The all new <£400 (urban/xc) bargains thread

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Rigid fork

Saracen Pylon 3 2008(?)... £190
Nexus Inter-3 hub gear 38/16; Tektro IOX Mechanical disc brakes.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/18-SARACEN-PYLON- ... .m14.l1262

Saracen Pylon 4 2008(?)... £250 or make an offer
Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub gear (XK-R8?); Hayes Sole hydraulic disc brakes.
Been sold? No sign at Axis Cycles Ebay store

Specialized Centrum Sport 2008... £250
Single speed 42/16(?); BR-M415 mechanical disc brakes; unique looking frame.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... ke-ec00147

Specialized Globe San Fransisco 1 2009... £326
Single speed 42/16; BB5 mechanical disc; unique looking frame; super-seeded Centrum range.
http://www.primera-bournemouth.co.uk/Te ... rodID=4150

Carrera Gryphon Disc Spec 2008... £330
700C disc wheels; 18 speed (compact chainring); Tektro IO mechanical disc brakes; some X5 components.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

Revolution Courier Classic Disc 2009... £350
Alivio 8 speed; Tektro IOX mechanical disc brakes.
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c002910



Hardtails (suspension fork)

"Seems to be a lot of confusion on what is what, with silly model names and crossover between models. Here is a rough hierarchy of forks on XC/trail bikes that can be found for less than 500 quid, best to worse.

RS Tora 318 - motion control, rebound adjust lockout. Air or Uturn. 32mm.
RS Tora 302 - turnkey lockout, rebound adjust coil or coil uturn. 32mm.
Suntour X100 - coil, hydraulic damping, lockout. 32mm.
Suntour XCR RA - coil, rebound adjust. 30mm.
Rockshox Dart 3 - coil, turnkey lockout, rebound adjust. 28mm.
Suntour XCR RL/LO - coil, hydraulic damping and lockout.. 30mm.
Suntour XCM DA - coil, rebound adjust. 28mm.
Rockshox Dart 2 - coil, rebound adjust. 28mm.
Suntour XCM HLO/RL - coil, hydraulic damping and lockout. 28mm.
Suntour XCR - coil. 30mm.
Suntour XCM MLO - coil. Mechanical lockout. 28mm.
Rockshox Dart 1 - coil. 28mm.
Suntour XCM V2 - coil. 28mm.
Suntour XCT - coil. 28mm." (copy/paste of previous post by Supersonic) Would like to expand this hierachy to more brands

Commencal Normal 2009... £225... currently OUT OF STOCK
XCR fork; Commencal V-brake; RM65 hubs (allows easy upgrade to disc brakes).


Carrera Vulcan V Spec... £230
XCM with preload forks; Tektro Alloy V brakes; 24 speed (Suntour chainset); some X4 components.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#dtab

Carrera Vulcan Disc... £250
XCM damping and preload adjust fork; Tektro IO mechanical disc brakes; 24 speed; some X4 components.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#dtab

Rockrider 5.3... £300
XCR fork; 27 speed (triple 22/32/42 chainrings); Tektro IO cable actuated disc brakes; some X5 components.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-3-69568390/

Mongoose Tyax Elite 2009 ... £300
XCM HLO fork; ProMax mechanical Disc brakes; 24 speed (22/32/42 chainrings); some Alivio components.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... e-ec017394

Commencal Normal Disc 2009... £314... currently OUT OF STOCK
XCR fork; Juicy 3 disc brakes; 27 speed (22/32/44 chainrings); some X5/Deore components.


