buying first full susp

stephen1971
stephen1971 Posts: 2
edited September 2011 in MTB beginners
looking to buy first full susp bike,thinking canyon nerve x5 or giant anthem x4 would welcome any advice. cheers

Comments

  • ride them. Choose the one that you like best.

    Slightly challenging with the Canyon I suppose, but I would find it tough buying an expensive bike without trying it out first.
    2011 Giant Trance Ltd, 2016 Revs, XT bits etc.
  • What do you want advice on?
    Santa Cruz 5010C
    Deviate Guide
    Specialized Sequoia Elite
    Pivot Mach 429SL
    Trek Madone 5.2 Di2
    Salsa Mukluk Carbon
    Specialized Turbo Levo Expert 29er
  • Depends!

    I ride an Anthem X3, I find it more than capable despite it's 100mm of travel. She's had a few trips to Cannock, places like winlatter in the lakes, but spends most of the time in the Chilterns or riding through Swinley forest.

    Looking at the canyon, I'd suggust that the Anthems better suited if you want to keep your wheels planted on the ground and the Canyon may be better suited if you want to get a little air time... both are more than capable to handle red graded trails though

    Only other cosideration - canyons mail order so you won't get a chance to test it out first. If the canyons a budget issue, keep your eyes open as there seems to be a load of Trek Fuel X's and Giant Trace X's out there, which are seriously discounted in price.
  • Bishbosh10 wrote:
    ride them. Choose the one that you like best.

    Our local shop offers demo rides, but charge £30 which is non-refundable unless you buy the bike, in which case they'll give you the demo fee back. Trying out bikes can be a quite expensive experiment!

    Is that standard practice, or is my local shop just not very good? :)
  • paulbox
    paulbox Posts: 1,203
    dudleypipe wrote:
    Bishbosh10 wrote:
    ride them. Choose the one that you like best.

    Our local shop offers demo rides, but charge £30 which is non-refundable unless you buy the bike, in which case they'll give you the demo fee back. Trying out bikes can be a quite expensive experiment!

    Is that standard practice, or is my local shop just not very good? :)
    Never heard of that, try and find another shop...

    I imagine that they've had a few wasters trying out bikes, this is normally prevented by having to pay for the bike on a credit card as a deposit.
    XC: Giant Anthem X
    Fun: Yeti SB66
    Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
    Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
    Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets
  • I would recommend visiting a trail centre where they have demo bikes on site. Off the top of my head, Glyncorrwg in South Wales and Coed Llandegla in North Wales both have these facilities. Both of those shops have a good selection and you can demo a bike on proper trails rather than a few laps of a carpark.

    I've heard really good things about the Giant Trance range but haven't ever ridden one.

    Good luck,
    Kev
    www.trailguru.co.uk - The ultimate guide to mountain biking in Wales