Full Sus or Hardtail?

gpjones
gpjones Posts: 33
edited December 2007 in MTB buying advice
Im looking for some help choosing my next bike.

At the moment i'm riding a Kona Scrap and have about £1300 saved so far but i'm torn between going for a full sus or a hardtail. Every month or so I ride Llandegla/Penmachno/Gwydyr Forest and more frequently during summer. I have only been riding the Black Trails for about 6 months (painfully on a DJ bike).

The choices so far are:

Hardtails up to £1300

Merlin Malt 4
Orange P7 Pro

Full Sus up to £2000

Orange 5
Santa Cruz Heckler
Commencal Meta

I've had test rides on the Orange p7 and the Santa Cruz Heckler but still not sure as both were a dream to ride.

If anyone has any advice that would be great?

Comments

  • rob cole
    rob cole Posts: 706
    have a look at the Specialized Pitch Pro

    tough enough to abuse on jumps and downhills

    not too heavy or sloppy for serious climbing

    awesome value at £1400, leaving budget to upgrade the tires and perhaps pedals, grips...
    check out my riding - www.robcole.co.uk Banshee Factory Team rider, Da Kine UK Team rider, www.freeborn.co.uk www.eshershore.com
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    if you have that much money, definately buy a full suss, you would be mad not to. better comfort, faster down hill and almost as fast uphill, its is widely regarded that a fs will be faster than a ht over the same trail for most riders, they are so well made these days that the old wallowy supermarket specials which are most folks experience are a long way off.

    definately have a look at the spesh stumpy and the new giant trance x.
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    The Malts highly recommended by lots of people and great for the money.

    I kown a lot of of p7 owners really like that aswell.


    Being biased though I'd say got for the Meta, excellent bike. The Heckler is a very nice bit of kit..Giant Trance and Trek EX look good this year aswell
    Meta5.5
    Duster
  • zero303
    zero303 Posts: 1,162
    If you can get down to Afan the centre shop has Orange 5 demo bikes to hire and they'll knock the rental fee of the bike if you buy within 3 months.

    I'm after a 5 in the new year but I went to my LBS to have a look at the Pitch Pro - reviews are good and it looks a bargain - did I mention this is easily the most gorgeous looking bike I've seen... EVER!
  • Splasher
    Splasher Posts: 1,528
    Heckler, Orange 5, Pitch Pro or one of the Marin 140s
    "Internet Forums - an amazing world where outright falsehoods become cyber-facts with a few witty key taps and a carefully placed emoticon."
  • paul williams
    paul williams Posts: 41
    I have a heckler which i've had for just over a year now, got the Fox Talas forx on it so can adjust the front end from 100 to 160mm depending on whether you're going up or down. It's tough enough to ttake the knocks but light enough to ride uphill. I ride the XC course at Cwm Carn quite regularly and there's a lot of climbing on there, the heckler copes with ease. I would definately recommend one, i think its a true all rounder whether you do XC, freeride or downhill
  • pittpony
    pittpony Posts: 1,057
    Apparently the 08 Trek fuel EX8 is an excellent choice. Not ridden it myself though...
    Giant Trance & XTC Composite
    South East MTB
  • Panasonic
    Panasonic Posts: 12
    I have a Orange Patriot Excel and its lovely, so simple, so effective, so light, so tough, no bob, super plush suspension, just glides over just about everything, tiny bumps, big hits..... Find some reviews of Orange 5 and Patriot pretty much every tester seems to love Orange full sus. My Orange is almost perfect, perhaps 29" wheels would roll/grip better but would lose its bomb proof-ness.........


    Oh and they are made in UK! Be a Patriot!

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