Looking to buy a new MTB, budget £1.5k.

Empathica

Hi all,

As the title suggests, i'm looking to purchase a new Mountain Bike and my budget is £1.5k or less.

My situation and me:

*I haven't ridden a bike for 2-3 years.
*I'm quite a heavy big built guy (15.5 stone/226 lbs) and am a little shy of 6ft tall.
*I live next-door to Moors Valley country park and Ringwood forest, which is basically Cross Country themed for bike choice.
*I'm looking for a bike that will last a long time, something durable and reliable.
*My budget is £1.5k, however if I don't need to spend the entire budget and get an equally good bike then I will.

I'm aware that bike choice is somewhat down to personal choice, but if there is a general consensus on a particular bike for my situation then I will look to buy that bike.

Many thanks in advance.

oodboo

If you can stretch your budget by 100 then how about the Specialized Camber Elite:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec030718

Or last years model may be better value and only 50 over budget:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... r-elite-11

Or there's the canyons if you don't mind not trying before you buy:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes ... tml?b=2556
But I've heard the cross ride wheels can be a little flexy, I'm .5st heavier than you and I wouldn't choose them.

Giant are supposed to be pretty good but never really appealed to me:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... them-x4-12

Maybe for longevity you'd be better off looking at hardtails, and you'll get more for your money. How about a trendy 29er:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... pert-29-12
I quite fancy one of these myself but can't really justify it.

Or a something with normal wheels:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/whyte-901-12

Top end of your budget but I really like these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=62608

You've said you're mainly going to be riding xc but you really need to decide what type of bike you're after. Pure xc race type, trail, hardtail, full sus?

Empathica

oodboo wrote:

If you can stretch your budget by 100 then how about the Specialized Camber Elite:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec030718

Or last years model may be better value and only 50 over budget:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... r-elite-11

Or there's the canyons if you don't mind not trying before you buy:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes ... tml?b=2556
But I've heard the cross ride wheels can be a little flexy, I'm .5st heavier than you and I wouldn't choose them.

Giant are supposed to be pretty good but never really appealed to me:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... them-x4-12

Maybe for longevity you'd be better off looking at hardtails, and you'll get more for your money. How about a trendy 29er:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... pert-29-12
I quite fancy one of these myself but can't really justify it.

Or a something with normal wheels:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/whyte-901-12

Top end of your budget but I really like these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=62608

You've said you're mainly going to be riding xc but you really need to decide what type of bike you're after. Pure xc race type, trail, hardtail, full sus?

Thank you for your suggestions, I will look through them all.

From what you suggested, if hard-tail has more longevity then I will go that route. I do like the idea of full sus though.

Yacoby

You are spending 1.5k on what is in essence a toy. Go with what your heart tells you and what you think would be fun to ride. Hardtails are just cheaper to maintain as they have less moving parts and only one bouncy bit :P

supersonic

I'd have to take a look at a Carbon 456:

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

Light, strong - but if a bit too slack angled, then the Whippet:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PBOOWHIPX9/ ... plete_bike

Empathica

I should also add I will be using this bike A LOT, by that I mean pretty much all of my cardio workouts (5 days/week for 1 hour+ plus weekend longer rides) cross country so I want something that will last me.

supersonic

How long they last usually depends on how much maintenance you are prepared to put in ;-). More expensive parts do not always mean longer lasting, and full suspension has more bits to keep an eye on.

A tough bike with easily servicable parts then the Genesis Core 50:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Bike_2011

Very good fork on this bike.