Shopping for a lightweight HT MTB

[aea730]

I’m hoping to drop on a lightly used but decent quality/spec hardtail MTB for my wife to ride.

We only do local lanes, single tracks, river banks and the like so thinking a HT would be fine and also keep the weight down.

Likewise I’m thinking if I can find something second hand I’ve a chance of getting a better level bike than buying new.

Components don’t need to be anything too special just a light frame and decent fork

Open to suggestions as to what to look for/expect under £1k

[vwsurfbum]

I got the wife a Saracen Carbon Mantra 3 years ago!!
You can get the alloy version in budget with a decent set of forks. When she's not looking i have taken it on some awesome trips

[Sway]

I've got a 26" wheel Boardman HT Pro that I'm likely to sell.

Looking around, especially as it's 'obsolete' 26" wheels, it looks like £300 gets a pretty bloody light aluminium frame with SRAM X9 and Fox air sprung forks.

Mountain bikes have gone through so many shifts in 'standards' over the last few years, I reckon you'd be able to get an absolute bargain if you don't want the latest 29er slack geometry trail hound.

[Gompo]

What do you consider lightweight? If you want something modern you might be better looking at a 'gravel' bike. I would imagine that while perhaps less capable (as others suggest) an older HT with less fork travel and 26" wheels will be a fair bit lighter than a 2020 29er.

Edited by Gompo on Tuesday 28th April 18:45

[aea730]

Well I think by comparison I have an old Stumpjumper HT and it feels positively featherweight compared to what she is riding

[dai1983]

Lightweight modern HT are xc bikes with unfashionable geometry and 100mm of travel. Trail hard tails are more common and have 130mm and are heavier with slower tyres but the slacker geometry that's in fasion.

Try and find a used Chisel Comp or wait until the new ones are reduced to around a grand.

[xcesx]

I had a Boardman Pro 29er that I sold 18 months ago. I still regret it. The black and green one. You can pick them up for about £500, I don't think you'll get anything faster for the money. I'll buy another if I get the chance. N+1

[alolympic]

I was literally in exactly the same boat a few weeks ago and ended up buying a Scott Scale 910 off eBay.
We live in the hills and a heavy bike was making it pretty in enjoyable for my wife.
Very impressed with the Scott so far, good components, lightweight wheel set but importantly great frame and fork. Total weight just over 10kgs in a medium (which is also big enough for me)