Voodoo Zobop - what's the catch?

Slow Loris

Hello all, I'm hoping someone here can spot the thing I must be missing here - Halfords are selling the Voodoo Zobop for £1169 at the mo,

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_165499_productId_786853_langId_-1?cm_mmc=Shopping-_-Google%20Product%20Search-_-Bikes%2FMens%20%26%20Womens%20Bikes%2FMountain%20Bikes-_-VooDoo%20Zobop%20Mountain%20Bike%202011%2F2012%20-%2017%22%22&source=shopping#tab2

It seems to have a decent spec too:

■Forks: 150mm Rockshox Revelation RL air suspension fork with lockout and through axle
■Frame Colour: Silver
■Frame Material: Alloy
■Frame Size: 17-18
■Frame-: Lightweight 7005 aluminium with tapered headtube
■Gender: Mens
■Headset: FSA Gravity SX Pro 1.5 - 1 1/8 Aheadset tapered steerer
■Suspension: Full
■Rims: Alex SX44 Double wall black 32 hole disc rim
■Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR 26 x 2.35
■Chainset: Shimano FC-M552
■Front Brake: Avid Elixir R Hydraulic disc 185mm rotor
■Front Mech: Shimano Deore XT FD-M77
■Gear Shifters: Shimano Deore XT SL-M770 30spd
■Number of Gears: 30
■Rear Brake: Avid Elixir R Hydraulic disc 160mm rotor
■Rear Mech: Shimano Deore XT RD-M773
■Handle Bars: Riser 31.8mm
■Saddle: VL-3165
■Seatpost: 350mm Alloy 30.9
■Stem: 31.8mm alloy 80mm
■Brake Type: Hydraulic Disc
■Fork Lock-out : Yes
■Fork travel: 150mm
■Tyre size: 2.35"
■Wheel size: 26"
■Rear wheel travel: 150mm

It could be the do-nearly-everything bike I'm after, but where have they scrimped on the spec? The crankset isn't great, but it's the same one you see on lower end Sparks and Fuels. Is it the wheels? Any idea what it weighs?

Can anyone tell me why I should spend £500 - £1000 more on an alternative?

flatpat

Well you could try the review on this site:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... p-11-42597

More of a long travel bike, but very good kit. Hmm might be worth considering - weight-wise it's pretty similar to bikes around that price. But the shorter travel Boardman FS Pro is only 1300 now and considerably lighter. Think that's more my kind of thing - depends what you need from a do-everything bike I guess.

drtobiasfunke

The zobop is a decent spec, the only things i would change would be the cranks and rims and obviously the minions if you are planning to ride up anything.
For mainly going down stuff, banging a chain device on and losing a ring or two off the front will be good.

Majski

Yeah, why minions are on that thing is quite beyond me! Even for full on DH high rollers are normally fine.

Slamdunkin

You can knock another £117 off by adding the NUSMAY12 code at the checkout....Bring it in at £1,052.99

ilovedirt

Majski wrote:

Yeah, why minions are on that thing is quite beyond me! Even for full on DH high rollers are normally fine.

Nah, single ply minions are good trail tyres. High rollers are pretty lethal for downhill on anything other than hardpack (so most proper downhill tracks)