£2000 Maximum budget

neil_uk

I've been meaning to buy a new bike for ages now..... but I keep bottling out. I've got an absolute maximum (not a penny more) budget - and this is a hell of a lot of cash for me! My biggest fear is wasting it.

I'm looking for a trail bike that I can ride across the moors but with with plenty of travel and a bit of an all mountain feel. I know the Orange 5 pro is the obvious choice but I can't afford it.

I'm currently riding a 2007 Trance 2, which is a great bike but to be honest the reach is a little short for me, and when I fit I longer stem, I don't like the way it affects the steering.

Any ideas???? I'm going to test ride a Stumpy Expert this week..... but will it be any better? I mean - it only has an extra 10mm of travel.

Help me spend my cash before the "ball and chain" spends it on something totally impratical, like a new sofa (?!?!) or something.

cheers
Neil

Larok

I have the stumpie expert, does it for me!

pcsplace

hi see this thread, covers some ideas

You can have a 5 S for £1699

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... sc&start=0

zero303

Orange 5 S with the Fox Float R Upgrade - 9/10 in MBR a few months back and yours for £1764.

You could even add hope hubs or Hope Brakes - both will push you over budget though. I'd take the hubs if I could only choose one.

neil_uk

I forgot to mention.... i also looked at an Enduro... Excuse my ignorance here, but, what is it for?? i mean it looks almost like a downhill bike with that triple crown wotsit. Is it any use for trail riding???

supermonkey

Lapierre Zesty?

supermonkey

Trek Fuel EX9?

zero303

neil_uk wrote:

I forgot to mention.... i also looked at an Enduro... Excuse my ignorance here, but, what is it for?? i mean it looks almost like a downhill bike with that triple crown wotsit. Is it any use for trail riding???

It's pretty much the definition "All Mountain" bike. It's probably a bit big and overkill as a Trail bike...

supermonkey

Giant Trance X?
Scott Genius MC20?

grantway

Go for the Orange 5 Pro and put the rest on intrest free credit !

Whats £ 300.00p over one year and you will never have to buy another
bike again. Or any upgrades.

I do recommend an adjustable fork for the ups.

Did not get on with the stumpy mind did not understand the brain.

To me the rear shock on the Orange 5 is more than you would
ever need.

Three adjustments on the pro-pedal and a fully open setting.I found the Orange much more easy to monuvere and a better climber than the Stumpy expert.

Dont forget the Orange 5 is hand made and has soul to the ride.

Blundell

You can get a 2007 scott Ransom 20 from Evans for £1999.99 and still have 1p to your name!
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70483

neil_uk

Well, I test rode a Stumpy expert today at Guisborough woods and out onto the moors - I have to say I was impressed. I wouldn't go as far as to say it blew my Giant away, (my Giant is still a decent bike), but the stumpy was just that little bit better at everything.... It was lighter, it climbed better over the rough stuff, and it allowed me to pound down big ruts faster than the giant - but most importantly it fits me better! So - the Stumpy is a definite possibility.

I'm going to try an 08 Marin and an Orange from the same shop in the very near future, and I'd also like to find somewhere where I can try out some of those Scotts - they look interesting!

pcsplace

A friend of minhe just picked up a 2007 scott Ransom 20 for £1100 second hand. While it is a nice bike I was expecting it to be lighter given that it is carbon fibre frame.

I test rode both Stumpy expert and orange 5 pro and once I got on the 5 I knew that nothing else would compete with it (for me anyway).

If your budget is £2k you could get the 5 S with upgraded front fork (to fox level) and have a great bike. (and some change) Otherwise do what grantway suggests and get a pro level with an amazing spec and put the extra £200 (£300 with adjustable fork) on credit. Or visit your local dealers and see if you can get some discount. But test ride as much as possible and find the bike that suits you first and foremost, everyone on here can give you suggestions but the choice is yours. I came to this forum convinced I was about to purchase a stumpy expert but after zero303 and grantway suggested the Orange 5 I test rode it and loved it. (Also I didn't find the brain on the stumpy very responsive)

I have just ordered a 5 Pro with the Talas RLC front fork upgrade.

Best advice I can give is listen to suggestions but try the demo bikes out.

Let us know how you get on.

Cps

I looked at the Scott MC's and was impressed by the build quality and kit you got for your money - and I think I negotiated £1800 for an 08 MC20

But I talked myself out of it because they have their own suspension system that is 1. Fiddly to set up and 2. would mean expensive factory based servicing.

If you like the look of the Scott then I think there are a couple of bikes in the Cube range with a similar geometry - but with more standard componentry.

I did a test ride of the Scott and found it was quite 'short' in reach - always felt like I was about to be pitched over the front - yet it was supposed to be the right size for me :roll: .


Anyhow I plumped for a TREK EX in the end and the more I ride it the more I love it.

If you want more travel the Trek Remedy looks sweet also.

Thewaylander

Personally,

I test road a stump comp fsr and an orange 5,

I wanted to love the orange its an orange( i think people will understand) but the single pivot is a simple suspension system and old in design. and you can feel it in comparison.

So i have a my stumpy and have not regretted a single penny of my spend, though mine was 2007 i know they have made some changed this year

pcsplace

As you will see everyone generally loves there own bike. Test ride each of the options on your local trails and make a direct comparison. I was quite fortunate that I had demo's from orange and specialized for the same weekend and my friend and I took them both out to test, swapping bikes every 30mins - this gave a great comparison.

Remember it's your choice but people on here are great for getting information from to aid to decision.

zero303

My long winded response to a guy in a similar situation to you:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12563327

neil_uk

Thanks for all the feedback so far, I value everyones opinions!

I really appreciate the importance of demo riding a bike now... although I have had some fun on my Giant.... I think if I had test rode it first... I probably would have chose something else.

I need to find some more shops in the northeast where I can try out more bikes!

After I have tried the Marin, i'm going to try two or three more models and make my decision based on that.

In the meantime I best get my Giant on ebay!

grantway

Pcsplace what colour 5 did you go for in the end and when do you
pick the bike up?

pcsplace

I went with the fools gold (thanks zero303) and should have it within the next 10-14 days. I made a change to the order yesterday having read mbr - I am now sticking with the standard fox float shocks as opposed to spending the £155 extra on the talas upgrade. I have chosen the SRAM X9 option too.

paul williams

Santa Cruz Heckler, they sell an off the shelf bike for £1999, it's a great all round bike

grantway

pcsplace nice colour i went for the Disco Black colour preferance

Cant go wrong with the sram 9's there on mine and had these on a
Giant XTC 3 for three years and not one problem.
Never slipped.

Yesterday i was out going up on a large hill and didnt relise
that i was on 130 mm setting

I always climb up hills in the seat so very low gear and pedal like xxxx
Dont think you need lock out in a fork if you climb in the saddle.

I can feel things breaking in slowly now and all i can say

A lot of money well spent