650b hardtail under £1600....

KevChallis

I have used the search bar and can't find anything specific to this, hence the topic, hopefully I haven't missed it and I'm not going to get an ear bashing lol...

I have been given a budget by the wife (yeah I said that!!) of £1600 for a new bike, originally I was going to get a FS, but I think really, I should hone my skills in with a ht first, this bike will have to be the right one, as it will be with me for 3 or 4 years.

I am looking at 650b as having ridden my mates boardman comp, the wheel size felt a lot better than another friends 29er.

My question is what bikes are available, or what should I be looking at, I know the obvious choice is the Whyte 905

http://www.formbycycles.co.uk/whyte-905-hardtail-mountain-bike.html?SID=aueptfgf90mh6tilm5ihuin7a6

Or an orange crush

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/13370/orange-crush-275-hardtail-mountain-bike-2014

What others are there I should be looking at?

Riding wise, it will be trail centres, and a few bike parks, any help would be appreciated

Thanks

kammybear

As a n00b that moved to full suss lately, if you have £1600 to spend, skip the HT and go right to a Full Suss. You'll save money in the long run and your skills will catch up to the bike and you'll fill in rather than spend £1600 now and £1600 later.

If you are hell bent on a HT then I'm biased towards the cubes. My bike last year was a LTD Pro. Awesome bike for £1000. Or you can go for a Cube Reaction for around £1600...think it's carbon at that price as well.

If I had £1600 to spend on my first bike 3 years ago, I would have gone full suss!

I feel like a paulscycles shill but I was eyeing up their deals for months as they're pretty good!

http://paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p5187/CA ... YLL-3-2013

This'll keep you busy for years. It's not a 650b but having owned 2 650b bikes...I can't really tell them apart from a 26er really...

Kowalski675

I'd rather have full suss, but if someone gave me £1600 and said I had to buy a 650b hardtail or they'd tweak my nipples really hard, then it would be the Whyte 905.

Kowalski675

kammybear wrote:

http://paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p5187/CANNONDALE-JEKYLL-3-2013

This'll keep you busy for years. It's not a 650b but having owned 2 650b bikes...I can't really tell them apart from a 26er really...

My LBS aren't gonna sell the one they've got stuck to their showroom floor to anyone that's seen the price on that link.

kammybear

Exactly.

It's a pretty good deal. I'm happy with what I've got but my original plan was to get that bike. OP, take a look at that, then look at the bikes you've linked to. The Cannondale murders them. If you want a hardtail, just lock out the rear :-p

KevChallis

I am not hell bent on hard tail, just thought that is the best place to learn properly before adding the rear sus in.

I couldn't quite believe when she said it was ok either, I had to get it in writing and get her to sign it haha

KevChallis

I a, still pretty new, what makes the Jekyll so good?

I was wanting a 650b ht though, unless there are any serious competitors in the fs world lol

kammybear

It's good to have an open mind!

You see that start date on my profile? I've bought 3 hardtails since then and wish i'd just got a full suss now. The bug will bite. Last thing you want to do is spend £1600 on a HT and then see everyone else down Cannock on their full suss monsters and then try getting another £1600 card from the wifey

Check out some reviews of that Jekyll. The only thing they fault it for is the fox 32 forks as being "flexy". My new bike has them and they seem fine! Just remember, we're n00bies and humans

Another bike I like the look of is the Cube Sting at £1400 but can't seem to find the 650b listed anywhere anymore unless its the ladies!

Stay away from 29ers though...IMO they're gash, had one for a year :x

kammybear

KevChallis wrote:

I a, still pretty new, what makes the Jekyll o good?

1. Frame is very good
2. 150mm travel that you can switch to 90mm for going uphill easier. Bit of a gimmick, no one really bothers.
3. Decent brand
4. Components are pretty good as well. SLX/XT while the Whyte and Orange have a lot of basic deore parts.
5. Brakes are pretty good as well? (I prefer shimano)
6. Looks awesome
7. Jekyll is a very well respected bike...that was used to retail for over 3k last year and now is within your budget...2013 was only 2 months :P

Kowalski675

kammybear wrote:

Exactly.

It's a pretty good deal. I'm happy with what I've got but my original plan was to get that bike.

I like the 2013 Trance X2 they have on there now - looked at one of those at my LBS and wanted it when I bought my Boardman, but didn't want to stretch to £1800.

kammybear

For personal reasons unrelated to the quality of bikes, I will forever hate Giant bikes with a vengeance.

Kowalski675

kammybear wrote:

For personal reasons unrelated to the quality of bikes, I will forever hate Giant bikes with a vengeance.

Why's that?

kammybear

Someone I hate very very much rides a Trance....

cooldad

Seriously?
Diddums.

cooldad

Although to be fair I hate most Audi drivers, and I wouldn't drive one because then people would know I was a d1ck, instead of just suspecting it.

KevChallis

Can we get back to my question? Not being rude lol, just interested in people's views

mcnultycop

Honing skills on a hardtail is a bit daft. Why not hone your skills on a rigid, or a unicycle.

Jekyll looks good for the cash, or look at Canyons or Radons.

kammybear

KevChallis wrote:

Can we get back to my question? Not being rude lol, just interested in people's views

I think that Cannondale has killed another what bike topic! I surprised they still have it in stock considering the amount of times its been posted her in the last 2 months

Canyon will get you most value for money in terms of bang up to date top notch components. Downside being a long wait for the bike and not being able to sit on one first.

Another option is the Scott Genius LT40 also at pauls cycles. Bit older than the cannondale but is a very awesome bike with 180mm travel front and rear! I nearly bought one last year but (un)luckily failed the credit check

KevChallis

That's another 26er and I don't think I need 180mm travel lol

jfry94

kammybear wrote:

KevChallis wrote:

I a, still pretty new, what makes the Jekyll o good?

1. Frame is very good
2. 150mm travel that you can switch to 90mm for going uphill easier. Bit of a gimmick, no one really bothers.
3. Decent brand
4. Components are pretty good as well. SLX/XT while the Whyte and Orange have a lot of basic deore parts.
5. Brakes are pretty good as well? (I prefer shimano)
6. Looks awesome
7. Jekyll is a very well respected bike...that was used to retail for over 3k last year and now is within your budget...2013 was only 2 months :P

1, Frame also has lifetime warranty.
2, i use the travel adjust as its right by the shifter its quick to use. but then again there are no real hard trails near me. if i lived somewhere there was i probably wouldn't use it to much.
5, my only qualm with the brakes are the leavers feel a little plasticy to the touch. not a problem for me i usually wear gloves.
7, its the same exact bike as the 2014 model

The Northern Monkey

The Jeckyll is a bit of a bruiser though at over 30lb.

The Nerve AM+ is just beats the Jeckyll at pretty much every component and is near as makes no difference the same price.
https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbike ... ab-reiter2

or the Nerve AL 7 - 650b wheels, under budget and still a better spec than the Jeckyll. Only 120mm suspension though.
https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbike ... ab-reiter2

Rose Bikes are worth a look too.

KevChallis

Yeah, I have been looking at canyon, only problem is sizing, I have no idea what size I would need, plus the wait for them is AGES lol

kammybear

The Nerve AM is pretty good value! I'd be more tempted by the Spectral though as it's a newer frame!