Where did all these bikes come from? Which one?

Arizona

It's been a while since my last mountain bike, about 23 years! That was a Shogun Trailblazer I believe. Shogun don't seem to be doing much here in the UK now. I have been looking on the forum and read a fair bit of stuff thus far but there is still a lot of information out there. I have made a list of bikes I am interested in. I will use for short distance commuting, trails, pulling the kids in a carrier, and hopefully on occasion some proper off road 'mountain biking'. I will be making use of 0percent finance and spending around the infamous 500 pound mark.

I have come with the following in no particular order. Please offer your view, or your top three from the list below. Thanking you in advance. I'll get lInks up in a minute.

1. Cube Acid 2013 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-acid-26-hardtail-bike-2013/rp-prod111915

2. GT Aggressor 1. http://www.gtbicycles.com/fra/2014/bikes/mountain/recreational-hardtails/2014-aggressor-1-0-hydr

3. Giant Talon 4 27.5. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.talon.27.5.4/15005/66627/

4. Giant Revel 0 2014 http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.revel.0/15007/66774/

5. Giant Revel 1 2013 http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2013.giant.revel.1.black.white.red/11861/56892/

6. Felt 7 Sixty 27.5 http://m.feltbicycles.com/productcatalog/product/2/58909

7. Cannondale 6 2014 or 7 2013 http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/catalog/product/view/id/31686/s/trail-6/category/931/
http://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Cannondale/Trail-7,11828#product-specs

8. Scott Aspect 740 27.5 http://www.scott-sports.com/global/en/products/234229009/bike-aspect-740-black-white-xl/;jsessionid=DEA72147418A0D9B71504C3A80FC226E

9. Scott Aspect 940 2013 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/aspect-940-2013-mountain-bike-ec042363#features

10. Trek 4500 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/4500-d-2013-mountain-bike-ec042071

The Northern Monkey

Really need to narrow that list down and provide some links to the bikes that youre interested in.

This post may help..
viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12875967

Arizona

No that post is not what I'm after but thanks.

BigAl

The link for the Cube is £639 - which is quite a lot more than £500

How flexible is the budget?

The Cube looks okay. I haven't looked at all the bikes you've listed - but they're not what I'd be looking at for £500 (ish)

Take a look at the Voodoos at Halfords nd Rickriders at Decathlon would be my advice

supersonic

Apart from the cube none of those are worth having for that money, poor forks let them down.

BigAl

supersonic wrote:

Apart from the cube none of those are worth having for that money, poor forks let them down.

Exactly

Cube looks decent enough - but it ain't £500

Arizona

I can get it for around £500 which is why it's on the list. The link is just a spec. I am limited due to making use of 0% finance.

Arizona

BigAl wrote:

The link for the Cube is £639 - which is quite a lot more than £500

How flexible is the budget?

The Cube looks okay. I haven't looked at all the bikes you've listed - but they're not what I'd be looking at for £500 (ish)

Take a look at the Voodoos at Halfords nd Rickriders at Decathlon would be my advice

Yeah I did look at those and Carrera Fury, but need 0% finance option, no cycle to work scheme...

cooldad

So SS answered your question.

BigAl

Arizona wrote:

I can get it for around £500 which is why it's on the list. The link is just a spec. I am limited due to making use of 0% finance.

Hairy muff,

In which case it looks a good buy.

Try to test one if you can

Arizona

BigAl wrote:

Arizona wrote:

I can get it for around £500 which is why it's on the list. The link is just a spec. I am limited due to making use of 0% finance.

Hairy muff,

In which case it looks a good buy.

Try to test one if you can

Lol

Yeah just double checked, but it's 20 inch only available at that price and I need 18... Think I'll contact them and see if they can get 18 at that price. Not many bike shops where I am or nearby.

And it's not the 29er

Arizona

Also I like the idea of a 27.5 inch then upgrade fork at later date if required...thoughts.

The Rookie

Bad idea, if it has cheap forks, very likely the rest of the components will be cheap and heavy, so you end up upgrading a lot more, better to get a decent rideable bike at the start so either at that budget or spend your 'upgrade' money on a better bike to start with!

Arizona

The Rookie wrote:

Bad idea, if it has cheap forks, very likely the rest of the components will be cheap and heavy, so you end up upgrading a lot more, better to get a decent rideable bike at the start so either at that budget or spend your 'upgrade' money on a better bike to start with!

Thanks

Arizona

All the bikes listed above can't be crap just because they don't have high end gear. Can people with any experience of the bikes above please give a view. Thank you.

Cookeh

Arizona wrote:

All the bikes listed above can't be crap just because they don't have high end gear. Can people with any experience of the bikes above please give a view. Thank you.

At this sort of budget, the fork is arguably one of the most important features, followed by the drivetrain. The specs of those bikes may not be "crap" but they're really not that great and better bikes could be had for the same or even less money.

cooldad

supersonic wrote:

Apart from the cube none of those are worth having for that money, poor forks let them down.

supersonic

Arizona wrote:

All the bikes listed above can't be crap just because they don't have high end gear. Can people with any experience of the bikes above please give a view. Thank you.

