Saracen, Scott or what for my £700 budget?

Eels

My lovely husband is going to buy me a new bike. Budget is a £700 max. I've tried local shops and I'm looking at either the Saracen Kili Pro or the Scott Scale Contessa 920. I'm leaning towards the Saracen.

My heart is set on a 29er but I'm going to try out an ex hire Lapierre next week which will be half the price and 26.

I've also tried a couple of the Specialized women's bikes and hated them. I'm not doing anything until I can check out the VooDoo Bizango when it's back in stock.

I'd prefer to buy locally so I can test ride them and have support on hand for any problems after purchase, but I'm not dead set against an online purchase.

Eels

Anyone? :P

benpinnick

Test some and see. Its the only way.

Eels

So do you mean I'm better buying one I've ridden and liked than one that looks better on paper but I haven't tried? Because of those I've ridden I loved The Saracen. But I think I'd be better off with the VooDoo spec-wise. Argh!

The Rookie

Links so we don't all have to hunt for spec's?

Eels

Sorry :oops: I was posting from my phone which eats links so didn't include them. Here you go:

Saracen Kili Pro
http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/trail/kili-pro

Scott Contessa Scale 920
http://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/products/227848/scott-contessa-scale-920-bike/;jsessionid=8AA99C40ACBC3F174550A98C6224F228

Having tested both (just on tarmac) I think the Saracen edges it, and although I can't quite put my finger on it I reckon it's probably the wider handlebar. I'm 5' 3" but heavy and broad-shouldered (attractive eh?!). Obviously the handlebar can be changed but on a £700 budget how much would I be looking at to do so?

Alternatively there's the VooDoo Bizango which is currently out of stock, but Halfords are expecting more in towards the end of July.
http://www.mbr.co.uk/bikes/voodoo-bizango-29er-review-2013/

The bearings/bottom bracket on my twenty year old Trek are knackered, so if I decide to wait for the Bizango I'll have to stump up for a repair or take a couple of months off

Chunkers1980

Short, fat and square. Awesome. The Scott has the better spec

Eels

I know, I am The Sex :roll:

OK so assuming it's the wider bar that made me prefer the Kili, how much would it cost to upgrade the Scott to a wider bar? Or should I just ride it for a bit and see?

I've never had a new bike. Can you tell?!

Chunkers1980

A bar can be from £5-150, so not really a problem.

Eels

Ah, cool, I feel better about that then. I am hopefully getting a shot on a Kili next week, albeit a few models up from the Pro (thanks to lovely local bike shop), and I will ride the Scott again before deciding whether to wait for the VooDoo.

Thank you. Husband is knowledgeable but it wouldn't do to let him decide

DanDax1990

So you're gonna test ride a higher spec bike... Which obviously will feel loads better... Then buy the lower sped model? Forks and wheels make a massive difference.

Eels

Well, one of the staff has the same bike, albeit a couple of models up, so she said I could use it for an evening to try it. I think it was largely to let me try riding a 29er somewhere other than a car park. But fair point. I guess I'm not familiar with the sort of difference we are talking about here because everything feels so much nicer than my current bike.

Bear in mind I am doing fairly basic stuff - XC for an hour or two, 2-3 times a week. I've only been riding for a year. So I might not notice the difference between the models - it'll be wasted on me!

tarbot18

The voodoo is a bit of a big truck ie weighs 31.5 lb , be worth finding the extra for the £750 Boardman comp 29er.
better spec far nicer fork.
I have the raidon and epicon forks on different bikes and the epicon is far more supple plus the boardman weighs 4lb less than the voodoo which you will notice on hills.