XC MTB for ~£400

IJenks
IJenks Posts: 5
edited July 2009 in MTB buying advice
HI guys.
My first post and I'm asking questions.....needy or what?!
Sorry to say it is one of those: "Which shall I get?" q's but, I can assure you, I have searched for an answer but can't find what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to get back into MTB after 13 or so years. Back then I had a GT Tequesta, as a replacement for a stolen Carrera Impetus, which was FAR too big (20" frame and I'm only 5'8" - listened to the advice of my LBS, they have now closed). THis ruined my enjoyment and I stopped riding.

I have £400 to spend and have been looking at the Kona Fire Mountain (always wanted a Kona), Carrera Kraken and have also seen the Fire Mountain Deluxe on Tredz.com for £400. Of these, which would you guys say is best? I have been out of the loop so long that the spec's and componentry no longer means anything to me, it is all mumbo-jumbo and random numbers :roll:

I will mainly be using the bike for offroad use (Afan Argoed is 1 mile from my house 8) .

Cheers for any help/info guys

(also Tredz is my lBS now)

Comments

  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    The Firemountain is a good choice, decent enough, so as the Kraken.

    Similar bike:
    Commencal Normal Disc 2009
    17" and 18.5" available.

    But this bike has the best spec that I could find:
    Mongoose Amasa Comp 2008

    Can/have you test some?
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • IJenks
    IJenks Posts: 5
    I have ridden the 2008 Kraken 16" and like how it feels, I have also ridden Kona in the past, and assume that the general frame geometry won't differ hugely. I won't touch GT again as past experience was dreadful.

    The Kona both have mechanical disc brakes, whereas the Kraken has hydraulic. How big a difference is this? Also, which has the best fork?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Carrera Kraken and Decathlon Rockrider 5.3 are the best value bikes at this price point, with decent forks.

    The Dart 1 is a hideous fork on the kona.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • IJenks
    IJenks Posts: 5
    Thanks for the info supersonic. How about frames? Would either warrant upgrading parts when they (inevitably) fail?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Yep, both good frames!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    If you for a Kona go for the Deluxe, better components overall.
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    The Kraken's good for the money. You might want to consider a small frame, I'm 5'10 and my medium felt just a little big, even though I usually take a medium- I think the BB was fairly high and there's not much drop on the tube either.

    The brakes on it are really surprisingly good, the tektros are officially a cheap option but they're not too far off my XTs in performance- they're not as subtle or as controllable (and they're a pain to bleed) but they work extremely well, no complaints.

    The fork's one to watch- it performs well while it's in good condition but because the seals are a bit poor they're quite vulnerable to wear if mud gets inside- the bushings are soft plastic too so mine developed a fair bit of play quickly. But if you look after them and service them regularily in winter (which is very very easy, 2 bolts and they come apart, quick clean of the seals and splatch with fork oil, rebuild- 10 minutes tops) they'll continue to work well.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • JamesBrckmn
    JamesBrckmn Posts: 1,360
    have a look at the decathlon rockrider 5xc - avid juicy 3's, sr suntour xcr, 27 gears @ £370 have a look here : http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-xc-66740056/
  • IJenks
    IJenks Posts: 5
    Northwind wrote:
    The fork's one to watch- it performs well while it's in good condition but because the seals are a bit poor they're quite vulnerable to wear if mud gets inside- the bushings are soft plastic too so mine developed a fair bit of play quickly. But if you look after them and service them regularily in winter (which is very very easy, 2 bolts and they come apart, quick clean of the seals and splatch with fork oil, rebuild- 10 minutes tops) they'll continue to work well.

    Pretty much decided on the Kraken then.....Missus is buying me the bike so would like to cut down on cost as much as possible - going to surprise her with my need for other "Goodies@ (shorts, gloves, pump, bag etc). Don't have decathlon stores anywhere near me, travel would cost more than the difference in price.

    Fork oil? Man, I have been out of this game for a while. Anything specific? I know I can ask in my LBS but hey, I'm on here atm so why not?

    Damn fine BB this......Cheers for all your input guys 8)
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    I use motorbike stuff, because it's cheap, and I use Silkolene 15W because that's what I had in the garage :wink: Don't worry too much about this, it only really becomes an issue in winter if you insist on riding through horrible crap, like I do. Just taking good care of the day to day maintenance, ie wiping down the stanchions after rides, and "bump cleaning" the seals, will help keep it all moving

    (Bump cleaning- wipe the fork stanchions with a suitable lube, fork oil or similiar, then bump the fork once- you often find that this pulls dirt back up from the seals)
    Uncompromising extremist

Categories