£500 bike - would REALLY appreciate advice

nancynoo
nancynoo Posts: 16
edited May 2008 in MTB buying advice
Hi

I know this is a common question, but have £500 to spend on a new hardtail and need some advice - looking at Giant XTC 4.5 or Marin Northside trail but completely new to bikes so any advice would be really appreciated ...

Will ride on both road and off-road

Thanks

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    Compile a shortlist (which you are doing ) then test them all out to find which is best for you.

    Carrera Fury is worth a look, as is the Claude Butler Cape Wrath D27

    If you can stretch to it (on offer @ £585) this is a serious bit of kit http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=39 Although a test ride might be tricky unless you live in the North West around Lancashire.
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  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Have you read any of the recent threads nancy? Really is a wealth of info on bikes at this price.

    As Andy says, put a shortlist together and go and see them. The Northside is a bit more Hardcore than say the Giant, which is geared towards longer XC type rides, and the marin is not that good value. The MALT is cracking value, really good parts - but bog standard frame.
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  • TheBoyBilly
    TheBoyBilly Posts: 749
    I went down this route a few weeks back, and got loads of good advice (from the likes of Supersonic, above) as I was about to chuck good money on a Marin Bobcat Trail which I was seriously drawn to. The lads said, although it was a decent enough bike I could do better for £449. On further visits to bike shops (which I must say is great fun) I have narrowed it down to a GT Aggressor or a Carrera Fury from Halfords because of the Ride2Work deal. Both come reasonably well equipped (to my limited experience) and will be even better value when you consider that I will be paying only 50-56% of the RRP once my HR Dept. get their backsides in gear and send me my voucher.
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  • zeropoint
    zeropoint Posts: 72
    Don't miss supersonics stickied thread in this very forum. And also consider the GT Ava 1.0 and Boardman Comp.
  • stu76
    stu76 Posts: 41
    I can vouch for the Carerra Fury, I got one on the Bike2 work scheme a month or so ago.

    For the money it is probably the best specced bike you can get. The Rockshox Tora fork is fantastic. It rides very well and frame seems very strong.

    Just make sure that you check the bike over before you ride it - I've had a couple of bits fall off.

    I think Halfords are still doing £50 worth of bike gear free with any bike over £100 too.
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