Choosing new bike. Advice needed. Please

Herby12

I have narrowed my search down to this bikes. Please help me to choose the best one. Brakes, fork, quality. They are around same money from 559 to 625eur.

Boardman ht comp 624eur
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/store ... yId_212589

Voodoo Hoodoo 624eur
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/store ... yId_212589

Carrera Kraken 559eur
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/store ... 12589#tab2

Merida matts 500 d-rs 600eur
http://merida-bikes.com/it_ch/bike/2012 ... S+500-D-RS

Thanks for advice.

Cookeh

I'd go with the Merida if you must by new. None of them have particularly great forks, but the Merida is the best equipped - the XC30 is a rebrand of the old RS Toras, which are solid reliable forks. Boardman has the next best with its Epicons. Drivetrain is much of a muchness across them all tbh, but the Merida again slightly edges it. In terms of frames, Merida makes the Boardman frame anyway, but at this budget the frame isn't the most important factor!

Have you considered a Calibre 2.2? Cheaper bike, but as well specced and very well reviewed.

Second hand is definitely worth a look however, if its something you're comfortable with.

BigAl

They're all decent enough bikes for the money. My advice would be to get to Halfords and somewhere that stocks the Merida and try them. You may well find that you just really like (or dislike) one just from a spin round the block.

ste_t

I don't understand why people keep mistaking the xc30 for the xc32 - the 32 replaced the Tora. Absolutely nothing wrong with the Epicon, certainly my first choice in forks there so would give the boardman the edge for me.

cooldad

Boardman or Voodoo. Boardman has the best fork.

Cookeh

ste_t wrote:

I don't understand why people keep mistaking the xc30 for the xc32 - the 32 replaced the Tora. Absolutely nothing wrong with the Epicon, certainly my first choice in forks there so would give the boardman the edge for me.

Something I read forever ago, good chance I got them mixed up

The Rookie

Have you got Decathlon stores? The Rockrider 8.1 (£550 GBP) is an excellent bike.

(Ireland I assume from the € and Halfords...)

Herby12

Don't have decathlon store here but now I'm between merida and Boardman. Boardman is 0.5 kg lighter and merida Cost 25 less I don't know witch fork is better but air should be better then coil? How the SRAM x5 compare to shimano on merida. Which brakes are better boardmans or meridas?
Thanks for all your comments and advice. Want to buy bike today:-)

supersonic

Boardman for me if fits. Best frame and fork, lightest.

Herby12

+1 for boardman thanks

Herby12

I going for boardman. Thanks for help.