What to buy & who from? Perils of buying online.........

BJ1664
BJ1664 Posts: 3
edited November 2013 in MTB buying advice
As a recent convert to singletrack from towpaths & trails, I need to upgrade from my Trek 7500 hybrid. I have a budget of around £600. 3 bikes have got my attention, but I need some help.......
Option 1. GT Avalanche 1.0 2013 - Available from Wiggle reduced from £800 to £519. I like because seems good spec for the price, including Rockshox XC30 forks. I don't like because I can't find a single review of the bike anywhere, plus wiggle will not allow their 30 day test trial or return at this level of discount. I'm also leaning more toward 29ers, this is 26.
Option 2. GT Karakoram 29er 1.0 - Available from Wiggle reduced from £899 to £602. Similar good spec, but once again can't find any useful reviews & same non return policy.
Option 3. Voodoo Bizango 29er - Should I be put off because it's from Halfords? From what I've read, their reputation isn't brilliant, but the bike gets great reviews in it's price range. I guess I still wouldn't be able to get a proper test ride from Halfords, but at least I could see it and try for size.
Any advice on the 3 options or any other suggestions on where my money would be best spent welcome, thanks for your help!

Comments

  • coulddobetter
    coulddobetter Posts: 812
    Bizango is well rated , Halfords get bad press. For evey complaint there is an opposite I have had 3 Halfords bikes none of which had problems .
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    All decent bikes I'm sure - I like the 1st one personally. Anyway, the main thing is buying something that fits you, so if you do buy on-line then do plenty of research. Much better if you can try before you buy.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • stronginthesun
    stronginthesun Posts: 433
    I bought a boardman ht pro from Halfords , after being concerned reading about Halfords dodgy workmanship , I took it to my lbs to get it checked out before I had even ridden it , they couldn't find any faults with it , and 1000 miles on nothing has gone wrong with it at all . top bike as well
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Rockrider 8.1 from Decathlon, £550 and better forks than any of the 3 listed......
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • buddy_club
    buddy_club Posts: 935
    Bizango, i was worried about buying from Halfords as well after a bad experience with a Carrera before :shock: , but I've had the Bizango since June and its been ridden almost every day since and is still going strong, I'm not a small guy either, so its been taking alot of abuse on jumps and stuff. Its perfect for long xc rides (25miles+). If you get it checked when you buy it, and can do most repairs yourself, then the Bizango is definitely worth it :D
    Framebuilder
    Handbuilt Steel 29er https://goo.gl/RYSbaa
    Carbon Stumpjumper https://goo.gl/xJNFcv
    Parkwood:http://goo.gl/Gf8xkL
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    Triban:http://goo.gl/v63FBB
  • BJ1664
    BJ1664 Posts: 3
    The Rookie wrote:
    Rockrider 8.1 from Decathlon, £550 and better forks than any of the 3 listed......

    Oh no, another great option to consider! The spec does look outstanding for the price, especially the recons. Just one thing I'm struggling with though, it's just a bit ugly. I'm not discounting it on that though, but I am leaning toward the Bizango, more because it's the best specced 29er I can find. Having said that, I'm still changing my mind every 5 minutes!!

    thanks for the advice.

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