A bike that will get me to hell, and maybe back?

Old Git On A Bike

Right, I want a new bike already, I have just started riding and bought a new one recently, but now I want something better that will last me, with brand name parts on it, instead of the CBR bike I have now, which after only 15 rides is making a clunking sound each time the crank turns and doesn't have much in the way of branding.

I mentioned to my other half earlier on that I want a new bike, she says, you've got a new bike, I says, yeah, but I want a better one, a small row ensues about bikes, and ends with me telling her I am getting a new one and that's the end of it, so she tells me to go to hell, I said fine, I'll ride their on my new bike, that went down really well wih her, not :roll:

The current situation is, I will have a bit over £300 in the next couple of weeks, plus another £200 by the end of April, that would give me enough to buy a few of the bikes listed below, or, would I probably be better of waiting until May/June when I will have another couple hundred quid to throw at one of the more expensive bikes, hmmmm.

What are your opinions of the specs for these bikes I have picked out? I persoanlly went for bikes that were 2007 models on sale, hoping to get a bargain. Anything I should cross off the list, bearing in mind I wont be doing any proper mountain biking for a good while yet due to being unfit, so it will be mostly used on roads, tarmac cycle paths and a bit of loose pebble/shingle beach and rough ground below the cliffs. And what's the score about some of them not including pedals, I mean, all that money and no pedals :?

BeOne Team Replica 26 Hardtail Bike 2007 RRP £599.99, sale price £399.99

Images:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =14966.jpg

BeOne - Team Replica 26

Features:

*Size: 20.5
*Frame: B1 6061 T6 Alloy
*Forks: Rockshox Dart 3 80mm
*Front Der: Shimano Deore
*Rear Der: Shimano Lx
*Shifters: Shimano Deore
*Brakes: Tektro Auriga Comp
*Cranks: Truvativ Isoflow
*BB: Truvativ
*Handlebar: Ritchey
*Stem: Ritchey
*Seatpost: Ritchey
*Saddle: B1 Cr Mo
*Hubs: Machine Cone
*Cassette: Suntour
*Chain: KMC
*Rims: Alex DP
*Tyres: Maxxis Tomahawk

PLEASE NOTE: Pedals are NOT included with this bike.

Viper TR 4.0 Hardtail Bike 2007 RRP £749.99, sale price £499.99

Image:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =14923.jpg

Viper 2007 TR 4.0 Hardtail Bike

Specs:

*Frame: 7005 series alloy with double butted front triangle. Hourglass chainstays, wishbone seatstays and custom CNC dropouts. Disc and V-Brake mounts.
*Size: 20"
*Fork: Manitou Axel Comp 100mm Travel with Lock-out
*Hubs: Shimano HB-M25 QR, Alloy Black 32H
*Rims: Sun DS2-XC Alloy, Black 32H
*Spokes/Nipples: Stainless Black W/Nipples 14g
*Tyres: Continental Leader 2.10
*Pedal: Shimano PD-M505
*Saddle: XTX
*Seatpost: FSA
*Handlebar: FSA XC-180 31.8mm
*Stem: FSA 190LX 31.8mm
*Grips: XTX
*Brakes: Hayes HFX 9 V6 Hydraulic
*Cranks: FSA 44/ 32/ 22
*Bottom Bracket: FSA Megaexo
*Chain: Shimano HG53
*Cassette: Shimano CS-HG50-9, 11-32T, 9-SPD
*Front Derallieur: SRAM X7
*Rear Derailleur: SRAM X9
*Shifters: SRAM SX5 Trigger 27 SPD
*Headset: Semi Integrated

GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc 2008 £499.99

Image:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =25896.jpg

Features:

