Best Hardtail MTB For Around £500

tripp96

hi i have around £500 to spend on a new mtb and i was wondering what the best bike in this price range is ?

supersonic

Have a read of the What Bike thread for initial ideas.

Wacky Racer

Take a trip to WHS, either What MTB, or MBUK did a sub £500 test in last months edition, I seem to remember the Carrera Fury came out best, but there is quite a big choice in that price bracket, best to try a few out and see what feels best. It will also depend on what type of riding you plan to do.

Link to Fury - http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... y-10-35495

rossi_b

I'm also in the same situation! I spotted the Merlin Malt1 for around the same price?? The Merlin would be a mail order bike though I wouldn't get the chance to try before buy (in that won't be able to sit on it, get the feel)

tripp96

i had a look and at the g2 or the g3 made buy orange bikes. they look like a good option

lawman

kinesis maxlight xc120

great frame, light strong great angles, easily sub 25lbs if you use the right build too

llamafarmer

rossi_b wrote:

I'm also in the same situation! I spotted the Merlin Malt1 for around the same price?? The Merlin would be a mail order bike though I wouldn't get the chance to try before buy (in that won't be able to sit on it, get the feel)

You're much better off buying something that you've tried and like than something that looks a good deal on the web. My advice would be to check out the What Bike thread and get a feel for the sort of spec you can expect at that price, then try to find a few options locally and ask advice on your shortlist here.

The Spiderman

I`d be looking at the current special edition deals on the Merlin Malt 1 or even better the 2 if you can stretch the budget a little.Carrera Fury is a good bet if you want something a bit more burly,and the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 is worth a look too.

Since the 2010 model price increases,the big name brands offerings seem a little compromised at this price with poor forks,8 speed drivetrains and generally inferior components,unless you can find a discounted end of line model.Pauls cycles is always worth a look to see if they have any bargain Giant XTCs iN stock.

Northwind

lawman wrote:

kinesis maxlight xc120

great frame, light strong great angles, easily sub 25lbs if you use the right build too

It's a whole bike for £500 It'll come up sub 25lbs but only because he's not going to be able to afford wheels or a fork for it.

lawman

damn my bad read the title wrong :oops:

Northwind

Sorry, I'm feeling mean today.

tripp96

would i be better of buying the frame, forks and components seperatly a building it myself ?

bails87

Northwind wrote:

lawman wrote:

kinesis maxlight xc120

great frame, light strong great angles, easily sub 25lbs if you use the right build too

It's a whole bike for £500 It'll come up sub 25lbs but only because he's not going to be able to afford wheels or a fork for it.

And no, building yourself is very unlikely to be cheaper. Especially when the Carrera Fury and Decathlons are available.

The Spiderman

tripp96 wrote:

would i be better of buying the frame, forks and components seperatly a building it myself ?

Go onto the Merlin website.Cost up frame,groupset,wheels,forks,finishing kit,tyres.....
Then buy the speciali edition Malt 1!
But be quick offer runs out Nov 30th.

rossi_b

Thanks for the advice folks. Will try and nip upto Decathlon, look at the Rockrider as well.

Also will it be better to hold out until the end of the year? Will shops be getting 2010 bikes and getting rid of the 2009 stock?

The Spiderman

rossi_b wrote:

Thanks for the advice folks. Will try and nip upto Decathlon, look at the Rockrider as well.

Also will it be better to hold out until the end of the year? Will shops be getting 2010 bikes and getting rid of the 2009 stock?

2010 bikes are already in the shops,and 2009 bikes sellling out.However always worth a look on www.paulscycles.co.uk

They have the Giant XTC 3,Kona Caldera,and GT Avalanche 1.0 in that price bracket.

The Kona in particular is very nice for the money.

foxyourself

I bought a Marin Northside Trail for your budget. Ituses the same frame as the Rocky Ridge.
I've just upgraded the forks ( I like jumping) but that's(changed the tyres) all i've changed in 6months.

Last years is a pretty orange http://www.moredirt.co.uk/bikes/15035.jpg
2010 is white.

Mine was from JE James, rutland cycles also have them to sit on.

I also looked at the Spec rock hopper /hard rock and the Scott Scale (35 i think)

rossi_b

Can't seem to find the Marin for sub £600! I do like the look of it though! I did look at the Commencal Normal Disc that Merlin were doing @ 350 but they sold our ages ago! And can't find anywhere else that have got them in stock!?

foxyourself

Your powers of search are weak young Jedi,

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/index.html?action=search

search 'marin northside;

bish bash bosh

Northwind

I don't mean to sound mean but that Marin's not £500 worth of bike. It has a lovely frame but it's at the expensive of other parts. It'd be a great base as an upgrader but that doesn't make good financial sense... Far better to go for the Fury or Malt 1 (though the Malt 1 is £100 more, it's more than £100 better specced)

foxyourself

I've always bought a bike for the frame, everything else you can change around it.

besides you dont need to change anything. it has lovely shifters, sram mechs, the forks are basic but work well for small table tops to cross country. I've put DMR v8s on it lock on grips and upgraded the forks and put tyres more suited to the riding I do rather than the mud pluggers which are on it as standard/OE

So.

£500 on the bike,
£14x2 on tyres,
£5 on lock ons
£20 on pedals
£250 on Fox Float forks.

But i've sold the bits i've taken off mine... I now have a sweet bike. for xc, slalom, jumps and i'll be doing the megavalnche on it too


upto you dude but I always buy for the frame. everything else is fashion. personal taste to make the frame into the bike you want not that off the 'shelf'


Also Marin frames come garunteed for life to the original buyer.

Northwind

You don't have to change it, but spec for spec the other bikes in the pricerange are better, is all I'm saying. It's not like there's anything wrong with the frame on the competitors, not quite as nice but still perfectly decent- but the difference in forks is huge. The Marin's more on a par with a Carrera Kraken or similiar overall.

Not that I'd turn my nose up at one If it cost £600 and came with a Tora 302 130mm or similiar it'd be a far better buy is all, the top frame puts the rest of it well and truly into cutting corners.

tripp96

which is the best spec bike out of these three : specilized rockhopper 2010; Orange G3 2009 or Merlin Malt 2010

The Spiderman

Spec wise the Merlin Malt.Full Deore,decent wheelset,Tora forks.
Rockhopper has a very nice frame though.If you are going to upgrade bits later get the Rockhopper,if you want a good spec out of the box get the Malt.

rapid_uphill

decathalon rockrider 8.1 is pretty good spec for £500 tora forks, sram x7 etc