Best XC bike for £700

SuperSimon12
SuperSimon12 Posts: 116
edited July 2008 in MTB buying advice
A friend of mine is looking for some advice about an XC bike for about £700.

My advice was at that price bracket full suspension might not be ideal and a well specified hard tail might be better.

The riding style is mainly XC with trail, woods, fields , canal paths, cycles path etc. Not into jumping or anything like that.

The bikes he has found so far are

TREK 6700 Disc 08 £700 reduced from £850
Pinnacle Evolution 3.0 2007 £700 reduced from £999
Specialized Rockhopper comp disc £750

I have to say I like the Trek most myself and it is from Leisure Lakes where I got my bike and so I know they are a decent place to go.

All advice is greatly appreciated.
SuperSimon12
__________
My pride and joy - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/?op=list& ... rid=155775

Comments

  • cborrman
    cborrman Posts: 125
    I would be tempted to try and get the rockhopper pro disc reduced from 899 to 700ish soon when the 09 ones come out. at 11.2kg out of box, going tubeless with the DT kit and out of box 2bliss tyres brings it down to 10.6kg and it literally flies up the hill, with predictable rear end you can kick out with confidence on the way down. I had it down to under 10kg with a toupe saddle, egg beaters, carbon bar and seatpost. perfect upgrade as the frame is light as a feather stiff as you need with a bit of forgiving flex where you need it. reba fork is the daddy, upgraded front rotor to 185 for extra power and it a sweet, very goodlooking, great handling hardtail
    s-works stumpy FSR, sl2 tarmac, siglespeed rockhopper and a bog standard allez
  • RVP
    RVP Posts: 42
    Doesn't the comp have a recon?

    Anyway I'd suggest a Decathlon Rockrider 8.2 (which i've just bought) for £760

    Full Sram X9
    Avid Juicy 5's
    Reba Race (with pop-loc)

    Weighs under 11kg and rides better than the hoppers I've tested, though like anything its all down to personal opinion!
  • beeroclock
    beeroclock Posts: 80
    Hmmmm

    I'd be very surprised if you can get hold of the Trek (in Med anyway) as I tried a few weeks ago and was told yes then no. I think the Specialized are running low if not sold out as well, its the gamble you play at this time of the year.


    philip
  • Larok
    Larok Posts: 577
    I think this might be an exception to the no full sus rule

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12577743
  • SuperSimon12
    SuperSimon12 Posts: 116
    I click the link and get my own thread?
    Larok wrote:
    I think this might be an exception to the no full sus rule

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12577743
    SuperSimon12
    __________
    My pride and joy - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/?op=list& ... rid=155775
  • I bought a Charge Duster Mid '07 for a pund under your budget.

    They're well worth a look ww.chargebikes.com

    Rock-shock Tora Air, Avid Juicy's and, SRAM x7. I think they've put Shimano deore's on the '08 model though. You'll have to check.
  • thirty1
    thirty1 Posts: 75
    How about a Brodie Kinetic http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/kinetic.html

    Was reviewed in MBUK the other month, the review is here on Bikeradar http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/kinetic-08-30997

    The best bit is, my mate just bought one as they have reduced the price down to £699 from £899 it is a cracking bike for the money!

    You have to contact them direct though, as the deal is not on the web site (i dont think)

    Here is a picure

    kinetic.jpg[/url]
  • SuperSimon12
    SuperSimon12 Posts: 116
    That is a tasty bike - I actually looked at that when I got my bike (2007 FSR XC Comp) and it is very well spec'd.

    Do you have any experience of Paul's cycles?

    My friend has said he is unsure of mail order in case something goes wrong. I know the chances are slim but being able to go back to the shop gives you peace of mind (he lives near Wycombe so Norfolk is a bit to far to go).
    Larok wrote:
    SuperSimon12
    __________
    My pride and joy - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/?op=list& ... rid=155775
  • GibboGT
    GibboGT Posts: 287
    I've had 2 bikes from pauls cycles in the past. No problems with the bikes or the service.

    You get next to no communication other than an initial confirmation, but you get a built bike that just needs peddles putting on and the handle bars straightening and maybe the front wheel slotting in. Then just go over every bolt etc check that its tight as on my first bike the crank was a little loose.
  • SuperSimon12
    SuperSimon12 Posts: 116
    I guess it is just a fear of the uknown when it comes to buying online. I guess you can get an equally faulty bike and bad service from a shop.

    Saw a Mongoose Canaan for £800 and i love the stripped down look.

    The problem with helping my mate choose his bike is that I am now looking for a HT bike myself. I just need some way of convincing my wife I need a new expensive bike while my current one works fine.
    GibboGT wrote:
    I've had 2 bikes from pauls cycles in the past. No problems with the bikes or the service.

    You get next to no communication other than an initial confirmation, but you get a built bike that just needs peddles putting on and the handle bars straightening and maybe the front wheel slotting in. Then just go over every bolt etc check that its tight as on my first bike the crank was a little loose.
    SuperSimon12
    __________
    My pride and joy - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/?op=list& ... rid=155775
  • pllb
    pllb Posts: 158
    Cube LTD Team - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=23669 - fantastic value and great bike IMHO.