Help choosing. Carrera Kraken, GT Aggressor 3 or 2 or other?
captc
Posts: 47
It would be appreciated if someone in the know could guide me to which would be the best f the three (including most cost effective).
I can get the Kraken for £288 (20% off in their current sale and NUS 10% OFF), but I know that they have had multiple 20% sales on GT and Carrera bikes in the past, so I expect the GT will come on sale at 20% soon.
The GT Aggressor XC3 is at £450.
The GT Aggressor XC2 is currently at £500 (currently thinking it's worth the extra over the XC3).
If they do get the 20% discount at some point it will bring the XC2 down to £360 if I use all my discounts.
Is the XC2 worth the extra £80 over the Kraken?
The XC2 is almost 1 KG lighter than the Kraken, but I don't know how noticeable it would be.
I plan on doing a bit of offroading and using it for general purposes too.
-I noticed the gears are different between the XC2 and the Kraken (Shimano Deore Rapid Fire VS SRAM X5 27 Speed Trigger), is one better quality/ better performance?
-The forks are different between the XC3 and the other two too. The XC3 has rebound adjustment, is that really useful? Does that mean it is air fork and the others are coil?
- The kraken doesn't mention sealed bottom braket, does that mean it isn't?
Does anyone know a better alternative for about £350?
Thanks for any help!
I can get the Kraken for £288 (20% off in their current sale and NUS 10% OFF), but I know that they have had multiple 20% sales on GT and Carrera bikes in the past, so I expect the GT will come on sale at 20% soon.
The GT Aggressor XC3 is at £450.
The GT Aggressor XC2 is currently at £500 (currently thinking it's worth the extra over the XC3).
If they do get the 20% discount at some point it will bring the XC2 down to £360 if I use all my discounts.
Is the XC2 worth the extra £80 over the Kraken?
The XC2 is almost 1 KG lighter than the Kraken, but I don't know how noticeable it would be.
I plan on doing a bit of offroading and using it for general purposes too.
-I noticed the gears are different between the XC2 and the Kraken (Shimano Deore Rapid Fire VS SRAM X5 27 Speed Trigger), is one better quality/ better performance?
-The forks are different between the XC3 and the other two too. The XC3 has rebound adjustment, is that really useful? Does that mean it is air fork and the others are coil?
- The kraken doesn't mention sealed bottom braket, does that mean it isn't?
Does anyone know a better alternative for about £350?
Thanks for any help!
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Comments
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Also, to add, I am 6ft and about 75kgs, if that has any significance with choosing between them.0
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myself i would go for the kraken, i work 'there' (no need to name the place :roll: )
an i have always liked them, never get any problems with them, other than obvious user faults, and i prefer the 1:1 ratio the sram gears have over the shimano 2:1 set up on the GT range. its just abit more responsive, faster changes an gives a better feel.
i even think it comes down to things like the looks which again i would say the kraken takes the prize over the GT's.
hope this helped0 -
So the gears are better on the Kraken?
When I fiddled with them today, the levers felt like you had to push them a lot further compared to the shimano ones.
I think they both look pretty equal, so not too worried about looks.
Also, do you have many problems with the XC2?
Thanks for your help.
If I go for the Kraken, I will buy it before monday, to get the 20% discount.0 -
to be honest no we don't really get many problems with either.
as i say the only problems we get are idiots don't look after there bike and don't maintain them and then things go wrong.
build quality between either isn't an issue at all.0 -
Ahh good.
Do you know if there is more commission on selling a Carrera than a GT for the salesman?
I've also seen the GIANT YUKON FX 3 for £350 at pauls cycles, but I have a feeling a full suspension for that price will have some large compromises in other parts.0 -
On the Sram gear lever if you push it forward all the way it changes you down 3 gears in one go, which is easier for steep hills.
X5 and Deore are of comparable quality and are at the same level in both makes ranges. So it's down to personal preference at the end of the day.
I think the GT3 isn't worth any way near the current price, the Kraken is the better bike...The kraken is more comparable to the XC2...so for the price you can pick yourself up a Kraken now....you should rip there arm off.
As you seam to have a little more to spend if you were tempted, then take a look at the Carrera Fury...It's a real bargain at £439 + you extra NUS discount....search this forum for opinions and comments on the fury and you may want to purchase one ASAP.
Fury Review here
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... y-10-354950 -
Thanks for the info.
Would the XC2 be the better choice when it comes down 20%?
