Help with buying new Hardtail £400-£600

jimishep

Hi

I'm in the market for a new Hardtail around the £400-£600 mark but having great difficulty in choosing. Thought this might be a good place for some advice. So far I have tried the following bikes:

http://whyte.bike/gb/603-zinc/

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bi ... 250/77363/

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... ntain-bike

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... ntain-bike

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/b ... -29er-2014


Overall, the Whyte 603 Medium has felt the best. I'm 5 foot 9, and have found the 18 inch models in the other bikes to be too big! My only concern regarding the Whyte is the spec for the price. Compare that to the 2014 Boardman and for me it doesn't add up. Any other suggestions or opinions on these bikes would be greatly appreciated. I prefer 27.5 wheels and will be using it for general cycling and forest trails.

Thanks

Rookie1986

Hey,

Have you considered something from one of the Online Retailers like Canyon or Radon

The Grand Canyon al 3.9 and 4.9 are both good starting points and within your budget;

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/grand- ... l-3-9.html
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/grand- ... l-4-9.html

The Radon ZR Teams are also fantastic bikes at this price point and well spec'ed like the Canyon's

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/rado ... g_id-17011
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/rado ... g_id-17011

There are also some options from Rose but I think these start just outside your budget - still worth a little look though, much of the same as Canyon and Radon in terms of good spec for price point

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-c ... aid:767380

Picking a new bike is really difficult so good luck, it took me about 6 weeks of reading reviews and trying LOADS of bikes at Halfords, Evans and LBS to make up my mind. I ended up buying blind so to speak after a friend recommended I tried Canyon, my initial budget wasn't too much different to yours but the next thing I knew it had more than doubled and I'd picked up a nice Canyon Nerve.... it was "love at first ride".

Hope you find what you are looking for and I'm sure the other guys will be along to give some input of their own

supersonic

If they feel too big, try a smaller size. Sizing varies massively between brands, for a listed or given 'size'.

The Whyte is poorly specced for the money. Heavy unadjustable forks, basic drivetain, very mediocre brakes. it all works, it will get you out, but there are bikes for far less with this kit, and yould expect more for this cash. If it is the only one that feels right, go for it, but I'd consider some future upgrades. The Giant is very similar in this respect.

The Halfords bikes get a much better level of kit, and have all won awards in the press too, you can't go wrong if they fit.

Decathlon has some good bikes too, the hardtails been a little more xc oriented (steeper head angles). This is a full susser but well worth considering:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-56 ... ctFeatures

Outspecs most hardtails at this money, lighter than them too and performs well.

jimishep

Thank you for the advice guys

I really like the look of the Canyon bikes but buying without trying is a little worrying for the money involved. Not sure on whether to take a punt or not. The spec does look great!

I've decided against the Whyte 603 as I agree, the spec is relatively low albeit I quite like the frame. I wish I liked the look and feel of the Voodoo Hoodoo but there's something just not selling it for me.

Is it worth holding off at this time of year? Good/Bad time to buy?

The Rookie

One other to consider is the new Gauntlet
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-gau ... ke-p343871
Decent spec and (claimed) weight trail bike. The price of the discount card over your £600.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

For me, I would be all over the Bizango at £530, it very nearly swayed me from the Wazoo that I had gone it to look at.

jimishep

NitrousOxide wrote:

For me, I would be all over the Bizango at £530, it very nearly swayed me from the Wazoo that I had gone it to look at.

The Bizango was one of the bikes on my shortlist but when trying it the 18" frame felt huge! I'm tempted to order the Grand Canyon 3.9 as I love the look of it and they're offering a 30 day return guarantee if it doesn't suit. Fingers crossed...

The Guantlet also looks a decent buy although at the top end of my budget.

The Rookie

Why not try the Bizango in a 16 then?

JBA

If you fancy the Canyon I'd spend the extra £100 and get the 4.9: better forks and drive chain, 10 speed instead of 9.

jimishep

Fair comment. I'll give the 16" frame a whirl, although it does feel slightly strange having to try a frame so small. As much as I'd like to stretch to the 4.9 Canyon the extra £100 might come in useful for accessories, etc... Are the Rockshox XC-30's hugely inferior to the Recon Silver?

supersonic

If it fits, it fit's ;-). The 16/18 is just one tube measurement - and you can extend that by another foot by raising the seatpost. Reach is more important.

The xc30 sits two models below the Silver. While they share the same sort of damper, the structure is not as stiff, and the bushing system not as durable. It is ok though,nothing nasty in there.

jimishep

Thanks I'll give the 16 inch Voodoo a try later this week. Regards the Canyon 3.9 vs. 4.9, for an extra £100 is it a no brainier to get the improved forks and chain set? Are the Alivio and Deore models massively different?

daff

I've got a 16" Bizango. I'm 5'8 with 30" leg - the 18" just felt too big with the 29er wheels.
I've put about 150 miles on it since getting it and it has been flawless! A great bike.
Saying that, I have just changed the stem to an 80mm one instead of the stock 60mm just to try and provide a little more reach.
Wholeheartedly recommend it though, using topcashback and the British cycling membership brought it to around £440 - I really don't think you can beat that for value.

jimishep

It's a difficult one to overlook, there's a lot of love for the Bizango. Interestingly enough Voodoo recommend a 16 inch frame for 5'5"-5'10" riders. I'll have to give it a try. Spec wise, which one comes out on top Canyon 3.9 or Voodoo Bizango?

supersonic

That's a bit naughty of Canyon - that ain't a Deore chainset on there - is a non series model, similar to the Alivio. Deore have had the Hollowtech 2 treatment with external bottom bracket for some time. In fact the latest Alivio is like this too. The older 'octalink' systems work fine, just heavier.

