Votes please for best hardtail under £1000?

DjSki
DjSki Posts: 13
edited May 2008 in MTB buying advice
Hi,

I am looking to replace my aging Cannondale to ignite my love of the sport again for summer.

Looking for the best quality hardtail I can get for the money, so far tempted by the Merlin Malt 4 and Rock Lobster Tig which can both be had with a good fork and full XT for under the £1k. Would like something thats not too harsh.

Can anyone recommend anything else, I want something light , comfortableish and reliable that climbs easily. I will be doing mostly single track with no 6 foot drop offs! I am 11.5 stone.

All recommendations welcome. Not interested in Cannondale they seem overpriced. Like Orange but spec on them isn't great for the money.

Cheers!

Comments

  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Rock lobster tig 853, with hope brakes, hubs and black wheels.

    Top steel bike and really comfy.
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    How about this for a suggestion? :idea:

    On One Scandal frame £250
    Full XT groupset from On One £325
    Reba SL forks £200 from Merlin
    Pair of Crossride wheels £110 from Merlin or Chain reaction
    On One stem £20
    FSA Carbon bars £40 from Merlin
    seatpost £30
    Charge Spoon saddle £20
    Headset £25 CRC or On One
    Panaracer tyres 2 for£40 Merlin

    Total £1060


    So you get a nice light scandium frame,(Best sub 1k hardtail according to WMB)full XT chainset,brakes,mechs,etc,lightish wheels and finishing kit,with a decent fork,and all the satisfaction that comes with building it up yourself.Would probably be sub 24lb,fully built too.

    From what I have read,the Scandal is fairly compliant too,and has plenty of room for larger volume tryres if you want to tame it further.

    You might even be able to reuse some bits from your current steed,if you want to keep within budget. :wink:

    With some tweaking of my suggestions,you could end up with something unique,and with a spec to suit you.

    Probably not as cheap this way,but a lot more fun!
    :lol:
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    That's good spider, but i'd try and squeeze in hand built merlin wheels, maybe through the merlin xt groupset with 717 on xt hubs.
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    That's good spider, but i'd try and squeeze in hand built merlin wheels, maybe through the merlin xt groupset with 717 on xt hubs.

    Good point. £490 for the new full XT groupset with the new xt m770 hubs on 717s,from Merlin at present.I have the older XT hubs on 717s myself.

    Or you could get an LX groupset,with handbuilt LX hubs and 717s all in for £325.
    The LX isn`t going to be much heavier,you still get the hollowtech chainset,too which is very similar to the previous M760 XT,even if the shifters and mechs aren`t quite as good.

    Using LX would make it doable for around £900 or so.Plenty of food for thought there. :)

    (I`m currently contemplating swapping all my kit over to a Scandal.)
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    It's less than that i think because they have 5% off at the moment!
  • mugwuffin
    mugwuffin Posts: 31
    Help !!!!

    On a similar subject....

    I have just been to Merlin and ordered a Tig Team Sl 19" for £910.00 (went for the black spokes and rims of course) 10 - 14 days build time... so got home very excited and logged onto their website for another look at my new steed when i noticed this ..........

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... goryId=100

    I'm a bit miffed now.... they did'nt have this bike on display in the shop, and did'nt mention it was available (i think its only just been released today) - What do i do now??? - For an extra £65 do i ring them tomorrow and upgrade the order to include the Fox Forks and Race Face Evolve Chainset?? - Is it worth the extra? - I understand Fox forks RRP is around £500???

    Also im confused with the "08 Fox 32 F100 RC" Does this fork exist or is it a typo? - The fox website only lists "RLC" - "RL" or "R" models.. is there such thing as an RC??
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    I`d upgrade.£65 is a small price for Fox forks which normally cost £500 alone.They come out top in this month`s WMB fork test too.

    Forget my Scandal self build,buy that! :lol:
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • mugwuffin
    mugwuffin Posts: 31
    Cheers... i'll be on the phone to them first thing tomorrow....

    Sorry about 2 posts with the smae questions as well everyone....
  • DjSki
    DjSki Posts: 13
    Thanks ,

    Think I will go for the special edition Rock Lobster then, will pop up to Merlin tomoorow to try it for size.

    Cheers
  • mugwuffin
    mugwuffin Posts: 31
    they are on 10>14 day lead time for orders DJ Ski.... i went for the same one on a 19" frame.. just counting dow the days now....

    They didnt have any Special ed Tig Teams on display, but have a good range of frame sizes in standard Tig Team to try.. it took me a while to setlte on the 19" but its the right size for me (im 5' 11" with 33" inside leg)

    I have been well pleased with the service from Merlin so far.
  • scottalej
    scottalej Posts: 135
    Mugwuffin, did you try the 21" frame as well? I'm the same height as you and have just built up my 19" Tig Team SL but find the top tube a little shorter than I'm used to. What length of stem are you using?
    Very nice bike though. I've been riding up the hills in higher gears than usual and it can take the hits on the way down better than any aluminium bike I've ridden. So much better than my previous M4 Stumpy.
    Orange Clockwork 2007
    Orange 5 2007
    Just bought 2008 P7 frame (Orange fan? Me!)
    Cotic Soul
    Pace RC303
    Marin Mount Vision 2005, for sale
    Stumpy HT 2006, shite, sold
    Kona Lava Dome fully rigid
  • curlyrobert
    curlyrobert Posts: 150
    Try a focus from wiggle. much better than the own brand merlin, I don't know why everyone is s o positive about them, there is only one merlin brand and they have been a leading Ti specialist for years, I would be embarrassed to own one!

