Buying a bike? Check out our buyer's guide...
Anonymous
Posts: 79,666
If you're thinking of buying a bike, you may want to check our buyer's guide. Also search our database of reviewed bikes to see what we've got to say about it...
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/artic ... -bikes-826
Also:
FROM £250
Budget bikes aren’t the basic behemoths they once were. Expect a decent frame, basic own brand components, 24 gears and a simple suspension fork, suitable for unchallenging terrain. As a rule, go for V-brakes instead of discs at this price point. Weights: hardtails from 28-33lb.
£500-£700
Where the ‘grown up’ MTBs begin. The frames will be good light aluminium offerings, well worth adding better kit to. Worthwhile hydraulic disc brakes appear, as do 27 gears, decent cranksets and suspension forks with rebound damping, adding control to comfort. Weights: from 27-31lb.
£700-£1000
Hardtails are often good enough to race in this price bracket. Forks and disc brakes start getting seriously good around the £800 point, which is where you might start seeing a few decent but fairly heavy entry-level full sussers. Weights: Hardtails from 26-28lb, full sussers from 30lb.
£1000-£1500
It’s the law of diminishing returns with top end hardtails. Over £1000, they’re superb, and don’t get much better with each extra £100 spent. They split into two camps: race bred, and hardcore bred with good long travel forks. There are some excellent full sussers in this price bracket too, serious pieces of ‘go anywhere, have a go at any terrain’ kit. Weights: Hardtails from 24lb, full sussers from 28lb.
£1500-£2000
Full suspension bikes start coming with superb quality kit and lose a little weight at the XC/Marathon end of the spectrum, and a little beefier at the ‘Freeride’ end. Hardtails get even lighter and all bikes start to come equipped with the best forks and shocks. Weights: Full suss XC/Marathon 27-30lb, full suss Freeride 32-40lb, Freeride hardtails 28-32lb, and XC hardtails 24-26lb.
£2000-£2500
There aren’t many reasons left to spend this much on a hardtail, so the emphasis here is on race/marathon-ready full sussers dripping with the sort of top end kit that trims weight, boosts comfort and helps you to get the very best from your own fitness. Weights: Full suss XC/Marathon 26-28lb, and XC hardtails 23-25lb.
£3000 & ABOVE
This is where the state of the art full sussers appear. You get the best frames, the best forks and the best finishing kit money can buy. The ‘exclusive’ status brands is where most of your money goes. They may not make you ride any faster but you’ll be a proud owner. Weights: Full suss XC/Marathon 23-27lb, XC hardtails 21-24lb.
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/artic ... -bikes-826
Also:
FROM £250
Budget bikes aren’t the basic behemoths they once were. Expect a decent frame, basic own brand components, 24 gears and a simple suspension fork, suitable for unchallenging terrain. As a rule, go for V-brakes instead of discs at this price point. Weights: hardtails from 28-33lb.
£500-£700
Where the ‘grown up’ MTBs begin. The frames will be good light aluminium offerings, well worth adding better kit to. Worthwhile hydraulic disc brakes appear, as do 27 gears, decent cranksets and suspension forks with rebound damping, adding control to comfort. Weights: from 27-31lb.
£700-£1000
Hardtails are often good enough to race in this price bracket. Forks and disc brakes start getting seriously good around the £800 point, which is where you might start seeing a few decent but fairly heavy entry-level full sussers. Weights: Hardtails from 26-28lb, full sussers from 30lb.
£1000-£1500
It’s the law of diminishing returns with top end hardtails. Over £1000, they’re superb, and don’t get much better with each extra £100 spent. They split into two camps: race bred, and hardcore bred with good long travel forks. There are some excellent full sussers in this price bracket too, serious pieces of ‘go anywhere, have a go at any terrain’ kit. Weights: Hardtails from 24lb, full sussers from 28lb.
£1500-£2000
Full suspension bikes start coming with superb quality kit and lose a little weight at the XC/Marathon end of the spectrum, and a little beefier at the ‘Freeride’ end. Hardtails get even lighter and all bikes start to come equipped with the best forks and shocks. Weights: Full suss XC/Marathon 27-30lb, full suss Freeride 32-40lb, Freeride hardtails 28-32lb, and XC hardtails 24-26lb.
£2000-£2500
There aren’t many reasons left to spend this much on a hardtail, so the emphasis here is on race/marathon-ready full sussers dripping with the sort of top end kit that trims weight, boosts comfort and helps you to get the very best from your own fitness. Weights: Full suss XC/Marathon 26-28lb, and XC hardtails 23-25lb.
£3000 & ABOVE
This is where the state of the art full sussers appear. You get the best frames, the best forks and the best finishing kit money can buy. The ‘exclusive’ status brands is where most of your money goes. They may not make you ride any faster but you’ll be a proud owner. Weights: Full suss XC/Marathon 23-27lb, XC hardtails 21-24lb.
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