So when the XC2 is £360, is that worth the extra £72 over the Kraken of £288?0 -
Not in my opinion...but the fury will be worth the extra.
When I bought my Kraken for £369 back in November I could have picked Up the XC2 at a similar price, but I choose the kraken as I preferred it....and my mate bought the XC2 as he liked that more. They are so similar speck wise that it's really down to which you think looks better...I'm a 15 stoner and the kraken feels strong, but many say that the GT is a stronger frame and looking at the design, I'd say it probably is.0 -
Thanks. Will talk to the guy to see if he can knock a tiny bit more off the Fury. 0
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The guy in halfords said that the XC2 and the Kraken are pretty much the same, and that you pay extra for the GT name.
He was unable to knock anything extra off the fury unfortunately.
I'm really unsure whether to spend the extra on the fury?0 -
I wouldn't say you pay extra for the name...Depends which bike they are promoting at the time, but both can be had for the same price in different weeks...Halfords are always changing the prices so they can reduce them to create the illusion of it being a sale...however, this particular Carrera sale looks better than normal.0
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Hi
I am thinking about this deal as well with the Kraken.
If I order it online now and then pay for it in store, will I still get the NUS discount and the 20% discount? It says i I order it now, it will be available for colection from monday and I pay in store. I was just wonderinga s you said the deal ends on monday.
Thanks
Allyn0 -
halfords don't make commission what bikes they sell its on how many accessories they get you to buy with the bike.Do you know if there is more commission on selling a Carrera than a GT for the salesman?
if you order online you get the online price, if its the same price in store get it instore an use your discount to.The guy in halfords said that the XC2 and the Kraken are pretty much the same, and that you pay extra for the GT name.
find the guy who told you that an tell him he is a . . . . . .and should try learning bout his products, also add, your the reason halfords has such a bad name!0 -
Bit harsh, he is a salesman, they always tell the buyer what they want to hear, so the buyer thinks they have made the right choice, that's how selling works.
I think the reason the GT is dearer is because Halfords have huge buying power so they can build and sell the Carrara at a cheaper price.0 -
They are very closely specced - just a shame the XC2 has gone up in price. The Kraken is therefore the better value.0
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lil_biggs125 wrote:find the guy who told you that an tell him he is a . . . . . .and should try learning bout his products, also add, your the reason halfords has such a bad name!
That was the manager.. hehe.
Btw as I wanted to see the fury but they didnt have any instock and wouldnt by the time the promotion ends, he said he would order it in and then when it comes give me a ring and honour the promotion for the Carrera's.
Aldo001, yes that is correct. If you reserve and collect you can get 20% off and then the 10% NUS discount even if it is after monday, as long as you reserved it before monday.
Also look at Quidco for cashback (6% online sales, 4.5% instore cashback).0 -
Also, here is the history of promotions from November onwards. This is how I'm guessing that there will be a 20% off sale on GT bikes in the next 2 months or so.
Latest Promotions
1. 03.02.10 - 15.02.10 20% Off ALL Carrera Adult Bikes (Promotion started at 4pm)
2. 02.02.10 - 10.02.10 20% Off ALL Apollo Kids Bikes
Past Promotions
* 26.01.10 - 01.02.10 10% Off ALL FamilyFix Child Car Seats (Promotion started at 4pm)
* 15.01.10 - 01.02.10 10% Off Selected Car Audio
* 14.01.10 - 20.01.10 10% Off ALL Child Car Seats
* 05.01.10 - 20.01.10 10% Off selected Portable DVD Players
* 07.01.10 - 14.01.10 10% Off ALL Voodoo Bikes
* 24.12.09 - 25.12.09 10% Off Everything (Promotion began at 4pm)
* 16.12.09 - 23.12.09 10% Off ALL Car Audio
* 10.12.09 - 23.12.09 3 For 2 on ALL Bike Accessories, Parts, Clothing, Maintenance & Tools
* 10.12.09 - 23.12.09 25% Off Selected Car Mats
* 10.12.09 - 23.12.09 10% Off Parrot Hands-Free Car Kits
* 10.12.09 - 23.12.09 3 For 2 On Gifts & Novelties
* 10.12.09 - 15.12.09 10% Off ALL GT Adult bikes
* 02.12.09 - 08.12.09 10% Off ALL Child Car Seats
* 24.11.09 - 02.12.09 10% Off ALL Apollo Adult Bikes
* 24.11.09 - 01.12.09 10% Off Car CD Players
* 18.11.09 - 23.11.09 10% Off ALL Table Games
* 18.11.09 - 23.11.09 20% Off ALL GT Adult Bikes (excludes BMX)
* 11.11.09 - 01.12.09 10% Off ALL Sat Nav over £125 (excludes clearance lines)
* 11.11.09 - 16.11.09 10% Off ALL Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kits
* 11.11.09 - 16.11.09 10% Off ALL Child Car Seats
* 11.11.09 - 16.11.09 20% Off ALL Roof Boxes
* 11.11.09 - 16.11.09 10% Off ALL Carrera Bikes
* 05.11.09 - 09.11.09 20% Off ALL Roof Boxes
* 05.11.09 - 09.11.09 10% Off ALL Metal Storage
* 05.11.09 - 09.11.09 20% Off ALL Gt Adult Bikes (Excludes BMX)
* 05.11.09 - 09.11.09 10% Off ALL Apollo Adult Bikes
* 29.10.09 - 02.11.09 10% Off Selected Alloy Wheels
* 29.10.09 - 02.11.09 10% Off ALL Apollo Adult Bikes0 -
halfords has its own factories, an due to its 400+ stores buys in massive bulk.
