Commencal, Orange, Giant, Marin or Kona?

Yecomb
Yecomb Posts: 26
edited September 2008 in MTB buying advice
Hi,
I'm looking for a decent all mountain bike that'll handle the ups and downs of the Lakes, 7 Stanes etc and be a bit of fun with it.

I've scoured the internet reviews and come up with the following list with prices I found on the net.

07 Marin Wolf Ridge for 1195
08 Giant Trance 2 or 1200
08 Commencal 5.5.2 for 1275
08 Kona Dawg Deluxe for 1350
08 Orange 5 Pro inc bar upgrade for 2000

The Marin and Commencal aren't local if that makes a difference.

I know the Orange is a jump in price but they don't seem to reduce them much and I like the look of them. I also like the looks of Santa Cruz Blur and Yeti 575 but I think that's just out of my reach.

Anyway, and views or alternatives would be great.
Thanks.

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    OK so you have made a good short-list.

    Now go and test ride them ;)

    Orange 5/Commencal Meta 5.5.2 would be the highest on my test list.
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    is the 2007 marin wolf ridge the same suspension design as last year's and this years?
  • Thanks for replies.

    The 07 Wolf ridge is an older spec. Totally different looking frame and the 08 is upgraded quite a bit with hayes stoker brakes instead of avid juicy 5, pike coil front instead of fox float rl 140, hubs are hope pro2 rather than hope xc.

    I guess the 08 is quite a step forward but then this 07 has nearly 800 quid knocked off. Is this 07 getting outdated or slipping behind too much?

    Cheers,
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    the 07's allright, works really well, but the 08 is awesome.