New Mountain Bike advice

Bourne_76

I'm looking to buy a mountain bike and need some advice of what is a good choice. Looking to do some road/trail/downhill riding and have a budget of £850

Not been using a mountain bike for a whle and then spent a few days on one and now I want to continue. I've been looking at a couple, the GT I-Drive (£800) and a Boardman Comp FS (£850) but are these good all round bikes and are there any more I should consider?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... r-09-34201

Ro88o

I can certainly recommend the Boardman, i have had mine a year now - great bike with good quality award winning spec for the price.

supersonic

The Idrive is a bit heavier, slightly longer travel and more sturdily built.

Pudseyp

Or as Supersonic has suggested on another post
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s1p1504

A great allrounder and a good spec also at £800

Anonymous

You do realise that Road and DH riding are complete polar opposites, right?
It's like saying you'd like a land craft that can also fly you to mars.

Bourne_76

I know they are different, added in road as I will also be cycling to work

Anonymous

well you certainly don't want a DH bike if you're riding to work.
Not unless you have the coolest commute ever, and a gondola to get you home!

Bourne_76

My trip to work is all downhill (road), not hugely steep but still steep and just means the uphill journey back might be a killer. I will probably end up using Glentress a bit as it only 10miles away. Would the GT or Boardman be a good option or should I look elsewhere or even consider front sus only?

butcher of bakersfield

Horses for courses. The full suss won't be a benefit on the road, but a hardtail won't be a hindrance on the trails either. All depends on what you want, but you'll get more hardtail for your money, especially at your budget.

Anonymous

I'd go for the Boardman. They're both great all rounders, but the I-drive is a little heavy if you're going to be spending a lot of time cycling to work.
Neither is a DH machine though. They are a completely different breed of bikes.
I-drive XCR

boardman comp FS



typical DH bike (far far heavier, single chainring, far too much suspension travel for normal everyday use, completely impractical)

Bourne_76

Seen the GT I-Drive in Halfords (not the colour pictured above) and it feels good, didn't think it was too heavy but I do like the boardman as well. You get a lot for your money on the GT. Normally £1k but halfords giving me it for £800 only because I reserved it online before their offer of 20% off ended

Anonymous

It's not crazy heavy, but the boardman is a bit lighter.
If you're drawn by the GT, then go with that then.

Bourne_76

I tried the GT at Halfords and it felt good and the 18" frame just about fits ok, they never had the full sus Boardman but had the MTB Comp and it was ok, just didn't feel as good as the GT, probably hard to explain but once I got on the GT it was more comfortable.

I'm no expert but I don't think there is much difference in spec between the two. The GT doesn't have lockout on the shock but the Boardman does. Weight wise the GT is 2kg heavier at 15kg. The GT is £50 cheaper but the Boardman still within my range.

I just don't want to make the wrong choice

Lucozade1

From all the forums and threads i have read, The boardman wins hands down... Lock out is a plus, 2 Kg lighter is a plus and you will find all who own one are mega pleased with it... Go Boardman dude

Anonymous

Meh, lock out is massively overhyped. Never used it on any of my forks after a week of fiddling with the new gimmick.
They're both good bikes and are both pretty close in terms of quality and so on.
You can't really make a BAD decision between them.

Bourne_76

in the end I went for the GT, the boardman is nice but common and the spec just about the same and I got the GT for £800 so i think it was a bargain, Picked it up earlier tonight.