*update* what to buy between these 3

ncn

Good evening!

I have recently destroyed my 7 year old claud butler alpina which tbh even though it was a bit rubbish did last me quite well.

So onto the question I have £600 to spend and not really wanting to spend much more. Ideally I want a 29er and it's going to be a hard tail I want. I am looking to get back into a bit more trail riding which I havn't done for a while due to injury but Im all good now so looking forward to getting back out.

I have been offered the genesis mantle 10 at 600 from my local bike shop rrp is 750, http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/mantle/mantle-10

I am just wondering is there anything else out there that may be better or cheaper?

Any help will be muchly appreciated, and once again apologies for asking what is probably perpetually asked.

Many Thanks

Nick

supersonic

Most 29ers at this price are poor. They are plagued by heavy, undamped forks that just do not work, compromising the whole experience and completely undoing any of the so called benefits of a 29er.

That said, the Genesis is not too bad due to the higher RRP, and gets some decent kit. The fork is a least damped, and the rest is basic, if functional kit.

If it fits it is worth a shot.

ncn

So really I would get a better 26er for the money but would lose out on the benefits of the 29er. I am struggling massively with this decision haha. Ah well I will keep looking I suppose.

felix.london

ncn wrote:

So really I would get a better 26er for the money but would lose out on the benefits of the 29er. I am struggling massively with this decision haha. Ah well I will keep looking I suppose.

supersonic wrote:

undoing any of the so called benefits of a 29er

I presume these are benefits your LBS has installed in your mind. For that kind of budget the best advice is to get the bike with the best fork possible, size of wheels would be way down my list

ncn

Ah right I was under the impression the fork on the mantle was pretty good. I guess I know less than I thought I did.

Thanks for the input though I will keep on looking to see what I find.

unquestioned

VooDoo Bizango, no contest at £600

felix.london

ncn wrote:

Ah right I was under the impression the fork on the mantle was pretty good. I guess I know less than I thought I did.

There's def worse forks in that price range but there are also better. I think for <£600 there's only really one contender and that's the Rockrider 8.1 @ £550

ncn

unquestioned wrote:

VooDoo Bizango, no contest at £600

I initially looked at the bizango but was told the genesis had a better fork than the biz and that most of the running gear was a bit better with it been shimano.

supersonic

The Bizango has a better fork, air sprung, more adjustable, stiffer. Unfortunately the whole bike weighs 14.4kg which is rather portly, but is well specced.

I'd take a look at the Boardman Comp too.

ncn

So to clarify this, is the Rockshox XC30 TK Coil 80mm not air sprung as it says in the description?

The Boardman Comp does look good aswell.

I was told by the local shop that Suntour forks weren't too great either and that rockshox forks are much better. I am now not sure of how much truth is on that statement? He really did sell the genesis very well haha.

supersonic

It is a coil fork - the top description is wrong, it says it lower down in the spec.

As for what is best, depends on the model, not make.

It is not a bad bike, as above, seen a lot worse!

ncn

Ah I see, I thought it seemed confusing as I searched for info on the fork and there was no further mention of it been air sprung.

I actually really like the look of the boardman comp, just need to decide if it's worth the extra to go for the 29er version or just get the 26er.

Once again thank you very much for all the info.

ncn

Bit of an update I can now go to 750 does this really yhings much or not? I know it now brings the boardman comp 29er intonthe equation with ease but does anything else come in to play now?

felix.london

now we're talking, good lad!

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p3227/SCOTT-SCALE-50-2011 ?

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p3845/GT-ZASKAR-COMP-2012 ?

What size are you after?

Reba fork for under budget;
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/a78438/zr-team-7-0.html

26" bikes

mcnultycop

They are 3 awesome suggestions above.

felix.london

Also - but only big ones again;
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=104467

Or the Canyon;
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3002#tab-reiter2

ncn

Well im at 180cm so large sized bikes are fine which is good!

For some reason im still really drawn to 29ers is there actually much real world difference?

felix.london

ncn wrote:

Well im at 180cm so large sized bikes are fine which is good!

I'd say you'd be after a medium size frame at your height (if you're all in proportion that is!)

ncn wrote:

For some reason im still really drawn to 29ers is there actually much real world difference?

Only that at the budget you're talking about you'll get far less for your money (other that bigger wheels and a load more weight that is)

I've only ridden one 29er - my brother's Anthem X1 which cost over £2K and it felt great..def faster on the flattish stuff than my 26" hardtail - think I'd struggle on Alpine switchbacks with it though. But that's a very good bike that's won group tests, awards etc.

My opinion; the Radon (but it's only available in a 20" right now and I'd guess that'd be too big for you) then the Scott, then the Canyon, the GT and the Giant..but yeah - they're all 26" wheeled bikes

ncn

Oh right I see what your saying, basically as they are a new thing they fetch a higher premium so I pay for the wheel size apposed to the kit on the bike.

Well my current bike is a 19" and I'm comfy on that, possibly be a bit much on a 20 but I may go try one and see.

Many thanks for your advice mate

supersonic

Some 20" bikes can be longer than 18" bikes - dpends on the rest of the geometry.

ncn

Well I have been to look at some bikes today and had a look at the boardman comp 29er and I only just fitted that in a medium, also I wasn't too impressed with the feel of the bike in all honesty.

So I popped back into my LBS and told him of my price range increase and he offered me a genesis core 40 2012 for 750 same spec as this.
http://www.billybilslandcycles.co.uk/node/910

How does that stack up against the previous offerings, also looks like I need a medium in reality so a good job I went and checked.

supersonic

That's a nice bike - decent fork, nice wheels, quality parts.

ncn

Or would it be worth seeing what he could do on this as I'm sure he said he could get this down aswell

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mou ... /mantle-20

ncn

So now im stuck between these 3.

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mou ... /mantle-20

http://www.billybilslandcycles.co.uk/node/910

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p322 ... LE-50-2011