Advice Please

Powers673

Hello all, I'm brand new to bike radar. I've been on Halfords looking at bikes and every time I searched for an independent review elsewhere bike radar came up. You all seem to know a lot about the subject.

I'm doing the coast to coast, 140 miles over 3 days, in a few months. So I need a bike that will be good to train on and be rugged enough for the actually task ahead of it.

What I need is a man's bike, 18-20 inch frame, front suspension (I know full suspension in my price range is usually pretty bad and other components suffer for it), 21 gears or more. Looking to spend around £250 to £300 (with an eye to customising some of the less complicated components) but I will spend up to £350 if needs be.

I've looked at the Carrera Craken (£350), which is apparently good but heavy and has poor tyres (a problem I'd be prepared to fix myself). I 've also looked at the Carrera Vulcan (£250), which is reviewed as 'great value' but suffers from 'spongey forks'. Again I would not be adverse to fixing this myself. Both look good but are Halfords' in house products so they have their own agenda. I figured I get some outside advice.

Any advice, or better deals would be appreciated.

andrewjoseph

try them first, then try some other bikes from your local bike shop (LBS), decide on which one fits best.

Are you new to mountain biking? Do you already have a bike? Have you done anything similar before?

If this is all new to you then I'd advise building up your fitness and time on the bike before you attempt riding 3 days back to back off road.

Powers673

Thanks that's sound advice. I'm not new to mountain biking but I haven't ridden properly for few years, until just afew days ago. I tried the bike I used to ride and it's just not right for my height etc now. Having said that, I managed 13 and half miles in around 2 hours, on a badly sized bike, out of shape, on some rough terrain with pretty horrible technique on Friday night. So with any luck a few months down the line I should be ready for it. They do say 'it's just like riding a bike' though don't they.

andrewjoseph

make sure you get a correctly sized bike, a good bike shop should help you decide. If you can get some demo bikes to try even better. don't buy a bike 'blind'.

Powers673

I caught site of the 'Which Hardtail 2009' thread on this board after I posted this. Very informative. These look great.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-2-red-48722203/

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/mountain/2449/32673/zoom/

http://www.gtbicycles.com/gbr/eng/Products/Mountain/Adventure/#5726

antfly

You could get a much better bike for that money if you could do without front suspension,if not I think you should spend a bit more,it will be worth it in the long run.

Powers673

Surely no suspension would be an absolute killer though?

antfly

It depends.How much of your route is actually offroad?

Powers673

It should be about half on half off.

antfly

In that case front suspension would be a good idea.
If you want to enjoy it you should spend as much as you can on a decent bike.If I were you I would increase my budget,if possible,to get something really decent.This sort of thing.http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/malt-1-09-33656

blablablacksheep

^^ i beleive they dont make that bike any more, sadly sisne i been trying to get one also and havnt had any luck

Powers673

That Merlin looks brilliant but unfortunatley I just don't have that sort of cash to spend on a bike.

supersonic

The Kraken would be top of my list to try out. Fork is very good for the money, and with a tyre change will make it a lot better bike. Halfords may even do that for you for a little extra. A bike like this ten years ago would have cost over 1000 quid!

Powers673

Even if I were to buy the Vulcan and simple upgrade the forks? I'd just have to be really sure I was getting a totally superior class of bike for £100 more is all.

supersonic

Well, as a package the Kraken outshines the Vulcan (and the Vulcan is good). That extra 100 quid gets you hydro disc brakes, smoother 27 speed transmission, and a stiffer, lighter fork.

Vulcan with a fork upgrade - you'd have to splash over a hundred quid for a Tora really to make it worth it. Would make it more capable in some areas. If you are going to do this I'd look at the Fury - has a Tora 318 fork already and even better components than the Kraken.

Powers673

So if it were to change the forks I'd end up spending the extra hundred anyway. Point taken. Tyres are cheaper to change than forks. So ultimatley I'm better off with the Kracken you reckon?

supersonic

I think so yes - the Tora forks are better, but the Kraken has very good other areas.

You need to try it for size of course.

Powers673

Right. Thanks a lot mate. You've all been very helpful. Will probably see about buying the Kracken tomorrow.

supersonic

No probs! Let us know how it goes.

Powers673

Ok so I raised my price range a little and have wittled it down to a short list of Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc '09 or GT Aggressor XC 3 09. Opinions?

antfly

I`m glad you`ve finally got your priorities sored out.

Powers673

As am I.

supersonic

On paper the Aggressor is the better value - superior fork, gears, and hydro brakes rather than mechanical.

To be honest I think the Kraken is vastly better than either.

xand_xand

Kraken is a superb bike for the money....my mate just bought the Kraken and i opted for the Kraken Ltd Edition....we both loving the bikes soo much....grt to get us into mtb....

Northwind

Yep, having owned a Kraken and ridden the Aggressor, I totally agree, the Kraken's frame is maybe not quite as good as the Aggressor- it feels a wee bit overstiff and unresponsive sometimes and a bit front-heavy- but the overall spec is better everywhere. Leaving aside the 1kg tyres (heavier than the front wheel!) that is. The pedals aren't much cop either but then, that's par for the course, I think the Aggressor has the exact same un-studded Wellgos.

I ended up with a Tora 130mm in the front of mine (the Suntour 120mm is only about 4mm shorter, so I was comfortable with the extra length and it handled well) and it really made for a storming trail bike. Now, it's back to standard and I have a nice Scandal to ride myself but when me and my brother go out, I let him take the Scandal so he can keep up, it's no hardship to ride the Kraken.