what full all mountain bike for £1000

rong236
rong236 Posts: 56
edited May 2009 in MTB buying advice
I`m looking to buy an all mountainbike for up to £1000
I`ve looked at loads of bikes from spec pitch`s, to giant trance x5`s and i`m pulling my hair out.
I was goint to buy a big hit, and now i`m after an all mountain bike.
I`m moving to wales and of the year and i have friends who are keen downhillers, so i`m wanting the best of both worlds, a little bit down hill and and alot of trail riding.
at the minute a Giant Trance X5 is looking tops,
does any one have any othere ideas? or any experience with the x5?

thanks
"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
-Helen Keller

Comments

  • yoohoo999
    yoohoo999 Posts: 940
    I'll offer the obligatory Specialized Pitch comment :lol:
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    i'm gonna throw in the felt compulsion 2 se. i've had mine for about 5 months and love it.

    ok, it's harder than a hardtail uphill, but i still manage 15/20 mile rides on it at afan and cwmcarn and downhill it's a demon!!!

    :D
  • li
    li Posts: 25
    I got the Commie 55.3 for £1100....well pleased.
    140mm travel,good spec, sounds like what you want.
  • wrighty43
    wrighty43 Posts: 44
    i will throw my two cents in ...

    Marin, one of the new ones, or an old wolf ridge (any one with a quad xt sus), you can pick one up for just over the 1 grand mark with an awesome setup.

    had mine for about 6 months, awesome uphills, downhills and for everything really .....

    prefer mine to the spec pitch pro that i had a few goes on.
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    I was looking at the pitch, i really fancied one, but getting a one in a large is impossible,

    So im looking towards the Giant trance x5, i`ve heard it`s pretty easy to upgrade
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    rong236, thought you were picking up a Bighit this weekend?
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • Airienteer
    Airienteer Posts: 695
    I'd also say the Commie 5.5.3 was worth a shout. However on pure value for money the Pitch is a good buy. Not sure how easy they are to get hold of now though.
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    I was suppoused to be getting a big hit 1 2nd hand on monday, but i`m having doubts as it doesn`t climb, so i`ve increased my budget and i`m trying to get a more all mountain bike
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • Whytepeak
    Whytepeak Posts: 2,616
    A carrera banshee xxx?

    Seems the sort of bike your after.
    Now that we are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. ROMANS 15:1
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    i was in evans in hendon earlier and they have a pitch comp for 9 hundred odd quid, give em a ring.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    mind you, if you are after something like a trance x5, you could do worse than to look in the classifieds at the moment and pick up something specialized-y
  • M4VERICK
    M4VERICK Posts: 84
    Spend a bit more than the grand and you could get the Specialized FSR XC EXPERT which not only looks stunning but comes with some really good kit.
    I've got the XC COMP which was £1000 which is a great bike but im having to upgrade the front suspension at the moment as the Tora's that it comes with are horse sh**e. If i could go back i'd have got the expert instead. It handles climbs brilliantly and general trail handling is good too. Check this months mbr magazine for a full review on the COMP and accept that the Expert is better!

    Avaiable here on Noahs ark at 0% for 12 months

    http://www.noahsark.co.uk/specialized-fsrxc-expert-2009-p-2469.html
    L_09FSRXCExpertRed.jpg

    I think its a stunning bike!
    2013 Bianchi Vertigo Carbon with Campagnolo Zondas
    Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
    ~ Albert Einstein
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    M4VERICK wrote:
    I've got the XC COMP which was £1000 which is a great bike but im having to upgrade the front suspension at the moment as the Tora's that it comes with are horse sh**e.
    What's wrong with your Toras? I have the XC Comp as well and the forks are excellent - smooth, plush and rattle free.
    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.
  • M4VERICK
    M4VERICK Posts: 84
    edited May 2009
    Mine seem to have a knack of seizing up after a ride and only letting you have about 35mm of travel. They have been returned to fishersports twice to get repaired and unfortunately the same has happened. So, i treaded myself to a set of Rochshox REBA team dual air shocks... should be with me later on in the week
    2013 Bianchi Vertigo Carbon with Campagnolo Zondas
    Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
    ~ Albert Einstein
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I think you have been unlucky with the Toras. They are probably the biggest selling fork at the moment, and a small batch had a problem.

    All my pairs have been fantastic, for the money nothing comes close really.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    I am looking the look of the FSR XC EXPERT, but what are they like at coming down?
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • M4VERICK
    M4VERICK Posts: 84
    edited May 2009
    Its an XC Bike so, downhills with big big jumps etc wont be ideal. But you'll be surprised at how it can handle some pretty rough ground with significant obstacles.
    I've found the rear sus very very good too (although it has also received mixed reviews) Its got a solid lockout so when you're cycling on roads and lanes inbetween the off road stuff, putting the rear sus into lockout make such a difference.

    I dont think you'd be dissapointed with the FSR XC Expert.... but the Giant Trance series are also good, however dont look as good IMO!
    2013 Bianchi Vertigo Carbon with Campagnolo Zondas
    Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
    ~ Albert Einstein
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    i`ve never had such a hard time, buying a bike is hard work, especially since i`m buying at a lowish budget, and wanting so much in a bike, i`m going to look at a big hit on monday 2nd hand for 550, so i might spend the rest on a decent new hard tail for trail riding, and have two bikes
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gar ... e-ec013297
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gar ... e-ec013297
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gar ... e-ec013297
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    Ive just came across this?
    it seems a good choice, above budget, but i can mabye stretch. The reviews say it`ll do everything, so i can learn to DH while carry on what i`m doing.

    Specialized Pitch FSR Pro £1174

    http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/products ... 4633&rs=gb
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • M4VERICK
    M4VERICK Posts: 84
    Great bike and great writeups in MBR.... If you can stretch to it then its a beauty!

    If only it came in a different colour... :?
    2013 Bianchi Vertigo Carbon with Campagnolo Zondas
    Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
    ~ Albert Einstein
  • russ_gillespie
    russ_gillespie Posts: 165
    Get the specialized pitch comp, it's under £1000. I'm buying mine next week, test rode it this weekend and loved it!

    Russ
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    comps are hard to find,

    plus the pro seems a much better bike, and more capable on the down hill bits
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller
  • russ_gillespie
    russ_gillespie Posts: 165
    I know a shop in sussex that's got loads of pitch comps in stock, they bought up the whole lot from specialized when they were running out.

    They have the same frame, so not sure how the pro is more capable than the comp? The main difference is the rear shock, which can always be upgraded. There are other upgrades on the pro of course, but it looks poo in brown :)

    Pro's are even harder to find.

    Russ
  • rong236
    rong236 Posts: 56
    i found a pro in hemel hemsted for 1174, so i`m going to pop past tomorrow, mabye try a little barter, you never know
    "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
    -Helen Keller

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