New bike / Merlin custom / Rock Lobster

thetrueherod
thetrueherod Posts: 11
edited June 2008 in MTB buying advice
Hello,

I currently ride an XTC Sx which i really like, but i thnk it is time to get something else. I dont
fancy Giant/trek etc (not that there is anything wrong with them) i just fancy something alittle different. Was thinking of a Merlin Malt / or rock lobster

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=38

or

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

what you reckon? Any other merlin custom build owners out there?

Comments

  • Larok
    Larok Posts: 577
    Hi,

    Lovely bikes, I would prefer the malt 4 frame though against the 2.

    These are worth a look also;

    http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... ctID=10274

    and www.boardmanbikes.com

    look for the mountain bike - boardman pro
  • ta very much
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    The Rock Lobster is a better package than the Malt 2, IMO. It has a top-notch frame rather than a mid-level one.

    You're paying a disproportionate amount for the Fox fork on the latter, when the Reba is arguably just as good.

    Merlin are very good at letting you make individual changes to the spec of the bikes too - so you could (for example) change the drivetrain to Sram if you prefer them, or get some better tyres than the standard Fire XCs.

    I think the Rock Lobster looks a lot better than the Merlin-branded bikes too.
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,503
    i've seen the malt 4 (obviously as i own one) and the lobster (dark metalic grey i think) in the flesh and they're both gorgeous looking frames. get the one you like the look of the most i reckon, give the steel a try too though :)
  • Splasher
    Splasher Posts: 1,528
    What about something like a Cove Handjob or if you can stretch to the price an on-one titanium :D
    "Internet Forums - an amazing world where outright falsehoods become cyber-facts with a few witty key taps and a carefully placed emoticon."
  • or i get something along the lines of the Giant Trance?

    First full suss adventure?

    Have good rapor with LBS that sell Gaint, would get good deal

    Ta
  • 100%
    100% Posts: 236
    Hi,

    I had an XTC SX too, but after a slight incident last year put the frame out of action and I wasn't happy with what happened dealing with Giant, I eventually replaced the frame with a Kinesis Maxlight XC Pro2 frame. Kinesis are the same company that make the Malt frame series for Merlin, amongst a ton of others. In my opinion, it's an extremely good frame, and I've ended up preferring it to the XTC SX frame, which I also did really like. :)

    Merlin sell the Kinesis Racelight road frames, so I imagine they can build up a Maxlight for you.

    I was going to say how great it was :wink:, but I think you need to decide if you want hardtail or full suss first! Plus, much as I love it, I'd be very tempted to look at the On-One 456 frame if I had the cash.

    Let us know what you decide!

    Cheers,
    Steve