*Suspension: SR X-100 fork, 100 mm travel w/32mm alum stanchions, magnesium lowers with lockout, preload adjust and hydraulic damping
*Drivetrain: Shimano 27-speed drivetrain with Deore front derailleur and Shimano Deore LX rear derailleur; Shimano Deore trigger shifters
*Crankset: Shimano 44/34/22 9-speed Octalink compatible
*Brakes: Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes
*Wheels/Tires: Alloy double wall disc rims; Shimano disc hubs; Kenda Nevegal 2.1" tires
*Handlebar: GT Riser Bar
*Seat Post: Micro-adjust seatpost
*Saddle: WTB Speed V saddle
*Pedals: Shimano PDM-520 clipless pedal with cleats
*Rear Cogs: SRAM Nine speed index cassette 12-32
*Chain: Shimano HG-53 Nine Speed
*Spokes: Stainless steel 14 gauge
*Nipples: Brass CP
*Stem: GT ATB, threadless 25 degree rise with four bolt alum CNC face plate for 31.8mm
*Grips: GT Dual Density ATB
*Headset:Tange system for 1 1/8"
*Seat Clamp: GT Forged Alum QR
*Frame: GT Triple Triangle design 6061 butted aluminum with new hydroformed downtube, zero stack headtube.
Disc compatible with removeable der. hanger

This one has got 29 inch wheels, am I allowed to mention 29ers on here without getting my head kicked in , there was a previous topic about this bike and some said it looked good for the price considering some of the good spec stuff the bike has on it, plus it has dropped in price again since this topic, so even better value, but what are your thoughts about the wheel size?:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... light=29er

BeOne Creed 1.0 29er Hardtail Bike 2007 RRP £899.99, sale price £499.99

Image:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =14974.jpg

BeOne - Creed 1.0

Features:

*Size: 19"
*Frame: B1 7005
*Forks: Rockshox Tora 318 Air
*Front Der: Shimano LX
*Rear Der: Shimano XT
*Shifters: Shimano LX
*Brake Levers: Avid Juicy 3
*Brakes: Avid Juicy 3
*Crankset: Truvativ FiveD
*BB: Truvativ
*Handlebar: Ritchey Rizer Comp
*Stem: Ritchey Com V2
*Seatpost: Ritchey Comp
*Saddle: B1 Cr Mo
*Chain: KMC
*Cassette: Shimano CS 580
*Wheels: Shimano M525 with Alex DF23
*Tyres: Maxxis Ignitor 29x2.1

Note: This bicycle is not supplied with pedals

BeOne Karma 2.0 Hardtail Bike 2007 RRP £899.99, sale price £549.99

Images:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =14968.jpg

Features:

Size: 19"
Frame: 6061 T6
Fork: ROCKSHOX RECON
Front der: SHIMANO LX FD-M580
*Rear der: SHIMANO XT RD-M760
*Shifters: SHIMANO LX SL-M580
*Brakelevers: AVID JUICY 3
*Brakes: AVID JUICY 3
*Crankset: TRUVATIV FIREX 3.1 TRIPLE
*Chainguard: Not included
*BB-set: TRUVATIV GXP XR
*Handlebar: RITCHEY COM O/S
*Stem: RITCHEY COM V2
*Seatpost: RITCHEY COMP
*Saddle: B-1 CR-MO
*Hubs: STAINLESS BALL
*Chain: KMC HG-73
*Cassette: SHIMANO CS-HG-50-9
*Spokes: STAINLESS
*Rims: MAVIC XM-317 DISC
*Tyres: MAXXIS IGNITOR
*Colour: PEARL WHITE

Note: This bicycles is not supplied with pedals

Cube LTD Team 2007 RRP £779.00, sale price £584.99

Images:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =20574.jpg

Features:
*Frame size: 16"
*Frame: Alu 7005 double butted
*Forks: RockShox Tora 318 Air PopLoc (80mm)
*Headset: Ritchey Logic
*Handlebar: FSA XC280
*Stem: FSA OS170
*Seatpost: FSA SL280
*Saddle: Selle Italia XR
*Crankset: Shimano Hollowtech
*BB: Shimano Octalink
*Rear Mech: Shimano Deore XT
*Front Mech: Shimano Deore LX
*Brake Levers: Formula Oro K18
*Brakes: Formula Oro K18
*Shifters: Shimano Deore
*Cassette: Shimano Deore HG50
*Chain: Shimano HG53
*Rims: Rigida Taurus
*Hubs: Shimano Deore 525 Disc
*Spokes: DT Swiss
*Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic light
*Fasten Alu:
*Weight: 12,05*

