Advice needed - GT vs CUBE

unispheryk

Hi,

I need a bit of advice. I'm looking for a new bike for light trails mostly.
Currently undecided between the GT Avalanche Expert 2016 and the Cube Attention SL 2016 (specs below). I can get them at the same price.
Which one would you buy?

Thanks for your help.

GT Avalanche Expert

FRAME Hydroformed & Butted Speed Metal Aluminum (TT/DT) Frame w/ Triple Triangle Replaceable Derailleur Hanger Disc Brake Mounts and Zerostack 1 1/8 Head Tube 27.5 Design
FORK Rock Shox Recon Silver TK Coil 27.5 w/100mm Travel w/Turn Key Lockout QR Droupout Coil Spring Disc Only Lower W/1.125 Alloy Steerer W/ Remote Poplock Lockout
CRANKSET Shimano Deore FC-M610 42/32/24T
BB Shimano included in FC
PEDALS Not Included
FRT DER.Shimano Deore FD-M610
RR DER Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus RD-M786
SHIFTERS Shimano Deore SL-M610
REAR COGS Sunrace CS-MS1 11-36T 10-Speed
CHAIN KMC X10
RIMS All Terra Double Wall 32H 27.5 disc specific
FRONT TIRE Schwalbe Rapid Rob 27.5X2.25 with K-Guard
REAR TIRE Schwalbe Rapid Rob 27.5X2.25 with K-Guard
FRONT HUB All Terra Alloy Disc W/ Quick Release Center Lock
REAR HUB All Terra Alloy Cassette Disc W/ Quick Release Center Lock
SPOKES 14G Stainless
NIPPLES Brass
FRONT BRAKE Shimano BR-M396 Hydraulic Disc W/ 160mm Rotor SM-RT30
REAR BRAKE Shimano BR-M396 Hydraulic Disc W/ 160mm Rotor SM-RT30
BRAKE LEVERS Shimano Hydraulic Disc Brake Lever
HANDLEBAR All Terra Riser Butted 710mm Width 15mm Rise 31.8mm Clamp
STEM All Terra 1 1/8 Threadless 3D Forged 4-Bolt W/ CNC Face Plate 6° Rise 31.8mm Clamp
GRIPS GT Statement
HEADSET Kore 1B-1 1 1/8 Threadless Zerostack
SADDLE WTB Silverado Sport
SEAT POST All Terra Alloy Micro-Adjust 30.9mm
SEAT CLAMP All Terra Alloy QR



CUBE Attention SL

FRAME Aluminium Lite, AMF, Internal Cable Routing, Easy Mount Kickstand Ready
COLOR grey´n´flashred
SIZE 27.5: 14", 16", 18" // 29er: 17", 19", 21", 23"
FORK Rock Shox Recon Silver TK SoloAir, PopLoc, 100mm
HEADSET FSA No.10, Semi-Integrated
STEM CUBE Performance Stem, 31.8mm
HANDLEBAR CUBE Rise Trail Bar, 700mm
GRIPS CUBE Performance Grip
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano XT, RD-M781-DSGSL, Shadow, Direct Mount, 10-Speed
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Deore FD-M611 Downswing, 31.8mm
SHIFTERS Shimano Deore SL-M610, Rapidfire-Plus
BRAKE SYSTEM Shimano BR-M355, Hydr. Disc Brake (180/160)
CRANKSET Shimano Deore FC-M612, 40x30x22T, 175mm
CASSETTE Shimano CS-HG50, 11-36
CHAIN Shimano CN-HG54
RIMS CUBE ZX24 Disc
FRONT HUB Shimano Deore HB-M615, Centerlock
REAR HUB Shimano Deore FH-M615, Centerlock
TIRES Schwalbe Smart Sam, Active, 2.25"
PEDALS CUBE PP MTB
SADDLE CUBE Active 1.1
SEAT POST CUBE Performance Post, 27.2*400mm
SEATCLAMP CUBE Varioclose, 31.8mm

Thanks again for your help.

codfather

The Cube has marginally better spec, but at this sort of price, I'd be looking for a better fork. Does it have to be one of the two? There are better specced bikes for less elsewhere

unispheryk

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19772271#p19772271]Codfather[/url] wrote:

The Cube has marginally better spec, but at this sort of price, I'd be looking for a better fork. Does it have to be one of the two? There are better specced bikes for less elsewhere

Doesn't have to be from these brands. These ones just caught my eye. If you have suggestions, I'll gladly consider them. Price I can get for either is £649.

codfather

At that price point, I'd be looking at the VooDoo Bizango. The fork is considerably improved: air spring, less harsh damper, 15mm axle and I'm led to believe it has a tapered steerer. Also benefits from 2x10 with a clutched derailleur, decent Shimano brakes and Maxxis Ardents. All for £600. You can drop another 10% if you're a member of British Cycling.

unispheryk

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19772288#p19772288]Codfather[/url] wrote:

At that price point, I'd be looking at the VooDoo Bizango. The fork is considerably improved: air spring, less harsh damper, 15mm axle and I'm led to believe it has a tapered steerer. Also benefits from 2x10 with a clutched derailleur, decent Shimano brakes and Maxxis Ardents. All for £600. You can drop another 10% if you're a member of British Cycling.

I had a quick look at that one as well but the 2x10, instead of the 3x10 in the other models put me off. Do you not think this is a disadvantage? Might be a naive question, bearing in mind that I haven't touched a mtb in over 15 years.

codfather

Double and single setups are more modern than triples, avoid a lot of crossover between ratios and makes the shifting marginally less clunky.
Taking the VooDoo and the Cube (for example). Both have the same size granny ring, 22t and the same Deore 11-36t cassette, so both will have the same crawler ratio. Then the only difference is 36 or 40t outer rings; unless you're mashing along at serious pace on the road on a regular basis, 36t will be more than plenty.
As for everything in between, a double will provide more than enough spread of ratios, but eliminate the crossover inherent in a triple ring setup