best £150-200 bike

kancell

hi, new to this MTB malarky, however been lurking about these forums and researching for a month or two now. I'm looking for a 2 bikes, for my girlfriend and I, and general useage is for tracks and trails, and no hardcore MTB...... yet ha ha!

I think i know the brands now to be looking for in my very limited budget (prefer closer to £150), plus the sort of spec i should be expecting. i have been trying to concentrate my search for a bike that may be a year or two older in order to get a better deal.

Today i stumbled across this claud butler bike for only £183 and its still £225 in evans cycles. Although i wasnt really looking for a budget brake disc front suspension model, and understand that it may be wiser to get a V brake rigid model, this does strike me as a reasonable deal?! What do you lot think?

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B2095.html

Frame: 6061 series disc specific alloy frame with oversized gusseted down tube and snake stays. Round top tube and square to rectangular downtube for more efficient power transfer
Forks: Suntour SF-XCT disc specific forks with preload adjustment and 75mm travel
Gears: Shimano 21 speed
Shifters: Shimano TX30 Sti shifters
Chainset: Suntour XCCT208 guarded chainset with 28/38/48 tooth chainrings
Brakes: Quad QND-5 mechanical disc system with 160mm pulse roto
Wheels: Weinmann ZAC2000 double walled rims with CNC braking surface built on alloy QR hubs
Tyres: Kenda Koyote 26x1.95 off road tyres
Handlebars: Riser bar
Stem: Oversized ahead stem
Saddle: Claud Butler deep comfort saddle

Currently, are any of you aware of any other bikes on sale that would fit the description?

many thanks,

Kevin

kancell

what about schwinn bikes also? i notice this one has 8 speed cassette, which if i understand correctly, would be more desirable at this price range?

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Bike_2007

Frame: Schwinn N’Litened Silver Label, Custom-Drawn Aluminium w/Trial-Tuned Geometry, Epicenter Seatstays, Replaceable Hanger & Disc Brake Mount
Fork: SR Suntour XCT, 80mm Travel, Aluminium Lowers, Coil Spring w/Friction Damping, Preload Adjustment
Cranks: TruVativ X-Flow, Alloy Arms, 42/32/22T Cro-mo Chainrings
Bottom Bracket: TruVativ Sealed Cartridge, Square Taper, 68x113mm w/Chainline Stabiliser
Pedals: ATB Resin Body w/Boron Steel Axle & Steel Cage, Toe-Clip Adaptable
Front Derailleur: SRAM 3.0 31.8mm, Top-Pull
Rear Derailleur: SRAM SX4
Shifters: Shimano EF-50 Easy-Fire, Integrated
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG30, 8-Speed, 11-32T
Chain: KMC Z-72
Front Hub: Joy Tech Alloy, Weather Sealed w/Alloy QR
Rear Hub: Joy Tech Alloy Cassette, Weather Sealed w/QR
Rims: Jalco Double-Walled Alloy w/Finished Sidewalls for Wet Weather Braking, 32h
Tyres: Kenda Klaw XT, 2.1” w/Front & Rear-Specific Tread Patterns
Brakes: ProMax Linear-Pull w/64mm Pads & Linear Springs
Brake Levers: Shimano EF-50 Easy-Fire, Integrated
Handlebar: Alloy w/30mm Rise, 6 Degree Bend, 600mm Wide
Headset: FPD Threadless Aheadset 1 1/8"
Stem: Trail-Tuned, Cast Alloy, Threadless, 25 Degree Rise w/Forged Front Load Cap
Grips: Lock-on, Double-Density Kraton
Saddle: Trial-Tuned Super-Soft w/Two Tone Cover
Seat Post: Forged Alloy, MicroAdjust, 26.8x350mm
Seat Clamp: Alloy Low-Profile QR w/Forged Clamp
Sizes: 15", 17", 19" or 21"
Colour: Blue

scottalej

At that price buy second hand, you'll get a much better bike. Take someone along that knows what to look for. Some shops sell off ex hire bikes at good prices.

