£600 Hardtail - Struggling to choose

Well the title says it all.
I will soon have £600 burning a hole in my pocket (work bonus) but struggling to choose a hardtail. I'm 6' 1" and will be using the bike purely for XC.
I've looked at the Specialized Hardrock Pro but felt uninspired
The GT Aggressors look good on paper, but I can't bear to buy from Halfrauds.
Cube Attention? Looks great but not convinced by the Suntour fork.
Open to suggestions.
Thanks
I will soon have £600 burning a hole in my pocket (work bonus) but struggling to choose a hardtail. I'm 6' 1" and will be using the bike purely for XC.
I've looked at the Specialized Hardrock Pro but felt uninspired
The GT Aggressors look good on paper, but I can't bear to buy from Halfrauds.
Cube Attention? Looks great but not convinced by the Suntour fork.
Open to suggestions.
Thanks
0
Posts
Look out for the so called 'Halfords Sales' and you'll get a good discount, also use the link in my sig to get cashback on it too.
But best advice is always to try before you buy, or at the very least have a sit on any bikes you are considering.
Hope this helps
Click Here for FREE Cashback on purchases inc. Wiggle/CRC/Evans & Halfords
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/gt-zaska ... 45848.html
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... lt-11.html
This is in budget and a good spec for the money, or if you can add another £200 this is a bloody bargain http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=41724 in comparison with brands such as Marin/Orange/Trek/Scott this spec would cost you double!!!!!
If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
Those Genius bikes look pretty awesome, but I don't think I can stretch the budget to £800
The one at £599 is also a good buy...worth considering
If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
Stumpy FSR 2010 - Rides over everything and everyone
Giant XTC 3 2009 for £750 but on sale for £560
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s2p2288
Merlin Malt 1 looks good too
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] ... 025278584/
I have now bought a set of Tora for £110, which I think 18 months after is pretty good and gives a good all round spec.
Im not sure what I would choose now, but I am more than happy with the cube attention.
You could go for something with better forks, but worse running gear and wheels so might not be so good after a year or two.
best bike you can get for that money
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] ... 025278584/
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/core/core-10/overview/
or
Carrera Fury (well worth a look) as per Mighty Chickens post.
If you can, try before you buy.
I have also been looking at the Attention, but have also been looking at the FOCUS Fatboy
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Fat_Boy_2010/5360045243/
Review http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/fat-boy-09-33476
which looks to come with better forks but a lesser crankset, but it does come in under the 6 ton mark, and that could be put towards the upgrades?!?
But now the Genesis Core 10 & 20 have been pointed out to me....
the 20 tips the scale a bit over budget at £700 but the only thing WMB could find 'wrong' with it was the handlebars (cheap fix if I think the same way??)
as for the 10, I can't find a review for the 2010 bike but a review of the 2009 version, highlighted a weakness with the forks???
and now after ever so nearly having my mind made up.... everything is up in the air again... :?
Thanks for all the help so far, I wish I could say one of the suggested bikes jumps out at me, but I'm still struggling to see the light at the end of the purchasing tunnel! Decisions, decisions.
Let me know what you decide MJP.
VOODOO CANZO
Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
I will hopefully be going to my local Genesis and Cube deals in the next few days to give the bike a visual look over and a bit of a tryout
SS as for Halfords my nearest couple are some of their tiny little shops, so I will have to be looking further afield in search of pastures bigger.... lol
just remembered the Carrera Fury.... doh another one to the list...
Just looking at the Genesis Core 20 here http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/genesiscore20bike2010.aspx?&id=13089
but also the Core 30, for £20 more?!
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=13088
Both look good on paper, however the Core 30 seems remarkably cheap :shock:
Both however around £100 more than the original budget
Rockrider 8.1 @ £499
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-8-1-66759353/
Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc @ £550
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec019397
Merlin Malt 1 @ £650
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... lt-11.html
Genius Pro @ £600
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=41722
GT Aggressor XC 1 @ £580
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_229915
Genesis Core 10 @ £600
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=13090
Carrera Fury @ £600
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499
I think I need to get this list a bit shorter then go try them, any help appreciated.
Was down my local shop this morning trying out a few bike I had thought of and a couple others they had in stock...
tried out the Cube Analog, Attention & Acid.... liked all of them but the Acid just seemed and felt like the better bike, altought I still wish I could have had the black and green paint job of the Attention :shock: , so I am now the proud owner of a MTB again...
and I can see from your shortlist that your willing to go up to £650 for a Malt 1, for another £30 you could go for a Acid, or @£599 the Attention has good reviews aswell
let me know how you get on mate
At £499 the Rockrider 8.1 is hard to ignore with its Tora fork, but at 13Kg it's a bit of a heavy censored .
Does anyone one to help me eliminate some from the list based on their specs? I'll then go and see the remaining bikes in 'the flesh'.
Is there much in it between that XTC 3 and the XTC 2.5? Is the extra £40 worth it for the 2.5?
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s2p1684
The XTC 2.5 has a Recon SL fork where as the XTC 3 has a Tora, both 100mm.
I set myself a budget of £600 for my CTW voucher this week and went for one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Mongoose_Tyax_Super_2010/5360045390/ in the end, couldn't really find much wrong with at and felt 'right' (I'm 6'1" and 31" leg, but quite ' large')
Just another one to add to the mix!!
Find me on Faceache.
yup the 2.5 is better but they only have 18" size for sale, too small for your 6'1" height i would think. but yeah if you can find one it looks like a good bike and deal to me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] ... 025278584/