Buy cheap and upgrade or go the whole Hog. Please Help!!!

eddrogers84

Hi all,

I am new to BikeRadar and kind of new to MTB. I used to do it a lot buy due to various bad excuses I lost interest about 15 years ago. Now my time if here. I am getting back into MTB, have been doing single woodland trails (Deers Leap Park) Wide open trails (South Downs) and generally riding anywhere i can think of in the South East of England. I want to progress a lot more with the trails side of things, really like the technical riding.

So I am looking for a new hard tail bike (my bike is literally a piece of 16year old Raleigh Rust, no front brake, forks are seised and the tires are ripping) so this is my all important question...

My budget is non-existant at the moment but I would like to think it was around £600-£800.

My ideal bike would be a Trek 6 series, I have been taking a look at them and even helped a good friend buy one too. But the other option is to go for a Voodoo Hoodoo. This is an option because I can get it for £350 BRAND NEW!!

So people what would you do??

Trek 6000/6300/6500?? £600-£800+ :?:
or
Voodoo Hoodoo?? £350

I ask about the Voodoo because of the amazing review Bike Radar gave it. If you went Voodoo what would you change??

I won't be riding everyday, but I would be riding as many weekends as I could spare.

So thoughts and emotions please. Or if I am missing an obvious bargain, please point me in the right direction.

Thanks

Edd

delcol

supersonic is the man he's the bargin bike master,, but the halfords bikes do seem to offer some good bang for the old buck,, the voodoos or the boardmans seem to get recomended a bit. so do some of the german mailorder places like canyon,, rose,, and yt industries... or you may be lucky enough to find a 2011 model bike at a decent reduced price. pauls cycles always have some good offers on...

i would get the best you can afford to.. most important is the frame and fork as these can be the dearest things to replace, things like cranks and other drivetrain parts can be upgraded over time when they wear out...

EH_Rob

Generally speaking, the rule of thumb is to spend as much as you can, and then more. I made the mistake of buying a cheaper bike than I should have 12 months ago (£700), and I've spent about the same again since then changing bits. That isn't to say I'd have done any differently if I'd have spent more, but there might have been less chance.

If you're in the market for hardtails the Voodoo Hoodoo is a really good buy for that money. The type of riding you'll be doing will influence your choice though. As I understand it the Hoodoo is a slightly longer travel hardtail (120mm versus the 100mm 'standard' of many), which will cope a bit better with technical descents and that sort of thing. It is heavier than some bikes, but I think you'd enjoy it. If you're happy to spend a bit more money go to http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/offers.php?cat=1, they have some good offers on a range of bikes.

Greer_

Post links to specs! But dependant on deals, you're usually better to spend as much as you can first time. So if your budget is £800, buy a £800 bike. There will be dramatic changes in overall spec from a £350 model to a £800 one. So you could end up just trying to upgrade the whole bike ....

The Rookie

For XC work the Rockrider 8.1 for £500 from Decathlon is unbeatable value for money.

jairaj

buying a full bike is almost always cheaper than buying the components separately so always spend as much as you can first time round. Replacing and upgrading components will be expensive so best to do it when things are actually worn out or broken and need replacing.

supersonic

Rockrider 8.2 or Boardman Comp, hard to beat at their respective price points.

mountaingoatimnot

Buying at any price point is a comporimise, as at some point int he spec the manufacturer has to keep their costs down. Voodoo and Carrera often have beeter components because of the buying power of their parent Halfords. Decathlon are similar position, limited outlets and mail order with no retail bar their own shops.

Pretty much always you will see better value buying a complete bike, especially at £500 as buying a set of forks is £100 alone even for the most basic basic ones. Spending £350 , to have £150 for upgrades is pointless as the £150 you have left won't buy much at all, and may leave you worse off.

As always its better to try different bikes out for fit etc, but there are some good buys out there once you narrow your choice/requirements.

Pauls Cycles and Ashcycles tend to have good prices on Cannondale / Giant models in the main. Marin B-17 at £500 from winstanleys also looks a good spec for the money if you're happy buying an older model.

