Heeeellppp Which Hard Tail ??

Pudseyp

Now then now then guys and gal's (no its not Jim l fixit) I am going out of my mind in deciding which hard tail to buy...I have a grand or just over thanks to cycle scheme...I am after something I can use anywhere...fire roads to trail centres...I have a Mount Vision...love it though I do sometimes it's just to much when out with the missus...

I love the look of the Orange Crush....drool aplenty but would it be overkill ??? or is it best to have something that can cope with anything rather than buying something that I will get bored with ??? arrrrggghhh help..

Answers on a postcard !!

bike-a-swan

either the ally or steel rock lobsters from merlin would come in about on the money, handle nicely, good spec (upgrade to the reba team). probably at the lighter end of the spectrum you're looking at though.

you could probably build a pretty good inbred for that too, or an orange crush might fit the bill nicely, or the whyte 901.

this has good spec for the money- http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=41724 it has been suggested that it would make a good donor bike if you want a different frame, say a 456 or a soul.[/img]

Pudseyp

Cheers for that, it does seem a cracking buy for the money...however I should imagine CRC would want the full price as its going for cyclescheme, so it is the same money as the crush...ok its a better spec..but I would imagine you get a better frame with the orange ??

CycloRos

One of the Whyte bikes would be my choice at that budget -http://www.whytebikes.com/2010/901.html

Just as strong as the Orange plus lighter to boot!

joshtp

the Crush WAY overpriced, for £1000 i would get a GT Aggressor elite for harder riding, or build up a 456. Or i would get a Boardman Pro for more XC. or maybe a merlin, rocklobster, or posible a cube attenition. but def a GT for harder riding....

Pudseyp

CycloRos wrote:

One of the Whyte bikes would be my choice at that budget -http://www.whytebikes.com/2010/901.html

Just as strong as the Orange plus lighter to boot!

Not a bad shout...will take a trip to a local dealer....though the 100m forks may be an issue, the crush with 140 is a bit more versatile ?

Pudseyp

joshtp/mbukman wrote:

the Crush WAY overpriced, for £1000 i would get a GT Aggressor elite for harder riding, or build up a 456. Or i would get a Boardman Pro for more XC. or maybe a merlin, rocklobster, or posible a cube attenition. but def a GT for harder riding....

Hardly overpriced as the forks are £400 plus...I have spoken to a few dealers that have told me that they have sold out already. Orange have another batch of frames coming in April and instead of using raceface bar/stem and seat post it will be Orange components..however they will upgrade rims and shifters...also next year they will go up £200 plus...I guess when demand outsrips supply they can do this...plus with me using a cyclescheme voucher it comes in at £545....so to me a bargain...or am I letting its looks over rule me head ??? also remember the discounted bikes such as the Genius will have to be put back to full price for me to use the voucher...

CycloRos

The fork on the Whyte is 120mm which is perfect for all round trail duties IMO.

I'll also have to give my own bike a shout - http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/list.php?type=XC bit more XC than the Whyte but lovely if you like the feel of steel!

Radioactiveman

Leisurelakes do a special edition C2W crush comes in at £1000.They save the money mainly on forks

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... orkspecial).aspx?&id=12697


I managed to get a cotic soul that was on sale afor £1100 from samways cycles in Derby. Spec was awesome for the money,since made some upgrades but was a good starting point

Give them a ring and they will be able to give you a price for various hardtails,cotic,sanderson

http://www.ukcyclestore.com/

Pudseyp

Radioactiveman wrote:

Leisurelakes do a special edition C2W crush comes in at £1000.They save the money mainly on forks

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... orkspecial).aspx?&id=12697
I managed to get a cotic soul that was on sale afor £1100 from samways cycles in Derby. Spec was awesome for the money,since made some upgrades but was a good starting point
Give them a ring and they will be able to give you a price for various hardtails,cotic,sanderson
http://www.ukcyclestore.com/

Thanks fella !! the mix on the Crush seems like a great deal...allways been a Fox man so don't know much about the Recon 351....does it have U Turn Motion Control ? up would it be best to stump up the other £99 myself and have the Floats ? Christ this ain't easy !

Radioactiveman

Personally would spend the £100 notes . Mate has the floats and they are nice and plush,dunno what the RS are like.

joshtp

the recons are great... the main issue with the crush is wheels, 117 rims on a £400 bike maybe, but on a £1000 bike, no way... there are a few similar spec choises on it that let it down, the fox fork is as much a headline graber and something to intice people to buy, its actually not that much better than the recon, and means the rest of the bike is compromised.

supermonkey

Pudseyp wrote:

also remember the discounted bikes such as the Genius will have to be put back to full price for me to use the voucher...

Why?

Itsari

SuperMonkey wrote:

Pudseyp wrote:

also remember the discounted bikes such as the Genius will have to be put back to full price for me to use the voucher...

Why?

Indeed. I got my Dawg on CWS for the discounted sale price.

ExeterSimon

+1 for the Whyte 901.

Or stretch the budget and go for the 905.

supermonkey

Or stretch it a bit more and go for the 19. Or...

bregante

The Crush and the Whyte are both geat buys for the money, it just depends how much travel you need/want. I have a full sus already and went for a 140 mm hardtail (Marin Rocky Ridge) and while I love riding it I find it's most suited the same sort of riding I already do on my full sus, so given the choice again, I'd be after that Whye!!!