with the carrera being an own branded make they can produce them in seconds for as little as they please, not saying they cutting corners it just they know that there is no other bike shop that has the demand or money to make such orders so in a way they controll the companies who they buy from. and atm they have a deal with sram (thus sram set ups on the carrera and boardman range)
this is how they play around with their prices so much.
moving onto the GT prices, halfords will try get bikes from companies exclusivly, so although everone has heard of GT hafords normally try an get a bike of them that they only sell to halfords again giving them controll of their own prices0 -
The GTs stem back from a deal Halfords did with GT in about 2001 which allows them to use Avalanche frames rebranded as Aggressor and specced by them.
Merida used to produce the Carrera frames - and Giant actually make the GTs!0 -
where did you get that? because as far as im aware most stores won't honour that.If you reserve and collect you can get 20% off and then the 10% NUS discount even if it is after monday, as long as you reserved it before monday.
Also look at Quidco for cashback (6% online sales, 4.5% instore cashback).0 -
Who currently produces the Carrera frames?0
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Look at info on quidco site:lil_biggs125 wrote:
where did you get that? because as far as im aware most stores won't honour that.If you reserve and collect you can get 20% off and then the 10% NUS discount even if it is after monday, as long as you reserved it before monday.
Also look at Quidco for cashback (6% online sales, 4.5% instore cashback).
http://www.quidco.com/halfords-in-store?ac
Very useful site for saving money!
Also, the other info about the reserve and collect I got from the manager of the branch.0 -
fair enough, will eat my own words :shock:
out of general interest which store do you go to?0 -
Went to the one in central Plymouth.0
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I've got a Kraken, it got me back into riding and did me proud, then i robbed it for parts, then I rebuilt it with a carbon fork but otherwise back to stock. Very nice indeed, for the money. Bit weighty and the fork's not great but then, it's dirt cheap. But nice frame, decent if heavy wheels, reasonable shifters, horrible crankset but that's pretty minor... decent cockpit too. Very very good at the price. Fury still MILES better though.Uncompromising extremist0
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Northwind wrote:I've got a Kraken." "Very very good at the price. Fury still MILES better though.
So it's really worth the extra for getting the Fury? I.e. the £107 extra cost of the Fury over the Kraken is really worth it? Would any upgrades for £100 be able to bring the Kraken upto Fury standard?0 -
In a word, no. The fork is superb for the money. Both a great value bikes, but the Fury fork pushes it up into another league.0
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supersonic wrote:In a word, no. The fork is superb for the money. Both a great value bikes, but the Fury fork pushes it up into another league.
Ahh yeah. I presume you mean no to 'upgrade the kraken with the £100 to make it Fury level'?
I can't seem to find information anywhere about who makes the fury/kraken frame. :?:0 -
I don't think it makes much difference really - loads of bike factories in the middle east, many who make frames for big names.0
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I know the Carrera Subways were frames from Strongman Cycles Ltd (Taiwan), and Edinburgh Cycle Co-op use them too, probably the other Carrera models come from the same stable. Probably on a par with any other Taiwanese frames (which most bikes are) at a given price - though the Carrera brand seems to be better value than the big name brands.0