Buying an older model is often no bad thing; the last 2 years has seen companies down speccing models to hold price points in the market, especially with rising VAT (15 to 20%) and rising manufacturing costs.

delcol

buying a full bike is almost always cheaper than buying the components separately

not always true.
i just built up a ns soda fr1 the complete bike from ns retails @ £2,699.99 with a very basic spec.
i purchased frame only and specced it myself for £2,623.00 and thats using highend components to if i had used equivalent spec then it would of been a lot cheaper.
same when i built my santacruz i buit a better specced bike cheaper than the off the peg offering by santacruz..

it really does pay to shop around and research,research, research and more research....

EH_Rob

You did build that bike for a good price, but didn't you also mention you called in favours and know people in the industry etc? Not everyone has that luxury (nor the luxury of a free holiday in Whistler you bugger!).

I reckon what you say is definitely true with more expensive bikes, but you nearly always get more for your money with bikes that are under a grand if you buy the whole bike. Try buying the components for a Rockrider 8.1 for the same price as the RRP!

delcol

the soda was built up with parts from friends in the trade yeah hence the spec for the price,, but the santacruz was'nt it was built up using the good tinter net and getting some parts mainly chromag bling while i was in whistler...

i think it would be tricky to match the lower priced bike like the rockrider, but i bet it can be done.. it just takes time to research and find those bargins... and as for my free holiday to whistler still cant believe that,, but after all my bad luck last year,, i was due some good luck... :roll:

eddrogers84

Hi guys n gals

Thanks for the prompt replies, certainly adding food for thought.

The spec links are as follows...

Voodoo Hoodoo - http://www.voodoobikes.co.uk/bikes/mountainbikes/hoodoo

Trek 6000 - http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/m ... eries/6000

Trek 6300 - http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/m ... eries/6300

Trek 6500 - http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/m ... eries/6500

The treks are actually a little more than £800, but I am slowly leaning toward them to be honest. So many companies doing 0% finance.

Also how would people rate the Giant Revel Ltd. 0 ( http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 346/49905/ ) and the Cube LTD ( http://www.cube.eu/en/hard/ltd/ltd-black-anodized/ ) ??

Thanks again.
Edd

Greer_

The trek 6500 will be the better of the lot with a rockshox reba fork, followed by the Cube LTD/Trek 6300.

The Giant has a very basic fork. The voodoo still rates well, but the trek is more expensive and better specced.

supersonic

The 6500 is a superb bike for th emoney.

anj132

eddrogers84 wrote:

My budget is non-existant at the moment but I would like to think it was around £600-£800.

My ideal bike would be a Trek 6 series, I have been taking a look at them and even helped a good friend buy one too. But the other option is to go for a Voodoo Hoodoo. This is an option because I can get it for £350 BRAND NEW!!

Have you got £350 to get the Hoodoo? Pointless if you don't have the funds. And I suppose it goes without saying that the bike fits. No point if it's a 20" and your too small for it.

eddrogers84 wrote:

The treks are actually a little more than £800, but I am slowly leaning toward them to be honest. So many companies doing 0% finance.

If you do have access to £350, is the Trek 6500 at £1000 (quick google) really worth £650 more, that's a hell a lot of more money. On fianance - 10% still needs a deposit of £100 and you are tied into repayments of £37.50 pm for two years.

Personally, get the hoodoo and don't bother upgrading until you've broken something. What you save put in a pot and use it to keep it going or towards the bigger and better bike fund.

mrmonkfinger

My ideal bike would be a Trek 6 series

Can I ask why you've decided that?

It would help to pick some alternatives.

stevieboy308

with that sort of budget i'd be looking second hand, 6 months to a year old with litle use. but i'd want want a full susser.

eddrogers84

Sooo after all that and a lot of consideration I didn't do any of that.

I went and got me hell'of a deal on a Trek Fuel EX 8 2012!! Can't wait to hit the trails this weekend!!

Thanks for the advise though boys n gals!!
Peas n Gloves!!
x

jairaj

Nice bike, I tried one earlier on this year and rate it highly. Go get it muddy and have fun!

eddrogers84

Cheers. Got it covered in mud and other animal excrement today up on the south downs and friston trails. Loved it.

Thanks for all the advice guys n gals!!!x

Scion1

It's not an easy decision. I bought my trek fuel 90 for £1,200 in 2001. I saw the bike and wanted it right away. A year later I'd spent another 1,300 on upgrading it. I'm still riding it now. Two bb and two sets of tyres later the bikes still perfect. I think you get what you pay for with mtbs.