Budget/bargain MTB

girlinthebox

Hello, newbie here.

I am looking for a MTB for my boyfriend's birthday in a couple of weeks, and wondered if anyone here could recommended a budget/bargain bike?

The reason I say budget is because he is not a serious biker or anything - he has recently been hinting at getting a bike to cycle around the town on etc. to get fit. I know you are all very serious bikers but if you could help with this I'd really appreciate it.

I was looking at the obvious Argos (some of theirs - Silverfox I think are half price) and Amazon too as they have a Reebok one for just over £100. Ideally I don't want to spend more than £150.

Thanks.

robmanic1

Hi GITB, you really need to be looking around the £1200-1500 mark for a budget MTB (at least that's what I told my mrs).

Seriously though, you wont get much for £100-150, but if that's your limit you need to avoid anything with suspension as it just won't work at that price point, simplicity is the key I reckon. Look for more well known brands like Giant or Trek or similar and take your other half around a few local bike shops to try a few out for size.

Hope that helps.

blister pus

Decent starter bikes start at about £200+ but with the Halfords 20% off deal that comes around every few weeks you'd be looking at the Carrera Vulcan which would probably work out at around £180.

If he's keen then talk to him about him putting a little extra into the pot. £250 - £300 will get a really nice starter bike that he'll grow into and want to ride after the novelty has worn off.

You sound like a very cool and nice girlfriend.

supersonic

Have a read of the stickies in the beginners section.

girlinthebox

Many thanks. I didn't want to get him something utterly cr@p so asking him to contribute if he is that serious about getting one is a good idea. Or I'll wait until Christmas when I can afford a better one for him!

Thanks again.

blister pus

It's always worth waiting for xmas time, if you can, for anything bike related. And if you can up the budget to £250 - 300 you'll get even more choice and greater chance of picking a real bargain up.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

A bit higher than your current budget, but worth it for a better quality bike, a couple that come to mind are...

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... ormal.html (Regarded by many as a good starter supension fork, v-brakes could be upgraded to disc brakes as hubs compatable)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20-SARACEN-PYLON- ... 7C294%3A50 (I Bought the bigger brother of this, Pylon 8, from same site. Make great street commuting bikes, can cope with basic off road)

deffler

blister pus wrote:

You sound like a very cool and nice girlfriend.

Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth. X

blister pus

she does going off that first post, I can think of plenty less generous and thoughtful girlfriends, put it like that. lol

Si78

deffler wrote:

blister pus wrote:

You sound like a very cool and nice girlfriend.

Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth. X

lol

blister pus, you are smoooooother than Roger Moore and Leslie Phillips combined! 8)




girlinthebox does sound like a good g/f tho....gotta get me one of those

deffler

blister pus wrote:

she does going off that first post, I can think of plenty less generous and thoughtful girlfriends, put it like that. lol

Yeah , I can aswell.............. My flippin own GF.

girlinthebox

Ahem. Thanks for the nice comments although I'm not sure my bf would agree 100%!

Anyway....I have had a re-think...now, please don't scoff at this but I was in my local Asda today (or Asbo as it is known around these parts of Manchester) and they're selling a really basic bike with no suspension (I understand you shouldn't even consider susp. unless you're getting a high end decent bike?) for men for £70....

...Now let me explain, my bf hasn't owned a bike for probably over 10 years. He basically wants something to ride around the town on when he gets home from work to try and shed some pounds and get a bit fitter, so this is all he wants it for.

So should I buy it?

Maybe if he enjoys it and it lasts him until Christmas I can buy him a better one then.

Anyway, comments welcome.

supersonic

I bought my Mum one of these! For the full low down, have a search for my thread on Asda Bikes.

Basically, don't do it...

supersonic

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... asda+bikes

girlinthebox

Damn it. The truth is, I'm actually really stuck for ideas for his birthday (see - bad girlfriend!).

What are these better made 70 quid bikes you speak of then? I know someone mentioned Halford's Apollo bikes elsewhere but these have susp. don't they?

Does anyone know anything about their Trax ones without susp? :?:

supersonic

Not many are better made - just less work. If you are not a skilled mechanic you don't have a prayer with these things.

girlinthebox

Ok then, less work - which ones are these then?

My other option is Halford's as they have a sale (Apollo ones?) and they will set them up for you and do a 6 week check up...

supersonic

There have been a few on ebay, but you have to look carefully.

It may be better you buy from a bike shop so they can sort it out when it inevitably fails.

blister pus

The cheapest and best quality budget bike would be Halfords Carrera Vulcan at £180 - that's with the 20% reduction deal that comes round. That's £30 over budget for a half decent starter bike that'll inspire to be ridden and not dumped after a month.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

supersonic

Have a read of this:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12620617

There is a guide within on parts to look for.

girlinthebox

blister pus wrote:

The cheapest and best quality budget bike would be Halfords Carrera Vulcan at £180 - that's with the 20% reduction deal that comes round. That's £30 over budget for a half decent starter bike that'll inspire to be ridden and not dumped after a month.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

Ouch. It is £229 at the moment.

girlinthebox

supersonic wrote:

Have a read of this:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12620617

There is a guide within on parts to look for.

Thanks

supersonic

The Giant Boulder bikes are worth a look, but still over your budget.

blister pus

girlinthebox wrote:

Ouch. It is £229 at the moment.

Yeh, but the beauty of your situation is you can afford to wait for the 20% reduction though. £180 is not so out of the question if the other half chips in.

girlinthebox

This is true. Do you know when the 20% reduction begins?

robmanic1

Come on, you need a bike that's going to last at least as long as your relationship

blister pus

This is true. Do you know when the 20% reduction begins?

Well there hasn't been one for 2 weekends as far as i know so I would say one is due. Keep an eye on the Halfords front web page and you'll see "20% Carrera bikes" when you see that shoot into the nearest Halfords get sized up and tell them about the 20% online offer if they say they haven't got that size in then go home and use the reserve and collect service they offer online

supersonic

SUpposed to be a third off at the minute.

blister pus

yah, and there's been a 20% off on top of that getting it down to 180 ish, the lad who got it was well pleased.

girlinthebox

Robmanic1 wrote:

Come on, you need a bike that's going to last at least as long as your relationship

Perhaps.

girlinthebox

Thanks Blister Pus - nice user name by the way.

It says up to a third but only £50 off the model Blister recommended.