Which hardtail to buy, £800 budget

getsusrich
getsusrich Posts: 6
edited March 2013 in MTB buying advice
Hi everyone,

I'm looking at the moment for a decent entry level mountain bike. My employer is part of the cycle to work scheme, but I am limited to Evans Cycles.

http://www.evanscycles.com

I've looked so far at the Jamis Durango Race 2013 (http://bit.ly/16VthiT) and the Rockhopper Comp 2013 (http://bit.ly/10K6kwl). Realistically I can't go too far above the £800 mark and I'm looking for some advice on which bike to buy to get the most for my money.

I'm definitely open to bikes other than the Durango and the Rockhopper. Mainly I want to have a decent fork with lockout, hydraulic discs and a bike as light as I can afford to go. It has to be from Evans' though...

Many thanks in advance for your advice!

Comments

  • herb71
    herb71 Posts: 253
    I was in exactly the same boat as you. I bought a Pinnacle Jarrah Five, Evans own brand.

    I see they have put the price up to 2013 to £850, though you do get £100 of free kit thrown in, which they will honour on the cycle to work scheme. If you are small, then they still have stock of the 2012 bike at £640.

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec044223

    Don't let the fact it is an own brand put you off. The level of kit is really good at the price point, and the alloy frames mostly all come out of the same factory anyway. I am really enjoying mine.
  • getsusrich
    getsusrich Posts: 6
    Thanks for replying!

    I called Evans' last week and asked for their advice. The person I spoke to started off sounding quite impartial, but in the end he was kind of pushing the Pinnacle brand, to the point where it felt quite biased. I'll definitely reconsider after reading your post though.

    Another bike I've read some good things about is the Trek Mamba. Does anyone have any opinions on this, or any other bike on Evans which would fit what I'm looking for? Cheers!

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec042122
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Also take a look at this:

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... 9#features

    and

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/nor ... 2#features

    The Mamba is decent enough, but quite heavy.
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  • getsusrich
    getsusrich Posts: 6
    Thanks for the tips! I should have wrote in the beginning that I'm 183cm in height so that rules out the Pinnacle, but I like the spec of the nitro 6.2. The weight is impressive and the forks look good too. I'll head to my local Evans to check it out.

    If anyone has any more recommendations then I'm open to suggestions. Much appreciated!
  • Butterd2
    Butterd2 Posts: 937
    Mate of mine bought the Norco last weekend and we sent 5 hours in the snow on Surrey Hills, it worked really well and he was certainly pleased with it.
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  • getsusrich
    getsusrich Posts: 6
    Just put a deposit down on the Norco, should be arriving on Monday. They put the price down another £50 as well so it's even more of a deal now. Great tip Sonic, thanks!
  • herb71
    herb71 Posts: 253
    Looks really nice. I wish they were selling that at that price when I was looking.
  • getsusrich
    getsusrich Posts: 6
    They have two left in 19", now's the time Herb :D
  • herb71
    herb71 Posts: 253
    getsusrich wrote:
    They have two left in 19", now's the time Herb :D

    Nah, i'll stick with the pinnacle. At least until the scheme finishes. I really like it, its just annoying when things move on, but that's life!

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