Best hardtail i can get for under £800 for trails

wideboy
wideboy Posts: 206
edited January 2012 in MTB buying advice
Hi guys,

Ive got 5 bikes kicking around the place, 3 road bikes and a tricross and an old heap mountain bike, so now im ready to get something alittle better in the mtb stakes :D

Im looking to ride the trails around thetford forest, and ive been saving hard for months, ive got around £800 to spend, what the best hardtail i can get for my money?

Thanks guys :D

Comments

  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Are you wanting big fork, relaxed trails or XC fast trails riding?
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • Mark909
    Mark909 Posts: 456
    benpinnick wrote:
    Are you wanting big fork, relaxed trails or XC fast trails riding?

    Ben please we have a definition of what each of these riding styles is and which bike in the £800 range would be best for each?
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    OK, if you insist I will take a punt. You might want a fairly relaxed style bike, such as an on-one, which takes a fork of 4 to 6 inches, has a head angle of 67.5 and is almost asleep its so relaxed in its style. Its going to be fun, hit stuff easily and be good for general riding, but its not going to win you races, nor will it forgive you if you need to ride 20 miles to get somewhere. Or you might want something like my personal under £800 hardtail bike of the day, the ludicrously good value Cube Ltd Team from Winstanleys, which at 70 degrees head angle, and just shy of 4 inches of travel sits very much at the other end of the trail spectrum, with a shorter stem and some different tyres, its a great bike and seriously capable of most things, but ultimately will always feel like a race bike taking a day off.

    Unfortunately the term 'trail bike' is a non-term, as all bikes ride trails, so really its more about what kind of trails you ride, and more importantly how you like to ride them. Asking what is 'Best' is also a non-question, as best is subjective. wideboy wants to know where he gets the best for £x, which I am interpreting as most bang for buck, which is pretty objective, so easier to answer.

    Oh, and I will get back to you on the relaxed trail bike...
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Or a 'trail' bike, which sorta sits between the Cube LTD Team and the 456 ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Seriously, next thing someone is going to claim that an on-one 456 is a 'hardcore' bike. But you are right though, OP might be after something in the middle. We'll have to wait and see.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • Mark909
    Mark909 Posts: 456
    benpinnick wrote:
    Unfortunately the term 'trail bike' is a non-term, as all bikes ride trails, so really its more about what kind of trails you ride, and more importantly how you like to ride them. Asking what is 'Best' is also a non-question, as best is subjective. wideboy wants to know where he gets the best for £x, which I am interpreting as most bang for buck, which is pretty objective, so easier to answer.

    As much as a nonsensical term as big fork, relaxed trails or XC fast trails riding perhaps? Just messing I get you mean. But wouldnt you say that "Big fork" and "Relaxed" are the same as big forked bikes always have a slack head angle?

    Wideboy theres some really good deals at chain reaction cycles at the moment. You might want to jump on their website and have a look there. If you're for a bike in the big forked relaxed end of the spectrum there's really good deals on the ns core range
  • wideboy
    wideboy Posts: 206
    To be honest im not sure what i want yet ive been looking around and speaking to a couple of friends who have the boardman comp and specialized enduro, they ride thetford black route, to be fair i think its not that extreme, and being in Norfolk fairly flat. Having never had a good mtb go easy on me guys lol. I need to get out and try a couple of bike out.
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Actually, some big forked bikes dont have that slack a head angle. These bikes are to be avoided :shock: .
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Try the Boardman, are good bikes.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    A bit over your budget, but I have a whyte 901 coming from winstanleys @ £914, got very good write ups, also have a core 50 (was my number one choice, but didnt have Large left) and some Zens for under £800 (Meant to be good i think)

    From my "limited" understanding these bikes are 120mm travel and meant for uk riding, more relaxed than a cube ltd (I was going to get the Ltd Race) but not too hardcore wont be quick to ride.

    I also liked the look of the 456
  • ramblingjon
    ramblingjon Posts: 34
    Unless you’re planning to start racing I reckon as a starting point look for bikes with 120mm forks.

    Should be plenty of bike for you and as you get more confident and start hitting bigger things you’ll appreciate the extra travel.

    That’s my opinion anyway…

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