£700-£1000 Budget -HT/FS - Thoughts

booyaka

Long time lurker - first time poster!

Basically I have an old Claud Butler bike that i upgraded the brakes/pedals etc on but realistically it's needing a replacement!!

I was fairly set on a hard tail bike as it will mainly be for XC/off road stuff - nothing major hardcore and some visits to 7 stanes trails etc. Therefore I initially discounted a FS.

However the more I look around at bikes in my potential price range - the more I think i could cover the bases with a FS.

Initial thoughts were the Boardman range, but at the moment details of the 2011 range are a bit thin on the ground and local Halfords guy said they have no stock details or potential delivery dates for any of the range until they have sold off the 2010 stock - which is now very very limited.

I would probably be needing a Large or 20" frame there or abouts - I will try and visit local bike shop for a sizing.

Considerations so far -

Cube LTD Team 20" LBS have this on offer for £800 (can be found on line for £759 but rather visit/support LBS)

Boardman HT Team/Pro - great spec - good write ups everywhere but no idea about 2011 range yet.

Boardman FS - Team - see above.

Giant Trance X4 2010 - £900 - FS but seems to be very well regarded.

Carrera Fury - £600 but very well spec'd for the price and save myself a few hundred!

Specialized Rockhopper Comp 2011 - circa £900

Also Ghost bikes look nice but not sure the spec is that good??

Any thoughts or other considerations?? I will try before I buy where I can as well!!

Thanks in advance

booyaka

no one?? Sniff

mossmotorsport

What time of riding will you most commonly be doing? The Boardman FS bikes always get very good ratings, search the forum and you'll see why.

Remember that for that budget however, you will always get higher spec components on a HT model. Have you considered buying second hand, or looking around a LBS (local bike shop) for older models? I recently bought a Specialized FSR XC Expert 2010 for <£900, which is £400 off the RRP just because it was "old stock." Still brand spanking new though... And for the money, top spec parts.

By starting off with a decent HT its questionable as to whether it will also help to improve your riding if your fairly new to technical stuff too, as with FS bikes it's more tempting to just "roll over it" and not really think too much or work the bike.

Thats my little bit of input anyway

Rick_huggins

I'm selling my Boardman HT Ltd Ed & Reba Race Dual Air forks if your interested; A1 condition

booyaka

thanks for input

2nd hand is not a issue if the right bike came up.

I think HT is probably more suitable but then the next day I change my mind!!

Happy to go with "old" stock 2010 models etc if I means getting a good deal but I'm really not sure. I think HT will be my best bet if I'm honest about it!!

Could be interested in the boardman bike - is it in the classifieds? or you selling privately?? let me know!

thanks

Rick_huggins

Not yet, will pm you

Rick_huggins

Not yet, will pm you

rockmonkeysc

You could get a very good hardtail or a bottom end full sus.
Go for the hardtail, you will get a much better spec for the money.

booyaka

Thanks for that - indeed I think hardtail is more where I'm at just now.

Any thoughts other than boardman!

not knocking them but no sign of the 2011 models yet. Cube look nice and seem decent spec.

bellys

Booyaka i think the 2010 and 2011 boardmans are same spec diff paint colour might be wrong iv got a 2009 HT team more or less same spec as the 2008.

you will get a lot of bike if you go for the boardman and seem to have better spec for the price......look on line at hallfords as they have got better deals the in store....go instore try for size come home and order on line.

info for 2010/2011 spec's
http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/choose/res ... e=hardtail
online deals from hallfords http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ice%7C%7C1

if your not a bike snob also look at http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/performance-mtb-3964713/ not a bad spec for the price.iv owned 2 bikes from there both have been good bikes had my last one for 3 years still in the shed http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-9-1-66759348/

geoff93

Unless you want to buy from Bakers Bikes ( ) then go for the boardmans, they are of the same sort of quality as the bikes we well, an older frame design because Boardman bought the frame off another company, good bits of kti.
And go for the full sus, you will want one in the end and it will save you buying two bikes in long run! Yes it will be a lower spec, but you can always upgrade. Don't worry about the '11 models, they are normally just a different lick of paint!

booyaka

Had a scout round evans cycles in glasgow today and a chat with a nice chap.

