what bike?! advice needed for a complete beginner

donslow

Hey all, long story short, I have (or will have very soon once insurance company pays up) £500 to spend on a new bike

I'm not the most educated in all types of bike or specs so largely go on recommendations, so please be gentle and excuse my ignorance on certain matters

I'm looking for a do it all, or as close as possible, jump/mountain bike

I have only really ever ridden jump bikes, my last, and absolute favourite so far was my M size cannondale chase 1 2008 in green, I would really love to own another one of these but alas, can't find any for sale, at least from sellers willing to hold on to it in till my insurance payment clears

What I like about this bike is the fact that I have taken it everywhere, trails, off road, street, commuting, xc and long distance road riding, literally everywhere, i love the smaller frame and the ease on which i can throw it around at or on anything, and have been real happy with it in all cases, I'm wondering if you knowledgeable people of the bike world might be able to suggest a mountain/jump bike that would be a good alternative to a chase

So really, I'm after some recommendations of bikes

I am roughly 5'6 tall with a (give or take) 27" inside leg

Am I looking at a jump style frame specced as a mountain bike (which i believe is the idea of the chase?! Correct me if I'm wrong)
What bikes should I be looking at in your opinion?!

Any help/advice/suggestions are greatly appreciated

The Rookie

A jump bike is a very specific bike and not much use for anything else, a jump bike is a type of mountain bikes as are all the other types of MTB (such as AM, Enduro, DH etc).

The Chase isn't a full on jump bike as it's geared.

Two options similar to the Chase are a Scott Voltage YZ and a GT Chucker, take a look at those, that or look at something like the Specialised AM models (P1 and P2), but they are poor value for money.

rockmonkeysc

For what you describe a Charge Blender would be spot on. Excellent bikes, designed for 4x so great over jumps but reasonable as an xc bike as well.
There is one on ebay item number 231185937108

donslow

Thank you so far for your comments, done a quick Google search for 4x bikes and I think that seems to be what I am after

What's the difference generally between mountain bike, jump bike and 4x bike's?

Chunkers1980

Setup - geometry and how that fits what what you bolt on.

Strength where needed.

Extra/different connnection gubbins like dropouts, bash guards ect ect.

donslow

Would it be fair to say that a 4x bike is a jump but ke with mountain bike parts, a lot of the ones I have seen on Google appear to have that look about them

Charge blender looks nice, are there any other 4x bikes that I should look at in your opinions

rockmonkeysc

A 4x bike is similar to a jump bike but with slacker, more stable geometry and the frame is slightly longer.
There are lots of other 4x bikes. Have a look at Identiti Krisis as well. The Blender is better though.

donslow

Thank you all so much so far for your advice, keep it coming....

Have emailed the guy with the blender on eBay, if he is willing to let me buy it now and wait until my cheque arrives/clears I think I'll go for that

Oh, and providing the frame size is suitable for me hahaha think a small or medium frame on this bike would be OK for me, at about 5'6 with roughly (give or take) 27" inside leg, does that sound about right do you think?!

paul.skibum

DO you really have a 27" inside leg at 5'6? That is a short leg and long body combo - how do you buy pants! Sorry Trousers.

I am 5'6 but 29" leg and I tend to err toward smaller bikes although for some makes a medium is needed (Santa Cruz).

I suspet you will be lucky to find someone on ebay who will take a buy it now but on a promise of payment sometime when a cheque arrives....but the bike Rockmonkey linked to looks pretty decent.

donslow

I buy trousers from mothercare hahaha maybe I'm measuring wrong, either that or my tape measure is missing numbers

Have asked him and promised a £50 good will gesture deposit, all I can do now is wait for a reply, what's the worst he can say?! No, f*** off cheeky b******! Hahaha