Viper Scandium X.9 Hardtail Bike - Sliver RLO 2007 RRP £1149.99, sale price £699.99

Images:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... =17900.jpg

Specs:

*Frame size: 20"
*Frame : Superlite Scandium W/S-bend chainstays and wishbone seatstays
*Fork : Manitou Sliver RLO, 100mm Travel
*Headset : FSA Orbit Z semi-integrated
*Cranks : Truvativ Firex
*Brakes : Hayes HFX 9 XC, 160mm Rotors
*Cassette : SRAM PG 980
*Front Derailleur : SRAM X7
*Rear Derailleur : SRAM X9
*Shifter : SRAM X7
*Chain : SRAM PC 971
*Hubs : Mavic CrossRide
*Rims : Mavic CrossRide
*Spokes/Nipples : Mavic CrossRide straight pull
*Tyres : Maxxis Advantage 26 x 2.10
*Saddle : Fizik Nisene sport
*Seatpost : Thomson Elite
*Handlebar : FSA XC 280 , 31.8mm
*Stem : Thomson X4
*Grips : XTX Dual compound

danhx

Surely you could try and get the crank (or which ever part down there is broken) sorted under warranty as it shouldnt be fair wear after a few hundred miles at most. Then you could use the bike for a few more months until something else breaks then replace it with the excuse that its just not good enough and will quickly turn into a money pit.

gthang

I'd say keep riding your existing new bike for a few more months. Get the Crank fixed, Bikes are mechanical and parts do come lose and ware out. Take it to a LBS they should be able to fix and you'll be happy again. Perhaps spend some money on some tools and read / learn how to maintaining the bike you have.

I doubt you will get the real benefit of a higher spec bike just yet, as your just riding on paths etc. When you’re ready to go more off road / trail riding and you find your bike is not doing a good enough job / always falling apart then consider a new ride.

I woudl say everyone here wants a new better bike all the time. Most have to make do and mend.

Having said that, the bikes you have listed all look to be good value The BeOne Karma 2.0 looks cool. However when spending £500 ish you really should be testing them out before you buy to make sure they are a good fit.

dav1

danhx wrote:

Surely you could try and get the crank (or which ever part down there is broken) sorted under warranty as it shouldnt be fair wear after a few hundred miles at most. Then you could use the bike for a few more months until something else breaks then replace it with the excuse that its just not good enough and will quickly turn into a money pit.

indeed this is a good thing to do. You could also ask your LBS for the warranty replacement to act as credit towards an upgrade if you want something better on there now.

What bike have you got atm?

supersonic

All decent bikes you list, vary a bit, but buying off line mens no test and no easy back up and servicing. If you are new to this, a good shop is vital.

Old Git On A Bike

Yes, I could get my current bike fixed under warranty, but if I did that now, it would take a week for the catalogue to collect the bike, they send it back to the manufacturer, who knows how long it would be there before being sent back to the catalogue, who would then send it back to me, it would probably take several weeks, and all that time I would be without a bike, any fitness and progression I have made would be lost and see me back at square one.

I suppose my other option would be just to completely forget about the warranty and take it to a LBS for them to repair, and carry on using it for a couple of months before getting one of the bikes I listed above, that way I wont be without a bike.

@ Dav1, my current bike is a CBR Extreme, it's made by Falcon Cycles under the name of Claud Butler Racing, but see a couple of comments about the CBR make on this recent topic by someone else:

http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/foru ... t=12560386

To be honest, I quite like the CBR, it serves it's purpose for what I'm doing on it at the moment, it's just the clunking noise and the non branded parts that are putting me off, I plan to do rides such as the "cuckoo trail" in the summer, and I don't fancy a cheap part of the bike failing when I'm half way along the trail, leaving me with a bloody long walk back, plus it weighs quite a lot at around 36 - 38 pounds, something with decent branded parts and a bit lighter would be nice, the Cube LTD Team bike above, for example, weighs only about 24 pounds, no idea what the other bikes weigh, is there any way of finding that out?

