Recommendation for a £1k full sus XC/AM bike
Discussion
Currently have a Giant Defy for the road and a Scott Scale for mild trail riding but want to get a full suspension bike to handle some rougher trails. Would like it to be a XC/AM and ideally budget is c.£1k.
Examples of bikes I am considering are Trek Fuel Ex 5 2011 and Lapierre X Control 110/210.
Examples of bikes I am considering are Trek Fuel Ex 5 2011 and Lapierre X Control 110/210.
In your position I would definately consider the Canyon Nerve XC 6. A lot of kit for the money, and if it rides anything like my Nerve AM it'll be very capable and a lot of fun.
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
That Canyon looks a good spec and lovely looking frame. Its been years since I have searched for a bike to buy so all these brands are new to me, I am used to traditional brands like specialized, scott, cannondale and kona. Only heard of Lapierre in the last month and never heard of Canyon!
Boardman?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Decathlon?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-92-2011-id_81...
No idea what these are like but just thought they both looked good value.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Decathlon?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-92-2011-id_81...
No idea what these are like but just thought they both looked good value.
bang per buck its got to be the boardman or the canyon, the big brands just cant (or rather wont) compete at that price and just use their name and high street presence to shift the units.
the boardman looks very capable, 2x10 groupset (SRAM X7) and a bolt through axle at the front. dont know what the rear shock is but i'm assuming its a rockshox unit. nice mavic wheelset too, you will never get that spec elsewhere from the likes of trek or giant.
the boardman looks very capable, 2x10 groupset (SRAM X7) and a bolt through axle at the front. dont know what the rear shock is but i'm assuming its a rockshox unit. nice mavic wheelset too, you will never get that spec elsewhere from the likes of trek or giant.
A grand for a FS bike is pushing it a bit really. Either up the budget or go for a well specced hardtail, instead of a very bottom of the range FS bike. You can always upgrade the frame later down the line.
Alternatively look at the second hand market, but be aware it can be a jungle out there!
Alternatively look at the second hand market, but be aware it can be a jungle out there!
shalmaneser said:
A grand for a FS bike is pushing it a bit really. Either up the budget or go for a well specced hardtail, instead of a very bottom of the range FS bike. You can always upgrade the frame later down the line.
Alternatively look at the second hand market, but be aware it can be a jungle out there!
To be honest, i'd take the opposite view. Get the best frame and fork you can, whether that be hardtail or fs. There may be compromises in the components, but these can be upgraded over time.Alternatively look at the second hand market, but be aware it can be a jungle out there!
Using the Canyon as an example, it may be the bottom of range in that model, but you get the same frame as the top of the range model (which costs £2.5k). Personally I don't think there's anything on the Nerve XC 6 that would need upgrading straight away anyway.
SammyW said:
To be honest, i'd take the opposite view. Get the best frame and fork you can, whether that be hardtail or fs. There may be compromises in the components, but these can be upgraded over time.
Using the Canyon as an example, it may be the bottom of range in that model, but you get the same frame as the top of the range model (which costs £2.5k). Personally I don't think there's anything on the Nerve XC 6 that would need upgrading straight away anyway.
That was my thought too. Upgrading is half the fun!Using the Canyon as an example, it may be the bottom of range in that model, but you get the same frame as the top of the range model (which costs £2.5k). Personally I don't think there's anything on the Nerve XC 6 that would need upgrading straight away anyway.
Canyon Nerve XC.
I bought last year's XC7 and it has a, quite frankly, ridiculously good spec for the money. Nothing can touch it. But, it's not just about bolting a load of good components together onto a mediocre frame. The frame, suspension and parts have been designed and put together to produce a finished bike which is remarkable for the price. Low weight, excellent handling, great components. I am massively impressed with mine, which I've owned for about 9 months now. It's done a lot of miles including local trails, 24hour races, big days out in the Lakes and a week in Morzine. OK, the travel was a little short for some of the bid descents in Morzine, but those trails are usually ridden by bikes with 150mm travel or more.
If you're worried about the brand, just read up some reviews online from the British magazines and people who've bought one. Don't get suckered into sticking with the big brands. And don't fall for the "you can't test ride one before buying". Anyone who believes that a 5-minute spin in a shop car park is sufficient for choosing a good bike is frankly mad.
I bought last year's XC7 and it has a, quite frankly, ridiculously good spec for the money. Nothing can touch it. But, it's not just about bolting a load of good components together onto a mediocre frame. The frame, suspension and parts have been designed and put together to produce a finished bike which is remarkable for the price. Low weight, excellent handling, great components. I am massively impressed with mine, which I've owned for about 9 months now. It's done a lot of miles including local trails, 24hour races, big days out in the Lakes and a week in Morzine. OK, the travel was a little short for some of the bid descents in Morzine, but those trails are usually ridden by bikes with 150mm travel or more.
If you're worried about the brand, just read up some reviews online from the British magazines and people who've bought one. Don't get suckered into sticking with the big brands. And don't fall for the "you can't test ride one before buying". Anyone who believes that a 5-minute spin in a shop car park is sufficient for choosing a good bike is frankly mad.
