Can someone recommend a new 'proper' MTB?

AllAboutGuitar
AllAboutGuitar Posts: 47
edited March 2016 in MTB buying advice
Hi everyone, I'm Josh, since my old MTB is now pretty much scrap. I'm starting to look for a new one and can't really find anything with good reviews. That's why I'd like to see if anyone can recommend anything.

The things I'd like to see are:
Full Suspension
Long travel
26", 27.5" or 29" wheels I don't mind
Hydraulic disc brakes
Budget is around £1000

Thanks for your help :D

Comments

  • BikerDepp
    BikerDepp Posts: 1
    edited November 2016
    I'm interested to see what people here recommend too. There's so much choice out there on https://donkeybets.com/my-zcode-system-review the ZCode these days when it comes to bikes.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    What sort of riding?

    Long travel can mean different things to different people, and with some modern bikes riding much bigger than the nominal travel it's usage that is more important than an arbitrary amount of travel.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • The Rookie wrote:
    What sort of riding?

    Long travel can mean different things to different people, and with some modern bikes riding much bigger than the nominal travel it's usage that is more important than an arbitrary amount of travel.

    Hope to do serious mountain biking around the UK, go to some of the parks... BikePark Wales looks pretty good, been seeing some good things about it :D and just push the mountain bike to its limits.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    You need to be more precise than that to get a meaningful response, a decent mid travel bike (130-140mm) will do pretty much everything short of a full on downhill course (will cope with most UK courses though), but if you intend to ride a full on DH bike you won't be doing anything else with it.

    You can push most bikes to their limits......

    To be honest you come across as not really knowing, or maybe just struggling to articulate? What is your experience to date?
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • Angus Young
    Angus Young Posts: 3,063
    I'm starting to look for a new one and can't really find anything with good reviews.

    You're not looking hard enough. In fact, it's so easy to find really rave reviews for these that you probably haven't looked easy, either. :)

    http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-bos ... ke-p347143

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... nsion-27-5

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s183p5 ... 7-5-3-2014

    Don't get hung up in the long travel thing. I'm thoroughly enjoying BPW on 134s worth of travel.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • The Rookie wrote:
    You need to be more precise than that to get a meaningful response, a decent mid travel bike (130-140mm) will do pretty much everything short of a full on downhill course (will cope with most UK courses though), but if you intend to ride a full on DH bike you won't be doing anything else with it.

    You can push most bikes to their limits......

    To be honest you come across as not really knowing, or maybe just struggling to articulate? What is your experience to date?

    Just a little embarrassing to say but very little, i've been round a self made track near where i live a few times, can get some jumps in it and fast sections if you push hard enough. But in the summer i'm hoping to get into mountain biking a lot more... the only problem is i'm in lincolnshire where there isn't that much to do, and with uni and work, i can't get around easily.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    The problem with £1000 long travel full suspension bikes is they usually compromise on the fork.
    Over 140mm you really want a 35/36mm diameter stanchion and you need decent quality damping.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Anything genuinely long travel at that price will be rather compromised as RMSC has said, not to mention pretty useless on anything within 2 hours drive.

    Any of those above is a good competent bike and I'd chuck this one in as well http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-72 ... 26408.html

    The Anthem is amazingly competent for a 100mm bike yet will also ride like an XC whippet when that's what you want.

    A good quality suspension (shock and fork) bike in short travel will be a lot nicer to ride 99% of the time than a poorer quality longer travel.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    If you can stretch the budget a bit further (and is often available at less than £1500, especially with certian club discounts) then there is this:

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... nsion-27-5

    An all round 'trail' sort of bike, but gets a great fork which is a cut above most at this price.
  • I'll throw in a leftfield option, it has been cheaper than this in the recent DFS sales, but £1k for a Bluto equipped fatbike is still a good price.

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATTRL ... 5-fat-bike
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    I'll throw in a leftfield option, it has been cheaper than this in the recent DFS sales, but £1k for a Bluto equipped fatbike is still a good price.

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATTRL ... 5-fat-bike

    That's truly horrible and nothing like what the op is looking for.
  • I'll throw in a leftfield option, it has been cheaper than this in the recent DFS sales, but £1k for a Bluto equipped fatbike is still a good price.

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATTRL ... 5-fat-bike

    That's truly horrible and nothing like what the op is looking for.

    I would argue that depends upon your interpretation of the OP's requirements.;)

    26x4.0 (or wider) tyres at ~10PSI gives front and rear suspension, which is supplemented by a 120mm travel Bluto.
    It has hydraulic DB3 brakes as standard.
    It costs under £1000.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    I'll throw in a leftfield option, it has been cheaper than this in the recent DFS sales, but £1k for a Bluto equipped fatbike is still a good price.

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATTRL ... 5-fat-bike

    That's truly horrible and nothing like what the op is looking for.

    I would argue that depends upon your interpretation of the OP's requirements.;)

    26x4.0 (or wider) tyres at ~10PSI gives front and rear suspension, which is supplemented by a 120mm travel Bluto.
    It has hydraulic DB3 brakes as standard.
    It costs under £1000.

    He (or she) wanted a long travel trail bike. A fat bike is not going to do the same job.
  • I'll throw in a leftfield option, it has been cheaper than this in the recent DFS sales, but £1k for a Bluto equipped fatbike is still a good price.

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATTRL ... 5-fat-bike

    That's truly horrible and nothing like what the op is looking for.

    I would argue that depends upon your interpretation of the OP's requirements.;)

    26x4.0 (or wider) tyres at ~10PSI gives front and rear suspension, which is supplemented by a 120mm travel Bluto.
    It has hydraulic DB3 brakes as standard.
    It costs under £1000.

    He (or she) wanted a long travel trail bike. A fat bike is not going to do the same job.

    He :') Yeah I wasn't really looking at fat bikes, don't really meet my requirements :D
  • I'll throw in a leftfield option, it has been cheaper than this in the recent DFS sales, but £1k for a Bluto equipped fatbike is still a good price.

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOFATTRL ... 5-fat-bike

    That's truly horrible and nothing like what the op is looking for.

    They can be pretty versatile!... Not for me as I stick to flatter stuff / xc but they can tick a lot of boxes.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yxe-B_LrIdo