Full suspension mountain bike advice appreciated

[PH5121]

I'd quite like a new bike and want a full suspension mountain bike.

I have a budget of £1500 ish but could increase it if required (closer to £2k), but cannot decide what to go for, or if I should get new or second hand (I know nothing about bikes so rely on bike shops for any works beyond changing brake pads).
For context I'm a middle aged overweight bloke who wants it so I can go out with my son, it's to use on local bridleways, at our most local Forestry Commission site at Dalby Forest and on holiday in the Lake District. Nothing extreme, blue trails with perhaps a rare bit of red.

I know it's a bad time to buy a bike and that there have been and still continue to be supply issues. I've found a couple of 29 inch wheel options as below which it would be possible to get, and would appreciate any advice about if they're okay.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Norco-Fluid-FS-3-Mountain...

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/stance-29-2

I thought about getting a Calibre Bossnut / Triple B but it doesn't look like these are available from Go Outdoors anymore, instead they sell this
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16185420/polygon-sisk...
Not a brand I've ever heard of so not sure if it's any good.

My current full suspension bike is 15 years old but has XT gears, Hope brakes and Fox forks and shock, I paid £1600 for it new but these days that doesn't get you much and I'm out of touch with brands and components so don't know what is good or bad.
To be honest this bike does everything I want but after so long I fancy trying something more modern,

I've found a year old Stance 2 for sale private fairly local to me for £1000 which I like the look of (I prefer the black colour scheme to the current blue or Brown options)
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/stance-29-2-2020

Any opinions or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Edited by PH5121 on Tuesday 7th September 09:57

[lufbramatt]

Polygon are the OEM company that made the Calibre range of bikes, so basically the same thing. They also make stuff for Marin. Wouldn't have any worries about them.

[trails]

I’d be looking here

[Smitters]

Honestly, having just done 60+ miles on a 2007 full sus bike, unless your existing bike weighs an absolute ton, I'd have it properly serviced, wheel bearings, new fluid, new chain and cables, everything degreased and cleaned up nicely, and both shocks serviced, and ride that some more. Maybe chuck on some new grips to freshen things up and Bob's a close relation. As far as I can tell, modern bikes have tended towards heavier/stronger because of the style of riding bike parks have given us access to, plus the prevalence of uplift services. If you're just out for general riding, there's absolutely nothing wrong with 15 year old bike IMHO.

If you're sticking with blue trails and the occasional red, I'd perhaps also look at a putting on a dropper post just to give you a quick adjustment, though I opted for the old school quick release instead, because of the weight issue and cable routing. You already have XT and a saddle is a very personal choice, but as ever, the big ticket weight items are chainset, tyres, seatpost, saddle. I've never been too hard on the trails, so I've stuck with light 2.1" tyres and had no issues and it saves over half a kilo vs big tyres.

TF Tuned did an excellent job servicing my shock and forks, as a recommendation and are great to talk to pre-service too.

[Ynox]

So that Polygon is a decent frame (it's identical to a Bossnut looking at it), but the components heavily let it down.

• 3 by rather than 1 by drivetrain (Shimano Alivio too which is a little low end personally)
• QR rather than bolt through forks
• Not great forks or rear shock

In comparison the Bossnut had a 1 by, bolt through forks, Rockshox forks and rear shock etc. Much better spec for the £. I've got a Calibre Triple B myself which I've had for coming up a year. It's been pretty good - only changes I've done have been to swap out the supplied pedals, made it tubeless and upgraded the dropper post lever.

I'd be going for the Giant, or maybe take a look at Vitus bikes on Chain Reaction.

[PH5121]

Smitters said:

Honestly, having just done 60+ miles on a 2007 full sus bike, unless your existing bike weighs an absolute ton, I'd have it properly serviced, wheel bearings, new fluid, new chain and cables, everything degreased and cleaned up nicely, and both shocks serviced, and ride that some more. Maybe chuck on some new grips to freshen things up and Bob's a close relation. As far as I can tell, modern bikes have tended towards heavier/stronger because of the style of riding bike parks have given us access to, plus the prevalence of uplift services. If you're just out for general riding, there's absolutely nothing wrong with 15 year old bike IMHO.