They are more than happy for an test rides, but due to being in my suit and tie - probably not best today!!

Anyway a quick look round and this was in store - but only in medium

Norco Fluid 2 2010 Mountain Bike - £999 from £1839

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/fluid-2-2010-mountain-bike-ec023993?query=norco#features

Seems like a lot of bike for the price!!

Also Genesis Core 30 2011 Mountain Bike - £849 seem like a decent bike as well.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/core-30-2011-mountain-bike-ec024741

Off to see the Cube Ltd Team tomorrow hopefully - local bike shop have a 20" one down to £800 at the moment

Nice helpful guy at Evans and he said he could order any bike in for test rides to his story in about 7 days or so.

booyaka

Called halfords today - My local store has one of only a few Boardman Pro's left in Scotland in Large.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#dtab

Arggh - why is this so hard!

Realistically down to these 3 now

Cube Team Ltd seeing tomorrow - £800 at local bike shop.
Boardman Pro £899- pretty stonking spec and very light! (will pop in and see what's the story)
Genesis Core 30 2011 - £849 - maybe test next week.

Think that's where I am just now.

Redhog14

At your price range you are at the top end of HT alu frame market and the bottom half of the full sus. 2 years ago I was in your position and bought a spesh rockhopper expert. No regrets, I race and xc this bike and it has been solid and reliable all the way.

Redhog14

At your price range you are at the top end of HT alu frame market and the bottom half of the full sus. 2 years ago I was in your position and bought a spesh rockhopper expert. No regrets, I race and xc this bike and it has been solid and reliable all the way.

booyaka

Also just send a Genesis Altitude 20 in the classified for £650!

gonzalez gomez

I would go for the cube ltd race which you can pick for around £1k. The boardmans are also worth a look at and you can't far wrong with a dependable rockhopper or giant. But the CUBES look really nice well specced bikes and you'll struggle to find a bad review for anything they produce. Drop down from the LTD race to the comp or pro and you will still get a pretty good bike.

voodooman

Or even a Voodoo Bokor / Wanga

Bought one before Christmas (2nd hand for £210) only 2 months old - though that's a different story.

I rode quite few bikes a bit to see the set up in the Autumn, and the Voodoo had the best ride and the best frame. It's aluminium but for some reason it seems to have the same flex and give of a steelie. Plus sliding dropouts so in a few years when I've moved on it's going to get a respray and the coolest single speed conversion.

For ride it beat the boardmans, any specialised, any trek, and even the konas at the LBS. Add in fantastic forks and pretty light weight - Can't be beaten. Originally I was going to get a whole bike from chain reaction (beone chakra I think in a cool orange colour), but you have got to sit on a few to get a real feel. Oh and no need to go full suss, HT is fine and on my Bokor I've also run some rigid 29er forks (spare) for a fully rigid ride that is fun but takes some concentration.

Marin_B17

Try Ragley Blue Pig or Piglet frame and build up. Marin B17 and Orange P7? Dont be fooled by cheap prices though for a full sus, get a hardtail. Good luck and have fun!

booyaka

Thanks people.

Would love to spend some time building a bike but a the moment I don't have the time - i would like to buy one and go!

HT is where I am defo putting my money now - decided that for sure tonight.

Just to find the right one now!!

booyaka

last one to throw into the mix

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO456TR/on-one-456-trail

Cracking forks but right at the top of my budget!

sefton

try on one or merlin, you'll get a better deal (direct to consumer) and can get better kit to throw on it. have a look and compare the gear to the big brands.

booyaka

Think i've settled on on-one 456

Build Bike - Yes (Free)

