New bike, don't like it :(

Barrie_G
Barrie_G Posts: 479
edited March 2009 in MTB buying advice
I took delivery of a nice shiny Malt 4 with full xt, Reba SL forks at the beginning of last week, went out for my first real ride on it today and realise that I should have just kept to my road bike as I just didn't enjoy myself at all :(

Now my problem is do I keep it and use it to pootle around town and go to the shops on etc. or do I sell it, take a hit of 3-4 hundred quid and either just stick with the road bike that I have or buy a cheaper road bike for around town and keep my good bike (enigma eclipse, full ultegra sl :D ) for a summer bike.

Comments

  • LoUiS1985
    LoUiS1985 Posts: 841
    hit some trails centre on it and you're bound to love it, if not then maybe your just slightly wierd??!! :wink:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/42322058@N03/
  • Barrie_G
    Barrie_G Posts: 479
    I think I've turned into a roadie :shock:

    I just prefer the lighter faster road bike to a heavier more sluggish beast that is a mountian bike.
  • M6TTF
    M6TTF Posts: 602
    Stick with it for a few more rides, and go out with a few mates, it makes a big difference to your enjoyment - then decide if it's not for you
  • JxL
    JxL Posts: 383
    I think mountain bikes belong to trails rather than roads... as Louis has said you will probably love it on a decent trail.

    If that doesn't do it, then consider yourself being diagnosed as a Roadie ;)
    Genesis Core 10 / Kinesis Decade Virtue SS

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  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    edited March 2009
    Did you not sit on it before you bought it? Did you not do a bit of MTB first to see if you liked it? Surely you didn`t spend £1200 on a top specced hardtail to use on the road :shock:
    Commie Meta 5
    Rock Lobster
  • blablablacksheep
    blablablacksheep Posts: 1,377
    lighter faster road bike to a heavier more sluggish beast that is a mountian bike.

    whhaaaat... :shock: man the malt 4 must have terrible frame then mate, i got a rockhopper 08 v break bike for 390 quid and it freakin amazingly light, i road a gt avalanche and it was quite heavy so maybe that how the malt 4 is.

    i not sure how the malt bikes ride but i know the specialized bikes have VERY light frames and i ride pretty fast and even on trails it great fun. though i wouldnt suggest sitting to much in the saddle without a full suspen :)

    what dont you like exactly? are the rest of the spec good. forks,breaks ,gears ect?

    if it just the frame then maybe you just got a bad bike and might be idea to try testing other mountain bikes like specialized.

    how much did you pay for it ? sinse i sure for the malt 4 price you can get a very light mountain bike, what road bike you ride out of interest?
    London2Brighton Challange 100k!
    http://www.justgiving.com/broxbourne-runners
  • rossgalway
    rossgalway Posts: 43
    There's nothing wrong with the bike. Why did you buy a mtb if you don't ride off-road????
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    blablablacksheep wrote:
    lighter faster road bike to a heavier more sluggish beast that is a mountian bike.

    whhaaaat... :shock: man the malt 4 must have terrible frame then mate, i got a rockhopper 08 v break bike for 390 quid and it freakin amazingly light, i road a gt avalanche and it was quite heavy so maybe that how the malt 4 is.

    i not sure how the malt bikes ride but i know the specialized bikes have VERY light frames and i ride pretty fast and even on trails it great fun. though i wouldnt suggest sitting to much in the saddle without a full suspen :)

    Yes, light compared to mountain bikes :/ A good £800 hardtail will weight about 26lbs, a good £800 road bike will be 19-20lbs. Similar in weight to a £2.5k hardtail. Knobbly tires roll slower and eat speed and energy rather than conserving it all. Mountain bike's compact geometry aren't made for high speeds either really. I'm sure it's not to everyones tastes, I love it myself ;)

    If you don't get on with it I'd get rid of it quick to be honest, before it loses any more value. I've bought bikes I didn't like before (oops), waited, lost a lot of value then come out with much less cash. Live and learn.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    It's never fun riding my bike on road, it's just borring.
    But once I leave the tarmac, the fun begins. :D
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • lordmerchant
    lordmerchant Posts: 378
    Malt 4's are great bikes (they may be heavier than a roadie) they are seriously light - I have a full XT build and i can lift it very easily witha finger. Give it a try on the trails, if you have spent £1200 on it the least surely you can give it good go offroad and see what you think of it.
  • blablablacksheep
    blablablacksheep Posts: 1,377
    like this guy said^^ you spend 1.2k on a custom bike you sorta need to know if you going to like mountain biking or not lol.

    where abouts you live? look around for some nice trails as i sure that sort of kit can handle 99% of most stuff that is thrown at it.

