So many bikes, so little clue!

CrispyB

OK, apologies in advance from the newbie but I'm just getting back into bikes after a long absence.

I'm looking for a mountain bike that I can use on the local trails (Gisborne Forest, Lancashire). I know it's gonna take me a good while before I start asking a lot of any bike but I want one that's gonna last and not need replacing as I progress - by which I mean, I'm unlikely to ever be very quick or demanding but I have fond memories of how I used to chuck a BMX about.. javascript:emoticon(':wink:')

Now, the real reason for my apology; so, I've been looking at a few bikes and I haven't got a clue - I don't know what are good frames or bad, good components or crap. I know I want to spend as little as possible but I also recognise that there's a bottom little for what would be of any use...except, I don't know where that is. So, I've got a list of bikes and prices. I appreciate that it's a long list but any advice would be gratefully appreciated:

Ridgeback MX3 @ £189
Decathlon Rockrider 5.2 @ £200
Mongoose Tyax Sport @ £240
Carrera Vengeance LTD Disc @ £250
Mongoose Tyax Comp @ £270
Raleigh AT40 @ £270
Dawes XC 1.6 @ £290
Decathlon Rockrider 5.3 @ £300
Ridgeback MX4 @ £300
Mongoose Tyax Elite @ £300
Carrera Vulcan Disc @ £330
Ridgeback MX5 @ £ 350
Decathlon Rockrider 6.3 @ £360
Dawes XC 1.8 @ £370
Mongoose Tyax Super @ £400

Cheers,

Chris

supersonic

Hi and welcome to BikeRadar!

Best thing to do is narrow down to 3 or 4 and try and see them in a shop so can get right size.

At the lower end of the budget the Rockrider 5.2 is an excellent buy. Ignore any bikes with rear suspension as adds weight and doesn't always work right. The 5.3 is also superb. At 400 quid the Carrera Kraken and Mongoose Super are the ones to look at.

Non of what you list are bad bikes, but the above stand out.

CrispyB

Cheers!

Bike shops are few and far between around here so I was hoping to cut it down to a sensible number then start phoning to see who had what rather than the other way round. javascript:emoticon(':)')

I know what you mean about full sus bikes but I'd heard good things about the Rockrider 6.3, though I'm prepared to be swayed.

Aren't the Carrera bikes Halfords' own? It seems to be £500 at the moment; how does it compare to the Vengeance which has the same RRP?

supersonic

The 6.3 is the perhaps the best full susser for the price - but I still think a hardtail represents a better buy as lighter and more reliable.

The Vengenance was only 500 quid in the Halfords marketeers head. Sure, at 250 is a good buy, but the fork is truly awful still! The hydro brakes make it decent material value.

But the 5.3 from Decathlon gets a good fork, 27 gears which are smoother and decent cable discs. Is the bike to beat.

CrispyB

Does the 5.3 look like the 5.2, just better specced (no picture on Decathlon website)?

supersonic

Pretty much, slightly different colours. The 5.2 is good value, the 5.3 amazing.

CrispyB

Well, looks like it's Sheffield or Stockport to check one out - any other good bike shops around there that I should check out?

jasonj

hi there and welcome .
listen to supersonic and go with a good hard tail with a better spec of components .
i have a big expensive full suss and a good hardtail , both are great fun but you can do as much on a hard tail as you can on a full bouncer.
in fact you will have more fun on a good ht than you will on a compromised f,suss .
read some of the comparison tests on line and they all say the same thing.
jason

supersonic

Lex's at Penistone and Langsett Cycles are good.

CrispyB

Cheers!

CrispyB

Was just thinking about my old bones with the full suss! http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/images/s ... n_wink.gif

CrispyB

Halfords now have the 09 Kraken online at £370 - would this be a better buy than the Rockrider 5.3?

CrispyB

So, 40 mile round trip to Halfords to have a look at the Kraken. Checked that it was in stock before setting off. Got there - one Carrera Kraken 20" on display, staff completely ignored me, asked about other sizes:

"No mate, we just tell you what size you need!"

So you don't have any other sizes?

"Yeah, they're in boxes out back"

Well, do you have other Carrera mountain bikes in other sizes?

"No, but we've got some hybrids..and you can have a look at a GT"

But won't they be different frames?

"Well, an 18 inch's an 18 inch - you need an 18 inch!'

I left.

So is this what I can expect from all Halfords...and will Decathlon be the same story?

supersonic

That is terrible from Halfords - and they wonder why they get so much stick. I'd email that transcript to head office, and maybe they will actually train staff.

Pity, the Kraken is better on paper.

CrispyB

Yeah, very tempted to pass it on...shame 'cause the Kraken looked like a great bike but there's no way I'm buying without trying.

Pain in the ass though -Decathlon's a 100 mile round trip; if the Kraken was a good 'un, it'd saved a lot of hassle.

bike-a-swan

Having spent the summer maintaining a mixed fleet of Rockrider 5.0s and 5.1s, they're both fun enough to ride, and the kit is pretty reliable (with the possible exception of the rear hubs, which can need a little tlc). Also, decathlon staff in France are pretty helpful, although I can't testify to their English counterparts.

CrispyB

Emailed Decathlon last night to ask what was available to try instore; got an email this morning to say that both of the bikes I was interested in where available in all sizes.

Yayy Decathlon! javascript:emoticon(':)')

milfredo

Couldn't you get Helfords to build you up a bike and pay a deposit. Once it's built go in and try it and then if it's the wrong size ask for your deposit back?

CrispyB

Well it's definitely worth shouting if Halfords give you a rough ride!

After my experience the other day I decided to share my thoughts with Halfords' CEO via email. The next morning I received an email apologising for the poor service and promising to look into it.

Within in hour I was contacted by the Divisional Manager and the Area Manager and had been promised that all the bikes I might want to try would be available at the local store whenever it suited me. In addition they have promised to make things right with a further discount on the bike if I buy.

In the meantime I managed to get a look at the Rockrider 5.3, which was a really nice bike for the money. I did also have a look at the full suss 6.3 but there was no comparison; don't know if it's because it's a cheap full suss or that I'll never get on with a full susser, but compared to the hardtail...

Anyway, off to try the Kraken tomorrow, should be an interesting comparison...should I be considering the Mongoose Tyax Elite as well; seems pretty close on spec and at the same price as the Rockrider? javascript:emoticon(':?')

supersonic

Excellent, I am glad the customer service team is looking into these things and replied!

CrispyB

Well, they sounded pretty desperate; they recognise that there's a hell of a lot of competition out there and they can't continue to offer poor service. Sounds like if you talk to the right people...

I guess tomorrow will be the proof of the pudding...any thoughts on the Mongoose?

supersonic

The Mongoose range is again very good - not the same value as the Decathlons and Carreras, but impressive none the less.

CrispyB

I guess I'm finding it difficult to push aside name brands when the specs appear similar - I remember Mongoose from my BMX days!

Will give the Carrera a go and take it from there.

Cheers for the advice!

CrispyB

OK, so I got my Carrera for £300 plus half price 3-year servicing...need some gloves.

Looking at these; any thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Kona-Supreme- ... 653wt_1139

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=38395

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=38400

Not had the opportunity to try any on, so any advice regarding fit/size would be very welcome (I've got stubby fingers )

Cheers.