kancell

i understand that i would get a better bike by buying 2nd hand, however, i would prefer to buy a new bike as i dont really know any local mountain bikers. Also, the 2nd hand market isnt as readily accessible and i would need to find the time (which i really dont have) to go and look for 2 seperate bikes at good prices etc. There is also issues with whether a 2nd hand bike would need service items and i wouldnt be able to gauge all the general wear and tear.

i would prefer not to have to buy an apollo from halfords, but if i cant find a decent cycle online i may just have to do that.

p.s. for my own general knowledge, is there anything in particular that is not great about the specs of the bikes posted? Is there anything i should be looking for in particular?

cheers

kev

kancell

what about a GT Timberline LTD 2006 for £200?! is the spec of this more suitable?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15470

Specifications

Frame: 7000 series aluminium with GT comfort geometry, with pro taper down tube, replaceable der hanger
Fork: SR NRX-6000 1-piece magnesium lowers, disc mount with pre-load adjust
Brake: Levers Alloy with soft touch lever for direct pull
Brakes: Direct pull, with 110mm arms Front + Rear
Shifters: Shimano C-202
Front Derailleur: Shimano C-202
Rear Derailleur: Shimano C-202
Bottom Bracket: Cartridge
Crankset: Shimano TX-71, 48-38-28T
Chain: HG-50
Pedals: Dual surface nylon comfort pedal
Headset: 1-1/8" sealed mech
Stem: Adjustable with 55 degree range of movement with 2 bolt face plate
Handlebar: 30mm Riser 6 degree bend, anatomically sized
Hubs FR: Alloy QR RR: Alloy 8 speed Cassette
Cassette / Freewheel: Shimano Mega- Range 8 speed cassette 11-34T
Spokes: Stainless steel 14 gauge
Rims / Wheelset: Alloy ATB w CNC sidewall
Tyres: 26 x 2.1" GT Guardian with Kevlar flat protection, refelctive sidewalls and Aqua Trac low rolling resistance, water pumping tread design.
Seat Post: Aluminium suspension with elastomer function and reflector bracket, 35mm of travel
Saddle: Selle Royal Look in
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Colours: Light Silver/Silver or Black/Sand

MountainPete

You can't really buy a decent(ish) new mountain bike for any less than £300. My GT Aggressor was £330 (down from £500) which was a pretty good deal.

If I would you, I would find my local (mountain) bike shop. Take a look around. See if you can catch any of last year's models which will be going pretty cheap. Talk to the staff there - bike shops often sell demo models off cheap or take in second hand bikes. I really think this is your best bet.

kancell

ah ok, its a bit unfortunate as we don't seem to have any bike shops in the vicinity so its looking like halfords or bust. However, I do refuse to believe you cant get a decent bike for under £300. Its similar to the car argument against eastern european and cheap pacific cars, people generalise them and say they are cheap crap and write them off.... but there are always a few decent models that more than hold there own on a budget.

at the end of the day, im looking for a bike that will handle a small bit of trails and roads (not serious mountain biking) and wont fall to pieces in a matter of months.

i appreciate the advice but im trying to understand what i should and should not be looking for in a bike. instead of saying the bikes ive posted are crap, please enlighten me what is crap and why, that way i can understand.

ive also seen this gary fisher bike on sale at what seems a very decent price, however im unware how it stands up to the ones ive posted. i am going to buy a bike, chances are it will be online, and it will be for a maximum of £200, and i was hoping someone could at least advise me which will best meet these criteria.

http://www.onyourbike.co.uk/m57/Gary-Fi ... _info.html

toasty

Its similar to the car argument against eastern european and cheap pacific cars, people generalise them and say they are cheap crap and write them off.... but there are always a few decent models that more than hold there own on a budget.

The car analogy is fairly meaningless here, bikes are normally just the sum of their parts, country of origin usually has very little bearing on the final cost, aside from a few more exotic brands. Shimano/sram gearing, aluminium frame, forks, brakes, the more you spend, the more you get. Double the budget and you get forks with rebound damping (to stop them pogoing along), hydraullic brakes (cables stretch), more expensive frames are made from more expensive tubing, thinner in the stress free areas to save weight, strengthened in the others and all round generally lighter parts.