Giant Trance keeps winning awards in the budget bouncer category, for around a grand you should be able to pickup an X4 2011, there are still a few 2010's kicking around for the £850 mark - just need to look hard!
I have the 2010 X4, it's a great entry level bike, the maestro suspension works really well with little/no bob on the flat stuff, but really sucks up the bumps on the ruff stuff, its also a very good climber! It's just as happy bumbling along the Ridgeway as it is flying down a black run in the FOD, or mucking around a skills area at a bike park.
The X4 comes reasonably well spec'd and is a very good base for upgrading, the only original parts left on mine are the forks (which works well, and aside from the weight I can't think of a reason to swap them out), the frame, and the rear shock (RockShox Monarch on the shopping list for next month).
I keep toying with the idea of 'upgrading' to a Yeti or Zesty, then I jump back on the Trance and it does everything I need it to do, very well!
I have the 2010 X4, it's a great entry level bike, the maestro suspension works really well with little/no bob on the flat stuff, but really sucks up the bumps on the ruff stuff, its also a very good climber! It's just as happy bumbling along the Ridgeway as it is flying down a black run in the FOD, or mucking around a skills area at a bike park.
The X4 comes reasonably well spec'd and is a very good base for upgrading, the only original parts left on mine are the forks (which works well, and aside from the weight I can't think of a reason to swap them out), the frame, and the rear shock (RockShox Monarch on the shopping list for next month).
I keep toying with the idea of 'upgrading' to a Yeti or Zesty, then I jump back on the Trance and it does everything I need it to do, very well!
MadDad said:
Giant Trance keeps winning awards in the budget bouncer category, for around a grand you should be able to pickup an X4 2011, there are still a few 2010's kicking around for the £850 mark - just need to look hard!
I have the 2010 X4, it's a great entry level bike, the maestro suspension works really well with little/no bob on the flat stuff, but really sucks up the bumps on the ruff stuff, its also a very good climber! It's just as happy bumbling along the Ridgeway as it is flying down a black run in the FOD, or mucking around a skills area at a bike park.
The X4 comes reasonably well spec'd and is a very good base for upgrading, the only original parts left on mine are the forks (which works well, and aside from the weight I can't think of a reason to swap them out), the frame, and the rear shock (RockShox Monarch on the shopping list for next month).
I keep toying with the idea of 'upgrading' to a Yeti or Zesty, then I jump back on the Trance and it does everything I need it to do, very well!
The Giant Trance is one I had considered actually. I know that aesthetics wont be the main reason for buying a bike but i prefer the design with the rear triangle like that (remind me of the old Turners that i used to dream over as a kid!). Also considering the Trek Fuel EX5 which uses the same frame as the more expensive models and seems to get good reviews.I have the 2010 X4, it's a great entry level bike, the maestro suspension works really well with little/no bob on the flat stuff, but really sucks up the bumps on the ruff stuff, its also a very good climber! It's just as happy bumbling along the Ridgeway as it is flying down a black run in the FOD, or mucking around a skills area at a bike park.
The X4 comes reasonably well spec'd and is a very good base for upgrading, the only original parts left on mine are the forks (which works well, and aside from the weight I can't think of a reason to swap them out), the frame, and the rear shock (RockShox Monarch on the shopping list for next month).
I keep toying with the idea of 'upgrading' to a Yeti or Zesty, then I jump back on the Trance and it does everything I need it to do, very well!
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...
I did a skills course last summer, one of the other guys on the course was riding a Fuel, looked like a great bike and he had been all over Europe with it - also beat me on a climbing contest (only by about 10 ft though), although I suspect it was more down to the rider than the bike!
I would recommend taking the Trance for a ride if you can, it works well for me and I have no issues keeping up (or passing) others on much more expensive rigs - although I suspect there is an element of 'all the gear - no idea' with a number of those easily passed on the trails on expensive bikes!
I would recommend taking the Trance for a ride if you can, it works well for me and I have no issues keeping up (or passing) others on much more expensive rigs - although I suspect there is an element of 'all the gear - no idea' with a number of those easily passed on the trails on expensive bikes!
SammyW said:
In your position I would definately consider the Canyon Nerve XC 6. A lot of kit for the money, and if it rides anything like my Nerve AM it'll be very capable and a lot of fun.
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
get that bought... i've just nudged a mate in that direction and he is up in the lakes now throwing it around in wreckless abandon... he's loving it.http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
the only weak points on the spec are the brakes and the crankset (which are by no means low spec for the price-point, but not as great as the rest of the spec).
nothing really to touch it on value.
That Canyon looks smashing and seems great VFM, just passed the details to my mate whos after a FS. Found this
http://www.vehibase.com/canyon-nerve-xc-6-0-w/pros...
look at the cons LOL
+2Some models have low engine power.
-1The engine sounds a bit weird.
Must mean when your breathing out of the third hole at the top of a very big hill LOL
http://www.vehibase.com/canyon-nerve-xc-6-0-w/pros...
look at the cons LOL
+2Some models have low engine power.
-1The engine sounds a bit weird.
Must mean when your breathing out of the third hole at the top of a very big hill LOL
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