Carrera vulcan vs. specialized sport disc 2011

NewMTBiker
NewMTBiker Posts: 6
edited February 2012 in MTB buying advice
Hey !
I'm new to mountain biking, and i'm looking to spend about 400 quid.
i particulary like the specialized hardrock sport disc 2011 , especially in red and black, and at the end of the day the brand does have a good rep. But looking at reviews and stuff the Carrera vulcan comes with a higher rating, as the Specialized is critisised for it's forks.
What do you guys think ?
O, and im also not sure about buying from Halfords ( where the carrera is ) as i've heard they're not that good at assembling the bikes ...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

http://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/bikes-c19 ... oogle#1271

Comments

  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    how much are you really willing to spend? in the links you give the vulcan is closer to £500 than £400
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • EH_Rob
    EH_Rob Posts: 1,134
    Vulcan has a better spec by all accounts. Possibly true of Halfords - they're inconsistent rather than bad across the board in terms of their assembly and maintenance. I wouldn't let it stop you from buying the Carrera.

    If you can stretch a little further to £500 the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 is generally recommended as the best value mtb at this price range: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html - much better spec than either of the two above.
  • concorde
    concorde Posts: 1,008
    Get it from Halfords and build it yourself, simple. I don't know if its the same as it was about a year and a half ago. But the advice then was that the specialised has the better frame and is worth upgrading whereas the carrerra one isn't. Not sure if that's still the case though.
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    EH_Rob wrote:
    Vulcan has a better spec by all accounts. Possibly true of Halfords - they're inconsistent rather than bad across the board in terms of their assembly and maintenance. I wouldn't let it stop you from buying the Carrera.

    If you can stretch a little further to £500 the Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 is generally recommended as the best value mtb at this price range: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html - much better spec than either of the two above.
    +1, you could spend £400 more than the 8.1 costs and still not get as good a spec as this has
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • NewMTBiker
    NewMTBiker Posts: 6
    I'm pretty sure the carrera Vulcan was discounted to 360 yesterday ... Well, since my budget is 400 I'm probably gonna go for the sport disc . What do you guys think of it ? It's a 2011 model hence the price . Or am I better of getting something different in the 4 hundred price range ?
    Thanks for all your help, guys :)
  • specialeyes
    specialeyes Posts: 542
    I agree with chez in recommending the rockrider and we both own hardrock sport discs! The components are poor! I've put more money into it than it cost just to get it how I want it to ride.
    Hardrock Sport Disc

    Cotic bfe
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    NewMTBiker wrote:
    I'm pretty sure the carrera Vulcan was discounted to 360 yesterday ... Well, since my budget is 400 I'm probably gonna go for the sport disc . What do you guys think of it ? It's a 2011 model hence the price . Or am I better of getting something different in the 4 hundred price range ?
    Thanks for all your help, guys :)
    an alternative http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... tain-bikes obviously depending on size
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    specialeyes wrote:
    I agree with chez in recommending the rockrider and we both own hardrock sport discs! The components are poor! I've put more money into it than it cost just to get it how I want it to ride.
    +1, but its taught me so much about putting a bike together, i wouldn't swap it for anything, and i still haven't finished it :wink:
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • NewMTBiker
    NewMTBiker Posts: 6
    But then again, how do you guys ride it ? Would the hardrock be good for roads and the occasional forest or green lane ? Or do you just not recommend it ? I will surely take a look at the rockrider you have mentioned .
    Once again, thanks.
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    NewMTBiker wrote:
    But then again, how do you guys ride it ? Would the hardrock be good for roads and the occasional forest or green lane ? Or do you just not recommend it ? I will surely take a look at the rockrider you have mentioned .
    Once again, thanks.
    its more than good enough mate, i'm a big hardrock fan, but it all depends on you, if you get into it more, the extra expense of the rockrider now could save you several hundred pounds worth of upgrades in the future
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • specialeyes
    specialeyes Posts: 542
    NewMTBiker wrote:
    But then again, how do you guys ride it ? Would the hardrock be good for roads and the occasional forest or green lane ? Or do you just not recommend it ? I will surely take a look at the rockrider you have mentioned .
    Once again, thanks.

    I took mine around gisburn in its original guise. It wasn't an altogether pleasant experience. A new set of forks were the first upgrade! The drivetrain works fine its just not the best value, I changed mine after it wore out (18 months)
    Hardrock Sport Disc

    Cotic bfe
  • EH_Rob
    EH_Rob Posts: 1,134
    Worth noting - I don't have any of these bikes.

    However, I do own a Cannondale, so am fully aware of the somewhat strange allure of paying over the odds for not a particularly good spec because there is a certain brand name on the frame. That said, it has provided a good frame for me to build up as my riding ability has improved. I would think any of the bikes here would allow you to do that (?), but there are differences in quality and value in the initial purchase. For off road riding the Rockrider has the best spec, then the Carrera, then the Specialised.

