FS bike, First or second hand??

pesky_jones
pesky_jones Posts: 2,890
edited August 2012 in MTB buying advice
Hi,

I'm relatively new to MTB and have recently purchased a specialized hardrock sport disc 2012 however this being a hardtail is simply not cut out for the type of riding I want to get into.

I bought this new, and after a few problems realised i need a FS bike. I have two questions, first being whether it is wiser to buy a new bike around the price mark £800-£1200, or to buy a second hand bike around £500-£700 and get the same-ish model if you get my drift. Second question being where would be a good place to look for a second hand bike.

Any response will be apreciated...thanks.

TOM

Comments

  • omegas
    omegas Posts: 970
    MTB_TR wrote:
    Second question being where would be a good place to look for a second hand bike.

    Have a look on ebay, you might get lucky and someone have a bike for sale, :lol:
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    I'm sure you realised you want a FS bike rather than need one (which is fair enough) - I ride my Rockhopper all over my local alps and I love it - it's more than capable over anything I can ride.

    But to answer your question I'm a big believer in buying used - you just get so much more bike for your money (there is obviously an element of risk involved) I'm riding a €4K DH bike which I got for €2K and it's only 12months old...to me it's a no brainer; Cars and bikes = used. Clothes and tech = new. Simples :wink:
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • pesky_jones
    pesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    Felix-

    Thanks a lot, great answer. Yeah i'm sure i do want a FS rather then need one but I'm riding the hardrock though my local forest every night and the noise it makes after jumps is starting to worry me. Thanks again for the advice though its what i wanted to hear really, Thanks.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    A £1200 full suspension bike won't do anything your Hardrock won't do. Just buy some better wheels & forks.
    Be careful buying used. A dead fork or shock can cost you a heap of cash to put right. I wouldn't buy used.
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Most jump bikes are not FS, there's more to go wrong. Jumping is about how strong all the components are and how well you land.
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    A £1200 full suspension bike won't do anything your Hardrock won't do. Just buy some better wheels & forks.
    Be careful buying used. A dead fork or shock can cost you a heap of cash to put right. I wouldn't buy used.

    This ^

    I should've pointed out - I have upgraded every component on my Rockhopper! (except the frame) I reached it's limits as soon as I moved to the mountains with the stock forks, pedals & disc rotors
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • pesky_jones
    pesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    Thanks for all the replies guys i'm not going to look at buying a FS seeing as every reply has basically said i dont need one, just going to look at some new forks etc. Thanks a lot guys, you've probally saved me a lot of money!! :D

    TOM
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    When I put the 120mm Reba RL on the 'hopper it became like a new bike overnight. Then the fork brakes in/settles down a bit and it got better then I actually worked out how to dial the settings how I wanted it and got better still! Happy days. Best upgrade bar none...then pedals (the ones I had were poop - half SPD, half crap flat), then dropper post, then wheels, then grips...
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Loads of rubbish spoken here. FS is just better. No one 'needs' one, but everyone should have one. Easy to get a good, new one for around a £1000.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • ilovedirt
    ilovedirt Posts: 5,798
    I try and buy new when possible, and FS does make things easier and lets you ride faster (usually), but I've never been able to afford to buy one new. If you can afford it, do it.
    Production Privee Shan

    B'Twin Triban 5
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    cooldad wrote:
    Loads of rubbish spoken here. FS is just better. No one 'needs' one, but everyone should have one. Easy to get a good, new one for around a £1000.

    FS is not better than a hardtail. It's just different. I had full sus xc bikes, got bored and now back on a hardtail and having more fun. I use a full sus for downhill because I'm too old to race downhill on a hardtail.
    You won't get a good new one for a grand, it's difficult enough to get a good hardtail for a grand.
    I can ride as fast on a hardtail as I can on full sus, it's just more fun and challenging

    On a similar subject. Rockshox are better than Fox forks, Shimano is better than SRAM & SPD's are better than flat pedals and Gravity enduro should be called "Gravduro" :P
  • Morty84
    Morty84 Posts: 26
    There's beens a few really cheap older models, maybe that's a better option than second hand. Personally o wouldn't be bothered getting a old model if it had a massive reduction for eg this.

    http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/68-off- ... 0#comments
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    cooldad wrote:
    Loads of rubbish spoken here. FS is just better. No one 'needs' one, but everyone should have one. Easy to get a good, new one for around a £1000.

