Potentially buying a new bike / thoughts?

chrissymk7
chrissymk7 Posts: 26
edited April 2015 in MTB buying advice
Hey everyone,

2 years ago I bought this bike for £450

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec044221

I am now however starting to enjoy downhill as well as riding through the forest (uphill/downhill) a lot more!

I was looking at buying another bike with a budget of £1000 but I feel like i'm going in circles and to be honest when reading the spec I can't decide which is better...

These any good?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec071315
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/nor ... e-ec073025

And as bad as it sounds I keep coming back to this although it's probably going to mean saving up some more:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kon ... e-ec103476

Hard tail or full sus I cant decide either as i've heard you can get a much better hard tail for the price of a entry level full sus.

Also happy to hear what you experts recommend !!

Comments

  • JBA
    JBA Posts: 2,852
    Are you limited to Evans for some reason?

    If not, I'd look at something like an Anthem or Trance from Paul's Cycles.
    “Life has been unfaithful
    And it all promised so so much”

    Giant Trance 2 27.5 2016 ¦ Sonder Broken Road 2021¦ Giant Revolt Advanced 2 2019 ¦ Giant Toughtroad SLR 1 2019 ¦ Giant Anthem 3 2015 ¦ Specialized Myka Comp FSR 2009
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    JBA wrote:
    Are you limited to Evans for some reason?

    If not, I'd look at something like an Anthem or Trance from Paul's Cycles.

    No mate just didnt know many other local shops

    They look quite nice bikes, full suspension too!

    The trance ones seem to have higher bars and longer forks which I prefer being 6ft 1
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    If you want to start riding harder (but not proper downhill) then the Trance is a great bike. I wouldnt go for any of those from Evans.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    Thanks for the reply's, very useful - not really heard of those bikes to be honest haha i'll see if anywhere local to me sells them so I can "test drive" one of them before having it delivered to me
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Giant do test rides, just don't tell the shop you wont be buying from them!

    http://www.test-ride.co.uk/
    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.
  • Antm81
    Antm81 Posts: 1,406
    Where are you based? If you are fairly local to Sheffield or you can get up that way, there's a demo weekend, including the Trance this coming weekend (you will probably have to phone to see if you can still book a demo though)

    http://jejcyclefest.co.uk
    Trance 27.5 Hoodoo Her Scott Contessa Daughter's Vulcan
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    Antm81 wrote:
    Where are you based? If you are fairly local to Sheffield or you can get up that way, there's a demo weekend, including the Trance this coming weekend (you will probably have to phone to see if you can still book a demo though)

    http://jejcyclefest.co.uk

    Newcastle upon Tyne mate, bit far just to test drive a bike, found CJ Performance Cycles not too far from me so will try and get down there this weekend.
    The Rookie wrote:
    Giant do test rides, just don't tell the shop you wont be buying from them!

    http://www.test-ride.co.uk/

    Hahaha I'll try not to! Thanks for the link
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    Norco Range Alloy 7.1 2015 any good for £1900?
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Have you doubled your budget? Thats a big bike, hard work up the hills and complete overkill for most trails.
    I wouldn't have one to be honest, even if I was looking for that type of bike. Norco frames are pretty nasty, they ride ok for a year and then seem to fall to pieces.
    I would still say that the Trance would be better. Excellent frame, good kit and great value. Norco don't even get close to Giant for quality.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    Have you doubled your budget? Thats a big bike, hard work up the hills and complete overkill for most trails.
    I wouldn't have one to be honest, even if I was looking for that type of bike. Norco frames are pretty nasty, they ride ok for a year and then seem to fall to pieces.
    I would still say that the Trance would be better. Excellent frame, good kit and great value. Norco don't even get close to Giant for quality.

    I was just throwing it out there, I can borrow the money if needs be, but like you say i'm essentially doubling what I said I started with. Kind of afraid of the "should i have spent a bit more" which is why i'm trying to learn what are good brands and parts of the bike :)

    I've constantly read good reviews about those Giant bikes though, feel quite confident that i'll be happy with one of those :)
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    You won't find a bad review of one.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    Had a go of my mates Norco last night and it feels so much better to ride than my hardtail!

    Spreading the word out now to sell my current bike then looking this weekend at the Giant Trance bikes, found a local shop that sells them :)
  • esa2
    esa2 Posts: 44
    If youre torn between the trance and Anthems theres a decent video on Youtube comparing the differences in the 2. Have to say im loving my new Trance 4 though

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnz7mEE7MtQ
  • chrissymk7
    chrissymk7 Posts: 26
    esa2 wrote:
    If youre torn between the trance and Anthems theres a decent video on Youtube comparing the differences in the 2. Have to say im loving my new Trance 4 though

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnz7mEE7MtQ

    Good video mate thank you

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