Marlin 7 or...?

Ast

Hi all, I am new to mountain biking and I guess like hundreds of others am wondering which bike to get.

My budget is up to £400 and I will be using the bike mainly around the cycle paths here in Wales, but, as my friend is into mountain biking, I might try that as well (and who knows.. might get addicted, haha!)

MBR crowned the Marlin 7 as the winner of the £500 group (you can get it for £400 online) but I am wondering whether there is anything else out there that you think is better? (Also, is there any tangible difference between the 2015 and 2016 model? Tho obv the 2016 model is out of my budget at over £500.)

I am 5ft 11" and my inside leg is 32" and I'm quite 'skinny'.

Thanks in advance for any help!

rockmonkeysc

For the money it's not a good bike. You will get a much better bike from Halfords (Voodoo or Carrera) or the Rockrider bikes from Decathlon are about as good as it gets.
I'm a bit suspicious of MBR's cheap bike tests, they always used to have Specialized bikes as winners and they are absolutely terrible.

Ast

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've seen it for £370 - does that make it any more appealing?

The £400 Decathlon bike is out of stock in the frame size I would need. I also looked at Radon, but by the time you add £50 postage it seems to make it less worthwhile.

Would the Marlin still not be a good bike at £370?

supersonic

It is severely let down by the fork. I wouldn't even call it a fork, it is a heavy, flexy undamped, clunky pogo stick of an abomination. A pity because the rest is ok, but the fork will destroy the ride.

jamski

Calibre point .5 from go outdoors. If you're not going for the rockrider it's probably the next best.

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-point-50-alloy-hardtail-mountain-bike-p275620

The Rookie

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19685402#p19685402]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

F
I'm a bit suspicious of MBR's cheap bike tests, they always used to have Specialized bikes as winners and they are absolutely terrible.

Specialized used to be good at introducing a model that was good, wining a lot of good reviews and then withdrawing it, the Hardrock Sport disc was a classic, of course all most people read is 'Hardrock'.

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19685606#p19685606]The Rookie[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19685402#p19685402]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

F
I'm a bit suspicious of MBR's cheap bike tests, they always used to have Specialized bikes as winners and they are absolutely terrible.

Specialized used to be good at introducing a model that was good, wining a lot of good reviews and then withdrawing it, the Hardrock Sport disc was a classic, of course all most people read is 'Hardrock'.

I had a 2008 Hardrock sport disc. It was a complete sack of crap.

Ast

Thanks for all your advice - I have decided to up my budget a little and have posted a new thread here: viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=13035160

Evans won't price match so I wouldn't be able to get the M7 for £370 anyway (would be £425), hence me thinking I might as well increase my budget a little. I'd really appreciate your help in my other thread too.