So many bikes to choose from (£800 - £1100) – help pleas

AK77

Hi folks, I am looking at buying a bike and I am seriously considering the Trek Top Fuel 8 (2007) and the Specialized FSR XP Pro (2007). The Trek is available for £1100 and the Specialized for £950 – both online offers.

I have also considered going for a steel hardtail rather than a full suspension, and I have looked at the Orange P7 Pro (2008) and the Genesis Altitude 20 (2008), both coming in at around £1100 - in shop rather than online. I used to have an Orange Clockwork, hence why I looked at the Orange range.

Having been away from the mountain bike scene for almost 15 years, I am really struggling to find the right bike for me – in fact, the search seems to be taking over my life!

I am looking for some independent advice as the shops that I have visited don’t tend to have the greatest deals on offer, and each shop tends to stock a few different manufactures, which they are obviously going to push – that’s their job at!

I guess what I am looking for is a fairly light-weight cross-county bike with good upgrade potential. I will be mainly doing long distance trial riding, and might look at entering the odd race every now and again. (I am struggling to get the actual weight of bikes from shops or manufactures websites – any tips here would be good too).

This morning I visited another shop and was told that the Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc (2008) is good value at £900.

Price wise, I don’t want to spend money just for the sake of it, but my budget is £800 - £1100.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I would ideally like to order my bike this week.

Thanks in advance.

guilliano

At this price I'd say you are as well off buying a 2008 Giant Trance 2 (£1000) if you want a full suss with upgrade potential. The frame alone costs £795 and is the same throughout the Trance range, meaning upgrade potential galore!!! If you want a steel hardtail then I can recommend the Charge Duster Hi. The frame is fantastic and worthy of any equipment you want to hang off it in the future. Obviously you'll get better spec on a hardtail, but the gap is closing this year.....

BlackSpur

Look at the Rock Lobster range on Merlin Cycles - very good value.

artillerydave

I would second the rock lobster hardtail route rather than full sus if you are just getting back into biking, you will benefit more and then maybe move to full sus later on, rock lobster are cracking value and great bikes to boot. go to the shop in Leyland if you can get there to have a good poke around.

AK77

Thanks for the advice, the Rock Lobsters look very good value - I think I am going to get up to Leyland tomorrow or Wednesday and check them out. I am also going to try and get a look at a Charge Duster.

I have more or less decided on a hardtail, and after spending this evening reading various reviews and forums the two main contenders are currently:

- Rock Lobster Tig Team 853 08
- Genesis Altitude 20

Anyone else got anything to add?

With regards to the spec / components, being away from the scene for 10+ years I am not really sure what is represents good value with regards to hubs, forks etc.

Cheers.

dunker

give the Malt4 a test too

Chaka Ping

The Rock Lobster's a really safe bet, spec-wise - as Merlin use full XT, Mavic rims, a RS Reba fork and Race Face Deus finishing kit.

You might have been away 10 years, but XT is still the benchmark for components. The 853 is a top-notch steel frame too.

Merlin get lots of recommendations on here, because they offer quite fantastic VFM.

AK77

Big thank you to everyone for their replies / help so far.

Right folks, I am getting closer to decision day re the Rock Lobster, and I am planning to visit Leyland tomorrow and order the following:

2008 Rock Lobster Tig Team 853 = £899.96

- Rock Lobster Tig Team 853 frame 2008
- 2008 Rockshox Reba SL forks with remote poploc lockout
- Full 2008 Shimano XT groupset
- New XT hydraulic disc brakes front and rear
- Wheels - Handbuilt XT 765 disc hubs with Mavic XC717 disc rims
- Race Face Deus riser bars, stem and seatpost
- Panaracer Fire XC tyres

Upgrade options:

XC717 Black rims & black spokes £10.80

Fork Upgrades:
- Megura Menja = FREE
- Rockshox Reba Team = £36.00
- Rockshox Sid Team = £36.00

Group Upgrades:
- XT group & Hope Mono Mini brakes = £22.50
- XT group & Hope Mono Mini with Hope Pro11 hubs = £112.50
- XT group & Hope Mono M4 with Hope Pro11 hubs = £144.00

Any tips on where (if anywhere) I’d be best spending money on upgrades, most of the above is foreign to me!

Alternatively I could save £50 by going for the 2007 model, how does the following compare with regards to kit?! I think the frames are the same bar the colour.

2007 Rock Lobster Tig Team 853 = £849.95

- Rock Lobster Tig Team 853 frame 2007
- 08 Marzochi MX Pro with remote lockout
- Full 2007 XT groupset with standard brake/gear levers
- XT hydraulic disc brakes front & rear
- Wheels - XT splined disc hubs with Mavic XC717 black disc rims & black spokes
- Easton EA50 bars, stem and seatpost
- Panaracer Fire XC tyres
- Free pair Shimano 520 SPD pedals

There seems to be no upgrade options with the older model.

My final option is to go for a SL rather than the 853. Has anyone got any pros or cons that I should consider here? As far as I can gather, the SL is slightly lighter, but the 853 will have the edge with comfort.

Sorry to go on and on about this, I just want to make sure that I am getting the best value for money, but most of all a really good bike that I’m going to be happy with for many years!

Cheers

pdid

I have an sl and its superb. Give them both a try and see which you like best.

Only thing i`d say is about the rims. Depending on your riding style it may be worth asking for an upgrade too 719`s. I bent my 717`s inside three months.

Can`t get better bang for buck IMO

Phil

Brighty

Alright fella

I have an 853 and it is a lovely bike, you won't regret getting one.

I'd avoid the one in tha sale section, as the marz mx pro fork is not a patch on the reba, no where near, plus it's 07 xt transmission instead of 08, for the small saving it's not worth it. By the way, the frame will be the same either way, the 07 and 08 refers to the xt groupset not the frame, you'll get a black sl or red 853.

Black wheel upgrade, i prefer black wheels, so if you do too, go for it, it's only a tenner

Fork upgrade, rebas are fantastic forks so stick with them, the reba team upgrade for £36 gets you a slightly lighter crown, 30g thats all, plus an external floodgate. Floodgate adjusts the amount of force to move the fork when it is locked out, the sl you have to use an allen key, the team has a dial knob thingy. I've never felt the need to adjust mine much, so really the sl will be fine, but if you're a bit of a tart and can spare the £36 go for the team.

Group upgrades, hope hubs are nice and all that, but are they worth an extra £90? I dunno, xt hubs will serve you very well, both have there fans. What i think maybe worth getting is the upgrade to hope mono mini brakes for £22.50, don't know too much about them though, think they're lighter than the xt's. I have xt's and am perfectly happy with them.

Your only tricky choice is whether to for the steel 853 or the ali sl, light weight ali (1lb lighter i believe) or zippy springy steel, the choice is yours. Although it looks like they have no 853's in 17" at the mo if that clinches it.

Get one, you'll love it.

Brighty

danhx

I emailed them aprox a month agow regarding 17" steel frames, estimated end of march.

dunker

i second the xm719 rim comment, xt775 hubs with dt db comp spokes on xm719 disc rims. not alot heavier but stronger wheels.

AK77

Thanks for help again guys. I am 5ft 11" and have been told that until I get on the bikes I won't know whether the 17" or the 19" frame is right for me.

Was hoping to get up to Merlin this afternoon but the central heating has packed in so I now have to wait in until the repair man arrives - just my luck!

Brighty

It is well worth the visit, i'm 6ft and was told via email to get a 19", when i actually went there the chap looked at me and said i was definately a 17" and he was right, so glad i made the effort to go there.

Brighty