It's because they have crap forks which totally and utterly destroy the ride. I spent five years testing bikes for a magazine, and it is unaminous that the fork is by far and away the most important component.

cooldad

A lot of stuff is relatively unimportant, shifters, mechs, cranksets, even most brakes will do the job well enough. But rubbish forks will make any bike nasty to ride. They don't have to be stuopidly expensive, just properly damped so they don't act like pogo sticks.
Rockshox Recon or Suntour Epicon (maybe Raidon) are about the lowest you'd want to go - still good forks but not particularly expensive. Maybe RS XC32, but I've never tried those - supposed to be the Tora replacements which were OK.

Arizona

Cookeh wrote:

At this sort of budget, the fork is arguably one of the most important features, followed by the drivetrain. The specs of those bikes may not be "crap" but they're really not that great and better bikes could be had for the same or even less money.

Which bikes?

Arizona

supersonic wrote:

Arizona wrote:

All the bikes listed above can't be crap just because they don't have high end gear. Can people with any experience of the bikes above please give a view. Thank you.

It's because they have crap forks which totally and utterly destroy the ride. I spent five years testing bikes for a magazine, and it is unaminous that the fork is by far and away the most important component.

Okay, thanks

Arizona

cooldad wrote:

A lot of stuff is relatively unimportant, shifters, mechs, cranksets, even most brakes will do the job well enough. But rubbish forks will make any bike nasty to ride. They don't have to be stuopidly expensive, just properly damped so they don't act like pogo sticks.
Rockshox Recon or Suntour Epicon (maybe Raidon) are about the lowest you'd want to go - still good forks but not particularly expensive. Maybe RS XC32, but I've never tried those - supposed to be the Tora replacements which were OK.

That is helpful, thank you.

So if I am interested in a 27.5" would it not be reasonable to get what I can afford now, and upgrade the fork when I can?

supersonic

If you can put up with the fork! many are so bad they are worse than a rigid fork as have no damping.

I'd look for the best all round package, based around a good fork, as a bad fork will put you off riding.

BigAl

Arizona wrote:

Cookeh wrote:

At this sort of budget, the fork is arguably one of the most important features, followed by the drivetrain. The specs of those bikes may not be "crap" but they're really not that great and better bikes could be had for the same or even less money.

Which bikes?

From your original list, only the Cube.

Otherwise try he Voodoo Hoodoo & Bizango (29er) from Halfords. Also look at their Boardman range if you can push the budget.
I'd also look at the Rockrider 8.1 from Decathlon

Bishbosh10

If you really need 0% have you considered a 0% credit card? It will give you the flexibility to shop anywhere. You just have to make sure you make regular payments (obviously!)

Arizona

Bishbosh10 wrote:

If you really need 0% have you considered a 0% credit card? It will give you the flexibility to shop anywhere. You just have to make sure you make regular payments (obviously!)

Yeah, it did cross my mind...but don't think will get that one past the OH!

Arizona

BigAl wrote:

Arizona wrote:

From your original list, only the Cube.

Otherwise try he Voodoo Hoodoo & Bizango (29er) from Halfords. Also look at their Boardman range if you can push the budget.
I'd also look at the Rockrider 8.1 from Decathlon

Yeah my first choice is the Boardman Comp HT but out of the price range and no finance,so no Decathalon either.

Arizona

I'm kind of interested to know which has the best frame and components, least weight from my list, but also to include Trek 4700, and Mongoose Tyax Expert. I dont want to narrow my choice down to fork only, which is one bike the Cube Acid, I'd rather go out and upgrade the fork or do a deal with the shop to upgrade the fork from the start.

Cookeh

Its not really my place to say, and I may well get told off by mods for saying this, but if you have to buy a £500 item with financing, have you perhaps considered that you would be better off putting the money you have to one side? If you need financing for what is, in comparison to other items/issues - such a broken down car, boiler, what have you - a small amount, you may be better saving it for a rainy day and/or saving until you are in a better financial position to buy a bike?

Again, not really my place to say and apologies if it offends!

Cookeh

Arizona wrote:

I'm kind of interested to know which has the best frame and components, least weight from my list, but also to include Trek 4700, and Mongoose Tyax Expert. I dont want to narrow my choice down to fork only, which is one bike the Cube Acid, I'd rather go out and upgrade the fork or do a deal with the shop to upgrade the fork from the start.

Presuming you mean a 2013 Trek 4700D, it again has a crap fork. I know you don't want to narrow your options down to fork only, but it is essentially the most important feature at this price - it will determine if the bike is crap to ride or not.

Another bike worth looking at is the Calibre .50, it has a reasonable fork and is £500, I do not, however, know if its available on financing.

philcubed

Hi, I bought a Cube Acid 2011, and it is a great bike. I ride mostly cross country, but have ridden Afan, done some rides in the Lake District (inc Whinlatter), and downhilled (cautiously!) in France (Metabief) on it. I haven't tried a more expensive bike, but wouldn't swap it. Main upgrade I've done is change the dart3 fork (think this is same as the rockshox XC32) for a Reba RL. I swapped it after 2 years riding on the dart, it was starting to get a bit sticky but still was good to ride on, though the reba is miles better.