Newbe needing advice on which is best buy?

thehorsetm

Hi all,
New to these shores and looking for some advice......I am looking to buy a new mountain bike and wonder which of these is the best choice....

Specialized Rock Hopper SL (normally £700, getting for £500 at local shop)
Boardman Comp (£650 at Halfords)
Trek 6000 (Normally £800, £700 at local bike shop and £650 0f evans)

Any help or Info would be great....I is clueless...just want something that will be good on road, light trail and if needed can cut it on the rough stuff.

Thanks

Chunkers1980

Specs/link for those as it can depend a lot on the year.

thehorsetm

All i know is they are 2011 models..

Chunkers1980

One those bikes it may come down to what has got the best forks. Can you find that out?

thehorsetm

Boardman
■Approximate Weight (KG): 12.56
■Brake Type: Hydraulic Disc
■Chainset: FSA Alpha Drive 44/32/22T
■Forks: 120mm Suntour Epicon air suspension fork with adjustable rebound damping and lockout
■Frame Colour: White
■Frame Material: Alloy
■Frame-: Lightweight 6061 triple butted aluminium frame
■Front Brake: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
■Front Mech: SRAM X5
■Gear Shifters: SRAM X5
■Gender: Mens
■Handle Bars: Boardman 31.8mm alloy low-rise
■Headset: FSA 1 1/8 Aheadset
■Hubs: Formula 32 hole Q/R disc hub
■Number of Gears: 27
■Pedals: Wellgo alloy body
■Rear Brake: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
■Rear Mech: SRAM X5
■Rims: Alex double wall black 32 hole disc rim with CNC braking surface
■Saddle: Boardman black with cro-moly rails
■Seatpost: Boardman 400mm x 31.6mm black alloy
■Stem: Boardman black alloy 90mm x 31.8mm
■Suspension: Front
■Tyre size: 2.20"
■Tyres: Continental Mountain King 26"x2.20 Black wire bead
■Wheel size: 26"
■Fork Lock-out : Yes

Specialized
Frame:Specialized M4SL fully manipulated alloy frame, fully butted, integrated Head Tube, forged dropouts with replaceable derailleur hanger, disc only
Fork:SR Suntour SF11-XCR-DS-26-LO-SP, 80mm, 1 piece alloy lower, 30mm steel stanchions, hydraulic damping with mic-tuned spike valve and lockout
Front Derailleur:Shimano Alivio, 34.9mm clamp, top swing, dual pull
Rear Derailleur:Shimano Deore 9 speed Shadow Long cage
Number of Gears:27
Shifters:Shimano SL-M590 Deore trigger
Chainset:Shimano FC-M430-8, Octalink spline
Chainrings:44 x 32 x 22
Bottom Bracket:Shimano BB-ES25, Octalink spline, cartridge bearing, 68mm x 118mm
Cassette:Shimano HG50, 9-speed, 11-34Chain:KMC X9, 9-speed, with reusable Missing Link
Pedals:Alloy 1 piece body and cage, reflector kit, 9/16"
Front Brake:Shimano BR-M505 hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor
Rear Brake:Shimano BR-M505 hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor
Brake Levers:Shimano BR-M505 hydraulic
Handlebars:Butted alloy riserbar, 25mm rise, 8 degree back sweep, 6 degree up
Stem:3D forged alloy, 7 degree rise, 31.8mm clamp
Headset:Integrated 1 1/8" threadless, Campy type full cartridge bearings
Grips:Specialized Enduro, dual compound Kraton, no flange, 131mmRims:Alex RHD 26", alloy double wall, pinned with eyelets
Front Hub:Forged alloy, hi/low flange, double sealed, ground race, machined disc mount and flange, Quick Release, 28 hole
Rear Hub:Forged alloy, mid flange, double sealed, ground race, machined disc mount and flanges, cassette, Quick Release, 32 holeSpokes:2mm (14g) stainlessFront Tyre:Specialized The Captain Sport, 26x2.0", 60TPI, wire bead
Rear Tyre:Specialized The Captain Sport, 26x2.0", 60TPI, wire bead
Tubes:Presta valve
Saddle:Specialized Rockhopper XC, Body Geometry, 143mm width, front and rear bumpers
Seatpost:Alloy two bolt, 12.5mm offset, micro adjust, 30.9mm
Seat Binder:Forged alloy Quick Release, brass washer
Extra Features:Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat
Weight:Approx. 28.5lbs (12.93kg) for the 21 Inch Size. (PLEASE NOTE: Weight is approximate and is provided by Evans Cycles as a guide only, actual weight may vary due to manufacturing processes and other factors)

Trek 6000
Frame:Alpha Black Aluminium with semi-integrated head tube, formed down tube with integrated gusset, formed top tube, monostay seatstay, forged dropouts with rack and fender mounts. Replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork:Suntour XCR-RL with coil spring, preload, remote lockout and 100mm of travel
Front Derailleur:Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur:Shimano Deore XTShifters:Shimano M590 9 Speed
Chainset:Shimano M521Chainrings:44-32-22 Teeth
Cassette:SRAM PG950 11-34 9 Speed
Pedals:Wellgo alloy platform
Front Brake:Shimano M445 Hydraulic disc brake
Rear Brake:Shimano M445 Hydraulic disc brake
Brake Levers:Shimano M445 levers
Handlebars:Bontrager Low Riser 31.8mm with 25mm rise and 9 degree sweep
Stem:Bontrager SSR 31.8mm with 10 degree rise
Headset:1-1/8" threadless semi-integrated semi0cartridge bearings
Grips:Bontrager Race Lite
Rims:Bontrager Ranger rims
Front Hub:Shimano M435-L centerlock hubs
Rear Hub:Shimano M435-L centerlock hub
Front Tyre:Bontrager XR3 wire bead 26x2.2"
Rear Tyre:Bontrager XR3 wire bead 26x2.2"
Saddle:Bontrager Evoke 1Seatpost:Bontrager 31.6mm with 20mm offset

supersonic

The Boardman is the specced. Also probably the lightest. Try one out?

thehorsetm

I thought the boardman would be better, but It's looking like the rockhopper for me as Halfords service and display is crap....they are of NO help!!

kinmofo

thehorsetm wrote:

I thought the boardman would be better, but It's looking like the rockhopper for me as Halfords service and display is crap....they are of NO help!!

halfords, they are less then the last option. avoid them. i dont know much about bikes, but its a damn sight more then those peeps in halfords. specialized i vote :P

supersonic

Depends on the Halfords! Plenty are good, some are bad - just like any bike shop. Most of the crap shops I have been in are independant ones.