GT Avalanche 2 Disc 2008... £352
XCR fork; Tektro Auriga comp hydraulic disc brakes; 24 speed (22/32/42 chainring).
http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p1426

Mongoose Amasa Comp 2008... £367
X-100 120mmfork; Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes; 27 speed (22/32/44 chainrings); some X5 components.
http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p1491

Mongoose Tyax Comp Disc Mountain Bike 2010... £379
XCM-HLO fork; ProMax Alloy w/ adjuster Tektro Novela mechanical Disc brakes; 24 speed (22/32/42 chainrings); some Suntour/Alivio components.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Mongoose-Tyax-C ... _28084.htm

Carrera Kraken 2008... £380
XCR 120mm fork; Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes; 27 speed; some X5 components.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

Saracen Mantra 3 2009... £396
Tora 289 85-130mm travel U turn suspension fork; Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes; 27 speed (22/32/44 chainrings); some X5 components.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Sarac ... 360042002/

Scott Aspect 45 2009... £399
XCR fork; BR-M486 Hydr. Disc ; 27(?) speed (22/32/42 chainrings); Deore rear derailleur.
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... rtno=33380

BeOne Team Replica 2007... £400
Rockshox Dart 3 80mm ;Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic brakes; 27(?) speed; some Deore/LX components.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=14966

Specialized Rockhopper Disc 09... £400
RockShox Dart 3 SL; Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc; 27 speed (22/32/44 chainrings); some Deore components.
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... tVersion=1

Find any good deals for new pre-built bikes, or some of these offers are obsolete when phoning the shop in question? If so, please leave a post

RealMan

I can't see the on-one inbred frame in that list, so you have clearly failed.

supersonic

A whole inbred for less than 400 quid? I'll leave you to provide the link ;-)

RealMan

Well its not hard, £125 for the frame, get some cheap rigid forks around £60, some cheap wheels, half decent brakes, and you're pretty much done. Nothing else will cost more then £30, if you pick up some cheap cranks.

And if you're too lazy to build, there's tons of ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/On-One-Inbred-lig ... dZViewItem


This ones even got gears, although I got no idea why you'd want those..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/on-one-inbred-mou ... dZViewItem

supersonic

I think he means new ready built bikes... Good list.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Yep, qualifying bikes will be new and pre-built.

Realman, perhaps you could do an advanced thread for budding mechanics, grabbing component bargains from various online sources and then are built in the comfort of the garden shed?

supersonic

An example I did a while back:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... dget+build

RealMan

Nah it would just boil down to an argument about whether or not you should buy a ck headset 2nd hand off ebay and what wheels to go for.

supersonic

New parts ;-)

RealMan

Rubbish, 2nd hand ck is better then 1st hand anything (except 1st hand ck, obviously)

RealMan wrote:

Nah it would just boil down to an argument about whether or not you should buy a ck headset 2nd hand off ebay and what wheels to go for.

Told you so..

NitrousOxide wrote:

then are built in the comfort of the garden shed?

Does anyone actually build bikes in their garden shed? I use a garage, mostly.. My mate does do his building in a building at the bottom of his garden, but that's the size of a garage, and its got electricity and everything, so don't think it qualifies as a shed.

supersonic

Just watch those 15g spokes though...

RealMan

Yep, and you don't want a 38mm travel rear shock..

:oops:

mugs

HARDTAIL;

Scott Aspect 45 2009... £399... currently in stock
XCR fork; Shimano Hydraulic brake; Scott/Deore hubs.
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... rtno=33380


Gotta throw this into the mix as I have one. Heavy and 'only' 24 gears but other than that a solid choice for a starter.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Cheers mugs, will add it, one that got away during my browse at Hargroves!

Brocon

supersonic wrote:

A whole inbred for less than 400 quid? I'll leave you to provide the link ;-)

Although I don't think that i'm up to building, I would love to see another budget self build... the last one is very intresting.

RealMan

Well my lizard was a budget self build, just that the budget was £2500.

Brocon

Neither the gt2.0 or tyax super are available at active sport in any sizes, I would suggest that good offer are put on their site to hook you as i keep getting offered lesser alternatives for more money...

N0bodyOfTheGoat

The words "bait" and "switch" come to mind!

Will update the links up top regarding stock.

Brocon

hiya, I think that the rockrider 5xc should probs be in there
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-xc-66740056/
and possibly the carra vulcan disk as well, just for price comparision of branded vs big store..

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Added the Carrera Vulcan in both v-brake and disc brake form. Going on the forks hierachy; the Vulcan Disc is a damn good buy for 250!

