Which used MTB up to £400?
Discussion
Recently discovered Sam Pilgrim on YT and it's made me want to try MTBing as a hobby. Based on his Cheap Bike Challenge series and how easily cheap bike wheels buckle, I know I'm going to have to spend a bit more than a Halfords special if I want it to last.
Only looking for something I can cruise around the streets on for cardio but also throw in the boot and do some light jumps and noob friendly offroad trails. I don't want to do a trail or jump and have the frame welds crack or wheel buckle etc.
So what makes/models should I look for? I assume I'd be in hard tail category given the budget. I'm 6ft so I assume I'd want 29 inch wheels. A drop post seems useful too. But that's about all I know.
Was eyeing this up but don't know if it's any good
https://www.facebook.com/share/jBjgeNdSVn2iE9Br/
Only looking for something I can cruise around the streets on for cardio but also throw in the boot and do some light jumps and noob friendly offroad trails. I don't want to do a trail or jump and have the frame welds crack or wheel buckle etc.
So what makes/models should I look for? I assume I'd be in hard tail category given the budget. I'm 6ft so I assume I'd want 29 inch wheels. A drop post seems useful too. But that's about all I know.
Was eyeing this up but don't know if it's any good
https://www.facebook.com/share/jBjgeNdSVn2iE9Br/
I wouldn’t go for that one to be honest.
Have a look for something like a Cotic Soul or BFE, or Genesis do some good hardtails that should be in budget:
Aim for Deore / SLX group set min and Shimano air forks and you won’t go far wrong.
Some of the top end 26.inch wheels bikes are now going for buttons and a bargain second hand
Have a look for something like a Cotic Soul or BFE, or Genesis do some good hardtails that should be in budget:
Aim for Deore / SLX group set min and Shimano air forks and you won’t go far wrong.
Some of the top end 26.inch wheels bikes are now going for buttons and a bargain second hand
It's not much spec but then again it's not much money. SRAM NX is their lowest spec groupset, equivalent to Shimano Deore but it's still fine. Tektro brakes are a budget option & the WTB wheels are no great shakes but the big miss is a dropper post. You'll want one because they're great. You can always fit one aftermarket for somewhere around £100-£150 (RIP Brand X, you're much missed) but it's an add on & you'll easily find another bike with one, so I'd look around.
Up to £400 you're really going to struggle but there are bargains to be had out there for a bit more e.g.....
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3908186/
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3908186/
President Merkin said:
It's not much spec but then again it's not much money. SRAM NX is their lowest spec groupset, equivalent to Shimano Deore but it's still fine. Tektro brakes are a budget option & the WTB wheels are no great shakes but the big miss is a dropper post. You'll want one because they're great. You can always fit one aftermarket for somewhere around £100-£150 (RIP Brand X, you're much missed) but it's an add on & you'll easily find another bike with one, so I'd look around.
Yea I do want a dropper post really. I'll keep looking.What would a mtb with thick tyres be like to ride on the road? My cardio is pretty trash but that's one of the main reasons I want one. Just hope they're not complete pigs to ride on the road. I've had bicycles before but none of them were high end road bikes. Think the max I ever spent was £200 brand new for a hardtail which I put narrow tyres on and it seemed to roll fine
A bit to unpick there. Mountain bikes are geared for off road, have tyres designed for grip and so on. You can swap knobbly tyres for smoother ones but then it will become compromised when you go up the woods You have to decide what you want from a bike & go from there.
Most MTB's will ride ok on tarmac but will take more effort than an equivalent hybrid/road bike/commuter etc whereas a road bike on the trails will be hopeless. It starts with working out what you want really but general bimbling around will be fine on an average hardtail mtb.
Most MTB's will ride ok on tarmac but will take more effort than an equivalent hybrid/road bike/commuter etc whereas a road bike on the trails will be hopeless. It starts with working out what you want really but general bimbling around will be fine on an average hardtail mtb.
