Is it really worth £500 more?

rapid_donkey

Ok, so my search for a full sus has been narrowed down to these two bikes.
I do mainly cross country riding, with red routes thrown in, and I plan to do some more adventurous stuff like the peak district and some wales this summer.

Rutland cycles are selling the 2011 Giant Anthem X3 brand new for £1400:
http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-ant ... 006cfdea7a

And Im still very tempted by the Boardman Team FS, which when used with discount code, comes in at £899:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... pping#tab2

Im worried that the Giant suspension might not be manly enough for my 90 kg's if I start taking it to rougher stuff.

Im not too worried about the Halfords stigma, I will have them build the bike but would then go over every single nut and bollt myself, as I do with any bike regularly.

Looking at the specs, is the Giant really worth the extra £500? That could buy a new 3D tv for my living room

Cheers for replies and feel free to make any other suggestions.

Twelly

XC and ocasional red routes? Boardman + TV.

benpinnick

Personally, I would take the giant over the boardman. Its a better frame that will last you forever, no matter what you upgrade, the Boardman I think would need at least a better shock (£300) and even then you'd soon out run its performance levels. At that price the X3 is a steal.

pastey_boy

or
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes ... tml?b=2556

snowjho

depends how often you ride it and how much time you spend watching TV!

Briggo

Current 3D TV = fad that'll die a death.

I personally would look at the Canyon XC 7 posted earlier.

mattv

Giant frame will be way better than the boardman. Early boardman full sus frames were really flexy, not sure about these 2nd generations.

rapid_donkey

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Wow, that canyon nerve, I have never seen one before! Amazing! Do they come pre assembled or do you have to get your LBS to assemble them? Are they good bikes?

ilovedirt

I'm sure your LBS would be really chuffed if you spent upwards of a grand on a bike from one of the big internet brands and then asked them to assemble it... They come assembled-ish. It's not difficult to do yourself.

Chunkers1980

Briggo wrote:

Current 3D TV = fad that'll die a death.

I personally would look at the Canyon XC 7 posted earlier.

Yep, but great for multi gaming

swelsbyuk

I'd go Canyon - I bought the equivalent spec last year and had no probs putting it together (and I am generally hopeless and that sort of thing!). Great bike.

rapid_donkey

Ive looked into the canyon a fair bit, it looks great, but it puts me off that there is no dealer backup in the uk should something go wrong, or even somewhere to go and sit on one and try it.

Think I will look at the X3 again tomorrow...

pastey_boy

rapid_donkey wrote:

Ive looked into the canyon a fair bit, it looks great, but it puts me off that there is no dealer backup in the uk should something go wrong, or even somewhere to go and sit on one and try it.

Think I will look at the X3 again tomorrow...

just the same as buying from halfords then.

The Spiderman

Anthem X3 is a great/price and spec.Though I might be a tad biassed..........