Mountain bike budget £400

wrider

Hey guys,

Been looking at bikes for a while been out of mountain biking for about 5 years now so looking to get back into it.

I have had a good look around and some of the advice on the forum and for my budget the Carrera Kraken is looking a good option, light and with good components. The Voodoo Bantu from Halfords is the same price has a higher spec but is heavier at 15kg. Also looked at the Specialized Hardrock disc, Decathlon 8.0

Dont know what you guys think is best and any other ideas you may have?

Thanks

father_jack

If you do buy it from Halfords, get it delivered in the box and left in the box. Build it up yourself (I'd also remove BB and seatpost to grease them)

wrider

Are Halfords that bad then the guys seem pretty switched on in my local store not the usual young monkeys in some of them. Do you rate the Carrera Kraken?

father_jack

Not into MTB's so I wouldn't know. Either way wouldn't trust the idiots at Halfords to build it, although disc brakes are harder to setup, may as well learn how to do it as you'll need to do it anyway (looking at a new bike from Halfords, has disc brakes and hub gear)

Last time I bought a bike in a box, wheels and saddle were off, brakes were out (disc) but gearing but near enough spot on. Cables will stretch anyway so would need a tweak. Pedals were off, bars were loose and required straitening out and tightening.

Not hard, it's not like the wheels come in kit form, groupset is off the bike in seperate boxes. Could understand you wouldn't do that yourself.

wrider

Well local to me in South Wales is EC Cycles so I could take it there If I have any problems thanks for your advice

supersonic

My lbs is run by idiots. Therefore every lbs is rubbish.

wrider

Any idea if those bikes are up to scratch then guys will be mainly doing xc and some bit more technical stuff

omegas

Father Jack wrote:

Either way wouldn't trust the idiots at Halfords to build it,

My local Halfords one of the bike mechanics used to work in the local bike shop and he know his stuff when it comes to bikes , so does that mean all Halfords are excellent ?

supersonic

The kraken and bantu are superb for the money. Sounds like your local Halfords are on the ball, so try them for size and don't worry about their building.

wrider

Thanks guys would you go for the Bantu over the Kraken due to better components or vice versa due to the Kraken being lighter?

supersonic

Halfords weights are never particularly accurate ;-). Pick them up in the shop and see how they feel. I'd replace the tyres for lighter ones anyway, and the fork on the Bantu is amazing for the money.