    FS is not better than a hardtail. It's just different. I had full sus xc bikes, got bored and now back on a hardtail and having more fun. I use a full sus for downhill because I'm too old to race downhill on a hardtail.
    You won't get a good new one for a grand, it's difficult enough to get a good hardtail for a grand.
    I can ride as fast on a hardtail as I can on full sus, it's just more fun and challenging

    On a similar subject. Rockshox are better than Fox forks, Shimano is better than SRAM & SPD's are better than flat pedals and Gravity enduro should be called "Gravduro" :P

    You are talking the same BS as this thread
    viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12873694

    So I'll give you the same answer.
    cooldad wrote:
    At that sort of price you will get a very low end full suspension bike which will end up costing a lot to replace the cheap parts as they wear or break quickly. A hardtail is more than up to the job and if your hardcore then the challenge of riding hard on a hardtail will be more fun! You can easily ride 8 foot drops on a hardtail and they will take big jumps easily. Poor quality suspension will make things more difficult, not easier.
    Bollocks on all counts. That RR is very well specced for the money, including Recons up front, and will be fine for XC and trail.
    Not everyone is gnarrly and hardcore like you.
    And that nonesense about challenge etc is just that.
    The RR is £700
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    And again
    cooldad wrote:
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Jomox
    Jomox Posts: 250
    wrong topic.
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    ilovedirt wrote:
    I try and buy new when possible, and FS does make things easier and lets you ride faster (usually), but I've never been able to afford to buy one new. If you can afford it, do it.

    This...I think...but not sure...possibly not this.

    I spent €2K on a second hand Session 8. If I had the money would I have bought a new Session 8 or a used Session 88. I think I would've got a used 88
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    ilovedirt wrote:
    I try and buy new when possible, and FS does make things easier and lets you ride faster (usually), but I've never been able to afford to buy one new. If you can afford it, do it.

    This...I think...but not sure...possibly not this.

    I spent €2K on a second hand Session 8. If I had the money would I have bought a new Session 8 or a used Session 88. I think I would've got a used 88
    And if you'd had more money you would have bought a new one. So what?
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • felix.london
    felix.london Posts: 4,067
    cooldad wrote:
    ilovedirt wrote:
    I try and buy new when possible, and FS does make things easier and lets you ride faster (usually), but I've never been able to afford to buy one new. If you can afford it, do it.

    This...I think...but not sure...possibly not this.

    I spent €2K on a second hand Session 8. If I had the money would I have bought a new Session 8 or a used Session 88. I think I would've got a used 88
    And if you'd had more money you would have bought a new one. So what?

    No I don't think I would, that's the point. So...I would get more used bike rather than less new bike. Have you read the title of the thread?
    "Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes

    Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build

    Trek Session 8
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I also read relatively new to MTB, so I would take a new one, rather than risk a fubared SH one.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Woody80
    Woody80 Posts: 324

    On a similar subject. Rockshox are better than Fox forks, Shimano is better than SRAM & SPD's are better than flat pedals and Gravity enduro should be called "Gravduro" :P
    You know you've got this all back to front right? :wink:
  • ElliesDad
    ElliesDad Posts: 245
    If you want new for the budget you have you would struggle to beat the Boardman FS Team at £999 and the Boardman FS Pro at £1299. Superbly specced for the money!
    2012 Boardman FS Team
    2014 Giant Defy 2
  • You can have mine if you want, its not been abused and is a great first FS

    viewtopic.php?f=40089&t=12873955
  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    Woody80 wrote:

    On a similar subject. Rockshox are better than Fox forks, Shimano is better than SRAM & SPD's are better than flat pedals and Gravity enduro should be called "Gravduro" :P
    You know you've got this all back to front right? :wink:
    its just proof that monkeys and illegal substances don't mix too well :wink:
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011