MTB recommendation please...

[Loudy McFatass]

This is for my friend. He currently has an ally hardtail and he wants to upgrade. He rides Cannock a lot and Llandegla. He uses it for general trials, he has a Kona Stinky for proper DH.

What would you guys recommend he buys? He's happy to but second hand. Someone has mentioned a Nukeproof Mega to him, do you guys rate these?

He has £1500 to spend.

Thanks in advance.

[Woody]

Don't have one, but reviews etc. seem good, and spec vs price seems good too:

Rose Granite Chief

[Yatesy350i]

I got a 2013 Giant Trance X0 29er second hand for £1600 earlier this year. It suits all that Cannock has to offer very well indeed. I've had three other full suss bikes including a Secialized Enduro and for me this is by far the best. It goes up hill very well and down even better. I'm not a particularly fast technical rider, but my mates have all commented how much quicker I've got since picking this one up?

But to be fair apart from Style Cop. You could ride Cannock really well on a good hardtail.

If I had 1500 to spend I'd be looking for something that was 2500 plus last year. And I wouldn't be buying it now I would wait until the end of November through to February. That's when the prices fall, he will be paying top money while the suns out. My Gant retailed at £3495 last year!

Orange 5 29
Giant Trance or Antherm
Just about anything by Cube serious value
Canyon even better than above.
YT Industries Wicked. If you can find one.

Just my thoughts.

ATB KY

[BadgerBenji]

Ride cannock no problem on a fully rigid 29er singlespeed, it's not that gnar.

Anthem is a good quick XC machine, but if trail centre lairyness is more the ticket then the trance might tick more boxes.

[yellowjack]

Does it need to be FS? Or will a higher-spec 650b hardtail do the job? They won't have a full-suspension frame ready until early next year, but it'd be worth having a look at Bird Cycleworks. UK (Hampshire) based start-up MTB manufacturer, who's single frame (five builds available with differing spec) is getting good reviews. Look for 'Bird Zero'...

http://shop.birdmtb.com/

...Prices start at £995 for the default build Zero.3 and hit £1850 for the Zero.AM (all-mountain).

Zero.AMX is on budget at £1475 with Shimano Zee 1x10 gearing and brakes, and a Reverb post as standard. The Zero.1 at £1300 would allow some room to upgrade the seatpost to a Reverb and swap the bars for some lighter carbon fibre kit, too. All customisable on their site, and a fairly short delivery time too.

[Loudy McFatass]

BadgerBenji said:

Ride cannock no problem on a fully rigid 29er singlespeed, it's not that gnar.

Anthem is a good quick XC machine, but if trail centre lairyness is more the ticket then the trance might tick more boxes.

Single speed!? Do you have to push up the hills?

[dienamic]

http://www.radon-bikes.de/xist4c/web/Slide-150-8-0... complete with revelation fork and reverb post

[Loudy McFatass]

dienamic said:

http://www.radon-bikes.de/xist4c/web/Slide-150-8-0... complete with revelation fork and reverb post

Wow. The 9.0 is even better with Fox forks and still comes out at £1650!

[Loudy McFatass]

He's been offered a mint condition 2011 Lapierre 514 Zesty with a dropper post for £1200. Is that a good buy?