Full Suspension Advice For £1350 Max

mikeyj28

I currently ride a HT but i want to dabble in getting a full suss.
I have a few in mind and definitely do not want to go over £1350. If i can get a decent one for the money that is cheaper & upgradable then even better!
the few that i have in mind are:

Specialized FSR XC Pro
Giant Anthem X3
CUBE AMS Comp -can see it for £1200ish
Trek Fuel EX 5.5 or EX 6.5 (whichever one is the better for the money)

I'm 6ft1", 156lbs,pretty fit & I never ride 6ft drop offs and mostly ride XC trails/singletrack/fireroad/hilly tarmac , the odd race and want something that is quick,fairly light & not labouring up hills.

Daz555

All good choices there and I can vouch for the FSRxc. It is worth having a look at the Boardman FS range as well - Pro is about £1300.

mikeyj28

Thanks Daz

How do you find the FSR going uphill? Is it lumpy or pretty easy to hammer uphill-even on long draggy hills?
Does it require much maintainance? Is there a lot of potential for upgrading or would i be better to shell out more for a stumpy?

Any news on CUBES as nobody on here seems to report on them that much.

mikeyj28

Daz555 wrote:

It is worth having a look at the Boardman FS range as well - Pro is about £1300.

Does the Boardman stand up to much or is it just good marketing by Halfords/Chris Boardman?

Daz555

mikeyj28 wrote:

Daz555 wrote:

It is worth having a look at the Boardman FS range as well - Pro is about £1300.

Does the Boardman stand up to much or is it just good marketing by Halfords/Chris Boardman?

It's had great reviews, as have the HTs from previous years. Frame made by Merida if I remember rightly. Parts spec on Boardman bikes is also great given the price.

As the the FSRxc - mine feels great uphill and down. Even on the Comp, both ends have lockout which is nice on the smoother fireroads etc. A lot depends on pedaling style but I rarely (if ever) lock my suspension out and do not find I suffer from pedal bob at all. It will of course bob a fair bit if you stand on the pedals and mash hard at a low cadence. Higher end FSRxc of course have better fork and shocks.

Too early to tell about maintenance as I've only had the bike 6 months. However, All the bearings involved in the rear-end are maintenance free anyway so it is a matter of replacing when they start showing signs of wear. I have no idea when that will be - could be longer than I end up owning the bike - who knows?

Of course Stumpy is a better bike - frame is a significant upgrade on its own. As always, you are always faced with the 'if only I spend 200 more......." but this can go on forever.

A test ride is the only real way to be sure of course, but I don't see that anyone would be disappointed with the FSRxc.

ashfanman

I think you'd struggle to do much better than this for the money: http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... 5-5-2.html

llamafarmer

One thing to note with the Trek Fuel Ex 5.5 and 6.5 is that they don't have the ABP system that the higher models come with, so the great reviews you see on the Ex8 may or may not apply...

I can vouch for the Anthem as a superb bike. It's lighter and racier than the others you've listed, which may or may not be to your taste, but the bonus is you get the same frame as the X0, so it's more than worthy of upgrades. From what you say about your riding it could be ideal, it's pretty much a race bike that you can use every day.

M6TTF

You should be able to pick up an ex7 in the sale for well inside your budget providing you can find your size - I got mine for 1100 quid last year

canada16

Good spec on that commencal.

Sweet looking bike.

I have a 2008 focus superbud, and it was a sweet deal, Full fox and XT and mavic.

All for 1000.00, still dont know how they managed to sell them at that price.

The forks are at least 350.00 and RP2 on the back.

But if I were to get another Bike I would stay away from main stream.

Get so much more from the cube's and focus bikes.. Well you did in 2008 anyway.

GHill

llamafarmer wrote:

One thing to note with the Trek Fuel Ex 5.5 and 6.5 is that they don't have the ABP system that the higher models come with, so the great reviews you see on the Ex8 may or may not apply...

They will for '10, so it would certainly be worth waiting if you were seriously considering either.

That said, my wife has an '09 Ex 5.5 WSD and loves it.

stueyscott

Personally I would go for the Boardman, but then i'm biased.

The riding you do is exactly the same as me and I love mine.

The boardman holds its own down hill but is far lighter than many other mid range full sus bikes meaning that it rides like a dream up hill as well. Both the front and the rear suspension once set are easy to flick on off or leave some where inbetween,


Excellent spec, getting best in class and third in bike of the year (well the Team did as the pro was tested to late)

What more could you ask for.

mikeyj28

Thanks gys for the help/advice.

had my eyes opened to the Boardman bike. Just a bit duboius as to why the price is relatively low considering the spec on the bike? Also hope that the bike doesn't give up on me in 18 months time etc.

At the moment the Giant Anthem X3 is at the top of my list.

CycloRos

Out of your shortlist I'd probably go for the Anthem X3, and I own an '06 Stumpy (now very similar in spec to the FSRxc).

Find the spesh a bit tame and not a particularly entertaining ride, so I'm gonna be trying out some newer machines soon.

mikeyj28

Thanks CycloRos. I thought that the spesh stumpy would be pretty decent but seeing as you own one and have ridden it a bit then what you have said is definitely worth noting!

I am pretty convinced that i shall go for the Giant Anthem. Just go to find a place in the Cardiff/South Wales area that will let me have a test ride.

GHill

mikeyj28 wrote:

I am pretty convinced that i shall go for the Giant Anthem. Just go to find a place in the Cardiff/South Wales area that will let me have a test ride.

Try Tredz (out near Penarth) or Cyclopaedia (Cathays), both sell Giant.

adun1408

Get the anthemx3 you will not be disapointed

supersonic

The Boardmen are cheap due to the buying power of Halfords, and them being the sole dealer/distributor.