I agree completely, my bike does everything I want it to, I am the 'weak link' in the chain.

I've already freshened it up with new pedals, bar grips and tyres, I've touched up the chips and scratches and have got it looking and feeling better. I've also spent a few hundred pounds in the last 4 years on stuff that has worn out (rear wheel, cassette, chain, bottom bracket x 2, brake issues x 4).

I was considering adding a dropper post, but as these things do my thought process snowballed to justifying getting a second hand bike, and then with a bit of mission creep turned into raiding my selfish purchase fund to see what I could afford new.

I'll still be middle aged and overweight, I'll just be on a newer bike. I'm torn as it won't make a difference to my riding unless a bike with 1 x gearing, 29 inch wheels and modern geometry will make it easier to pedal. I suspect an E bike is the answer to that issue but I cannot spend that much on a bike.

I do suffer from bike envy every time we go to Dalby Forest. My youngest lad has even told me to sell the road bike I've just bought him and put the money towards a new one for me.
I have money, I just lack the knowledge to know what to get with it

[PH5121]

Ynox said:

So that Polygon is a decent frame (it's identical to a Bossnut looking at it), but the components heavily let it down.

• 3 by rather than 1 by drivetrain (Shimano Alivio too which is a little low end personally)
• QR rather than bolt through forks
• Not great forks or rear shock

In comparison the Bossnut had a 1 by, bolt through forks, Rockshox forks and rear shock etc. Much better spec for the £. I've got a Calibre Triple B myself which I've had for coming up a year. It's been pretty good - only changes I've done have been to swap out the supplied pedals, made it tubeless and upgraded the dropper post lever.

I'd be going for the Giant, or maybe take a look at Vitus bikes on Chain Reaction.

Thanks for the advice, I looked at the specification and didn't even recognise the brand of tyres, and don't know what passes for decent forks and shocks these days (I started my mountain biking with a Girvin Flexstem as the only shock absorber)

[PH5121]

trails said:

I’d be looking here

Thanks for the tip, but I don't know what I'm looking at (that's the problem).

[TT1138]

Ynox said:

So that Polygon is a decent frame (it's identical to a Bossnut looking at it), but the components heavily let it down.

• 3 by rather than 1 by drivetrain (Shimano Alivio too which is a little low end personally)
• QR rather than bolt through forks
• Not great forks or rear shock

In comparison the Bossnut had a 1 by, bolt through forks, Rockshox forks and rear shock etc. Much better spec for the £. I've got a Calibre Triple B myself which I've had for coming up a year. It's been pretty good - only changes I've done have been to swap out the supplied pedals, made it tubeless and upgraded the dropper post lever.

I'd be going for the Giant, or maybe take a look at Vitus bikes on Chain Reaction.

I agree. That Polygon is terrible value for money compared to the old Bossnut. Decent frame, but very poor spec.

[lufbramatt]

TT1138 said:

Ynox said:

So that Polygon is a decent frame (it's identical to a Bossnut looking at it), but the components heavily let it down.

• 3 by rather than 1 by drivetrain (Shimano Alivio too which is a little low end personally)
• QR rather than bolt through forks
• Not great forks or rear shock

In comparison the Bossnut had a 1 by, bolt through forks, Rockshox forks and rear shock etc. Much better spec for the £. I've got a Calibre Triple B myself which I've had for coming up a year. It's been pretty good - only changes I've done have been to swap out the supplied pedals, made it tubeless and upgraded the dropper post lever.

I'd be going for the Giant, or maybe take a look at Vitus bikes on Chain Reaction.

I agree. That Polygon is terrible value for money compared to the old Bossnut. Decent frame, but very poor spec.

I gather that the guy at Go Outdoors who product managed the cycling section and built up/specced the Calibre brand has now left, taking his knowledge with him. I guess they're now just taking whatever the supplier will give them to fill the space in the catalogue.

[boyse7en]

I'd echo the "stick with what you have" comments.

I spent a day doing blue and red runs on an old Cube hardtail at the weekend and had a blast. Overtook a few people and the only guy to come past me was on an ebike on an uphill drag.
A new bike won't be noticeably faster, and it may even heavier than your old one as the tendancy seems to be to build bikes stronger and heavier these days.

