Christmas Spending Money

glasuni03
glasuni03 Posts: 22
edited December 2014 in MTB buying advice
Merry Christmas,

I have been fortunate that Santa left me £1500 to buy a new hardtail mtb. The options I'm thinking about being a complete beginner to mtb'ing are:

1. Buy the Orange Crush 2015 or Bird Zero 2015 https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/crush-am, http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero.html

2. Buy one of the following frames and add the Fox Float 130mm CDT fork, shimano components etc.


http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROO45650B/ ... 650b-frame
http://www.santacruzbikes.co.uk/Chameleon/
http://shop.birdmtb.com/framesets.html
https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/crush-am

If I build the bike up I can get decent components from Chain Reaction Cycles. Is the fork going to be decent for the geometry of the frame?

I am a short rider with "29 inch inside length and 5ft 5" in height. Looking to do trail centres and general rides (no jumps etc)
2015 is going going to be a great year for getting into cycling :)

Your thoughts would be appreciated

Comments

  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I'd take a Rockshox fork over a Fox every time.

    You'll almost certainly struggle to match a complete bike by buying as components as you just don't have the buying power of a manufacturer, although it can be a good way to get started if you intend to upgrade later, buy buying those parts really at the bottom end.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Of the two bikes, the Bird is superior in every component.(*)
    And if you give them a call Ben will go through everything with you - effectively you can have a custom build for that amount, and his advice will be genuine for what you need. He's a very straight guy, a bike fanatic and not a bullshitty salesman.

    (*) Disclosure as they are friends, but my statement is true.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • Ferrals
    Ferrals Posts: 785
    Another similar option would be Whyte 901 (or maybe even the 2014 905 if you can find it on discount ) with money left over for a dropper post.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Except to upgrade to similar spec would push it way more expensive. Sektor and X7 isn't in the same league.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools