Merlin Malt - Spec worth a look - Advice - OK for racing ?

avfs19

Looking around for a sub £500 bike and came across this is Merlin Sale section,

Merlin Malt 1 7005 Aluminium frame
08 Rock shox Dart 2 forks with lockout
08 LX V-Brakes
08 Full LX Groupset
08 Deore chainset and bottom bracket
Deore hubs with Mavic 117 rims
FSA bars, stem and seatpost

All of the above for just £375! YES £375!! I am not too worried about Disc brakes as i would prefer the LX V's with koolstops to save a bit of weight.

Other than that looks like a superb bargain to get me back into FUN/ SPORT XC Races and Trail centre riding!!

Anyone disagree ?

dav1

why not?

any MTB built for XC/AM will be useable in a race, sure it wont be as fast as a super carbon framed, full XTR rig sporting some nice RS SID/Fox forks but as long as you ride it well and your fitness + skill is up to scratch you will do well.

Last race I was at somone was riding a standard Giant rincon trail.

JonnyNoStars

That's a cracking spec for the £££, and if my 2003 Malt 1 SE is anything to go by the Merlin frames are spot-on as well. It's pretty light and has survived 5 years of my ineptitude unscathed!

supersonic

Very good for the money. But look at the Trek 4500 too - much better frame.

streako

I would much prefer discs.

Remember, the faster you are going in a race, the faster you will need to stop. I dont think v-brakes can cut it in a wet, muddy race.

supersonic

Try mine Streako - over the bars in all conditions!

streako

I was racing on Sunday and there were some sections where my Formula Oro 24's were struggling to stop.

I would have been off the track in no time with v's.

supersonic

Many XC racers do still use Vs though - albeit really good ones! Though I agree that in real clag, discs would be better.