Which bike?

daleo86
daleo86 Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in MTB buying advice
Hi All,

Looking at finally upgrading to a full suspension and I've narrowed it down to four. Just looking for a bit of advice from owners or people who know a bit more than me!

1 - 2014 Giant Trance 3

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Trance-27 ... _66530.htm

2 - 2013 Giant Trance 2

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

3 - Boardman 650b Pro

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

4 - Trek Fuel EX 8

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec042092

My budget is around £1500. Usual riding is Trail Centres (mostly Cannock) and the occasional trek over the Peak District.

Any advice welcome. Thanks.

Comments

  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    The boardman is the best option out of those, as the trance 2 and trek have nasty fox forks, and the trance 3 just isn't that great.
    For a bit of extra cash I would get this however http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBTIROCKX5/ ... untainbike
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    Thanks for the reply.

    I'm yet to try out a 29er so hadn't really considered one as an option.

    However i have just noticed this - http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBTIELGX5/t ... ntain-bike

    Looks like a bargain unless im missing something?
  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    Too much travel for your needs by far. Sadly they don't make too many short travel 26ers any more :(
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    I would go for either the Trance 2 or Trek. Both have excellent frames and great builds. The fork is a bit of a let down but you would get £300 for it which will nearly get you a much better Rockshox Revelation.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    Completely biased vote for the trance x2.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • muddpuppy
    muddpuppy Posts: 87
    daleo86 wrote:
    Hi All,

    Looking at finally upgrading to a full suspension and I've narrowed it down to four. Just looking for a bit of advice from owners or people who know a bit more than me!

    1 - 2014 Giant Trance 3

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Trance-27 ... _66530.htm

    2 - 2013 Giant Trance 2

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

    3 - Boardman 650b Pro

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

    4 - Trek Fuel EX 8

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec042092

    My budget is around £1500. Usual riding is Trail Centres (mostly Cannock) and the occasional trek over the Peak District.

    Any advice welcome. Thanks.
    canyon spectral 6.0 for abit more than your budget or a canyon nerve 7.0 for bang on your budget
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    Thanks for the advice everyone.

    I have had a look at the Canyons but im a bit put off as i wont be able to see it before i buy. Do you have one? Any experience with returns or anything if things go wrong?
  • chrisw333
    chrisw333 Posts: 695
    Cqc wrote:
    The boardman is the best option out of those, as the trance 2 and trek have nasty fox forks, and the trance 3 just isn't that great.
    For a bit of extra cash I would get this however http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBTIROCKX5/ ... untainbike

    The're more to a bike than comparing the parts bolted onto it like it's top trumps.

    The X2 is a great bike. Buy it.

    Can also add a dropper and be on budget.
  • muddpuppy
    muddpuppy Posts: 87
    daleo86 wrote:
    Thanks for the advice everyone.

    I have had a look at the Canyons but im a bit put off as i wont be able to see it before i buy. Do you have one? Any experience with returns or anything if things go wrong?
    No but I will be ordering one soon hopefully the spectral after reading good reviews about it.
    A friend of mine has last years nerve and has nothing but praise for it. So for me good reviews+ value for money = best buy
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    I would go for either the Trance 2 or Trek. Both have excellent frames and great builds. The fork is a bit of a let down but you would get £300 for it which will nearly get you a much better Rockshox Revelation.

    I think it would be the Trek for me. I tried one briefly and it felt really good, the rear suspension felt like it had far more than its 130mm of travel (although opinion seems to be that the DRCV works less well on the fork). You can feel (in the build quality and finish as well as the way it rides) that it's a design that's been honed and developed over its lifetime, not just thrown together. Yes, it may have "obsolete" 26" wheels, but sometimes evolution is better than revolution, and it's a good deal at that price. The range of five sizes means you can find the one that's just right too if, like me, you're on the cusp between two sizes in a lot of bikes.

    I looked at that Trance X2 in my LBS in summer though too (but haven't ridden one) and I liked that a lot too. Sell the Fox fork unused, put a nice 140mm fork on and enjoy.
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    Thanks for the replies everyone.

    I think i'm going to go with the X2 and upgrade the forks like some of you have said.

    Any thoughts on these - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/rock ... prod109679
  • chrisw333
    chrisw333 Posts: 695
    Personally I would ride it with the current fork and see what you think. It is more than capable of the riding you describe. The CTD may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it works fine - most people would leave in trail mode for 99% of the time anyway.

    I do understand that you will get more selling the brand new fork if you swap at day 1 though.
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    Think ive decided i want to go with the Giant.

    One last question though - i'm pretty sure i'll want to upgrade the forks when i get it, so instead of getting this...

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

    would it be worthwile getting this -

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p494 ... CE-X3-2013

    leaving me a lot more of my budget for upgrades.
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    I would still go for the X2' you get a well specified 10 speed transmission, better brakes and a fox rear shock.

    I rode mine for over a year with the stock fox fork and it was great, with the X2 you can upgrade when you want to rather than because you need to.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    The X2 arrived this week, just back from my first ride around Cannock.

    Wow, what can i say! Yes, im comparing it to a 7 year old hard tail, but its improved my riding no end. Ive stuck with stock everything for now. Think some new tryes and possibly a bar are going to get ordered but had no problems with the suspension, but like i say anything would have been a major improvement to my old bike.

    Thanks everyone for the advice, ill get some photos up when ive cleaned it off!
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    Nice, enjoy it.

    There are a fair few trance owners on here now, so plenty of us have been down the upgrade route as well.m
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Go for the X2. The X3 will need far more than the difference in price spent to make it as good as the X2. The fork and shock are a bit ropey.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • chrisw333
    chrisw333 Posts: 695
    I agree re tyres, I hated the Nobbys on mine. Changed them sharpish.

    The bar is already 710 I think. What do you have in mind?
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    Go for the X2. The X3 will need far more than the difference in price spent to make it as good as the X2. The fork and shock are a bit ropey.

    He's already bought it.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    chrisw333 wrote:
    I agree re tyres, I hated the Nobbys on mine. Changed them sharpish.

    The bar is already 710 I think. What do you have in mind?

    If they are the same bars that came with mine originally then they will be 670.

    I've put 720mm on now with a 60mm stem, much better.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • chrisw333
    chrisw333 Posts: 695
    My 2013 has 700 bars - just measured them!
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    sorry, should have typed 690mm.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    chrisw333 wrote:
    I agree re tyres, I hated the Nobbys on mine. Changed them sharpish.

    The bar is already 710 I think. What do you have in mind?

    I think its 690, but i could be wrong, certainly felt narrow. Was using a nukeproof warhead (cut to 740mm) on my old bike which i was planning on shortening to 720 and swiching over along with a 60mm stem.

    Which typres did you change to? Thinking Hans Damp performance on front and something faster rolling on the back, not sure what yet though.
  • daleo86
    daleo86 Posts: 10
    Sorry looks like i missed out page 2 before posting that.
  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    I'm running Hans Dampf evo's on mine, trailstar front and pacestar rear. They are heavy enough but tonnes of grip.

    I'm going to swap them for something lighter and faster rolling for the summer though, not sure what yet.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • chrisw333
    chrisw333 Posts: 695
    Tyres are a personal thing and depend where you ride. I just put on what I had in the shed - high roller 1 front and Crossmark rear. I quite like that set up for 3 seasons of the year and Mud X for winter.

    That said, I have been thinking about some other combos for this year. Crossmark is quick rolling and generally a decent tyre in my view, but the side walls are very thin so not suited to very rocky or flinty areas I wouldn't think.

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