2009 Hardrock Pro or XTC4

rockmount

Ok it has to be 2009 (stupid Halfrauds scheme)....

What do you reckon ???

Northwind

First, calling it halfrauds makes you look silly.

Second, Carrera Fury or Boardman Comp? The forks on the XTC are, lets be honest, not remotelygood enough for a bike at that price. Dart 2s FFS. You see those on bikes that cost half as much. Hardrock Pro comes with Dart 3s I think, still a long way from awesome. Boardman comes with a Recon SL, Fury comes with a Tora 318. Forks aren't everything but these 2 bring a lot more to the table than the others IMO.

rockmount

Northwind wrote:

First, calling it halfrauds makes you look silly.

Well maybe ...but I've shopped there before, and the fact that they want a large cut of my cash for supplying any brand other than theirs ... go figure !!

supersonic

if they dont have accounts with those brands they may well charge more. They dont usually on the c2w scheme, but you will be charged rrp.

Northwind

Yup, that's the downside people don't see with c2w and similiar- you flick through a mag and see the bike you want for price X, but you can't shop around with c2w so you end up with the RRP.

Anyway, consider those 2 bikes, they'd be worth buying from any shop but as it happens it'll benefit you to go with halfords' own here.

There's something on the merlin website about them working with halfords, maybe there's a good deal available on some sort of malt? If you can get the benefits of the merlins discounts and flexibility, that'd be awesome.

Andy B

Merlin Malt has just won the £500 bike test in this months MBUK. (it beat the Hardrock Pro Disc)

Northwind

Yup, and cost £525 even after they fiddled the spec But still, good bikes it seems.

supersonic

Just read the MBUK test. First thing that struck me was how badly the price increases have struck Scott (and to some extent Trek), for 2008 they were banging out some great entry level machines. The MALT 1 seems have been unaffected, and the HR looks the best HR for years.

The Spiderman

The frame on the Malt is a bit basic,but it proves that a decent fork can make a bigger difference to the quality of the ride.Personally I`d push the budget a bit and get a Malt 2.
The price increases mean that decent entry level stuff is probably nearer £600 to £500 this year.I`d be looking to see what 2008 bargains were available at this price.
I`d really want at least a Tora fork if it were my money,for £500.

rockmount

One simple question .... A or B ? Too tough !!! I guess. Anyway, I bought C ... a ... Rockhopper !!

The Spiderman

Good choice.