What bike for £1750

Coleby1007

Hi all,

I'm after some advice. My place of work have been running a 'cycle' week for the past few days and today I won £1750 to spend on a bike. It can be spent on a new or second hand bike the only stipulations are im not allowed to sell it in the first 12 months and any amount unspent on the bike is lost.

So I've ridden a bit before nothing too exciting though.

Any advice, pointers and recommendations are greatly appreciated as I have no idea what to look for or where to start.

Thanks

cooldad

Depends what/where/how you want to ride really.

Do you have a bike currently?

Coleby1007

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19653294#p19653294]cooldad[/url] wrote:

Depends what/where/how you want to ride really.

Do you have a bike currently?

Hi, yeah I currently have a pretty decent road bike. I'm looking at getting into some decent mountain biking, there are some very good off road tracks nearby and I'd like to join a local club. I will probably sell my road bike to put some extra toward this but it will be mainly off road

RockmonkeySC

Are you limited where you can buy from?

codfather

£1750 could buy you literally anything from a rigid steel hardtail to a full blown 650b downhill rig. Do you have a sort of suspension travel bracket you're looking for?

RockmonkeySC

You'd struggle to get a 650b downhill bike at that price, not at full price anyway.

codfather

New YT Tues runs at £1700 or so, even at full price. Current offer is £1400 or something like that

loudog

all i can say is you lucky lucky b*stard!

Coleby1007

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19654278#p19654278]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

Are you limited where you can buy from?

Hi,

No not limited where I can buy from. Have been told I can buy brand new or second hand. Just as long as I keep it a year and log my riding activity

Coleby1007

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19654309#p19654309]Codfather[/url] wrote:

£1750 could buy you literally anything from a rigid steel hardtail to a full blown 650b downhill rig. Do you have a sort of suspension travel bracket you're looking for?

Nothing specific really, just thought I would see what I can get for my money. From my research it seems that amount is at the starter bracket for a full suspension bike, whereas its a more top end hard tail. Is that right?

I'd like to get a decent full Susp bike that I can take on some fun off road trails

Coleby1007

I like the 2015 specialized camber evo.

http://m.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/camber-fsr-evo-2015-29er-mountain-bike-ec070590

Have posted the link above.

If anyone has had experience using this or would like to comment on the spec it would be greatly received.

Thanks again

buddy_club

Its a decent bike, better spec on something like a canyon or a radon however. Perhaps consider a Nerve or Spectral?
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/nerve/

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/spectral/
If it were me i'd have one of these:
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/spectral/spectral-al-6-0.html

Just a few things to think about. In general specialised offer less value for money than direct buy brands such as Canyon or Radon. Another brand/bike worth considering would be the Bird Aeris - british made and still high value with a similar setup to canyon and nerve.

The Rookie

Given you don't really know what you want, I'd suggest a mid travel 650B wheeled FS, with decent bits that will be effective for XC use (except for racing) through to fairly aggressive use This ticks the boxes very nicely
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/series/anthem.sx.27.5/19237/
or
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/nerve/nerve-al-8-9.html

RockmonkeySC

That Giant Trance SX linked above is excellent. That or the Giant Trance would be my choice .

Joebristol

To narrow it down maybe try to test ride a couple of bikes. You have 2 main wheel sizes now 29" and 27.5" (650b). I think if you're very tall then a 29er is a good choice, but if not, then try to test ride each wheel size. I've had a go on a couple of 29ers and whilst they do roll better over bumps, they also feel harder to turn into corners and the wheels can feel a bit twangy. I found the 27.5" wheel bike I tried more nimble, whilst still rolling faster than a traditional 26" wheel bike.

I had no choice but to purchase from Halfords, but the bike I got from there rides really well and has a pretty decent spec. Curent price is £1599.99. Although you might find some thing with a better spec for your full £1750. Although could you spend the extra on bike accessories? If so you could go for a dropper post or clipless pedals with the extra.

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtb/fs_pro650b.html
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mountain-bike-pro-full-suspension-650b

Only thing with the above bike is that halford's mechanics are very hit and miss.

The Rookie

Your height has nothing to do with the best wheel size, that depends on usage and preferences!

RockmonkeySC

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19655847#p19655847]The Rookie[/url] wrote:

Your height has nothing to do with the best wheel size, that depends on usage and preferences!

This is correct.

Coleby1007

Thanks for all your replies.

I went and had a look at a few today and managed to try out a couple.

I really liked the lapierre zesty 427 that was reduce from £2500 to £2100.

Has anyone had experience riding one of these before?? There aren't many reviews I can find.

Thanks again

RockmonkeySC

The Zesty is OK but very similar build to the Trance which is only £1899. The Trance has a frame at least as good as the Zesty and a better warranty.

xyra123

I've got the 2015 Camber Evo, had it couple of months now and absolutely love it.

Rides beautifully and has taken everything I do (which admittedly is rather tame) in its stride and has really got me out riding regularly again because it is so much fun to ride. Only problem I had was the fork lockout was faulty when I got it, but Sram replaced that under warranty.

Edit: I looked at the direct buy brands, but was rather nervous about sizing (I'm 5'7 which is between small and medium on a lot of brands - I ended up on a small, which I am in theory right at the top/just above the sizing for but feels good to me)

Lungs94

What about a YT Capra AL 1? or a Trek Slash 7, I know they're over your budget but if you can bump it up to £2100 for a Lappierre you can do it for the Capra or even the Trek, it would also help if you tell us what type of riding you'll be doing

ElliotR

I've got a similar budget and am seriously considering one of these but am holding out for the 2016 models due in the next two months or so:
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/17963/cube-stereo-140-hpa-650b-mountain-bike-2015

Angus Young

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19668661#p19668661]ElliotR[/url] wrote:

I've got a similar budget and am seriously considering one of these but am holding out for the 2016 models due in the next two months or so:
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/17963/cube-stereo-140-hpa-650b-mountain-bike-2015

Wait till the 2016 comes out and snap up a 2015 at a bargain price. The 2015 is not going to be any less of a bike than it is now and the 2016 is unlikely to be a revelation in comparison, so there's potentially hundreds to be saved. You could even spend the savings on upgrades and possibly surpass the newer bike. I saved over £500 on my Kona by taking the previous year's model and, as far as I can see, the newer bike is no better.

ElliotR

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19668774#p19668774]Angus Young[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19668661#p19668661]ElliotR[/url] wrote:

I've got a similar budget and am seriously considering one of these but am holding out for the 2016 models due in the next two months or so:
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/17963/cube-stereo-140-hpa-650b-mountain-bike-2015

Wait till the 2016 comes out and snap up a 2015 at a bargain price. The 2015 is not going to be any less of a bike than it is now and the 2016 is unlikely to be a revelation in comparison, so there's potentially hundreds to be saved. You could even spend the savings on upgrades and possibly surpass the newer bike. I saved over £500 on my Kona by taking the previous year's model and, as far as I can see, the newer bike is no better.

Great Advise Angus and that'd be my perfect scenario so now it's a waiting game...