Hardtail or Full sus - opinions welcome !
bristolpete
Posts: 2,255
Hi all, new user with the usual question, but with a different slant I think.
Right, I don't have a bottom less pit of money, but I am in the market for a new bike. Historically, I have owned 3 mountain bikes, nothing overly high spec. I am 37 now and have the bug back after shooting some MTB for a few customers as I am a sport photographer. (some of my work is below).
Anyhow, my question are these. I currently ride about 50-70 miles a week on a road bike so logically I think that a good hard tail would be suitable. However I have a niggle that tells me to buy once buy right and get something full sus and tidy like a Commencal meta 552 or the new Lapierre Zesty 314. I can push the budget to that and like both bikes. It seems that you get better components on a better hard tail. The weight of the bike is not really an issue for me given my current riding regime but I realise cycling a full sus up a trail is totally different to bombing along on my slicks on tarmac. Hard tail wise I have taken to a couple of the Merida Matts HFS 3000/2000 D bikes which seem to have great bang for buck. So, given me remit, where and what would you choose to ride?
Thanks in advance. To note, the Lapierre is currently sitting top of my poll as it seems to be a do everything bike, which is nice though I suspect I would want minimal travel in the rear sus.
Pete.
Right, I don't have a bottom less pit of money, but I am in the market for a new bike. Historically, I have owned 3 mountain bikes, nothing overly high spec. I am 37 now and have the bug back after shooting some MTB for a few customers as I am a sport photographer. (some of my work is below).
Anyhow, my question are these. I currently ride about 50-70 miles a week on a road bike so logically I think that a good hard tail would be suitable. However I have a niggle that tells me to buy once buy right and get something full sus and tidy like a Commencal meta 552 or the new Lapierre Zesty 314. I can push the budget to that and like both bikes. It seems that you get better components on a better hard tail. The weight of the bike is not really an issue for me given my current riding regime but I realise cycling a full sus up a trail is totally different to bombing along on my slicks on tarmac. Hard tail wise I have taken to a couple of the Merida Matts HFS 3000/2000 D bikes which seem to have great bang for buck. So, given me remit, where and what would you choose to ride?
Thanks in advance. To note, the Lapierre is currently sitting top of my poll as it seems to be a do everything bike, which is nice though I suspect I would want minimal travel in the rear sus.
Pete.
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Hi Pete,
Cracking piccies mate, nice
I too am in the market for a decent bike and had the chance recently to test ride an Orange ST4 Pro which was a 2008 model, and it rode like a hardtail for the most part but it also has the setup options to soften the shocks for offroad use, cracking bike and as it was last years model the spec is better than other full sus bikes for the same money, as last year it was £2000 now down to around £1700-£1750ish (This years price is around £2300 for the same bike!) Well worth a look
http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=871&category_id=21Orange 2010 P7 - Custom Build - My New Bikey Poos
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Hey thanks for that.
Well the news is that I picked up my Lapierre Zesty 314 today and love it as does my GF as she bought me it as a gift (you gotta love em). Great bike. Only rode it through town after collection but will be off road this week and starting to enjoy it.
In the end, I narrowed it down to the Meta 552, the Lapierre and the Cube Stereo but went with the Lapierre on gut instinct and the fact we are both called Pete! Seriously, you know when you see a bike and it just works for you, well thats what I felt.
Thanks.
Pete.0
