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£900 burning a hole in my pocket!

GT_DaveGT_Dave Posts: 161
edited January 2012 in MTB buying advice
Afternoon All,

Boardman has been returned and I now have £900 burning a hole in my pocket and no desire to ever step foot in Halfords again as long as I live!

Im willing to spend maybe £150 - £200 more than my £900 budget if the right bike comes along but I have no idea what to buy!

What would you buy with this budget? what would be your first choice hardtail for trail/singletrack riding? Nothing too extreme but you want people to admire your ride!

I am strangely attracted to the Ragley Piglet X7 Hardtail at £1074.99 from Chain reaction cycles with SRAM X9 2x10, RockShox Sektor R fork and Avid Elixir brakes. I dont know why but I just like it!

As ever any advice is gratefully received!

Dave

Posts

  • Chunkers1980Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    I'd go for a Boardman
  • GT_DaveGT_Dave Posts: 161
    Chunkers1980 wrote:
    I'd go for a Boardman

    After the fuss I have made I dont think im allowed in Halfords again so Boardman is out im afraid! good bikes and good spec but totally unreliable because of the halfords connection!
  • phil_pompeyphil_pompey Posts: 153
    A little over budget maybe at £1299.99 but look at the saving and its a lot of bike for the money!

    http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PBOOC456X9/ ... plete_bike
    Cheers,

    Phil

    Sintesi 707
  • Chunkers1980Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    That's utter rubbish. Try another store.
  • phil_pompeyphil_pompey Posts: 153
    phil_pompey wrote:
    A little over budget maybe at £1299.99 but look at the saving and its a lot of bike for the money!

    http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PBOOC456X9/ ... plete_bike

    Out of interest what problem did you have with halfords, which store?
    Cheers,

    Phil

    Sintesi 707
  • GT_DaveGT_Dave Posts: 161
    phil_pompey wrote:
    phil_pompey wrote:
    A little over budget maybe at £1299.99 but look at the saving and its a lot of bike for the money!

    http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PBOOC456X9/ ... plete_bike

    Out of interest what problem did you have with halfords, which store?

    Heres my original thread but several more issues after the ones listed such as split cables, gears not changing and a few more niggles that you just wouldnt expect for that price: viewtopic.php?f=10002&t=12830055

    Basically they tried to bluff me and I fought them to get my brass back!
  • phil_pompeyphil_pompey Posts: 153
    GT_Dave wrote:
    phil_pompey wrote:
    phil_pompey wrote:
    A little over budget maybe at £1299.99 but look at the saving and its a lot of bike for the money!

    http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PBOOC456X9/ ... plete_bike

    Out of interest what problem did you have with halfords, which store?

    Heres my original thread but several more issues after the ones listed such as split cables, gears not changing and a few more niggles that you just wouldnt expect for that price: viewtopic.php?f=10002&t=12830055

    Basically they tried to bluff me and I fought them to get my brass back!

    The customer is always right. I would be very interested as to which store it was you went to. As a former halfords mechanic I know how some of the staffs attitudes stink. It really does depend on your store. My old store was fantastic. We had 2 cytech trained very competent members of staff, Myself with no formal qualifications but I have been riding and racing bikes since I was 12. And most of the part timers we had were members of the university mtb and local bmx riders so wee had a pretty good knowledge board. I've often thought of staring a Halfords - Name and shame post on here and a Halfords name and praise post and pass it on to my former boss. As I'm sure its in halfords interest to get it right.
    Cheers,

    Phil

    Sintesi 707
  • BriggoBriggo Posts: 3,537
    Chunkers1980 wrote:
    Try another store.

    You shouldn't have too, so I don't blame him for not trusting the Halfords brand after his saga.
  • leafliteleaflite Posts: 1,651
    TBH though, most of the issues you had were down to the components. You will probably find similar components on whatever bike you now buy, and may have similar issues. For example, the BB30 cranks. Loads of bikes with these, regardless of the brand of the frame, have had similar issues with creaking, bearings dieing etc.

    To avoid issues with cranks, try and get a bike with a standard 68/73 mm threaded bb shell! The ragley you speak of looks good for the money. However, it comes with sram x7 transmisson(hence the name piglet x7) and a rockshox recon fork. The blue pig for 200 extra comes with a rockshox sektor
    GT Hardtail
    The Apollo Project
    Titus FTM Carbon
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    I agree with the above. With a mail order bike, if you get niggles (and you will, probably more as the boardman was a highish spec), then you are going to have to keep posting in back. My advice would be to buy a good tool kit too and service regularly.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

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  • MountainMonsterMountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    Go to a real bike shop that sells cubes. Very good deals on them.
    My London Road
  • d00md00m Posts: 160
    I'd buy this...

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s1p2161
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