Looking to Spend £650 on a MTB

Chicken Nugget

So my plans to buy a Rockrider 560 have failed as they don't have the right size in stock. The next bike up from the 560 is the Rafal 740 and 740 special edition for £650 and £680 (not sure what the difference is between these two models and neither was the Decathlon sales person).

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rafal-740-mountain-bike-id_8314897.html

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rafal-740-ltd-edition-mountain-bike-blue-id_8314898.html

Now this is a chunk of change more than the £400 I was planning on spending so my question is this, is this a good bike for the money and can I get anything else which is as good or better for the same money or less. I am totally new to biking and I just want to make sure I buy a decent bike. Any suggestions or help would be gratefully received.

buddy_club

Still good bikes, still good value for money - at first glance i think the only difference is in the colourway. Also worth considering now is the Voodoo Bizango for £600. Made for slightly more aggressive riding (120mm fork over 100) where the other two are more XC based both in spec and geometry. The voodoo will be more forgiving especially just starting out. Also worth considering is Shimano vs Sram drive-trains - some people prefer one over the other although i expect it will near as make no difference for somebody new to the sport.

Chicken Nugget

Hi Buddy, thanks for the suggestion thats a nice looking bike. I will have a look at my local Halfords, however I was really looking more at a 650B wheel if possible I am 171cm if that makes any difference?

supersonic

The difference in the Rafal models is just the colour. Is an excellent bike for the cash, great fork.

Chicken Nugget

Hi supersonic, I did have a closer look at the Rafal and the ltd edition is slightly heavier and has a different seat post. Not sure if its something i would use but I do like the colour of the ltd slightly more.

How would the 740 stack up against these bikes and are these any good? I also cant seem to find any reviews of the 740 Rafal at all and not many user posts on forums, this seems some what strange?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/rockhopper-expert-evo-2015-650b-mountain-bike-ec070633#features

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p5163/CANNONDALE-TRAIL-SL-1-2013

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sentier-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod120719

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mountain-bike-team-ht-650b?_$ja=kw:drytinder|tsid:40392&cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-PerformanceHorizon-_-drytinder-_-TopLink

StarmanUK

Apologies if I am hijacking OP - Personally I'm in the same position myself with a budge of approximately the same amount. Part of my purchase will be funded by Cyclescheme so my possible retailers are limited.

I was looking at the B'Twin Rafal 740, and also a Bergamont Roxtar 3.0 recommend by a local retailer for approx £500.

Look forward to replies.

buddy_club

That btwin is a million times better than that bergamont in every way possible.

supersonic

That Bergamot has my new award for the worst specced £500 I have ever seen.

The Rafal still looks to be the best bike here.

Chicken Nugget

Lol. Any ideas on the ones I have suggested. Does the 740 beat them? I really want to order one tomorrow if possible.

Add this bike to the list


http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/mtb-hardtail/attention/cube-attention-275-blacknwhitenred-2015/

supersonic

The fork on the Rafal is the best here, by some margin, light, superb damping. Add to that a very light alloy frame (nearly as light as my carbon frame!) and low overall weight, plus great parts. No brainer for me.

Chicken Nugget

Thanks supersonic. I think it's down to two bikes so far. The 740 Rafal and the boardman HT Team 650b which has £50 off plus a further 15% and a possible 10% with the british cycling membership. Only problem is decthlon want me to buy the 740 before I can try it as its a non stock item. I am going to try the bordman today if possible.

Chicken Nugget

Add this one to the list.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sentier-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod120719

penguin_of_death

The Carrera Fury is not quite as pretty as the Boardman, but gives you 2x10 instead of 3x9 and the thru axel version of the fork rather than the qr on the Boardman

Chicken Nugget

Thanks for the suggestion Penguin.

I tried a Boardman 650B today and I must admit I wasn't that blown away but the bike was undersized and it was only a short run in a store. However Halfords have ordered in a larger bike for me to try out so I am hopeful it might feel better when I try a proper size. At the moment I am leaning towards just buying the Rafal 740 but my mate is putting me off even tho he admits its the best spec for the money. If I do order the 740 I will have to do it quickly as time is running out on the money off offer.

