Best bike for budget of £650?

pcm1980
pcm1980 Posts: 40
edited June 2012 in Commuting general
Help needed to find a commuter bike for work, would like it to have disc brakes and be reliable
Thanks

Comments

  • marksteven
    marksteven Posts: 208
    im selling my focus raven pro on ebay full xtr, rigid forks, guards, looking for £700 ends monday
  • pcm1980
    pcm1980 Posts: 40
    Nobody can suggest any new bikes??
  • jae-so
    jae-so Posts: 85
    got mine off Ribble for £650 all in, Shimano Tiagra equipped

    bike.jpg
  • pcm1980
    pcm1980 Posts: 40
    Would prefere a hybrid bike with the flat bars, something similar in looks to a trek fx or a cannondale bad boy fatty.
  • mountaincookie
    mountaincookie Posts: 292
    Boardmens are great, just watch out for build quality from halfords, touch and go. Some Kona's are good quality for the money, I had a Kona Dew plus a short while ago, could really throw that bike around

    Is it just for commuting to work? It depends whether you want speed or want to play urban warrior
  • pcm1980
    pcm1980 Posts: 40
    Yeah its just mainly to commute 18 miles round trip per day. Its got a long steep hill on the way to work, so i would like something light and quick with flat bars. Also be giid if it was capable if canal rides with the mrs.
  • mountaincookie
    mountaincookie Posts: 292
    Hmm ok

    You'll want 28mm tyres minimum. If the canal path is mostly graval thats a good size off tarmac,but still thin enough not to be sluggish on the road. If the canal path has rougher bits...28mm might be pushing it, depends how brave you are!

    9 mile commute is not to be sniffed at, that's a fair trek, I would strongly advise a more road orientated hydrid( or even a CX bike, but if you want flats deffo ignore that! ). Again, think boardmen is great. They have one at £500 that might do you - depends how good you want spec.

    Your best bet is to get down evanscycles, in my experience they are excellent and will point you in the right direction.

    Beware. Many a well meaning modest cyclist buys a hybrid and 6 months later ends up in lycra storming along in the bunch on a full on road bike, enjoying the regular 50 mile sprint. Don't think it'll happen to you? That's what I said when I bought a hybrid..... :mrgreen:
  • PolyphonicBoy
    PolyphonicBoy Posts: 68
    Another Boardman recommendation here. Even though 'mountaincookie' is very correct - I bought my Boardman Hybrid in April last year, then bought a nice Cube road bike at Christmas, sporting the lycra, joined the local road club, and regularly cycling 50-60 miles. :lol:

    I still prefer using the Boardman for my 20 mile commute though.
  • MisterMuncher
    MisterMuncher Posts: 1,302
    Isn't a Bad Boy in or around that money, for the base model anyway?

    I bought mine about a year/ year and a half ago and I can honestly say it's been an absolute pleasure. Light, chuckable, solid. Not the most comfortable bike, certainly, more sharp, lively. A nice wakeup call on an early morning.

    The model would be roughly the same as the current bottom of the range, give or take. Alright, there's nothing special about the drivetrain, but it's pretty much the same as you're getting in that price range from most brands. A few judicious upgrades as time goes on, or as you need them, and you'll have a great bike.

    Just don't keep the Kojak tyres on for gravel path/towpath duties. They really don't like it.
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    Just to throw in a few more, specialized sirrus is good, as is the genesis range of bikes.

    I do a commute which includes a canal path and it gots some bits of gravel, mud and my road bike with touring tires just about copes with it.
  • LankyDJ
    LankyDJ Posts: 44
    Maybe have a look at Cube hybrids. I spent plenty of time a few months ago checking out new commuting bikes.

    Ended up with a Cube curve pro. A great looking machine with plenty of kit, as is the norm with Cubes. It rides great, is fast on the road, and shapes up pretty well over rougher terrain. Downsides, not many, maybe it's a little weighty and Cube sizing seems a little strange.

    All I with spd's and shoes for £625.
  • Steve@Tern
    Steve@Tern Posts: 15
    Plenty of good advice here I think.
    I'd not disagree with the recommendation of the Sirrus - but didn't you want disc brakes? The Elite at £600 would be great, but it has V-brakes. Good though.
    For the same money, you could look at the Bad Boy R9; 28mm tyres and mechanical discs, or the Giant Seek 2; 32mm tyres and hydraulic discs. The Bad Boy has the better Alivio rear mech however.
    As with most things hybrid, you have to choose which part of the 'spectrum' to go for - road-oriented, such as the Sirrus, or more urban warrior Seek and Bad Boy. I think the Seek would take to the towpaths best, but the Sirrus might cover the miles most comfortably.
  • pcm1980
    pcm1980 Posts: 40
    Lots of good advice here thanks. I think i'll he doing a bit of driving round my local bike shops at the weekend to see what takes my fancy.

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