Do it all for £1K

tonyfryer

I am looking for a hardtail bike that does it all. It would be used for adventure racing, trailquests, possibly some enduros or long xc races. it would also be my all day xc steed.

So I am looking for light, comfy, racy, all dayer.

I know I am asking a lot but I have narrowed it down to a few.

Merlin Malt 4 - pro's great kit and light bike, cons ????
Rock Lobster Team - Pro's great kit, cons not quite as light as the malt 4
Scott Scale - Pros - light, cons kit, possibly a bit too racy?
GT Zaskar???? Not sure??

I was also thinking about the Edinburgh cycles own brand shadow mountain but waiting for a new one to come out (apparently very soon?) pros, great kit, light bike, cons is will not hold value well.

Can anyone give their views on these bikes? Especially negative comments would be helpful!

Cheers in advance,

tonyfryer

Oh and if anyone has other better suggestions then yes please! I am a bit baffled with the amount of bikes fit for purpose.

Great Ayton

I would be tempted to have a look at the Giant XTC alliance as there quite a compliant frame yet still gets the power down really well. It makes it very good for the longer racers. There are quite a few out there with good discounts on them. You may even get a Anthem. I have just had a look and there are quite a few people listing great offers on the old style anthems and there one of the very best XC full sus out there. Great for long racers or even short ones if there is bumpy climbs. You could just about scrape up a new Anthem X basic model but there are a few weighty bit in that. Though if your planning on upgrading later on it would be a great way to go.

Captain Turok

They all seem good bikes (I love the RockLobster 8) )
Traditionaly the Merlin bikes offer good value and a great build (especially the wheels).
Not sure what will offer the best value today though? The (ongoing!) price increases may make an '08 bike worth looking at??

Daz555

Genesis Core?

tonyfryer

Like the look of the Giant XTC! I still think I lean towards the merlin and rock lobster over them.

No full suss as I would prefer a hardtail. Maybe its just me but I like to rag a bike around and feel the bumps. Also like getting out the seat and pushing hard gears (find FS harder to do that due to bob). Is that odd?

Never thought of Genesis? Don't know enough about them? Will have a look though.

tonyfryer

Captain Turok wrote:

They all seem good bikes (I love the RockLobster 8) )
Traditionaly the Merlin bikes offer good value and a great build (especially the wheels).
Not sure what will offer the best value today though? The (ongoing!) price increases may make an '08 bike worth looking at??

whty the RL over the malt? Is there much of a difference in weight? Only disadvantage I can find ov the RL is that it is slightly heavier than the malt. Yet many are saying steel is a comfier ride.

I am a fell runner as well so my leg strength can probalby take the odd lb added on (current hardtail 35lbs + :shock: ) but I suppose there needs to be a reason for the extra weight?

the article don

Re Scott Scale, I think at £1000 you're looking at the Scale 50 which some sources say is a bit compromised spec-wise. You need to fo go to at least the Scale 40 at around £1250 to get the most from that frame. Otherwise, I'd heartily recommend it - it's a lot more comfortable and confidence inspiring than you might expect from such a racy bike.

My 2p worth.

ride_whenever

For 1k I'd build up something, probably around one of the Kinesis frames, or the on-one ScandAl. With 717 on xt from merlin, xt/slx running gear, reba forks, formula brakes or hayes for cheaper option, Controltech SMICA finishing kit.

zaris

I'd have a look at the Focus range from wiggle, the Black Forest looks really nice haven't tried it out myself but i was going to get that over the rockhopper that i have now.

Focus Black Forest
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus ... 360037562/

I have a Rockhopper Pro Comp 2007 and i can tell you that in 2 years, i may have upgraded it however it has done it's job preety well and considering that all maintenance is done by myself...it was preety good value for money aswell...at £750 the Rockhopper was a bargain and the brillliant bike to go for!!

Here are some other bikes i suggest you have a look at;

09 Rockhopper expert
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec016015

09 commencal combi deluxe
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/com ... e-ec017312

09 Felt Q920
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fel ... e-ec017065

09 Bianchi Mutt
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bia ... e-ec016964

09 Trek 6700
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec016497

Most of the bikes above are just based on the price, now the Trek 6700 is i would say my favorite as it runs SRAM gearing...and myself i find SRAM so much faster when shifting gears as well as more responsive too.

Am not too sure if they still do it, but Evans was ding an offer giving, 10% to all 2009 bikes...and giving vouchers of £75 with every purchase over £500, if they still doing that....any of the bikes above can be greate value for money mate!!

Hope this helped
zaris

tonyfryer

ride_whenever wrote:

For 1k I'd build up something, probably around one of the Kinesis frames, or the on-one ScandAl. With 717 on xt from merlin, xt/slx running gear, reba forks, formula brakes or hayes for cheaper option, Controltech SMICA finishing kit.

So merlin malt 4 then? Kinesis frame, 717 wheels and either xt or slx groupset along with reba forks.

Although I do like a scandal.

