£1500... what to buy i wonder?

drewcole81
drewcole81 Posts: 528
edited November 2007 in MTB general
Okay, i have a budget of £1500 (£1000 on cycle to work and £500 cash)

I fancy a full sus to play on as i have a new hard tail already.

So i have been looking at either the 2008 Kona Coilair or the 2008 Kona Stinky both at the £1500 mark. which one would you suggest.

So, are these a good choice for the money do you think. or within that budget should i look elsewhere? I cannot go over that amount!

Thanks.
....DaZeD aNd CoNfUsEd....

Comments

  • Porgy
    Porgy Posts: 4,525
    £300 on a bike and spend the rest on drugs. 8)
  • Good advice..... But my days of being a crack'hore are numbered so i have no need for drugs!

    anyone else?
    ....DaZeD aNd CoNfUsEd....
  • clanton
    clanton Posts: 1,289
    For that money you can get a very good full suss bike these days - Giant, Trek and Specialized all make excellent bikes in that price range. All you need to do is choose how much travel you need!
  • well just thinking about it, the stink is more of a down hill ride? where as i am more the XC rider so dont need masses of it, but some would be nice! would be handy to lock it out if thats possible on the rear?
    ....DaZeD aNd CoNfUsEd....
  • a specialized stumpjumper would be perfect then!!
    Enjoy the simple things in life
  • you know i forgot about them!!
    Now that looks like the ride for me... think i'll go find one for a test.

    Cheers Dan
    ....DaZeD aNd CoNfUsEd....
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    Stumpjumpers Meh!

    those two konas are more freeride.

    5inch do it all gives the best of everything, Meta5.5 won best trail bike for under 1500 (or 1750) plus loads of others and it rocks and is far better then the Stmpy. Or the Giant Trance or a new Trek EX
  • well everybody has their own opinions, and as Drew said he is more of a xc rider then thought a stumpy would fit the bill!

    No doubt a Meta 5.5.2 would be great at £1399 from merlin cycles

    definatly test some out, as there is alot of differance in ride at that price!
    Enjoy the simple things in life
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    Yeah theres lots of good full sussers around the 1500 quid mark now
  • clarkson
    clarkson Posts: 1,641
    id go for the stumpy.
    I said hit the brakes not the tree!!

    2006 Specialized Enduro Expert
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3192886/

    2008 Custom Merlin Malt 4
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2962222/

    2008 GT Avalanche Expert
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3453980/
  • Rich25
    Rich25 Posts: 231
    stumpy for me too!!
  • ashleymp777
    ashleymp777 Posts: 1,212
    Word of warning - check first if you're allowed to buy a bike over and above the value of the voucher. Some cycle2work schemes won't allow it!

    And yes, get a stumpy! Spesh are the best bikes in the world! ;-)
  • milese
    milese Posts: 1,233
    I'd have to say go for the Stumpy, I absolutely love mine! As said, get a test ride and never look back.

    I dont think you can put cash on top of the cycle to work scheme. Basically your employer owns your bike unlike you buy if for a nominal amount after a year, so split ownership would complicate things. You'd have to do something 'under the table' with the bike shop I reckon for it to work.
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    Spesh is practically an anagram of Sheep.

    Be different, be better, be a connoiseaur, get a Meta 5. Don't be a sheep.

    Actually best bet is to try and get a test ride first....!
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • Forget which is the best bike or practical Choice just get a

    KONA COILAIR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    :D
    KONA COILAIR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    :D

    You Know You Want To!!

    Even if you cant get it up hills it will look the Bomb in your garage :lol:

    LOL

    www.27gears.com
    www.27gears.com

    Sore ribs.................I must start walking the trail 1st before steep descents into the unknown!
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    Giant reign or trance for me!!
  • i really get bored of spesh hating "dont be a sheep" there is a blood good reason that so many people own these bike theyre top value and top performance, gets better every year and lighter too..

    not dissing the meta 5 becuase its a gresat bike too, and new trance x looks like it could be awesome this year
  • Seriously

    Almost any bike these days (with the exception of a few PIGS that will never be any good, due to poor geometry) for £1500 is a good bike, I ride occasionally with a large group of riders and we all rib each other about who has the best bike? and at the end of the day we all ride the same trail over the same terrain and we all get to the end without a problem.

    Moral of the story, Get what bike feels right and what bike you like, be it a Spesh, Commencal, Giant, Trek,..............whatever it does not make much difference! I dont race and judging by the kind of bike your looking to buy and the money your looking to spend it sounds like you aren't either. in the end all the different bikes will do the same job as each other.

    P.S Buy the KONA

    :wink:

    www.27gears.com
    www.27gears.com

    Sore ribs.................I must start walking the trail 1st before steep descents into the unknown!
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    Steedmaster has a sense-of-humour failure! Never mind.

    Anyway I did say if you are going to spend that much you should really test ride before you buy. A proper day out on your normal trails is the only way you will get a good feel of a bike.
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • ashleymp777
    ashleymp777 Posts: 1,212
    Word of warning - check first if you're allowed to buy a bike over and above the value of the voucher. Some cycle2work schemes won't allow it!

    And yes, get a stumpy! Spesh are the best bikes in the world! ;-)

    Please don't forget to check!!!!!
  • Bromski
    Bromski Posts: 239
    I'm saving up for a new Trek Fuel EX 8, but on a £1500 budget, this deal made me think twice...

    http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant_reign_zero.html
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    Try riding it - then you'll realise there's not enough travel. The 2008 model looks more promising.
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • Bromski
    Bromski Posts: 239
    LBS has said I can test ride their 2008 Trek Fuel EX 9.0 as soon as they get it.

    Problem I've got is that my local Giant dealer charges for test rides, which I disagree with fundamentally.
  • clas
    clas Posts: 187
    kona dawg
    or one of its higher spec brood
    a good bike that will extend your XC riding style to a more "brain out" style and its not too heavy to ride back up the hills
    I never touched it! It was broke when I got here.
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    Dawgs heavy and expensive for what they are..the new one looks good, but you can get the 07 pretty cheap..saw a supreme 1000k off somewhere, enjoyed riding one inthe alps, but wouldn't fancy one in chairlift free climes.
  • liam333
    liam333 Posts: 189
    What about a spesh sx trail.