President Merkin said:
It's not much spec but then again it's not much money. SRAM NX is their lowest spec groupset, equivalent to Shimano Deore but it's still fine. Tektro brakes are a budget option & the WTB wheels are no great shakes but the big miss is a dropper post. You'll want one because they're great. You can always fit one aftermarket for somewhere around £100-£150 (RIP Brand X, you're much missed) but it's an add on & you'll easily find another bike with one, so I'd look around.
NX is not lowest - SX is. NX is absolutely fine. If you're planning on any sort of jumping you definitely need a dropper.
President Merkin said:
A bit to unpick there. Mountain bikes are geared for off road, have tyres designed for grip and so on. You can swap knobbly tyres for smoother ones but then it will become compromised when you go up the woods You have to decide what you want from a bike & go from there.
Most MTB's will ride ok on tarmac but will take more effort than an equivalent hybrid/road bike/commuter etc whereas a road bike on the trails will be hopeless. It starts with working out what you want really but general bimbling around will be fine on an average hardtail mtb.
I guess the bike I'd want falls in the 'cross country' category. Capable of road use (nothing further than maybe 10 miles one way), and won't fall apart taking some blue trails and small jumps. I've never taken a bike on a proper offroad trail and never jumped one either, so you can sort of imagine the type of stuff I'd be doing. Nothing neck braking, just enough for a bit of adrenaline now and then. Most MTB's will ride ok on tarmac but will take more effort than an equivalent hybrid/road bike/commuter etc whereas a road bike on the trails will be hopeless. It starts with working out what you want really but general bimbling around will be fine on an average hardtail mtb.
Acuity30 said:
I guess the bike I'd want falls in the 'cross country' category. Capable of road use (nothing further than maybe 10 miles one way), and won't fall apart taking some blue trails and small jumps. I've never taken a bike on a proper offroad trail and never jumped one either, so you can sort of imagine the type of stuff I'd be doing. Nothing neck braking, just enough for a bit of adrenaline now and then.
The Norco that you’ve linked to will be fine for that and looks in decent condition for £250. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you need to spend a fortune first time around, chances are you won’t get anywhere near taking the Norco to its limit at the moment.If you get into it a bit more you can either upgrade components or trade up to something else.
Someone above saying get a 26’ wheel. That will be an old bike, they haven’t been sold for at least 10 years and may have been cutting edge at the time but are outdated now by either the 27.5 or 29 wheel sets (both of which I prefer to 26’ )
As someone who is still on a 26" MTB (with inner tubes and a triple chain ring!!!) I'd say don't get hung up on a dropper post. I've never had one, and for your proposed usage I don't think you need one.
I ride across the South Downs as often as I can, but I don't go looking for jumps. If you want to go balls out downhill, then get a dropper post, but if you prefer getting down in one piece, then just take it a bit easier.
That Norco looks great value. I normally recommend people get a "name" brand if they are dipping their toe in the water, a Specialized/Giant/Trek will be easier to sell on if you don't enjoy it, or want to upgrade.
It will be ok on the road, you'll only really notice if you ride with mates who have road or gravel bikes. Talking of gravel bikes...they might suit your needs more than an MTB...
I ride across the South Downs as often as I can, but I don't go looking for jumps. If you want to go balls out downhill, then get a dropper post, but if you prefer getting down in one piece, then just take it a bit easier.
That Norco looks great value. I normally recommend people get a "name" brand if they are dipping their toe in the water, a Specialized/Giant/Trek will be easier to sell on if you don't enjoy it, or want to upgrade.
It will be ok on the road, you'll only really notice if you ride with mates who have road or gravel bikes. Talking of gravel bikes...they might suit your needs more than an MTB...
Acuity30 said:
Yea I do want a dropper post really. I'll keep looking.
What would a mtb with thick tyres be like to ride on the road? My cardio is pretty trash but that's one of the main reasons I want one. Just hope they're not complete pigs to ride on the road. I've had bicycles before but none of them were high end road bikes. Think the max I ever spent was £200 brand new for a hardtail which I put narrow tyres on and it seemed to roll fine
Mountain bike tyres are slow on the road and tarmac wears them badly and quickly.What would a mtb with thick tyres be like to ride on the road? My cardio is pretty trash but that's one of the main reasons I want one. Just hope they're not complete pigs to ride on the road. I've had bicycles before but none of them were high end road bikes. Think the max I ever spent was £200 brand new for a hardtail which I put narrow tyres on and it seemed to roll fine
It's OK if you want some cardio, you can get plenty of exercise without going very far.
