Looking to buy mountain bike budget between Up to £750

KenHardaker
KenHardaker Posts: 6
edited April 2009 in MTB buying advice
Looking to buy a mountain bike, road biker essentially but now knocking on a bit and looking for something a bit less serious. Budget of up to £750.

Currently got the following in mind Marin Bobcat Trail £488 (like the frame but unsure of equipment levels), Giant XTC 4 £575 (looks solid and reasonable equipment levels), Trek 6500 £725 (good spec and frame even with £75 reduction at top end of budget but is it worth the extra money ?).

Thanks in advance.

Does anyone have any thought on these

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Have a look at our What Hardtail guide for popular and well reviewed xc hardtails.

    If you have the money I'd advice to spend it - often get much better forks and lighter weight.

    Case in point is that Marin - no damping in the fork, and pretty lowly elsewhere - is way overpriced.

    For 600 and up you shpuld really expect a RockShox Tora fork, 9spd drivetrains and hydro discs.
  • Went into cycle republic today saw some of the Boardman range but was unsure about whether the mountain bikes were any good. Had a pretty good idea that the road bike where good even with just a limited inspection, but don't really know what's good on a MTB and what is average, in terms of forks, gearing, etc. The Trek 6500 has Tora SL, shimano deore hyd disc, rear der deore XT, etc. At £725, anyone got a view on this one. I have a Trek road bike and it has served me well over the years.
  • nfrang
    nfrang Posts: 250
    That Trek does look nice and good(but not the best)value. Little stuff would put me off like why route the cables over the top tube where they'll be scratching paint off within a week.
    Best specced for the money HT i can find
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360037562/
    Yum!

    and i know this has nothing to do with the bikes but if Decathlon can't even be arsed to make their website easy to look at/navigate i for one aint looking twice...cushioning??
  • Just bought myself a Rockrider 8.2 for £760 from decathlon.
    Dabbled for ages over what to buy.
    Was convinced by the spec in the end, and also rode real nice.
    Forks are a beaut as well as the SRAM gearing.