I can see your points about buying from a LBS, but I'm probably not going to get as much for my money compared to those on sale at Chain Reaction Cycles, I'm easy when it comes to not sitting on or testing a bike before I buy it, seeing a photo of it is enough for me, granted, getting one from a shop would make things easier for servicing and warranty repairs, but then again, unless I had a catastrophic failure like a frame snapping, I could just forget about warranties and use an LBS for repairs.

sjburbidge

Sounds like you're not sure what kind of bike you will need - nothing wrong with that. In which case, carry on with your current bike, fix anything broken, and in 6 months if you still want to upgrade you can, and might have more of an idea what you want/ need.
A heavy bike will make you fitter quicker too!

TonyS

Difficult to tell from the photo but I'd guess it's mainly low end Shimano (shifters look like Altus?) and I'd suspect the chainsets nothing special but more than functional for the type of riding you are doing.

After 15 rides it will need a service - especially as no real PDI will have occured.

As for weight it does not sound too bad for the price and yes some of the bikes you have listed are several kg lighter but I suspect the biggest weight saving you can make is in the rider right now. As bit's wear out replace with better/lighter stuff especially tyres and maybe the drive chain. At some point it will then be cheaper to upgrade to a new bike than buy the bits piecemeal (and hence you have the justification for a new bike).

Sikora

I totally agree with the comments on keeping the CBR till the summer, then once you have a better idea of the type of bike you want, and what your budget is, then look at an upgrade.

I don't think it would cost too much for a LBS to fix your cranks. Also, If its in good working order, you'll be able to sell it on in the local ads paper or ebay. Loads of people will be after a cheap bike for commuting.

If you do decide to go for a new bike straight away and would prefer to buy online, why not browse the LBS for the same bike and try it for size? Most shops will still have '07 models, while some use the same frame on their '08 models.
I know some of your choices are online only models, but the likes of the GT are quite common in shops.

Old Git On A Bike

Difficult to tell from the photo but I'd guess it's mainly low end Shimano (shifters look like Altus?) and I'd suspect the chainsets nothing special

@ TonyS, on my CBR, the shifters are SRAM X-5, the derailleur is also SRAM X-5, it has Promax rotors, Zoom shocks and Quando hubs, just had a closer look at the chain rings and I can't see any name on them, only numbers, big ring says 523 - 42N, middle ring 571 - 32, small ring 563 - 22, I assume the lower number relating to the number of teeth per ring, and the pedal arms are SR Suntour.

I suspect the biggest weight saving you can make is in the rider right now.

I have lost 9 lbs in weight so far, I'm around 13 stone 5 now, so I'm doing my best to lose extra weight, but I am being hindered by the damn strong winds on the coast here and can't get out every day, so I had another thought, I was going to give this CBR to my other half when I got a new bike, but as she was being arsey about me getting a new one, I could probably just get a new harder slick tyre for the back wheel and buy a turbo trainer instead, that will allow me to ride indoors on bad weather days, and then just get one of the £500ish bikes.

[edit]

@ Sikora, sorry, I was posting as you were, I don't think the CBR will have a very good second hand re-sale value, it was £299 new, and the actual worth is probably nearer to £200, you know how catalogues inflate their prices, so as per my post ^^^, it's probably better to keep it for indoor training.

TonyS

X-5, Quando etc does not sound that bad and in weight terms no heavier than Shimano LX.

A GT Avalanche 3.0 DIsc is comparible in price, spec and weight - the only real difference is in the badge.

9lbs is an impressive start and cylcling into the wind down here does help those ilbs drop off

For motivation why not join one of the local bike clubs - not every one is about Ubber spec'ed bikes and technical off roading.