    remember when you on road with mountain bike use the rebound lock to stop the suspen going over time as this can make it slightly better ride on road. pop lock i think it called.

    man i would die for that bike lol.charaity donation maybe:P
    London2Brighton Challange 100k!
    http://www.justgiving.com/broxbourne-runners
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,456
    7 days distance selling regulation? just send it back? shame though lovely bikes the malts.

    if not maybe fit some faster rolling tyres on it for starters.
    Merlin Malt4,
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/7405500@N0 ... 025278584/
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    Barrie_G wrote:
    I just prefer the lighter faster road bike to a heavier more sluggish beast that is a mountian bike.
    Try your road bike around Whites Level, and report back. :lol:
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • ratty2k
    ratty2k Posts: 3,872
    To the OP, give it a few more rides. Learn some of the techniques and see if you can hook up with some local riders. A MTB will be heavier than a road bike, and probably slower rolling- but in the right environment the fun levels are HUGE!
    My Pics !


    Whadda ya mean I dont believe in god?
    I talk to him everyday....
  • blablablacksheep
    blablablacksheep Posts: 1,377
    tbh the bike you got is 1k + price and really is going to be the best sort of hardtail you going to get gear wise.

    how heavy is the malt 4 frame? is it heavyer than a rockhopper frame?
    London2Brighton Challange 100k!
    http://www.justgiving.com/broxbourne-runners
  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    blablablacksheep wrote:
    tbh the bike you got is 1k + price and really is going to be the best sort of hardtail you going to get gear wise.

    how heavy is the malt 4 frame? is it heavyer than a rockhopper frame?

    No, it's lighter. A Malt 4 frame is 3.5lbs and costs £400 on it's own - a Rockhopper is only £500 for the complete bike!
    Rock Lobster Team Tig SL Custom
  • Barrie_G
    Barrie_G Posts: 479
    I'll now try to answer a few of the points raised,

    The bike's not heavy for what it is i.e. a xc mountain bike 25lbs (ish) it just feels heavy when compared to the road bike (which is to be expected I know)

    I didn't sit on it but had an 06 malt 4 which I enjoyed riding before I got into riding on the road and thought that I might enjoy doing so again, but out on some local trails yesterday it just didn't have the same charm that it used to.

    Yes getting out and riding with some mates might make all the difference, problem is I don't have any (and no I'm not exaggerating, long story).

    Thanks for the suggestion Dunker I've just sent Merlin an e-mail to see about sending it back, I'll just have to wait to see what they say.
  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    Barrie_G wrote:
    Yes getting out and riding with some mates might make all the difference, problem is I don't have any (and no I'm not exaggerating, long story).

    Don't worry - i believe this is a problem almost all roadies face :lol:
    Rock Lobster Team Tig SL Custom
  • Barrie_G
    Barrie_G Posts: 479
    adb1006 wrote:
    Barrie_G wrote:
    Yes getting out and riding with some mates might make all the difference, problem is I don't have any (and no I'm not exaggerating, long story).

    Don't worry - i believe this is a problem almost all roadies face :lol:

    Nope definitely not that, I didn't have any mates before I got into cycling :lol:
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    I spent £5000 on a solid oak door the other day. I'm gutted as it's useless when I try and surf on it.
    Turns really slowly and handles very badly.

    What should I do?
  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    whittle it into a nice coffee table.
    Rock Lobster Team Tig SL Custom
  • ratty2k
    ratty2k Posts: 3,872
    Barrie_G wrote:
    I'll now try to answer a few of the points raised,


    Yes getting out and riding with some mates might make all the difference, problem is I don't have any (and no I'm not exaggerating, long story).

    Try posting for some here.... None of my mates were into MTB'ing... So posted here and on other forums and met some great people. Its definiatly more sociable than road riding- people relax and chat all the time. Where are you from? I'm sure people here and on other forums would be glad of some new faces to tag along with them. Plus if you are riding with other people you will get more from your bike as you watch them ride...
    My Pics !


    Whadda ya mean I dont believe in god?
    I talk to him everyday....
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    I'll buy it off you for £10.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Barrie_G
    Barrie_G Posts: 479
    passout wrote:
    I'll buy it off you for £10.

    Nice try, though it is now in the sales section, so if you want it you'll need another £840 to go with your £10 and it's yours :wink:
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    Wise move in my opinion, spend it on something you want :wink:
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • Barrie_G
    Barrie_G Posts: 479
    Toasty wrote:
    Wise move in my opinion, spend it on something you want :wink:

    I've wasted enough money on stuff I want (malt 4 anyone :? ) I think I'll hang onto the cash and spend it on something I NEED.......

    I do like the idea of a carbon stem to go with my carbon bars and seat post on my enigma though 8)

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