Which MTB for under £1000?

the ronsta

I'm about to purchase my first MTB and can't decide which one from the short-list I've managed to do. I would be using mainly for work with dirt trails (25%) & road (75%).

My budget is £1000 and would like to get the best spec bike that is on offer with the right looks.

It must have:
1. Hydraulic disc,
2. 26" wheel
3. Colour to be all black or very similar (subtle plain colour scheme, no bright colours).

My (very) shortlist: DiamondBack Axis (black)
Claud Butler Cape Wrath 5 (black)
Scott Scale 50 - 2011 (black,green & white, not best colour scheme #1)
Cannondale F3 - 2011 (black,green & white, not best colour scheme #2)
Cube LTD PRO (these have 24" or 29" wheels though but is my fav colour scheme)

So if the Cube did 26" then I would go with that because I'm not sure if 24" or 29" is ok for me (5' 7" tall).

PS.
If anyone knows of any other ones in black or as near as then let me know please?

Kind regards,

MudPig

The cube has 26" wheels.

Another option:

http://www.moosecycles.com/m3b4s2p1122/ ... RS_GB/3094

cooldad

Forget colours - it's how the bike rides.
Boardman at this price.

andy_welch

cooldad wrote:

Forget colours - it's how the bike rides.

Maybe for you, but there are plenty of people who care what their bike looks like and that's a perfectly rational basis for buying a bike. If it looks good you are more likely to ride it.

Cheers,

Andy

cooldad

Absolutely, wouldn't want it to clash with your lippy.

andy_welch

He should be OK. Black goes with everything and is very slimming

Cheers,

Andy

cooldad

Black lippy is a bit emo though.

grenw

If it really matters than I'm pretty sure that Canyons come in anodized back colour schemes. pretty good bikes at that price point. On the other hand owning a Cube LTD Race I'm biased towards those.

lostboysaint

cooldad wrote:

Forget colours - it's how the bike rides.
Boardman at this price.

That. Or a Rockrider from Decathlon.

The Rookie

On-one do Black as well.....

Personally, in the absence of any info from ronsta about how he wants to use it, I'd say the Boardman.

welshkev

andy_welch wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Forget colours - it's how the bike rides.

Maybe for you, but there are plenty of people who care what their bike looks like and that's a perfectly rational basis for buying a bike. If it looks good you are more likely to ride it.

Cheers,

Andy

truthfully, that is one of the most ridiculous things i have ever heard...but if it works for you, fine :?

supersonic

Is also a reason why lots pack in MTBs. They buy a cheap entry level bike that looks good, then can't get on with it because of the pogo stick fork, nasty clunky gears, rigid steel parts and altogether shocking ride.

And even at a grand there is a big difference in weight and components between models.

mak3m

Cube rides well, is well kitted and looks good to boot

felix.london

Before I brought my Rockhopper I had my heart set on a red Stumpy but couldn't find one with right spec/price so settled for a blue 'hopper...but I'm sure I would've been able to go faster on the red bike

You could have a look at the ROSE bikes - this one looks good;

http://www.roseversand.com/article/rose-count-solo-4-517657/aid:517659

But with delivery will be a fair whack over a grand.

andy_welch

supersonic wrote:

Is also a reason why lots pack in MTBs. They buy a cheap entry level bike that looks good, then can't get on with it because of the pogo stick fork, nasty clunky gears, rigid steel parts and altogether shocking ride.

And even at a grand there is a big difference in weight and components between models.

I was pondering this as I took my daughter's bike in to school this morning to have it checked before she starts her cycling proficiency lessons. I took the opportunity to look at the rack of bikes that the kids had and as you would expect there was a fair smattering of brightly coloured BSOs with lots of boingy bits. My first though was exactly the same i.e. "what a shame, that will put them off cycling for life". Then I realised that I used to ride a Chopper. Heavy, inefficient and with a gear stick that seemed designed to stop us ever reproducing, but I loved it. It was cool (in my mind at least). I rode it everywhere and by the time I got my first proper bike I was already hooked.