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=404&category_id=3
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_271271_langId_-1_categoryId_82394 <- Halfords version

If you could stretch to it I'd consider these too The frame is the exact same as used on higher end models, really nicely made frame. I'd avoid discs at that price range given the choice but it does mean you end up with disc ready wheels and forks incase you ever upgrade.

scottalej

Or even cheaper here. Don't think you'll find a better bike for the money.
http://www.cyclecentreuk.co.uk/products ... 0s168p4045
Buy a £200 clunker and it'll probably put you off biking.

toasty

You are partly right about money spent, spending £1000 doesn't guarantee twice as good a ride as £500. Below about £300 though you often get bikes pretending to be mountain bikes, for people who want to pootle down the shops. The car market is much more regulated, if you buy something you know it's safe, road worthy and insured. Companies legally can't sell you a car with

If you do go in Halfords, the one thing I'd advise is avoid the cheap £200 full suspensions, there is absolutely no benefit aside from aesthetic, it's heavy, inefficient and once again, made for popping down the shops on. Their own brand, Carrera do some very good bikes though:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_273205_langId_-1_categoryId_82394

Carrera Vulcan there, not too bad for the riding you mentioned, still, slightly over budget and I'd personally be more swayed at the GT. You'd be best trying a few out and seeing which you find most comfy.

kancell

thanks once more for the info.

the car analogy was just trying to put my point across, as obviously the cheaper cars use cheaper parts. sometimes this cost cutting can lead to a bad product, whereas sometimes the end product is still perfectly decent and fit for a limited purpose.... if you see what i mean. i.e. a kia pride is more than fit to tootle about town but not for off roading.

i would not hesitate to spend the extra £70 on a bike normally, but in this instance its a definite no no! this is due to the fact I am needing to buy 2 bikes and due to moving into brand new house a month ago the budget is very limited (lots to still spend on furniture, garden etc etc). Anyway, if we cant buy a bike for less than £200 then we simply wont be buying any at all.

im still struggling to comprehend exactly what is wrong with the first 3 bikes i have posted. Surely massive well respected brands like GT, Gary Fisher and Claud Butler will be more than capable of producing a budget bike suitable for taking my girlfriend and I on leisure cycling along relatively undemanding trails. The components may not be the best in the business, but as long as they are up to average standard and wont fall off in a month, then that should be fine for our needs

toasty

Oh, they will, any of the bikes listed will do that, all use very similar parts and come from reputable companies. It's a fine line between something made to be taken off road and something made to look like it's made to go offroad though I'm sure this applies to your 4x4 comparison, there's lots of cars made to look big and burly.

and no hardcore MTB...... yet ha ha!

I personally think any of the ones you've listed will do, it's a shame though, for a small amount more you get something you wouldn't outgrow so quickly if you got more into the sport. I took my girlfriend up to a trail center last year, she had a roll around the green routes on a hire bike (for about a tenner), loved it, we bought her a bike, went most weekends and she can now roll quite happily around the red intermediate tracks.

All the ones you listed would be capable of what you intend to do, just like you could get a £99 road bike, I doubt the roadies section of the forum would agree it's a good buy, turn the pedals and it'll move along roads though

Of the 2 you listed I'd say the Schwinn was the best value, I'd check out Halfords for any Aggressors or Carreras in the sales though, they often knock lots off and can be haggled with, especially if you bought 2, they do lady specific models too.

kancell

thanks toasty, ill at least give halfords a try and sound them out before discounting them.

another problem is that we need the full package, helmets, pumps, locks etc..... so its all adding up and of course its doubled as we need two of everything! If i dont stick to the budget, we'll have no money left to do turf/fence/patio the garden..... we'll only have enough for a dog house for me to sleep in!! ha ha!

p.s. ive heard gary fisher bikes are fairly good, is that model not up to much? i noticed evans are still selling it for £230 so figured £150 was a bargain!

supersonic

200 quid buys a good bike. Though as you aer new, try a buy from a local shop so you can try it out, have it built, free service, aftersales care. Also have a read of this and go for the features listed:

- Alloy hardtail frame. Full suspension at the lower end of the market (sub 300 and even upto 500 quid) is heavily compromised. Its very heavy, undamped, poor bearings and pulls down the spec elsewhere. Steel frames at this level are often mild steel and are 2 or 3 pounds heavier than an alloy frame.

