New Bike Shortlist...Any opinions??

artfulsloucher
artfulsloucher Posts: 33
edited September 2007 in MTB buying advice
Got my shortlist down to these (budget £500-£600). Have been looking at the guides and various forums and need a good debate on what spec I really need being a novice getting into xc.

Admittedly have only tested Boardman and Fury, so taking into account that I'm gonna try as many as I can before I buy to see how they feel, what are the views on the bikes themselves? No particular order.

GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc 2007 £449.99 (Evan's)
GT Avalanche Expert 2006 Mountain £599.99 (Evan's)
Specialized Rockhopper 2007 £449.99 (Evan's)
Specialized Rockhopper Disc 2007 £549.99 (Evan's)
Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc 2007 £549.99 (Evan's)
Marin Northside Trail £499
Marin Bobcat Trail £459
Boardman Comp £539.99 (+ voucher)
Giant XTC 4.5 Disc 06/07 £400 (Tredz.co.uk)
Giant XTC 3.5 £500 (juliescycles.co.uk)
Carrera Fury £449.99 (+ voucher)

Tell me what you reckon...

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12540401
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • artfulsloucher
    artfulsloucher Posts: 33
    Have had a ganders at that, but thanks anyway. After the broader perspective.
  • Shipjack
    Shipjack Posts: 19
    Just my twopenneth about GT Avalanche 1. Before I got mine I was a bit worried about the Suntour forks possibly not being as good as some others but I have to say I've been really surprised..My partner got a Scott reflex 20 with Rockshox darts at the same time that I got my GT and the rockshox felt pretty basic and hard compared to my suntours. Maybe geometry had something to do with it too, but I actually think the suntour x100s on the GT are really capable.

    good luck

    shippo
  • bryanm
    bryanm Posts: 218
    I doubt you'd be making a bad decision with any of these. Which one feels riight when you sit on it? If you're buying mail order without trying then you'll never know if it's the right decision.
  • artfulsloucher
    artfulsloucher Posts: 33
    Not buying mail order. Gonna bowl into London town saturday and test as many as I can. Determined to have a bike by the weekend after!
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    They all offer different things.The Avalanche has shorter tob tube and is less racy.The XTC is more stretched and has more xc race geometry.

    The Marins have lovely frames,but the kit spec isn't so great.

    The Carreara offers a phenomenal amount of good kit for the money,but the frame is probably not as good as what you will find on a Marin ,a Specialized or a Giant
    The Rockhoper is probably the best bike on the basis of the frame and decent kit.

    Some of the others though,offer better value for money.

    I had a similar list last year,and the only way you will realy know is to try them,to see what suits.I also wanted a bike that had a good enough frame to upgrade later.

    I ended up with an XTC,great frames,with reasonable kit,but you could make a case for most of those bikes.

    I would discount the Hardrock,though as it offers poor value for money.The Rockhopper is a much better bike for the same or not much more.

    My other advice is to spend a bit more if you can afford it.Upgrades are more expensive then buying a better specced bike in the first place.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • janwal
    janwal Posts: 489
    edited September 2007
    0ops
  • janwal
    janwal Posts: 489
    Also consider the new Cube Acid hardtail.See my post from sept 1st and see the www.cube-bike.de site.Can't reccommend it enough for the spec and the price.
    Cube are a big name in Germany and europe just comimg over here.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Marin Northside is particularly poor unless you upgrade the calamity of a fork on it. And most of the rest of it.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    edited September 2007
    I'd narrow your list to GT Avalanche,Giant XTC ,Carrera Fury or Rockhopper and test ride them all.

    Despite owning an older XTC,Ipersonally I`d probably go for the Rockhopper.

    Why?

    Superb frame,reasonable fork,(RS are reliable too),Octalink bottom bracket which will be far longer lived,than the Truvativ ISIS bbs on the other bikes,reasonable brakes,and has nothing which requires immediate upgrading,yet good enough frame to upgrade in the future,as bits do wear out.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • artfulsloucher
    artfulsloucher Posts: 33
    Been looking online and cant seem to find a bike shop in central london that supplies Giant bikes any ideas?

    Going to the evans store on Waterloo Road first thing to test as many as I can and then bowl off down to the halfords on Old Kent Road. Hopefully they do the Boardmans but wanna get back on the Fury anyway.

    Good work on the discussion, very useful.
  • TheNomad
    TheNomad Posts: 45
    Had similar budget not that far back now, and after looking at 99% of bikes in the price bracket, I decided on a Claud Butler Cape Wrath D27 and am very happy with it.

Categories