New bike, need questions answered!

Papa Smurf

I'm seriously considering getting a full suss at long last but my budget is tight and I'm looking at £800 max!
I'm thinking about a GT I-Drive but I have my own tyres I would want on it, aswell as Juicy 3 brakes and I would probably consider some 130-40mm forks.

My question is, is it worth me buying a complete bike or should I buy all the bits and build it myself?
This is the model I'm looking at:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=13842

Also, are these forks any good? I'm quite a fan of spring loaded forks and curently have Tora 302's on my hardtail.

Forks: Rock Shox J4 with rebound adjust and u turn travel adjust
I would almost definately upgrade the forks to Tora's but I want to know if 1. the current forks are any good and 2. if I did upgrade, would I be better off with 100mm or 130-40mm forks?

Also, would it have the correct cable mounts for hydraulic disk brakes, the ones you just put a zip tie around?

Or of course if anyone has any reccomendations I'd be very gratefull, and a link would be very handy too...

EDIT: Are RS Recon's better than Tora's? Are they All Mountain forks???

Thanks

heez29

Why not go 2 halfords and get 2008 idrive XCR? Juicy 3s, recons, lx/xt?

bailed out

get the GT I-Drive from halfords its got everything that you want on it stock, i've got it and its great the rockshox recon 351 u-turn 85 - 130mm is superb it even has lockout. If you have any questions please just ask.

Here is the link

www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/serv ... yrn_106180[/url]

Papa Smurf

Thanks guys, I am planning on a trip to halfords in the morning to have a little looky..

Been looking into the specs for a few hours now and the XCR5 definately looks like a serious piece of kit. Any other recommendations??

Oh and the Recon's on the XCR5, are they remote Poplock?

Anonymous

from the picture, the lockout is not remote im afraid. i have seen one of those in the flesh and think it is an ace looking bike, one of my fave looking full sussers since it won bike of the yr last yr in what mtb magazine.(but it was called a gt i-drive 5.2 or summat) but from what i can gather, it is the same frame just different spec for halfords.

the bike was well recieved and picked as preferable over the idrive 5.1 because the extra spec didnt make the bike good enough to warrant the price hike as the 2 version was such good value.

ive always quite fancied one myself as the idrive system is supossed to be outstanding ( i know sonic really rates it) the spec for the i drive 5 is different but the parts on the xcr5 looks very good.

Anonymous

there is a thread about the very bike you are looking at here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12560124

bailed out

it isn't remote lockout it is just a switch on the top of the right hand side of the fork, it is still realy effective and easy to use while moving. I've got this bike myself and it is awsome if you have any questions about it just ask.

Papa Smurf

Well I've decided to go for a XCR5, but not from halfords.. Instead I'm going to make use of knowing the right people and buy a brand new one for £500!
I'm not too fussed about remote poplock as I get on fine with my Tora's when I have to reach down, just thought it would be an added bonus..