Upgrade or New Purchase

wpmgs2005

I currently have a Carrera Kraken bought from Halfords around 10months ago. Not the best bike around but has served a purpose during this time.

However, I'm now using the bike everyday of the week to get backwards and forwards to work as well as trail riding in the evening's and weekends... Also with the intention of trying some more exciting trails etc.

Do I try and upgrade some of the components on the bike I have i.e. forks, wheels etc??

Or do I go out and spend the money on a better bike?? If so, what?? Hard Tail or Full Sus?? What make?? How much??

Can you help??

supersonic

Question is, do you feel you need a better bike? mnay people have Krakens and find it more than enough for the usage you describe. Is there any are you feel its letting you down, or do you want lighter weight? Or maybe just a taste of what more money can do?!

Also what is your budget.

Oh, and welcome ;-)

The Spiderman

First question is how much is your budget?
Second question is where do you want to improve performance and what type of riding do you do?

Having spent a fortune upgrading my hardtail,buying a new bike is often cheaper,especially if you are looking to change a lot of components.

There is always a market for good secondhand mtbs too,so you can recoup some money by sticking your existing bike on ebay.

If howver you want to change a something without breaking the bank,decent tyres are always a worthwhile investment,for around £40.Forks are always a good upgrade,on a bike like this,but you would be looking at £150 to get something decent,like a Rockshox Tora or an Marzocchi MX pro.

If you take a look around at some of the sale bikes,you will realise you can get a lot of bike for not much money.

Some ideas:



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wpmgs2005

Do I need a better bike?? Good question! I've pretty much convinced myself that I do but that remains to be seen..

Since buying the Kraken, the forks have lost oil and don't perform very well.

I guess what I'm trying to achieve is to make life easier for myself, both on the road and racing around the trails, bumps etc..

I'm quite happy to spend £400-£500 on upgrading the bike components..

As for changing the bike, I have found myself being confused by the difference in components on the more expensive bikes to the point where some of the reviews are saying that sub £1000 bikes still require some components to be upgraded! Hence why I then get drawn into looking at £1000-£1500 bikes which maybe far to much of a bike for my requirements!

Thanks for your posts... All information greatly received.

supersonic

Its very rare that bikes need components upgrading, bar tyres, from the off. More money tends to buy you lighter weight, more adjustabilty in the fork, and slightly more durable and better performing components. Its rare that any are total duds on a new bike over 500 quid!

4-500 is a big budget and I dont think you'll need to spend all that to move the performance up a notch. The fork usually makes or breaks a budget bike, and while yours was a good unit, sadly its died and is rather weighty. 200 quid on a Reba SL from Merlin is all the fork you'll ever need, a great bargain, light, stiff and multi adjustable. New wheels are an option, as the Krakens are very heavy. Something like XT on Mavic 717 (with new tyres) will drop 2, maybe 3lbs off the weight of the bike. Looking at 110 for the wheels, 50 for tyres.

Hydro disc brakes are an option if you feel you need more power, good models start from 100 quid such as the Deore.

I wouldnt touch anything else. You wouldnt notice much improvement in drivetrain upgrades, this stuff is best left until it wears out. Lighter bars, stem and saddle or an option further down the line.

The best specced 500 quid bike is the Carrera Fury, but the 500 spent on the Kraken would make it better and lighter than it.

wpmgs2005

Reba Forks it is then.

I'll try one step at a time and see what difference each upgrade makes..

Wheels & Tyres Next!

Many thanks for all your help.

schmako

You're on your way! My mate has replaced everything but the Kraken frame. Pretty light/fast bike now, says the frame is next.

Chaka Ping

I agree with Supersonic.

When magazines say sub-£1000 bikes "need bits upgrading", I suspect they really mean that owners will want to upgrade certian parts for lighter ones or bits that are perceived to function better.

They don't really NEED upgrading.

dav1

how secure is your bike parking for work? Upgrading it will make it more desireable to a theif. Also i find commuting by MTB limits your upgrade choises somewhat because you need to think of both purposes (no point killing good tyes on tarmac or having a stem thats ace for racing buy not so good for your back when taking stuff in with you). I am now hunting for a commuter bike to get around these problems.

Im taking the gradual upgrate route, as bits on my giant yukon wear out or as my ability improves to the point where a part limits me i uograde it. In time ill probably do the frame as well.

It is more costly this way buy you get a spec thats 100% personal and suited to your riding. It also saves you having to find a lot of money at once.

ride_whenever

I'd consider spending some of the money on a commuter bike, maybe a single/fixed roadbike. And then anything else put towards you MTB. I'd say new commuter and new wheels/fork.

Torres

For £4-500 [maybe more] you could get a nice new bike which you could use for off roading in the evenings/weekends, AND a pai of slicks for the kraken, whih you could sue to comute on. I don't know about you but if you drop a load on a new bike [or upgade the vurrent one] you will just make it more desirable to theifs.
depends where you live though, ruraly, this shouldn't be a problem, ina more urban environment though...

wpmgs2005

I'm only riding about 10 miles a day to work so do I really need another bike??

I live out in the country and should be able to use trails for some of this journey during the better weather.. Not getting dirty before going to work!!

So I'd much rather spend the money on upgrading my current bike.

No probs with bike placement at work, with regards to theifs.. No access.


Other options/upgrades would be appreciated!

Many thanks

BlackSpur

wpmgs2005 wrote:

I'm only riding about 10 miles a day to work so do I really need another bike??

I live out in the country and should be able to use trails for some of this journey during the better weather.. Not getting dirty before going to work!!

So I'd much rather spend the money on upgrading my current bike.

No probs with bike placement at work, with regards to theifs.. No access.


Other options/upgrades would be appreciated!

Many thanks

Is that 10 miles one way or return? Cosidering you could get a cheap second hand road bike on ebay for around £100, which would have road tyres and higher gearing, I think it would be worth it.

wpmgs2005

10 miles return.

Why Rockshox and not Marzocchi??

Spoke with someone earlier and they have suggested I also look at the XC500 / XC500 ETA fork from Marzocchi???

I want to order these tomorrow so able to get them on and start playing at the weekend.

supersonic

The Zocchi is a good fork too - but the Reba is such a damn bargain! Its lighter by quite a bit, easy to set up, stiff, reliable. To me a no brainer!

The Spiderman

I have heard that the XC500 is a good fork,but I have not tried one.From my own experience of the Reba,I can tell you that they are light,very adjustable,a good performer and very reliable.I would have no qualms reccomending the Rebas and at £225 for the SL version,they are a bargain.

With your budget,I would go for the Reba first,then try the wheels and tyres that have been reccomended.Given that you re commuting and spending time on the road,how about trying a lower rolling resistance tyre on the rear?

Something like a Conti Speed King,might be a good option for you.

wpmgs2005

Reba SL or Reba Race??

I have concerns over the Reba SL as this is a non stocked item apart from Merlin and is not supplied by Rockshox other than on current bikes, according to the manufacturers!

However, everybody supplies the Race Version, how does this differ???

I like the idea of ordering over the internet if required but I prefer the idea of walking into somewhere, buying and getting them to setup! That way, if there is a problem later etc. I have doors to knock on!!

supersonic

As with all parts bought from retailers, your contract of sale and guarantee lies with that retailer. It is them who are obliged to sort the problem out for you regardless, whether that be repair or refund. What it means is that Merlin cant send it back to RS without cost to Merlin, it just may take a fraction longer to sort. Your rights are unaffected. However OE forks like the SL dont come with a shock pump, and may have plastic rather than metal adjusters.

Buying from a shop does have the benefit of a usual free fitting.