Sub £1500 FS MTB for xc and trail. Suggestions on a postcard

SHAWPYE

Good morning all,

After 9 years it is time to retire my Kona Kikapu Deluxe and upgrade.

I have a budget of £1500 for a full suspension bike suitable for xc and trail. So far I have shortlisted a Vitus and Canyon but I'm put off by buying them online as would like to demo a bike before purchase.

Canyon Nerve AL 7.0 https://www.canyon.com/en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3572
Vitus Escarpe 275 VR http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... prod107039

Can I have opinions on these bikes and suggestions of other bikes I should be looking at?

Thanks

bikes`n`guns

Trek Fuel EX7 maybe ? certainly easy to get a test ride on a Trek

Bishbosh10

Trance or Anthem?

The Rookie

Giant over the Trek EX any day.....

Giant do extended test rides.
http://www.test-ride.co.uk/

A club member borrowed a bike for a whole week.

Antm81

oxoman wrote:

I understand that you can remove a 20mm spacer in the front forks to increase the travel to 120mm like my SX.

May be possible, but newer Rockshox with the new solo air system, no longer use travel spacers as it block the port between +ve and -ve, a new air shaft is needed to alter the travel, although it's not too hard a job to do.

Another fan of Giant bikes here and can confirm the Trance is a good frame, as mentioned it won't climb as well as the anthem but should be more stable once pointed down. There's also the Stance as well which is the middle ground in terms of travel, although I believe it doesn't use the Maestro suspension design.

Beardface

I'll preach Canyon, as I have the Nerve 7. It's an incredible bike for the money and is perfect for trail/xc riding.

I agree with the other comments though, the Trance is a superb bike too, I have a friend with one that loves his. Even better in the sense that you can test it before you buy.

Also, this seems like a bargain for the money, if you don't mind a 29'er:
https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBTIELG29X ... ntain-bike

dirkpitt74

Other than those above how about the BIRD AERIS 3?

rockmonkeysc

Giant Anthem is superb. I had one and loved it, I would certainly have another.
I find German bikes such as Canyon and Cube rather lifeless and dull to ride. Nothing actually wrong butlike my Ford Mondeo, perfectly good but hardly inspiring or exciting.

JBA

Boardman Pro 650B FS?
Had a look at one today in Halfords and it looked like a very good, well specced bike.

Beardface

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Giant Anthem is superb. I had one and loved it, I would certainly have another.
I find German bikes such as Canyon and Cube rather lifeless and dull to ride. Nothing actually wrong butlike my Ford Mondeo, perfectly good but hardly inspiring or exciting.

I'm sure it's different for everybody, but I've found the opposite. I enjoy my Canyon more than when I've had a go on a friends Trance (it's still a great bike though), but it could be because I'm used to my bike and it's capabilities. I've actually found I'm pushing myself more on my Canyon than any other bike I've owned (mainly Spesh, Marin & On One).

I'll agree with the Cube though, I had a 29" hardtail and didn't get on with it at all. The same goes for a Boardman FS I had for a little while.

buddy_club

http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBSCPr ... D=14495036

Thanks to the poor euro works out at about £1450

buddy_club

http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBSCPr ... D=14495036

Thanks to the poor euro works out at about £1450

SHAWPYE

Thanks all for the feedback and suggestions. Gives me a lot to go on.
Going to visit a couple of shops tomorrow to view some of the suggestions.

Thanks

felix.london

less than £1,100...

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-slide-130-29-wl-18201/wg_id-802

Seems like a bargain to me

dirkpitt74

How about the VITUS Escarpe?.

Good reviews, and also won the under £1600 category in one of the magazines.