    But hey, if you like the look of the Specialised try a test ride and if it feels right then go for it. Just remember that it might not be too long before something breaks or you feel the need to upgrade it. Have a serious think about exactly what you'll be doing with the bike and how much you are able to spend going forward.
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    specialeyes wrote:
    NewMTBiker wrote:
    But then again, how do you guys ride it ? Would the hardrock be good for roads and the occasional forest or green lane ? Or do you just not recommend it ? I will surely take a look at the rockrider you have mentioned .
    Once again, thanks.

    I took mine around gisburn in its original guise. It wasn't an altogether pleasant experience. A new set of forks were the first upgrade! The drivetrain works fine its just not the best value, I changed mine after it wore out (18 months)
    i'm just about to do that on mine, now that the chain rings are finally giving up the ghost, saying that i've gone through 2 bb's, 4 chains, 2 cassette's and i'm on my 3rd rear wheel, must have been tough chain rings to last so long :lol:
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • specialeyes
    specialeyes Posts: 542
    chez_m356 wrote:
    specialeyes wrote:
    NewMTBiker wrote:
    But then again, how do you guys ride it ? Would the hardrock be good for roads and the occasional forest or green lane ? Or do you just not recommend it ? I will surely take a look at the rockrider you have mentioned .
    Once again, thanks.

    I took mine around gisburn in its original guise. It wasn't an altogether pleasant experience. A new set of forks were the first upgrade! The drivetrain works fine its just not the best value, I changed mine after it wore out (18 months)
    i'm just about to do that on mine, now that the chain rings are finally giving up the ghost, saying that i've gone through 2 bb's, 4 chains, 2 cassette's and i'm on my 3rd rear wheel, must have been tough chain rings to last so long :lol:

    Lol. 2 bb's, 2 chains and 2 cassettes for me oh and 1 front wheel.
    Hardrock Sport Disc

    Cotic bfe
  • NewMTBiker
    NewMTBiker Posts: 6
    Overall i don't see myself putting much money into the bike in the long run, so i dont think il be considering the specialized that much ( from the faults you guys mention ) , but i still wonder how its used by you. im thinking that perhaps evem the specialized would be enough for some offroad abuse , but thats nothing heavy, and then mainly roads, or green footpaths etc. i dont know why , but i do really like the sport disc , im just afraid of buying it and then having to spend a fortune on it, so im trying to figure out whether it will be pleasant for my kind of use ...
  • NewMTBiker
    NewMTBiker Posts: 6
    Anyone ever came across these ? any comments ?
    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s2p3345
    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 0s163p2721
    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s2p3692
    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s1p1747
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    All good value buys...
    The GT is good value at that price, but lacks the Hydraulic disc of the Giant, but you could get some fitted for less.
    The dale isn't as good a value as the first 2.
    The Yukon is great value, but the fork is not as good as the XCM's on the other 2, it will be heavier, so really only worth buying if you plan to spend another £200 on upgrading those almost straight away on the basis it will then be a decent value bike.
    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab1
    Blindingly good spec for the price so unless you want to cut your budget back for the GT this is a no brainer, meant to ride really well.
    Adjustable air forks, trumps anything above.

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • specialeyes
    specialeyes Posts: 542
    I've used mine for everything. It's even handled small jumps and drops (2 foot ish) with 100kg of bloke and camelbak on it :D the original forks were like a bad pogo stick but I still used them for a while on rough terrain, they just don't work well. Put it this way, it'll handle off road, it just won't be kind to your bones. :lol: if you really like it then get it, you can always upgrade the forks later.
    Hardrock Sport Disc

    Cotic bfe
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    edited February 2012
    NewMTBiker wrote:
    Overall i don't see myself putting much money into the bike in the long run, so i dont think il be considering the specialized that much ( from the faults you guys mention ) , but i still wonder how its used by you. im thinking that perhaps evem the specialized would be enough for some offroad abuse , but thats nothing heavy, and then mainly roads, or green footpaths etc. i dont know why , but i do really like the sport disc , im just afraid of buying it and then having to spend a fortune on it, so im trying to figure out whether it will be pleasant for my kind of use ...
    Dont be put off if you like it buy it, i think that maybe myself and specialeyes aren't the best examples for you, as we obviously ride a lot harder and have given it a lot more abuse than you intend to, saying that all the bikes that you linked will be more than enough for what you want.....don't be put off about all the talk about upgrades, from the sound of how you intend to use it, the only thing you will need to upgrade, is to get a decent pair of pedals :wink:
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    specialeyes wrote:
    I've used mine for everything. It's even handled small jumps and drops (2 foot ish) with 100kg of bloke and camelbak on it :D
    damn, are we twins ? :lol:
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • badlander
    badlander Posts: 37
    What about a used 09 Carrera Fury like this one?

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carrera-Fury- ... 2a19ba65b0

    Well within budget, good value and money left over.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Good bike for the money.

    The Vulcan is a great bike, but the price has gone up. but the Rockrider, should you be able to reach to it is even better. They do one at £400 too.

    The Hardrock - the fork really lets it down, just don't see any value in it unless you upgrade the forks.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/

Categories