So, when you buy a new car, do you throw expensive chunks away and replace them?

Surely easier just to buy what suits...

Yes I did buy a car and replace parts that could improve the car. I take it you have never seen any of the revo, mtm or other tuners on the front page? There’s a massive industry out there you are going to be amazed.

Anyway for £3500 you will be hard pushed to beat a ibis ripmo af and upgrade the drivetrain from nx to xt. It will be under budget and you get to deal with a shop and not a computer screen somewhere in germany.

[Sa Calobra]

Whatever you do. Wait two months and pick up a bargain Ibis

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

sam.rog said:

Nope its junk. It’s in no way functionality as good as what shimano or even sram gx (thats junk too).
Sram engineering tolerances are a joke which means premature ware to components. Ask any bike shop how many warranty mechs and shifters they have with sram. Their cassettes are quality and their brakes are ok (I run guide g2).

I personally run 11speed as it is more reliable than sram 12 speed, but I will upgrade to 12 speed shimano when as things ware out.
I currently run
Xtr shifter
Xt cranks
Xt derailleur
Sram x01 11 speed cassette.
Guide g2 brakes.

Edited by sam.rog on Thursday 9th April 15:24

In your opinion. Others, obviously, do not find it junk. Functionality and reliability has been on par with xtr in my experience.

[NordicCrankShaft]

Take a nosey on over at the YT Industries website and have a look at the Jeffsy in any particular guise.

I bought a YT Jeffsy 27.5 CF Pro Race last October and it is absolutely fantastic, I've even seen the 2019 Pro Race on ebay for your budget.

The problem with threads like this is everyone is always going to recommend what they're riding and then the old Shimano vs Sram debate always pops up as it has.

I managed to get to a YT demo day at the Forest of Dean last year, rode the Jeffsy Pro Race and was sold, I wasn't even in the market for a new bike.
It's a bit difficult now but I'd be sitting on my cash and wait to see if I could attend a couple of the manufacturer's demo days, try out a few different bikes and choose one you like the look and most importantly feel of.

Within budget and some change...

https://www.yt-industries.com/uk/detail/index/sArt...

Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Thursday 9th April 19:17

Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Thursday 9th April 19:22