Otherwise, get a use ebike hardtail. I just bought the GF a nice Scott Aspect within your budget and it is surprisingly capable.

[Byronwww]

If you are only doing blue trails the bikes you linked seem a bit overkill?

I've recently swapped from a long travel full suspension bike to a lightweight xc hardtail and it's far more fun more of the time and the effort you put in translates to speed whereas previous bike was more like a tractor. Also I prefer being able to ride closer to the limit of the bike if that makes sense.

Also the bigger burlier heavier bikes are st for riding any sort of distance or hill on - tried a friend's new Intense primer and it didn't feel much different to my 15 year old slayer sxc - bigger wheels, bit lower position and plusher suspension but it was just as heavy (even though it was fully carbon) and didn't climb any better.

[Bill]

+1 A hard tail seems a better fit for your use, and £1500 gets you a very good one with the added bonus of better spec, less weight and less complication/servicing.

[Daveyraveygravey]

A mate has a Specialised Chisel which cost 1400. It's a hard tail but weighs a mere 11kg, which wasn't far off a reasonable road bike 10 years ago. For comparison, my 15 years old Boardman is nearer 15kg and I have an old Specialised Hard Rock that's more like 17kg. I don't think you need full sus for your usage.

[PH5121]

Thanks for the advice, and I accept that it may be overkill but I'm a convert to full suspension and won't be going back to a hard tail.

I got my first full suspension bike, a Marin Team FRS in 1996 and it was a revelation.

[Byronwww]

PH5121 said:

Thanks for the advice, and I accept that it may be overkill but I'm a convert to full suspension and won't be going back to a hard tail.

I got my first full suspension bike, a Marin Team FRS in 1996 and it was a revelation.

I got a Scott Spark RC to go with my hard tail - immediately set PRs on every trail, does allow you to take a better but rougher line through corners and pedal through bumpy sections. I'd still use my hardtail for tow paths and on anything flat and smooth though - gravel bike would be even better for that!

[austinsmirk]

Stick with what you have: service it etc. Honestly there isn’t anything particularly steep, challenging at dalby forest. Yes, lots of trails. Tiny bits of climbing : but I was there the other day ( kids going go ape) and honestly it was laughable watching young lads with e bikes to effectively cycle on a bit of track. If yr like me, nudging 50, forget mega kit, it’s about core fitness too and weight- yr own.

[Bacon Is Proof]

Must admit, if all the standards of my old bike (2000 GT Zaskar X) weren't so horrifically obsolete I would have kept that going rather than purchase what I have now (Orange Clockwork) with its ridiculous handlebars and 1x chainset.

[Bill]

Byronwww said:

I got a Scott Spark RC to go with my hard tail - immediately set PRs on every trail, does allow you to take a better but rougher line through corners and pedal through bumpy sections. I'd still use my hardtail for tow paths and on anything flat and smooth though - gravel bike would be even better for that!

It may be quicker, but is it more fun? Especially on blues...

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

Direct sales offers the best VFM new. Canyon and YT for example.

If you want bike shop bought look at Whyte bikes. They offer excellent VFM. For your use a new old stock t-130 would be perfect and likely in budget.

Second hand off pinkbike classified is your best bet given your budget. Have a browse and post some links - you'll get lots of advice.

You don't need an Enduro bike so exclude anything above 150mm.

Look at stuff in the trail bike category 130-150mm of rear travel.

Regarding Dalby. It is poor, but there are a few bits where a modern geo bike will reduce the risk of hurting yourself. We were always busy scooping up broken mtbers at Dalby when I did mountain rescue.

There is also a chunk of fun off piste which may lure your son away from the God-awful blue and red. If this happens FS vs Hardtail... You'll be glad of the FS.

However, there is a lot of superb riding around the moors. Download trail forks and explore. Some of this you'll be glad of a full sus.

Most trail bikes have a lock out if you find yourself mainly on fire roads, and for beginners modern geo bikes are far far more beginning than even 4 or 5 years ago... You sit in them rather than perch on top.