    The focus is German made, strong, climbs well and is heavily overspecced as they do not yet have years on the market, they are awesome bikes. For £900 the Killer Bee has full XT.
    But extend your budget to 1200 and the raven is a mean bit of kit.

    but its your choice!

    whatever you buy - use as much as you can and enjoy :D
    the day I stop dreaming of upgrades is the day die!

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3261181810_727612440a_o.jpg My Stable
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Merlin frames are made by Kinesis! They are fantastic frames, and the MALT 4 is very light - just look at the reviews of this bike. They also outspec the Focus for the money.
  • donnie murdo
    donnie murdo Posts: 986
    Curlyrobert wrote:
    "The focus is German made"
    I dont think they are made in Germany at all to be honest but I could be wrong possibly assembled but not built.
    Still, Focus do make very nice bikes and at a very competitive price.

    "there is only one merlin brand and they have been a leading Ti specialist for years"

    Not true! and this statement unfortunately says more about what you know about Mountain Biking than the credibility of Merlin Cycles.

    Merlin Cycles of Lancashire make excedingly good bikes. The Merlin Malt4 which is has a Kenisium frame built by Kinesis has been heaped with good reviews and praise and is a very good bike for the money. Merlin also build the equally good Rock Lobster bikes under license. Merlin are also noted for being one of the best wheel builders in the UK. As they are a registered bike manufacturer they are able to offer great deals on all sorts of bike parts too.

    A hardtail under £1K

    My Vote:

    Merlin Malt4
    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=39

    On-One Scandal or Inbred
    http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/M ... bikes.html

    Charge Duster Hi
    http://www.chargebikes.com/home/
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Perhaps he was talking about this Merlin bikes?

    http://www.merlinbike.com/
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • mugwuffin
    mugwuffin Posts: 31
    SCOTTALEJ,

    Yeah apparently the effective top tube length does come up quite short compared to some bikes, Supersonic also commented on the short reach on another thread when the measurements were on display... i have a 100mm stem fitted BTW

    The short reach was the first thing i noticed when i tested, hence why it took me 2 visits and weeks of indecision to settle on the 19", but i'm glad i did now... felt a bit funny at first, but now im used to the bike its awesome.... just got back from an after work blast and got my first battle scars, 2x bent spokes and the lovely powder coated finish scratched off my left hand chainstay :lol:

    Ride_whenever …. As requested… photos.. (when it was still a virgin - minus pedals)

    http://mugwuffin.pinkbike.com/album/Roc ... d-Edition/
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Nice, but I'd get the forks re-sprayed, uber-stealth look!
  • scottalej
    scottalej Posts: 135
    Mugwuffin
    Re 'i have a 100mm stem fitted BTW '
    Thanks for that. I've fitted a Bonty x-lite 105mm I had lying around and that feels about right. I have 2006 Float Rl forks on it at the moment, they're light but after riding some of Rockshox latest offerings on other bikes these are grim. Even a Recon feels better.
    Orange Clockwork 2007
    Orange 5 2007
    Just bought 2008 P7 frame (Orange fan? Me!)
    Cotic Soul
    Pace RC303
    Marin Mount Vision 2005, for sale
    Stumpy HT 2006, shite, sold
    Kona Lava Dome fully rigid
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,503
    nice bike mugwuffin :) hey no fair you got a merlin chainstay protecter i wont one! heh. came off mine the other day too, on first inspection looked like i got away without any bike scars. but alas once home i noticed two chips in my front rim and scratches on my new xt crank pah! oh well it is a mountain bike :D
  • hoathy
    hoathy Posts: 776
    Try a focus from wiggle. much better than the own brand merlin, I don't know why everyone is s o positive about them, there is only one merlin brand and they have been a leading Ti specialist for years, I would be embarrassed to own one!

    The focus is German made, strong, climbs well and is heavily overspecced as they do not yet have years on the market, they are awesome bikes. For £900 the Killer Bee has full XT.
    But extend your budget to 1200 and the raven is a mean bit of kit.

    but its your choice!

    whatever you buy - use as much as you can and enjoy :D

    Focus frames look cheap!
    Also, i think all the suggestions were about Rock Lobsters, not merlins!
    - Kona Hot '96 - Marin Rift Zone '09 - Cannondale Synapse Carbon '06 - Kona Caldera '98 - Kona AA '94 - Dawes Kickback II - Cannondale BadBoy '11 - Genesis iOiD SS -
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,503
    in that case i'll suggest a Merlin then, Malt4 with full 08 xt kit running xm719 rims.

    ar'nt all these frames bar a few very pricey homegrowns all welded up in some massive taiwanese industrial estate anyway just with different tubes?