On-One 456 Frame / 20 inch / Strong Blue / Creme Decal

No Bottle Cages Thanks

Shimano HG61 Cassette / 9 Speed / 11-32

Shimano Deore HG53 Chain

Shimano M590 Deore 2 Piece Chainset / 175 mm / Black / 44/32/22

Shimano Deore RT62 Centrelock Rotor / 180mm

Shimano SLX RT64 Centrelock Rotor / 160mm

RockShox Revelation RLT Dual Air 150mm Suspension Fork / Black and Silver / 9mm QR / Crown Adjust / 1 1/8

Shimano Deore M575 Disc Brake Set Without Rotor / Front

Shimano Deore FM590 Front Mech / Band On / MTB Triple / Top Mount

Shimano Deore M590 shifters (pair)

Oury Mountain Grips / Black

FSA Gravity Lite Handlebar FR-270A / Black / MTB / 31.8 mm Clamp

On-One Smoothie Regular Headset / 1"1/8 / Black / External

On-One Spacer Set 20+15+10+5 / 1 1/8" / Black

Impac Inner Tube / 1.5-2.25 / 26 Inch / Presta

No Pedals Thanks

Shimano Deore M575 Disc Brake Set Without Rotor / Rear

Shimano SLX M662 Rear Mech / Long Cage (SGS)

On-One Bignose Saddle / CroMo Rails / Black

On-One 6061T6 Forged Alloy Seatclamp Bolt Up / 29.8 mm

On-One Seatpost Twelfty / 27.2 mm

On-One Ultralight CNC Stem / 70 mm / Black / 31.8 mm Clamp

Michelin MTB Mountain Dry 2 Folding / 26 in / Black / 2.3 in

Fulcrum Red Metal 5 MTB Wheelset / 26in / Black / 24/24h / AFS Splined (Shimano® Center Lock compatible)

£999 (right at the top of the budget)

Sound good? - just waiting for 20" blue frame to come into stock and order will be made!

Got saddle and pedals from existing bike I can transfer over. think I might also change the tyres as they Michelin's look crap!

Nick78

Im also looking at this atm but the price is slightly out of budget. Looking at building my own using the frame (summer season 456) and some fox forks ive found on the chainreaction website. Goodluck with the purchase

alitodd

Hardtail, definitely. The 456 is a cracking bike - I thought about one as a DH hardtail, but I went for a 4X bike insted. :?

No Fox's? If you can stretch a tiny bit? Just a bit?

And Nick78, building up your own bike will cost a lot more than buying a complete 456... Just a thought.

booyaka

alitodd wrote:

Hardtail, definitely. The 456 is a cracking bike - I thought about one as a DH hardtail, but I went for a 4X bike insted. :?

No Fox's? If you can stretch a tiny bit? Just a bit?

NO!

I think the existing ones are more than enough! :P :P

Just the colours to pick from now!

supersonic

I'd take those Revs over a Fox any day!

booyaka

supersonic wrote:

I'd take those Revs over a Fox any day!

thanks - at least someone is helping me not spend more money!!!!

ericoneill

Not sure if you have bought one already but. I've just got Boardman Team Full Suspension for £799 online at Halfords.

When I collected it I was very happy to find that its the 2011 model. Paint is slightly darker colour and has new decals on bottom tube. Also has new Ritchey Pro wheels which are definatley new. The brakes are also new and in Avids 2011 Grey Shadow Colour. Everything else is samespec as last year.

booyaka

Been very busy recently and not had time to take this forward.

Now after a good week with some shares, i am thinking that a 456 trail carbon is a possibility!!!

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOCAR456T ... -456-trail

£1200.

I am by no means a "hardcore" rider, and don't imagine any major drops/jumps etc. But there seems to be a fairly split camp on whether carbon bikes mark/break/chip/dent to easy compared to the steel equivalent bike (456 trail)

Any thoughts?

voodooman

I wouldn't go carbon, but then I weigh near enough17 stone and am hardly a "gliding" kind of rider. To be honest my Bokor is probably a bit lightweight for me (but it was so cheap 2nd hand), but I may get an on one steel frame and swap some components around.

Carbon is very strong, but also comparatively brittle. Are you the kind of rider who may fall over and bash it on a rock? If you did that with a motorbike lid what would you do? Oh and never buy a 2nd hand carbon bike.