What MTB - £500 limit

[megy]

Hi All,

I am looking to buy myself a new Mountain Bike, looking at a budget of about £500 and wanting some advice and suggestions of what ones to look at. My previous bike was a Carrera Kraken from Halfords (handing it down to my step lad) and looking for something of equal quality with good gears (not twist bar type) front suspension with a good name.

Any suggestions please.

[bingybongy]

Another Kraken or Voodoo Hoodoo if you go to Halfords.
I bought a Forme Sterndale 1.0 and am very happy with it.

[Gren]

Rockrider from Decathlon is the best value at that price by all accounts. Otherwise, the bikes above are still good bets.

[Roman]

+ 1 for a Rockrider 8.1 or something discounted from Pauls:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p0/Mountain-Bik...

[anonymous-user]

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Analog-26-Mountain-Bi...

slightly over budget but its worth it to get away from the budget level forks that a £500 bike often comes with. EA30 kit is nice and rare at this price as most brands stick rubbish alloy kit with their name or unbranded on bikes. Under 30lbs too.

[blackburnlad]

Id recommend the rockrider 8.1 from decathlon had mine since january and its a great bike fun to ride and best spec youcan get for under a grand

[Gizmoish]

Voodoo Hoodoo yes, but get the 2012 model with the Raidon X1 Air fork, not the 2013 model with the X3 coil model.

Rockrider 8.1 is good too (not convinced it's the best under £1k, that might be overdoing it...)

This Boardman is only £585 if you join British Cycling (which will cost £10 and get you 10% off). http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[megy]

Thanks all for the replies, a few nice bikes to look at.

Voodoo - Not really liking these, dont know why but there is just something about them.
Another Kraken - Early favorite as its what I know, still fancying it.
The Cube - Never heard of it, but looks very nice, liking the spec so might be something to look seriously at, if I can find a local stockist (Edinburgh)
Boardman - Currently my fave as was advised it earlier from a friend. Interesting to see aboutt he discount, need to look into this as that brings it down more in price, always a good thing.

Thanks all for taking the time to answer,

[dudleybloke]

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/hardtails-a...

[Contaminated]

I have Cube Analog that did me for £590. Done of 500 miles on it since the end of May. Very pleased with it for the money.

[Gren]

Cubes are good value for money, definitely worth a look if you can stretch to it.

My first decent MTB (now my wife's) was a Cube LTD Race. £800 end of season bargain - XT gears, Fox fork, Formula brakes. Very nice bike and looks the business.

[Mr Gearchange]

Look at the major online retailers such as chain reaction/pedalon/pauls as they very often have stuff with 50% discounts

[megy]

Thanks again all for the replies, had all but decided on the Boardman, especially with the discount taking it to less than £600, but then I went to have a look at the Cube Analog, didnt really like it but got shown the Cube Ltd (not the race or pro) which was kinda OOOOO, then I saw the price and it was AAARRRGGGHHH but then the shop gave me a good amount of discount as it was the end of season and they wanted to get rid of it, so I plumped for it for a little over £660, looking at the spec I am paying (relatively) not a lot more than for the Boardman, but getting mahoosive spec, ALL Shimano against SRAM and a hodge podge of other stuff. I might be overspeccing for a relative newbie but hey ho, I got a decent payrise so why not.

But thanks again for all the advice and suggestions, especially those who mentioned Cube, a new make to me but ultimately it was PH that brought them to me and now I have one, well, when I pick it up I will.

Cheers