Can get GT zaskar carbon for under £1K and that looks a nice bike!

Zaris, not sure iof that has helped or made things twice as hard? Not the focus or specialized, or trek. No particular reasoning behind it. But the other three......

supersonic

Where have you seen that Zaskar?!

That frame blows away anything else mentioned here!

tonyfryer

Be in stock in a couple of week apparently. Can pre-order.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec016406

The description says carbon, the picture looks to have welds?

supersonic

Yes, An Evans feck up! Is the 7005 Kinesis frame - lovely frame, but not carbon.

Nice bike, but expensive for the spec.

tonyfryer

thought too good to be true, although isn't there some rule about having to sell at the sticker price?

supersonic

If you bought it, expecting carbon and it turns up alu, I would imagine they would arrange to collect it and refund you!

There is no Zaskar Carbon Elite, just the Expert, Pro and Team.

Northwind

On One Scandal with adjustable length fork? I'm biased, I'm incredibly chuffed with mine but at 100mm it's XC-racey, at 130mm it's trail-centre gold. Not massively strong I suspect but I've not bent it yet, not really a hucker though.

ride_whenever

Not anymore on genuine mistakes.

And definitely not on pre-orders.

tonyfryer

ride_whenever wrote:

Not anymore on genuine mistakes.

And definitely not on pre-orders.

I would have been pretty sure they would be able to get out of it

biggstevie

The trek 6700 you said about doesnt come with sram only the us model comes with it the uk bike is full slx. I picked mine up in late november & love the bike so much.

pdid

tonyfryer wrote:

No full suss as I would prefer a hardtail. Maybe its just me but I like to rag a bike around and feel the bumps. Also like getting out the seat and pushing hard gears (find FS harder to do that due to bob). Is that odd?

Never thought of Genesis? Don't know enough about them? Will have a look though.

Sounds like a Lobster would be ideal for you, love giving mine stick. They`re rapid as well

littleandy0410

No one's mentioned a Boardman yet! It wouldn't be a What Bike thread without a Boardman!

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtbht/ht_Pro.html

tonyfryer

wondered how long before the Boardman was mentioned. Don't want to support halfords if I can help it.

Rather support a LBS or a UK manufacturer (I know the bikes are not made here but you know what I mean)

Off to see the Merlin guys next week

supersonic

in that sense Boardman is the same as Merlin! Designed here, made abroad.

mtb1975

I've used Merlin on and off for 5 years and they are excellent. I've given a Malt 1 some stick for 4 of those years (i'm 14 stone) and it's never let me down even on some fairly exteme downhill / XC. I've only changed bits through choice not necessity. A 1k budget will get you a great spec Malt 4 and you will get the back up of a LBS too - just a bit less local!

tonyfryer

supersonic wrote:

in that sense Boardman is the same as Merlin! Designed here, made abroad.

I am guessing you are playing devils advocate. Thats like saying my local greengrocer and tesco are the same coz they both sell bananas.

or something like that. I am sure you understand where I am coming from.

supersonic

Not Devil's Advocate as such, though I can see why you would want to avoid Halfords.

Just that Boardman (and Carrera, Dawes, OnOne, Claud Butler, Raleigh etc) all operate in the same sort of way in which they are designed here, built abroad and are equally British. Merlin however does have its own retail outlet (as does onone) which cuts the price a little.

Not many make 'em here anymore!

Tempestas

I bought a Felt RXC 1 last summer, it was £1200(might be lucky and get one cheaper now) and it is a great all rounder. I have even done a few plus 6 hour road rides on it, with a pair of slicks ofc.

Captain Turok

tonyfryer wrote:

Captain Turok wrote:

They all seem good bikes (I love the RockLobster 8) )
Traditionaly the Merlin bikes offer good value and a great build (especially the wheels).
Not sure what will offer the best value today though? The (ongoing!) price increases may make an '08 bike worth looking at??

whty the RL over the malt? Is there much of a difference in weight? Only disadvantage I can find ov the RL is that it is slightly heavier than the malt. Yet many are saying steel is a comfier ride.

I am a fell runner as well so my leg strength can probalby take the odd lb added on (current hardtail 35lbs + :shock: ) but I suppose there needs to be a reason for the extra weight?

I bought the RL primarily of the '07 WMB review (best £1k HT), pressed all my buttons! I've not ridden a Malt4, so can't really comment. It does seem to be a more "advanced" frame, with all the hydroforming.
Although I do quite like the the conventional Easton tubes and the licensed frame thing with RL.

passout

On One Scandal I reckon.

I prefer the Malt 4 to the RL - the frame looks more beefy & it's lighter.

mtb1975

Merlin's frames are built abroad (As are most frames nowadays) but they are fitted with all the kit by very good mechanics just outside Preston. They make probably the best quality wheels you can get too! That level of build quality throughout is why they win so many grouptests. The Boardman is shipped to store virtually built where a 'trained technician' makes a hash of the rest of it before handing it over!