- Suspension fork with alloy crown and one piece lowers. Cheap pressed steel lowers and crowns flex badly. Preload adjusters are a good feature to help set sag and ride height for differing weights.

- Compact crankset (42/32/22). Many entry level bikes have larger chainrings (48/38/2 from cheaper groupsets. This doesn't allow a very low gear and is often over geared for the terrain a MTB will be used on. Replacable chainrings are a bonus.

- 8 speed freehub. 8 gears from a cassette and freehub gives a better spread than some 7spd screw on freewheels, often 11-32 teeth rather than 14-28. Also this allows the bearings to be spaced further in the hub, allowing a stronger rear wheel/axle. Shimano make the best budget 8 speed set ups.

- Cartridge bottom bracket. Old adjustable cup and cone bottom brackets are poorly sealed and are prone to coming loose.

- 32 or 36 spoked wheels. Lots of beginners MTBs are coming with fancy 'paired' spokes, or 24 bladed ones, purely for looks. They use heavy rims, are poorly constructed and are not worth it compared to standard wheels. Look for stainless spokes if possible, and sealed alloy hubs with quick release axles.

- Alloy components. If possible, ask about the seatpost and bars. Alloy units save some weight, and are more comfortable.

- Brakes and levers. Make sure the levers aren't plastic as they flex badly. Cable disc brakes stop better in the wet but usually add cost. Don't go for discs over other essential features.

- Aheadset or threadless headset. Much better bearings and more reliable than the older quill stem and threaded headset.

Many bikes for 200 pounds now have all these features! Don't be afraid to ask for a saddle swap if they are uncomfortable, and enquire about the quality of the tyres..

Decathlon Rockrider and Giant Boulder are two that tick all the boxes.

kancell

excellent advice thanks very much. i had seen the giant boulder for £160 in a 19" frame with free P&P here:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=7781

i'll go to halfords tonight and have a look and try some different frame sizes. however, if this bike is good value chances are i'll just buy a couple of them.

supersonic

Remembe sizes vary between manufacturers - one 18 or M frame can be a lot different to another.

Zheka

Can you get it through work by using Cycle to Work scheme? Works out 40-50% cheaper so you can get a better bike this way.

Boffington

i find if you ride bikes a good quality one will feel solid and realy comfortable to ride. even if its the same price as another if its designed well it will feel expensive

kancell

hi guys, thats me just back in...... complete with 2 bikes & accessories!!

today we went for a run and nipped into halfords. we spotted two clearance bikes, a womens carerra vulcan '07 at £200 and a carrera kraken '07 at £270, which seemed to more than fit the bill spec wise. The kraken in particular looks like a stonking bike for the cash!!!!

Anyway, they also had an offer on that every bike over £200 came with £50 of free accessories. It turned out they only had display model in my size, and without the slightest hesitation offered me 10% off the sale price. So we ended up walking out with vulcan, kraken, 2 helmets and a high mount bike rack (with 1/3rd off) for the princely sum of £440!!!!!!!

although the bikes were over our initial budget the free accessories offer (which we were going to buy anyway) plus the 10% reduction on the kraken, actually brought us £50 under our estimated overall budget........ but with much better bikes than we had hoped for!

can i also just say the halfords staff in the dundee branch were absolutely excellent and very accommodating in helping us and i think it's a bit of a shame they all seem to get tarred with the same brush

supersonic

Wow, thats a bargain, and two very good bikes!