Was going to add the 5XC too, until I found that the Decathlon site lists two models, with very different quality forks...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-xc-66740056/ (the good one, XCR)
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider ... -34964379/ (the worse one, XCT)

Brocon

I'm guessing that that is 08 and 09 spec, who knows which is which! Halfords also have 08 and 09 vulcans and krackens, might see what the diffrences are when i get a min..

I know it is over budget for this thread, but I think that for a cheap custom bike this is good value at £430..
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... build.html

Brocon

To anyone that is intrested, it pays to shop around. I just picked up the last mongoose tyax super 2009 from a (relativly) lbs for £279 all in, which I think pretty good value!

* FRAME: Mongoose 6061 Aluminum w/ Trail Tested Geometry, Zero-Stack Headtube, M-Logo Gusset & Replaceable Derailleur Hanger
* FORK: SR/Suntour XCR RL w/ Magnesium Legs, Adjustable Rebound & Remote Speed Lockout, 100mm Travel
* DRIVETRAIN: 24-Speed w/ SRAM SX-5 Rear & Suntour Front Derailleurs, SRAM X-5 Trigger Shifters, FSA Alpha Drive Crankset
* BRAKES: ProMax Hydraulic Disc, 160mm Rotors

The only think I would have liked was 27 speed, but at that price I couldn't say no!

Thanks to everyone for all their help.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Thats a great find, Brocon, after your thread on here over the last week! Congrats, post us some pics of your first adventure

Regarding gears, I would not bet my life on it, but I think X5 can do 9 speed cassettes (allowing easy transition to 27 speed). If that's the case, once you get afeeling for the gear range you would normally need for your rides, perhaps invest in a good deal 9 cassette at Merlin or alike (ready for when the original cassette does wear)?

... Or spend the the money at the LBS as a thank you for your killer bike deal!

I take it you bought the XL?

Brocon

Hi Nitrous,

Yep, I went for the extra large, I can easily fit my fist between frame and delicates and it felt good. At least I got to test ride vs a couple of other bikes first and try different frame sizes! I'm pretty sure that the x5 can take a 9 speed cassette, but i'm going to see how I go first.

I'm planning on heading into the woods at slindon for it's first proper ride this weekend, can't wait, pics to follow. Now I have to catch up on all the work I have been putting off while looking for my new transport...

So thankyou very everyone on here and camberley cycles: http://www.camberleycycles.com for a good deal.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Being a bank holiday weekend, there's bound to be some stores doing promotions. Please keep your eyes peeled and inform us of any sub £400 deals.

stunnertier1

I agree, the Vulcan is a fantastic bike for the money it costs! mine has been thrown all over the show & is still like new ! (only a few repairs & upgrades in 3 years)

hairy_boy

Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative sent me a flyer advertising the Specialised Rockhopper Disc 2009 is going on sale tomorrow, Sat 29 August - reduced from £587.19 down to £399.99

They are listing 13,15,17,19" sizes available.

Good bike at a great, great price !

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Thanks, Hairy Boy, added.

I wonder if EBC are going to get their wrists slapped for breaking the Specialized price fixing scam? (see seperate thread for the conspiracy)

TowerRider

Ty Hairy Boy, I went (should have ordered online then cancelled if not needed) into the nearest store and tried Rockhopper for size and discussed bike. Went to purchase and no stock nationwide - 4 in store sold by other branches. They had sold 40 Rockhoppers in less than 2 hrs.
Think I have got one sourced at £400.

ClintEastwood

Hi All

New member here.

Just thought i would post a link to the GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc 2009 Mountain Bike from Evans for £399.95 as they price matched this website below. The size they have at the website below is small only but still i saved myself 140 quid by price matching it and also got it from a reputable bike dealer (Evans) as opposed to hearing bad thing about ActiveSport.

http://activesport.co.uk/shop/article_1 ... 144.001%26

Ordered bike from Evans Cycles in Manchester on Saturday and has turned up today.

Well chuffed!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

List amended a little...