If I was buying for looks alone I think I would just buy Cube Acid 27.5, as you can see the budget is climbing so I really need to nip this in the bud asap otherwise its going to end up costing allot more than I planned for. I can totally see why people end up spending allot on these bikes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-acid-27-5-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod125726

Maybe I am overthinking this whole thing and I should just buy the bike I like the look of the most?

The Rookie

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19665064#p19665064]supersonic[/url] wrote:

That Bergamot has my new award for the worst specced £500 I have ever seen.

Indeed, even if it were £350 it would probably take the award at that price segment as well!

supersonic

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19666585#p19666585]Chicken Nugget[/url] wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion Penguin.

I tried a Boardman 650B today and I must admit I wasn't that blown away but the bike was undersized and it was only a short run in a store. However Halfords have ordered in a larger bike for me to try out so I am hopeful it might feel better when I try a proper size. At the moment I am leaning towards just buying the Rafal 740 but my mate is putting me off even tho he admits its the best spec for the money. If I do order the 740 I will have to do it quickly as time is running out on the money off offer.

If I was buying for looks alone I think I would just buy Cube Acid 27.5, as you can see the budget is climbing so I really need to nip this in the bud asap otherwise its going to end up costing allot more than I planned for. I can totally see why people end up spending allot on these bikes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-acid-27-5-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod125726

Maybe I am overthinking this whole thing and I should just buy the bike I like the look of the most?

I think you are over thinking it. The Rafal is the best bike here by far. Just buy it! Forget what your mate says.

The Rookie

On what basis does your mate say not to buy it?

cooldad

Halfords is lacking in snob appeal.

Chicken Nugget

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I ended up going to see a cube acid 27.5 today and bought it, the bike just looked and felt right to me and I got £100 off the asking price.

Rookie - my mate didn't like the actual look of the bike and I gotta say I kinda agree with him. I liked the ltd edition Rafal blue but the pink parts put me off and I wasn't a fan of the stock Rafal colour scheme. As good as the bike is I kinda feel as though I have to like the look of the bike as well.

Now I have to find a lock and helmet to pair with my new bike.

The Rookie

The Acid is decent enough, but if you think looks are important you are rather missing the point of mountain biking.....

cooldad

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19667299#p19667299]Chicken Nugget[/url] wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I ended up going to see a cube acid 27.5 today and bought it, the bike just looked and felt right to me and I got £100 off the asking price.

Rookie - my mate didn't like the actual look of the bike and I gotta say I kinda agree with him. I liked the ltd edition Rafal blue but the pink parts put me off and I wasn't a fan of the stock Rafal colour scheme. As good as the bike is I kinda feel as though I have to like the look of the bike as well.

Now I have to find a lock and helmet to pair with my new bike.

Might be tricky finding colours to match the bike and your lipstick.

Chicken Nugget

Rookie - I understand what you are saying but if it's a decent enough bike and I like the look of it then I will be happy. I am mainly doing biking for health reasons as I am just getting over a double heart attack and want to do some exercise outside of the stationary bike. My main worry was buying a bike which would be bad and fall apart on me after a few months use which probably would of happened if I bought some random £300 bike from a bike store. I dare say my needs are very different to most of the enthusiasts on this board but if that changes and the bike bug hits me I can always upgrade.

Chicken Nugget

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19667687#p19667687]cooldad[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19667299#p19667299]Chicken Nugget[/url] wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I ended up going to see a cube acid 27.5 today and bought it, the bike just looked and felt right to me and I got £100 off the asking price.

Rookie - my mate didn't like the actual look of the bike and I gotta say I kinda agree with him. I liked the ltd edition Rafal blue but the pink parts put me off and I wasn't a fan of the stock Rafal colour scheme. As good as the bike is I kinda feel as though I have to like the look of the bike as well.

Now I have to find a lock and helmet to pair with my new bike.

Might be tricky finding colours to match the bike and your lipstick.

That's what drew me to the bike I already have the perfect shade.