Is it worth the extra - yeah, in some ways, it all adds up to a little more than the price difference, is a nice even spec. Also consider the lower end model, flogging the fork and then putting the difference into a nice air unit. The Bizango already has an air fork though, is cheaper, is in the UK and is 10 speed too. That would be my first choice.

jimishep

What a dilemma! On one hand I have the Bizango with a superior spec at £430 (with discounts) vs the Grand Canyon 3.9 at £499. I much prefer the look of the Canyon, albeit I'm sure the lime green of the Bizango would grow on me. A seemingly impossible decision :?

The Rookie

They all look the same underneath you (in that you can't see them) or when covered in mud (as they should be)....

supersonic

The Biazango is better than the 4.9, never mind the 3.9. At £430 I'd be riding it already.

Rookie1986

How you guys getting the Voodoo down to £430? It's £599 and BC discount brings it to £540 where are you getting the other £110 discount?? As for £430 I'd be tempted to pick one up myself!!

jimishep

Bizango is ticking all of the right boxes, just need to learn to love that colour scheme. I can't seem to find anything at £500 to match it. As much as I love the look of the Canyon, I can't help but think I'm overpaying for the spec

jimishep

Rookie1986 wrote:

How you guys getting the Voodoo down to £430? It's £599 and BC discount brings it to £540 where are you getting the other £110 discount?? As for £430 I'd be tempted to pick one up myself!!

Bizango was £529 at Halfords + BC discount + Business vouchers at 10% off (can be found on various sites). Looks like they've just put it back to £599!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015 is pretty good spec for £450, especially the frame and fork, but in 27.5" wheel flavour.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-mesh-deore-2016/ isn't bad for £446 for a 29er.

Rookie1986

jimishep wrote:

Bizango is ticking all of the right boxes, just need to learn to love that colour scheme. I can't seem to find anything at £500 to match it. As much as I love the look of the Canyon, I can't help but think I'm overpaying for the spec

The Grand Canyon 4.9 is better spec than the Bizango mind....

Antm81

Rookie1986 wrote:

jimishep wrote:

Bizango is ticking all of the right boxes, just need to learn to love that colour scheme. I can't seem to find anything at £500 to match it. As much as I love the look of the Canyon, I can't help but think I'm overpaying for the spec

The Grand Canyon 4.9 is better spec than the Bizango mind....

It's not really any better, the raidon is a decent fork and probably on par with the recon, the only real difference is the rear mech being XT, and shifters make a bigger difference than the mech itself.

Rookie1986

Antm81 wrote:

Rookie1986 wrote:

jimishep wrote:

Bizango is ticking all of the right boxes, just need to learn to love that colour scheme. I can't seem to find anything at £500 to match it. As much as I love the look of the Canyon, I can't help but think I'm overpaying for the spec

The Grand Canyon 4.9 is better spec than the Bizango mind....

It's not really any better, the raidon is a decent fork and probably on par with the recon, the only real difference is the rear mech being XT, and shifters make a bigger difference than the mech itself.

I would say the Canyon has a better wheel set (hubs, rims and tyres), better chainset and that the Recon out performs the Raidon as its a little stretched at 120mm - although this is purely my opinion. At this price point it does feel a little like splitting hairs between the different components as in "real world circumstances" they will preform fairly similar.

To the O/P - which ever you decide to go for they will both be fantastic bikes within their price point and you'll be happy with either - weather is just starting to pick up too, so now is a fantastic time to buy

Just a reminder though, the Canyon is mail order meaning you have no direct support here in the UK so any major failures that require a return to the manufacture and you'll be at the mercy or shipping it away and possibly being without a bike for longer then if you took the Voodoo as it has Halfords support chain behind it. Although anything that's not a warranty job I would either fix it yourself or visit a LBS and have them look at it.

Bikelyf

Trek Cobia 29er! great bicycle if you found it used

jimishep

Thanks again. I've also found this in my frame size:

http://www.evocycles.co.uk/products.php?show=5568

How does it compare against the Canyon 4.9 and the Bizango?

supersonic

Similar sort of bike and spec, good price.

jimishep

supersonic wrote:

Similar sort of bike and spec, good price.

Yeah I thought it was a decent price for the spec. Have been doing a bit of research regarding Cube's frame sizes. Cube recommend a 17" for me being 5 foot 9 but I've noticed a lot of people saying that they're overly small?

supersonic

In what way? Reach? It will certainly fit height wise. As before, a 350 mm standard seat post gives you nearly a foot here of adjustment. There is no difference in where you sit with a 17 inch frame with 10 inches of seatpost showing and a 27 inch frame with none showing (angles being the same). But the top tube length I would hope is longer!

jimishep

supersonic wrote:

In what way? Reach? It will certainly fit height wise. As before, a 350 mm standard seat post gives you nearly a foot here of adjustment. There is no difference in where you sit with a 17 inch frame with 10 inches of seatpost showing and a 27 inch frame with none showing (angles being the same). But the top tube length I would hope is longer!

Luckily managed to try the cube today, was a great fit. Time to decide between the attention or the voodoo