I'm not saying that anybody should buy a bike purely on how it looks, but I wish people wouldn't be so quick to ridicule other's preferences. If the OP wants a black bike then what's so daft about that? If the way it looks makes them more likely to ride it then that's reason enough in my book and there are so many good bikes out there that it should be possible to find one in a colour that you like.

Cheers,

Andy

cooldad

I agree, except for one thing - we're all grown up now. More or less.

victoriac

andy_welch wrote:

there are plenty of people who care what their bike looks like and that's a perfectly rational basis for buying a bike. If it looks good you are more likely to ride it.

Got to agree, I didn't love my first bike. I'm in Bulgaria so I have limited choice for an entry level bike that will go over big rocks. I ended up with a bright yellow monstrosity. Now, it's been a good bike and I've enjoyed it but I didn't love it :shock:

Have just ordered a nice new bike (I did look at the specs first though) and it's really pretty. I'm way more excited about this purchase and cannot wait for it to arrive. I didn't base my purchase on the colour but it helped with my final decision.

I'm thinking I might have to get a new helmet to match....

Redhog14

Whyte 901 in my view would be worth a punt, discreet colour scheme, great geometry and a wee bit of a rarity, shop around and you shoudl get one for under £1K

supersonic

I'm not saying that anybody should buy a bike purely on how it looks, but I wish people wouldn't be so quick to ridicule other's preferences.

Looks are very subjective though, specs more objective. It is very hard to offer advice when somebody wants a 'good looking bike' - I don't know where to start!

Choosing paint over performance is shooting yourslef in the foot IMHO, but not my money!

mak3m

Redhog14 wrote:

Whyte 901 in my view would be worth a punt, discreet colour scheme, great geometry and a wee bit of a rarity, shop around and you shoudl get one for under £1K

^^^ Nice looking bike with fancy matching fork decals moose have it under 1k

http://www.moosecycles.com/m3b4s2p1122/ ... RS_GB/3094

the ronsta

First of all thanks guys for your input and I will take it all on board.

The spec of the bike is important but I don't want to ride a bike that is not to my liking (flash bright colours). I'm after a good spec bike for a under 1k with a subtle colour scheme.

cooldad wrote:

Forget colours - it's how the bike rides.
Boardman at this price.

When I bought my last car I had a choice of 3 cars with all being the same spec and obviously I chose the one which I liked best. If everybody had the same taste then the world would be a boring place to live, we are all different and people should respect their reasons why they like what they like.

PS.
I'm sure there are plenty of 'good spec' bikes out there with less flash bright colour schemes that are to my liking .

welshkev

i actually have a giant hardtail, pretty much brand new you could buy for much less than a grand, but could you put up with a silver and white bike?

the ronsta

mak3m wrote:

Redhog14 wrote:

Whyte 901 in my view would be worth a punt, discreet colour scheme, great geometry and a wee bit of a rarity, shop around and you shoudl get one for under £1K

^^^ Nice looking bike with fancy matching fork decals moose have it under 1k

http://www.moosecycles.com/m3b4s2p1122/ ... RS_GB/3094

I could handle something like this because the geometry is cool and the colour is not too bad. Thanks for putting me onto Whyte because I didn't even know that they are the same company as Cube.

I guess that's why we have forums like these, good advice with a bit of banter thrown in for good measure, .

PS.
As I said at the beginning I want a good spec bike and the colour is not more important than spec but I'm sure I can get one that I like the look of or is that too much to ask?

cooldad

Except you can do much better:
Way better spec and understated black
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab2

Good spec, and bounce at both ends.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab1

baser

Have to agree with cooldad

Picked up a pro hardtail in 2008, have started to get more into trail riding so have bought a pro full suss. Really pleased with them both. Not sure where you would get a better deal + the 2012 pros have a really nice matt black paint job.

supermonkey

the ronsta wrote:

Thanks for putting me onto Whyte because I didn't even know that they are the same company as Cube.

I don't think anyone else did either.