£1500 budget, advice wanted. . . .

plummej

Hi All,

First time posting.

I currently ride a Specialized Rockhopper Expert 2012. First mountain bike, got me into the sport and love it to bits. I feel it's now time to move on to a full sus.

I'm based in the Afan Valley and mainly ride Y Wall and the new Penhydd / Blue Scar.

I've got a few ideas of what I'm after, please see below, let me know what you think and I'm also open to alternative options.

Cheers,
JP

Canyon Nerve AL 7.0 £1,499 http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3280

Giant Trance 27.5 3 £1,499 http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Trance-27 ... _66530.htm

Trek Fuel EX 5 29 £1,500 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec054519

Norco Fluid 7.2 650B http://www.evanscycles.com/products/nor ... e-ec053924

passout

Of those I like the Canyon and then the Norco. Prefer hardtails myself though.

rockmonkeysc

I would go for the Trance or a Boardman FS Pro

bigmitch41

Canyon Nerve, thats what I'd like next anyway.

Cookeh

Canyon is the best specced. As Rockmonkey said, might also be worth while having a look at a Boardman FS Pro - rather well reviewed indeed - link.

miceden

The Canyon - you cant argue with that spec for that money.

Cqc

Canyon

Kowalski675

The Boardman for me - better specced than the Canyon, very good reviews and you can at least sit in one before buying.

BigAl

I'd probably go for the Trance from your list. The Boardman is a good suggestion too.

I like the look of the Canyon - but there's no way to test one, unlike the two above.

I suspect you'd be happy with any of them

plummej

Thank you for everyone's feedback. Really appreciated.

I think it's down to the Canyon Nerve and the Giant Trance after hearing what everyone has to say and further investigation.

Few more questions:

The Trance has longer suspension, the Nerve perhaps has better quality suspension but shorter, what wins?

The Trance can be bought locally in a bike shop and I imagine more easily serviced, the Nerve seems to have a better spec and is direct buy only, what wins?

Cheers all.

supersonic

Both are great performing bikes, the Trance though is for slightly harder riding. No doubt the Canyon is lighter and better specced though.

I'd consider this though:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p494 ... E-X-2-2013

plummej

That other Giant is something to consider. What are the main differences?

Another query, all over the web the Canyon Nerve is referred to as a Tourer. What does this mean? Is this a continental phrase? Will it do what I want? All this downhill, enduro, tourer, trail, trail centre naming is confusing.

I ride Afan Valley, South Wales (Y Wall, Skyline, Whites, Penhydd) so ride up and down. Want something that's really going to let me progress my riding, deal with the rough stuff, be good up and down, and reliable.

Cheers again,
J

mcnultycop

Tourer sounds like a German thing. The Canyon would eat all the trail centres you could show it.

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

Both are great performing bikes, the Trance though is for slightly harder riding. No doubt the Canyon is lighter and better specced though.

I'd consider this though:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p494 ... E-X-2-2013

Ooh, I wish you'd not posted that. I really wanted one of those before I bought my Boardman, but didn't want to stretch to £1800. :?

kammybear

Have you considered a Cube Sting? Can only find the 29ers online but there are 27.5 models on their website. They start at £1399

http://www.cube.eu/en/bikes/fullsuspens ... ng-120-29/

The manitou Marvel on my LTD was pretty good!

chrisw333

I have the Trance that SS posted. It's 26" wheels as opposed to 650b. I haven't compared the specs, but it's likely to be better specced than the 2014 650b model.

It is a great bike and at that price a great buy. Perfect for the trails you describe.

rockmonkeysc

I had a Trance similar to that one from Pauls Cycles. It's a very good bike, perfect for trail centres and all day xc rides. It can take harder riding very well as well.

benpinnick

I'd argue against the canyon as it's not a Very good bike. Lovely spec, crappy ride.

adamfo

benpinnick wrote:

I'd argue against the canyon as it's not a Very good bike. Lovely spec, crappy ride.

I don't think any punters have ridden one yet ?

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... 2810.2.htm

I would say also consider some Cube 650b models and think about stretching funds to a Canyon Spectral. Take into account it has a £200 Reverb Stealth fitted as standard.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3255

adamfo

cyd190468 wrote:

That was the most perfectly translated page ever :shock: :shock:
It hurt my brane

True, I speak a bit of German but you do get the gist of it. Try page 2 for some numbers


http://www.mountainbike-magazin.de/moun ... latt.2.htm

benpinnick

adamfo wrote:

benpinnick wrote:

I'd argue against the canyon as it's not a Very good bike. Lovely spec, crappy ride.

I don't think any punters have ridden one yet ?

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... 2810.2.htm

I would say also consider some Cube 650b models and think about stretching funds to a Canyon Spectral. Take into account it has a £200 Reverb Stealth fitted as standard.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3255

True, my opinion is entirely based on last years nerve.

adamfo

cyd190468 wrote:

I think all reviews should start withTrail Ahoy!

What you need to know is uberragend = outstanding 8)

adamfo

One German make that seldom gets mentioned in the UK is Radon. The Slide models are generally slighter cheaper than Canyons spec for spec although I think Canyon frames are better designed.

carbon slide



spectral

Kowalski675

I know Hans Dampf are big tyres, but the seatstay brace on the Radon looks to be very close to the tyre.

Cookeh

cyd190468 wrote:

That was the most perfectly translated page ever :shock: :shock:
It hurt my brane

notsureifserious.jpg

chrisrobs

is 160mm too much travel for what you ride?

the titus el guapo looks like a bargain

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBTIELGX5/t ... ntain-bike

plummej

Blown away by how helpful everyone has been, thanks all!

I think my plan is to head down to my local shop (Tredz, Swansea) and check the Giant Trance 650b 2014 out in the flesh. I'm just thinking as a new(ish) person to the sport, the local support, free 1st service, ability to test, 0% finance, etc may give the Giant the edge over the Canyon.

Perhaps if I go for the Giant, it brings my riding along, and I get even more hooked my 3rd bike (in years to come) could be a Canyon.

I'll keep you posted, any more advice welcome.

Chris, that Titus looks like a beast! Online only? I don't think 160 would be too much.

J

chrisrobs

They have a shop in Rotherham just outside Sheffield.

You wont get a better fork at the price. Im not sure what type of riding you do?

benpinnick

Personally I'd hold onto my money until the new yt comes out.

Kowalski675

chrisrobs wrote:

the titus el guapo looks like a bargain

It is.

KevChallis

Have you decided yet? I am (wife depending) in the same position as you, max budget £1600, why has nobody said the Trek? Also does anybody know the weight of the Norco, I can't seem to find the weight of a small or medium frame anywhere.

The weight of the trance also, I have only seen at 14.1Kg, is this heavy for a full sus?