My 1st MTB purchse - Advice please

@McNab_79

I'm looking to purchase my first MTB and have set myself a budget of £400.

I've browsed the web (Tredz, All Terrain Cycles and Cycle Centre UK) and have come up with some options, but I'm very much a novice and not completely sure on quality of components.

Any advice, views and opinions would be most appreciated.

- Felt Q520 (2012)
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Felt-Q520-Mount ... _49307.htm

- Merida Matts 20 (2013)
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Matts-20 ... _55240.htm

- Claud Butler Stoneriver (2012)
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Claud-Butler-St ... _52058.htm

Some others I look at were:

- Giant Revel 2

- Giant Split 2

- Trek 3700 (2013)
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/.Trek ... 127374.htm

- Cube Aim

Sorry I dont have links for all of these at the moment and I'm not sure I have posted the links above correctly (?).

Thanks to anyone that can help.

Chunkers1980

Have you looked at the sticky for your budget?

supersonic

They are all compromised with the poor, undamped forks. Take a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12875967

@McNab_79

Thanks guys.

Chunkers1980 Sticky...?

I know it shouldnt really be about 'how it looks' but the rockrider 5.3 doesnt do it for me. I know, it's probably got very good components for the price....?

I want new (not second hand) and there must surely be a decent 2012 I can pick up for £400 or under, right?

supersonic

Only from Decathlon or Halfords, or if you find something hugely reduced. Most 'branded' bikes at this price are poor.

The 5.3 is the best specced at the price by a long, long way. For £400 the Voodoo cannot be beaten.

The sticky is the link I provided.

The Rookie

Sticky, forum speak for a thread that is 'stuck' to the top of the list, the buying advice has 3 - you can tell from the different icon.

@McNab_79

The Beginner thank you, as you can tell I'm a noob to forum!

Great to get some good advice.

On another forum the Carrera Vulcan and Carrera Kraken have also been suggested...?

Not sure why, but I get drawn to the Merida Matts and wish I could pick up a decent one for reasonable money. Missed that boat last year on the Pro-D 2011 at Merlin Cycles!!!!

supersonic

The Merida is crap, the fork doesn't work! And the rest is pretty lowly too. The Kraken is an excellent bike.

The Rookie

The Kraken is very good, well worth the extra over the Vulcan which is still far from bad despite the poor fork. (no bias despite the link in my sig).

@McNab_79

Ok, cool, thanks for the replies guys.

Generally is there a hierarchy of 'brands' at this kind of level/ budget, i.e. £400 and below, in terms of what you get for your £'s...?

cooldad

Name brands are generally crapper because you pay more for the name than the bits.

felix.london

@McNab_79 wrote:

Ok, cool, thanks for the replies guys.

Generally is there a hierarchy of 'brands' at this kind of level/ budget, i.e. £400 and below, in terms of what you get for your £'s...?

yes - generally keep clear of the big ones

@McNab_79

felix.london wrote:

@McNab_79 wrote:

Ok, cool, thanks for the replies guys.

Generally is there a hierarchy of 'brands' at this kind of level/ budget, i.e. £400 and below, in terms of what you get for your £'s...?

yes - generally keep clear of the big ones

Those being....? Giant? Trek? Specialized?

Sorry, just starting out and trying to understand what's what.

supersonic

Yep - Trek, Spesh, GT, Giant - any of the 'big' brands at this price offer compromised products that just don't cut the rough stuff.

Decathlon, Voodoo and Carrera all offer the best value - it is very important to get a decent fork.

@McNab_79

supersonic wrote:

Yep - Trek, Spesh, GT, Giant - any of the 'big' brands at this price offer compromised products that just don't cut the rough stuff.

Decathlon, Voodoo and Carrera all offer the best value - it is very important to get a decent fork.

Thanks SUPERSONIC. What are the rules when it comes to a Fork?

Carerra Kraken looking like a good option then and the Voodoo... Bantu was it?

That Felt Q520 (2012) is no good?

supersonic

Damping, damping and damping! Look for forks with hydraulic damping circuits (or hydraulic lockouts). These offer a far smoother and more controlled ride on rough surfaces. This is what makes the Hoodoo so good - not only is the fork hydraulic, it is air sprung for even more tuning.

chrisw333

edited - started new thread instead

The Rookie

The bantu's tyres are seriously heavy, probably about a 3/4Kg weight saving there.
The frame is heavier than the Kraken though, by about 250g at the same frame size.

Brakes on the Bantu are better but heavier....forks are better and only a little lighter, the stems are very light but the bars a bit heavy (about 350g). Different weighing standards could account for 600g of the difference!

chrisw333

Thanks TB. I started a new thread as changed my mind about hijacking this one, my edit must have crossed with your post.

I have a set on Nobby Nics I could put on. So, assuming the tyre issue is sorted, do you think the fork and brakes of the Bantu (and price) make it a better bet than the Kraken - for a female rider?

@McNab_79

Thanks to all for the continued advice.

Just paid a lunchtime visit to the local Evans and they suggested:

2012 Mondraker Ventura Sport
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... e-ec034898

2012 GT Avalanche 4
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec030575

Fuji Nevada 1.6 D
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec041865

There were one or two others, a JAMIS and their own brand Pinnacle.

cooldad

@McNab_79 wrote:

Thanks to all for the continued advice.

Just paid a lunchtime visit to the local Evans and they suggested:

2012 Mondraker Ventura Sport
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... e-ec034898

2012 GT Avalanche 4
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec030575

Fuji Nevada 1.6 D
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec041865

There were one or two others, a JAMIS and their own brand Pinnacle.

No
No
No

supersonic wrote:

Damping, damping and damping!

Pinnacle is probably worth a look. If it's got damped forks.

@McNab_79

cooldad wrote:

@McNab_79 wrote:

Thanks to all for the continued advice.

Just paid a lunchtime visit to the local Evans and they suggested:

2012 Mondraker Ventura Sport
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... e-ec034898

2012 GT Avalanche 4
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec030575

Fuji Nevada 1.6 D
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec041865

There were one or two others, a JAMIS and their own brand Pinnacle.

No
No
No

supersonic wrote:

Damping, damping and damping!

Pinnacle is probably worth a look. If it's got damped forks.

Haha - thanks Cooldad!

supersonic

The Mondraker isn't too bad. But you'd need to be a Giant.

@McNab_79

supersonic wrote:

The Mondraker isn't too bad. But you'd need to be a Giant.

Supersonic??? What havent I picked up on???

supersonic

The size - only XL left.

@McNab_79

First time I've come across Whistle....

Whistle Miwok 1163D 2012
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p52921/Whistl ... -Bike.aspx

@McNab_79

Ok, from the little I've learnt so far and whilst this is raising the budget, this looks like a pretty good bike. Although it really is a jump from an initial budget of £400, rising to £500 and now hitting £700!

http://www.whytebikes.com/2013/product. ... 39&xSec=66

chez_m356

@McNab_79 wrote:

Ok, from the little I've learnt so far and whilst this is raising the budget, this looks like a pretty good bike. Although it really is a jump from an initial budget of £400, rising to £500 and now hitting £700!

http://www.whytebikes.com/2013/product. ... 39&xSec=66

don't see how thats any better than a voodoo hoodoo, certainly doesn't compete with the RR8.1 spec wise, but there is still better out there for £700

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p441 ... XTC-2-2012

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p434 ... -SL-1-2012

cooldad

It isn't. You'd do better to read this again.
viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12922327