£1000 - which HT

[taffyracer]

I'm starting a ride to work scheme for my staff next week and I also want to join in, looking for something around the 1k mark. The main consideration for me is frame quality, I want something really light for XC blasts as well as road work. I plan to keep it a few years so components will get upgraded as my experience increases anyway so priority is frame and lightness. I've been looking at

Giant XTC 1
Giant XTC C3
Scott something or other
GT Zaskar Pro
Specialiized Stumjumper Pro

Any thoughts on these or anything else I should be considering?

Edited by taffyracer on Saturday 26th May 18:32

[gbbird]

I have just recently had this same dilemma. I initially plumped for a Trek 8000, which is meant to have a really good frame.

[taffyracer]

What really concerns me is that only Scott seem to publish the weights, its so confusing it's unreal

[Stuart]

The limit under the bike scheme is £1000 exactly. I spent £950 on the Rockhopper Pro (the stumpy is around £1200). It was the first new mountain bike that I'd had since my '95 Rockhopper Comp, which I loved.

I LOVE my new bike. It's quick, light, feels strong and everything works beautifully. On the basis that the Stumpy is the same frame as mine but with better kit, maybe you'd want to spend the extra cash. Personally though I'd take a look at the Rockhopper in addition to your list.

[wobert]

My £950 went on an Orange P7 with the performance pack, which gets you in addition ot the std spec, a Thomson Elite post & stem, Fizik Gobi saddle & Easton XC carbon fibre bars.

The P7 came out top in an MBR group test, which suit me nicely as I was looking to upgrade my '94 Clockwork.

Top notch frame from a "smaller" manufacturer

[taffyracer]

I like the idea of going for one of the smaller manufacturers, I'll do some research on the Orange, could be a good call

[Moose.]

The Merlin Malt 4 gets pretty good write ups and looks uber cool in white
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/Merlin_Bike...

[wobert]

taffyracer said:

I like the idea of going for one of the smaller manufacturers, I'll do some research on the Orange, could be a good call

Mine looks like this.....

[gbbird]

Moose. said:

The Merlin Malt 4 gets pretty good write ups and looks uber cool in white
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/Merlin_Bike...

it does indeed. just purchased one myself

[Roman]

Got a Trek 8000 myself (same spec as current 8500). Can't really fault it as a fast XC bike.

Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo has same(pretty much) frame at £800

Merlin & Orange good bikes though as is:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

[JPJ]

GBbird, congratulations on the fine choice of bike! One thing that i found was a bit of a let down with it - the tyres that came on mine were OEM Fire XC Pro's and they are a much harder compound than the real ones, and so don't grip as well in a lot of conditions. Replacing those with proper ones changed the handling completely.

[gbbird]

JPJ said:

GBbird, congratulations on the fine choice of bike! One thing that i found was a bit of a let down with it - the tyres that came on mine were OEM Fire XC Pro's and they are a much harder compound than the real ones, and so don't grip as well in a lot of conditions. Replacing those with proper ones changed the handling completely.

Thanks JPJ - mine comes with Panaracer Fire XC tyres, so i will give them a go but may take heed of your advice. I also opted for the new Magura Odur forks at no extra cost (although these sell for about £80 more than the Marzocchi ones), black rims, plus i have gone for the full LX groupset, and riser handlebars.

Should it receive it some time next week, so i can't wait

Edited by gbbird on Thursday 31st May 14:07

[taffyracer]

Anybody got any thoughts on specialized and Giant XTC1

[PomBstard]

Currently have a 2005-spec XTC2, with some modifications and love it. Its been thrashed on all sorts of courses, including following a selection of riders on 4" dualies around an XC race course, and still just keeps going. Headset is still tight, crankset replaced with 07-spec Race Face Evolve, SRAM X9 kit still going strong, even the spindly Manitou Skarebs have kept together well considering the hammering and my 90kg.

I've now got a half-decent dualie but still ride the XTC for training and sometimes just for the hell of it.

[taffyracer]

Ok last question(s), anyone have any experience of the Specialized FSR, and is this sort of short travel rear suspension much heavier than a HT and worth considering, I want a lightweight bike but I also want one that will cope with XC

[Black5]

Just bought the FSR XC Comp.

Absolutely love it.

Had a Canondale HT before so knew I wouldn't much lighter. However I find the weigh of this no issue. The Comp also has lockout on the rear shock, which I find essential on the road.

[pastrana72]

i know a bit off budget,
but i had a good test ride of Cove Hummer XC Titanium last weekend, my friend was testriding a scott spark 10 and i was with him on my Cove Stiffee FR, when i went back to do another loop, a friend offered me to try the hummer to keep up the pace with the guy on the spark on his testride, it was not really kind of bike i would choose, as i prefer more robust HT like my stiffee, and i was expecting the hummer to be too light and pingy like most other xc HT i had ridden in the past, and at first it felt a little bit strange mainly due to being different to what i am used too,but it soaked up all the trail buzz and i thought it had a suspension seat post at first (it did not), it felt like a short travel fullsuspension, i expected to climb well, and be fast, but i did not expect it to cope with all the rough stuff, i usually ride, i even took it down part of downhill course (steadily) and it coped with it all fine, i did not find its limits, but i did not push it to far as i feel i would break before it ever did.it handled perfectly, was quick, responsive and just flys over rough stuff that i thought it would struggle with, it was stunning. My friend with the spark did not want to try it, which was a shame as i would like to have got his opinion, but he was in love with the spark.

Before i tried it i always viewed it at £1400 frame only, as a very expensive HT for rich light dudes, but now rather depressingly, it is the best do it all hardtail i have ever ridden and i want one. I have always prefered hardtails to fullsuspension, but i felt for all day rides i would consider getting a full suspension for more comfort as i get older, now i think i have found an option that offers the best of both.

but my budget just stops me for now, but life is too short and you can not have to many bikes can you? starting to save up.

just thought i would offer it as a option as i would never considered one before i tried quite by chance.

Edited by pastrana72 on Saturday 2nd June 09:51

[taffyracer]

All sorted, bought a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp HT, absolutely lovely bike and can't wait to get out and do some thrashing

[Cabinet Enforcer]

taffyracer said:

Ok last question(s), anyone have any experience of the Specialized FSR, and is this sort of short travel rear suspension much heavier than a HT and worth considering, I want a lightweight bike but I also want one that will cope with XC

You would need to ride the intended FS bike to find out if you can get your head around the pedal bob. With good pedalling technique they are not significantly less efficient, they just don't feel like it. Don't think your budget is ideal for an FS rig either, you get so much hardtail for 1K it's tough to justify the downgrades and weight increase for the FS at that price point.

Have you considered second hand? £200-£300 should pick up a nice Ti hardtail frame off ebay, stick on an LX group and some nice forks and you would have a really nice bike.

[taffyracer]

It's a done deal mate, tried the Stumpjumper FSR but didn't want to pay £1500 and it looked too flash, so stuck wiht the HT, much lighter, simpler and less faffy, really looking forward to giving it a thrash