Time for an Upgrade!

drewesq

Hi all

I know these topics are done to death but the time has come for me to update my MTB!

My current ride is a Carrera Vulcan (2010) which I bought second hand. It has served me well but I just want something new and preferably a 29er! My GF is going to have the outgoing Vulcan in an attempt to get her into MTBing.

I mainly ride on Dartmoor, Exmoor or the Quantocks on trails, these can be quite rocky with a number of fords, so cross country?

I know that the Voodoo Binzango is HT of the year, but I just don't want one! The choice is between:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Trail-5-Mountain-Bike-2015-Hardtail-MTB_73567.htm
or
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/cube-aim-sl-29-black-and-grey-2015-mountain-bike.html
These 2 bikes are very similar spec and with the Cube obviously being a teeny bit cheaper. I have a 'dale cross bike and I really like it so at the moment I am swaying towards that. The components aren't that good on either but they'll both be an upgrade on what I currently have.

Or.... I did test ride one of these and I loved it: http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=3214&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7_mrBRDH4Y2UjLHEmfcBEiQA8OTHfzhfaEhw1RxXHOJLKguiOSaBrc7N5-eBqW0SfOQCRN4aAruv8P8HAQ
it is twice the price, but is it twice the bike??

Any opinions welcome, or alternative suggestions...

Thanks

cooldad

I'd just keep the Vulcan.

Neither of those are really worthwhile. The Orange is better, but you can do a lot better for a lot less.

But you know that and if you don't want to, then it doesn't really matter.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628679#p19628679]cooldad[/url] wrote:

Neither of those are really worthwhile. The Orange is better, but you can do a lot better for a lot less.

Why are they not worthwhile? You don't think they're better than the Vulcan? When you say I could do a lot better for less you're probably referring to the Voodoo? Could you suggest a different bike that would be a lot better for less?

The Rookie

They are certainly no better than the Vulcan, what makes you think they are? Hence not an upgrade and not worthwhile, the Bizango is much much better that either of those pieces of tat, but that's waht happens when you pay £100 of your £500 on the name. The CW is a much better bike than those (as it should be), but no better than the Bizango for more money.

Different bike that is better for less - The Bizango.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628728#p19628728]The Rookie[/url] wrote:

They are certainly no better than the Vulcan, what makes you think they are? Hence not an upgrade and not worthwhile, the Bizango is much much better that either of those pieces of tat, but that's waht happens when you pay £100 of your £500 on the name. The CW is a much better bike than those (as it should be), but no better than the Bizango for more money.

Different bike that is better for less - The Bizango.

I hear ya! I was hoping for alternatives to the Bizango, similar spec for similar money?

cooldad

Little known fact.

At one point Voodoo were virtually considered a boutique bike. Originally designed by Joe Murray, not only one of the best early MTB racers, but also a designer for Marin, Kona, Merlin as well as Voodoo.

Just because they are sold by Halfords doesn't mean they are rubbish, just very good value.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628738#p19628738]cooldad[/url] wrote:

Little known fact.

At one point Voodoo were virtually considered a boutique bike. Originally designed by Joe Murray, not only one of the best early MTB racers, but also a designer for Marin, Kona, Merlin as well as Voodoo.

Just because they are sold by Halfords doesn't mean they are rubbish, just very good value.

Hmmmm, that's all fair enough. I just looked again at the Halfords website and dislike the new green paint job less that the grey, the grey was starting to grow on me!

The other thing that annoys me is Halfords' finance = 9.9% when most other bike shops do 0%....

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/cube-attention-29-grey-and-red-2015-mountain-bike.html

This is the same price of the Bizango, but the fork isn't as good. Isn't the group set better though? Sorry, I'm not that hot on component specs...

cooldad

Maybe because the markup of other shops gives them some fat to offer 'free' finance?

rockmonkeysc

I also ride Exmoor and Quantocks and would go more trail bike than pure xc. The fun bits in both areas tend to involve rocky chutes, roots and fun twisty goodness so slacker geometry and a touch more suspension is going to help.
The Voodoo would be excellent as would the On One Parkwood. For even more fun I would look at the On One 45650B
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BX9/on-one-45650b-sram-x9-mountain-bike

cooldad

Double the price of the original links though

drewesq

Right then. I just got back from local halfords. They only had last year's model (which I like) but the 20" frame is the only one they have and it feels a bit big. Does the larger wheels mean I need a smaller frame? I'm 5'11" and my current MTB is a 20" frame with 26" wheels.

I have to say the bike does look MUCH nicer in real life! I can't find anything else at that price point which matches those specs.

rockmonkeysc

Wheel size makes no difference to the frame size you need.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628943#p19628943]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

Wheel size makes no difference to the frame size you need.

OK, thanks

drewesq

Thanks for all your help so far...

What if I was to put a bit more dollar into it? What could I look at for say £1200?

cooldad

Loads.

kajjal

Try second hand for a much better deal. Plenty of bikes no more than two years old, barely ridden at half their original price.

FishFish

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628782#p19628782]drewesq[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628738#p19628738]cooldad[/url] wrote:

Hmmmm, the grey was starting to grow on me!

...happens to all of us.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19629142#p19629142]FishFish[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628782#p19628782]drewesq[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628738#p19628738]cooldad[/url] wrote:

Hmmmm, the grey was starting to grow on me!

Very good!

...happens to all of us.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628842#p19628842]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

I also ride Exmoor and Quantocks and would go more trail bike than pure xc. The fun bits in both areas tend to involve rocky chutes, roots and fun twisty goodness so slacker geometry and a touch more suspension is going to help.
The Voodoo would be excellent as would the On One Parkwood. For even more fun I would look at the On One 45650B
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BX9/on-one-45650b-sram-x9-mountain-bike

Hi mate

Thanks for the links, I'm not sure about the entry level SRAM though?

I did find this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sentier-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod120719# Please could I get opinions?

rockmonkeysc

Entry level SRAM isn't brilliant but it works. The shifters might only last you a year but the rest should last as well as Shimano Deore.

JBA

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628962#p19628962]drewesq[/url] wrote:

Thanks for all your help so far...

What if I was to put a bit more dollar into it? What could I look at for say £1200?

For that money I would have a serious look at a Bird Zero.
Great spec for the money and they are getting glowing reviews.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19629242#p19629242]JBA[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19628962#p19628962]drewesq[/url] wrote:

Thanks for all your help so far...

What if I was to put a bit more dollar into it? What could I look at for say £1200?

For that money I would have a serious look at a Bird Zero.
Great spec for the money and they are getting glowing reviews.

That looks like an awesome bike, I saw it reviewed in MBR but I think it lost out to the other bike (I forget what it was). I can't see anywhere on the website if they do finance, at that price £1310 it would probably be a deal breaker...

drewesq

No one have any opinion on Vitus bikes?

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19629344#p19629344]drewesq[/url] wrote:

No one have any opinion on Vitus bikes?

They are cheap but they do have some nasty looking paint schemes.

drewesq

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19629383#p19629383]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19629344#p19629344]drewesq[/url] wrote:

No one have any opinion on Vitus bikes?

They are cheap but they do have some nasty looking paint schemes.

Agreed, but good spec for the money, on par with the Bizango? I'm coming round to the Bizango and have even got one on order since I'm not sure the 20" felt right when I tried it the other day, it was last year's model but need to check the 18" which I think will be better.

I'm 5'11 but kind of long legs and short torso....