If you want to make progress, or keep up with people on road tyres, then it's not so good.
Also modern MTB gears are usually wrong for most people on the road, even if they fit road tyres to spare wheels.
And the suspension tends to absorb energy.
These are the reasons that lots of people love gravel bikes.
If you ever see anyone going more than 100 yards on the road on a mountain bike these days, odds are very strong it's electric.
You can maybe get a better compromise with an old skool MTB with 2x or 3x gears and road tyres on spare wheels, or compromise tyres which can be OK on tarmac and forest paths. I have an old hardtail which is great on compromise tyres, except on mud. But wanting to do some longer rides, I got a drop bar bike for a few hundred quid. I love that for things like the Granite way on Dartmoor.
And the hardtail is back on knobblies for the woods.
It's horses for courses really!
Either choose your bike(s) to suit your rides, or choose the rides to suit your bike.
OutInTheShed said:
Mountain bike tyres are slow on the road and tarmac wears them badly and quickly.
It's OK if you want some cardio, you can get plenty of exercise without going very far.
If you want to make progress, or keep up with people on road tyres, then it's not so good.
Also modern MTB gears are usually wrong for most people on the road, even if they fit road tyres to spare wheels.
And the suspension tends to absorb energy.
These are the reasons that lots of people love gravel bikes.
If you ever see anyone going more than 100 yards on the road on a mountain bike these days, odds are very strong it's electric.
You can maybe get a better compromise with an old skool MTB with 2x or 3x gears and road tyres on spare wheels, or compromise tyres which can be OK on tarmac and forest paths. I have an old hardtail which is great on compromise tyres, except on mud. But wanting to do some longer rides, I got a drop bar bike for a few hundred quid. I love that for things like the Granite way on Dartmoor.
And the hardtail is back on knobblies for the woods.
It's horses for courses really!
Either choose your bike(s) to suit your rides, or choose the rides to suit your bike.
Not interested in keeping up with other road cyclists. I used to have an Ebike which had a front suspension lockout thing which made it more efficient to ride on the road, so I guess I'd just need to make sure to buy one with that feature. Then disengage the lockout when offroad. It wont be used for commuting. Maybe a mile to the gym and back on my days off, but won't rely on it to get to and from work. Maybe add some mudguards and get a good backpack for small food shop but that's about it really. It's OK if you want some cardio, you can get plenty of exercise without going very far.
If you want to make progress, or keep up with people on road tyres, then it's not so good.
Also modern MTB gears are usually wrong for most people on the road, even if they fit road tyres to spare wheels.
And the suspension tends to absorb energy.
These are the reasons that lots of people love gravel bikes.
If you ever see anyone going more than 100 yards on the road on a mountain bike these days, odds are very strong it's electric.
You can maybe get a better compromise with an old skool MTB with 2x or 3x gears and road tyres on spare wheels, or compromise tyres which can be OK on tarmac and forest paths. I have an old hardtail which is great on compromise tyres, except on mud. But wanting to do some longer rides, I got a drop bar bike for a few hundred quid. I love that for things like the Granite way on Dartmoor.
And the hardtail is back on knobblies for the woods.
It's horses for courses really!
Either choose your bike(s) to suit your rides, or choose the rides to suit your bike.
nuyorican said:
If the OP lives in a hilly city like Sheffield or Bristol then a MTB with slicks could be the way to go. Plenty of gearing for the hills.
Oxfordshire. Somewhat hilly. As long as the bike is geared low enough for me to be 'spinning' up an incline that would be fine. I used to cruise at a pretty low speed probably around 10-12mph but again I've never owned a road bike, always had mountain bikes/hybrids. I do want a drop post though, even if I won't use it much. That £250 bike I found within minutes so I'm sure I can find something better with a bit more digging. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff