£1000 on a hardtail MTB, which is the best spec.

woodboy76

Hi all,

A long time out of the mountain bike scene and looking to get back involved in some light/recreational offroading in the hertfordshire area. I have a limit of £1000 and am looking for the best spec I can get possible, at Evans cycles I have narrowed it down to the following options:

-Cannondale F-SI Alloy 3 2016 Mountain Bike
-Cannondale F-SI Alloy 2 2016 Mountain Bike
-Scott Aspect 900 2016 Mountain Bike
-Scott Scale 950 2016 Mountain Bike
-Trek Superfly 6 2016 Mountain Bike

Which bike has the best spec in peoples opinions and is there anything else I should consider? Below are the specs in a table.

Cannondale F-SI Alloy 3 2016 Mountain Bike
Frame F-Si, SmartFormed Alloy, BB30, Flat Mount Brake, 1.5 Si headtube, S (27.5) M-XL (29)
Fork RockShox Recon Gold TK, 100mm, 1-1/8" steerer, 15mm Maxle, Poploc remote lockout, 51mm offset
Front Derailleur Shimano M618 Deore
Rear Derailleur Shimano XT, Shadow Plus, 10-speed
Number of Gears 20
Shifters Shimano Deore
Chain set Shimano Deore M617, Hollowtech, 22/36
Bottom Bracket Shimano Deore Hollowtech
Cassette Shimano HG-50, 11-36, 10-speed
Chain KMC X10, 10-speed
Brakeset Shimano Deore, 180/160mm
Handlebars Cannondale C3 flat, 6061 double-butted alloy, 700mm
Stem Cannondale C3, 6061 Alloy, 1.5", 31.8, -5 deg.
Headset Tange Zstep
Grips Cannondale Locking Grips
Rims Stan's ZTR Rapid, 32 hole, tubeless ready
Front Hub Formla DC51
Rear Hub Formula DC-22
Spokes Stainless Steel, 15g
Front Tyre Schwalbe Rapid Rob Performance 29/27.5 x 2.1", tubeless ready
Rear Tyre Schwalbe Rapid Rob Performance 29/27.5 x 2.1", tubeless ready
Saddle Cannondale Stage 3
Weight
Notes Large, X-Large and Medium Sizes come with 29inch wheels, Small Sizes come supplied with 27.5inch wheels


Cannondale F-SI Alloy 2 2016 Mountain Bike
F-Si, SmartFormed Alloy, BB30, Flat Mount Brake, 1.5 Si headtube, S (27.5) M-XL (29)
RockShox Reba RL, 29"/27.5", 100mm, tapered steerer, 15mm Maxle, Poploc remote lockout, 51mm offset
Shimano M618 Deore
Shimano XT, Shadow Plus, 10-speed
20
Shimano Deore w/ I-Spec
Shimano Deore M615, Hollowtech, 24/38
Shimano Deore Hollowtech
Shimano HG-50, 11-36, 10-speed
KMC X10, 10-speed
KMC X10, 10-speed
Cannondale C3, 6061 Alloy, 1.5", 31.8, -5 deg.
Cannondale C3, 6061 Alloy, 1.5", 31.8, -5 deg.
Tange 1.5 for Tapered Steer tubes
Cannondale C3, 6061 Alloy, 1.5", 31.8, -5 deg.
Stan's ZTR Rapid, 32 hole, tubeless ready
Formla DC51
Formula DC-22
Stainless Steel, 15g
Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance 29/27.5x2.1", tubeless ready
Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance 29/27.5x2.1", tubeless ready
Cannondale Stage 3

Large, X-Large and Medium Sizes come with 29inch wheels, Small Sizes come supplied with 27.5inch wheels


Scott Aspect 900 2016 Mountain Bike
Aspect 900 Alloy 6061, Performance geometry, Internal cable routing
FOX 32 Float Performance Air FIT4 3-Modes, Alloy 1 1/8" steerer reb. Adj. / 100mm travel, SCOTT RideLoc Remote Technology 3 modes
Shimano Deore FD-M618 / 31.8mm
Shimano XT RD-M781 SGS Shadow Type 20 Speed
20
Shimano SLX SL-M670 Rapidire plus / 2 way release w/gear indicator
Shimano FC-M627 2-piece Design 38Ax24A T
Shimano Cartridge 68mm shell
Shimano CS-HG50-10 11-36 T
KMC X10
Shimano BR-M447 Hydr. Disc 180/F and 160/Rmm SM-RT54 CL Rotor
Syncros M3.0 720mm, black, 31.8mm 12mm rise 9 degrees
Syncros M3.0 HL-D507A
GW 1SI110 OE integ.

Syncros X-39 Disc 32H, Eyelets, black
Formula CL51
Shimano FH-M615 Disc CL

Schwalbe Rapid Rob, 50TPI folding 29x2.2
Schwalbe Rapid Rob, 50TPI folding 29x2.2
Syncros M2.5
12.80 kg / 28.22 lbs
Picture is Representation of Colour only


Scott Scale 950 2016 Mountain Bike
Scale Alloy 6011SL Custom Butted Superlight Tubing / Tapered HT / BB92 / Bridgeless Seatstays / Internal Cable Routing / Replaceable hanger
FOX 32 Float Performance Air FIT4 3-Modes / 15mm QR axle / tapered steerer / Lockout / reb. Adj. / 100mm travel
Shimano Deore FD-M618-L / 34.9
Shimano XT RD-M781 SGS Shadow Type / 20 Speed
20
Shimano SLX SL-M670 Rapidire plus / 2 way release w/gear indicator
Shimano FC-M627 2-piece Design 900 Series: 36x22 T
Shimano BB-MT500-PA / shell 41x89.5mm
Shimano CS-HG50-10 11-36 T
KMC X10
Shimano M425 Disc 180/F and 160/Rmm SM-RT54 CL Rotor
Syncros T-Bar Alloy 6061 / T shape Flat / 9 degrees / 720mm
Syncros 6061 Alloy / oversize 31.8mm 1 1/8" / 6 degrees angle
Syncros OE / Tapered 1.5" - 1 1/8" Semi integ. OD 50/61mm / ID 44/55mm

Syncros GX03V / Eyelets / 32H
Formula CL71 / 15mm
Shimano FH-M615 CL

Schwalbe Rocket Ron / 2.1 67EPI Foldable / Kevlar Bead
Schwalbe Rocket Ron / 2.1 67EPI Foldable / Kevlar Bead
Syncros XR2.5
11.80kg / 26.01lbs
Picture is Representation of Colour only



Trek Superfly 6 2016 Mountain Bike
Alpha Platinum Aluminium, E2 tapered head tube, internal cable routing, PF89.5, balanced post mount, Closed Convert dropouts, G2 Geometry on 29ers
RockShox Reba RL, Solo Air spring, Motion Control remote lockout, 15mm Maxle Lite, G2 Geometry w/51mm offset on 29ers, 100mm travel
SRAM GX
SRAM GX, Type 2
20
SRAM GX, 10-speed
SRAM GX 1000, 36/22
PF89.5
Shimano HG50, 11-36, 10-speed
KMC X10
Shimano M445 hydraulic disc
Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise
Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, 7-degree, Blendr compatible
FSA IS-2, E2, sealed alloy cartridge
Bontrager Race
Bontrager Mustang Elite Tubeless Ready 28-hole
Bontrager alloy sealed bearing, 15mm alloy axle, CenterLock
Bontrager sealed bearing, alloy axle, CenterLock

Bontrager XR1 Expert, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 29x2.20" (Bontrager XR2 Expert, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 27.5x2.20")
Bontrager XR1 Expert, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 29x2.20" (Bontrager XR2 Expert, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 27.5x2.20")
Bontrager Evoke 2, chromoly rails

13.5 & 15.5 inch frames come with 27.5 Wheels. 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5 & 23in frames come with 29er wheels

The Spiderman

Have you considered the Boardman Pro 29er? 120 mm Reba RLT forks, SRAM GX 1 x 11, SRAM Guide R brakes, good frame geo and currently £850.

woodboy76

Looks ok, spec isnt is good for chainset, rear and front mech and crankset is it. Also brakes arent as good are they. Scott has some shimano XT on it for example

The Rookie

Has the best fork which is hands down the most important bit....as for not having a good front mech on a 1x11....erm.......

Guide R are good, longevity not yet know though but then my mate has just had to swap out an XT calliper that failed at 13 months old.

poah

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ir ... e-EV244134

why does it have to be evans?

woodboy76

Ah looks liek Ive been too long out of the game, what happened to 27 gears, now just 11 and 1 cog at the front! Also not heard of pinnacle before.

So forks priority before gearset/brakes, frame.

Also confused as to which has the best hydraulic discs as the shimano website has everythign under a different name!

The reason I was thinking of Evans is that it is by far the cheapest and best range

The Rookie

Pinnacle is Evans own brand.

Best value comes from volume, so Halfords, Decathlon and Go outdoors.

Shimano brakes are easy, bigger M number the better, Deore, SLX, XT.

Cheaper gearing may be a bit heavier and not feel as nice or last quite as long and can be replaced in stages), but physically it works just as well, the fork in the other hand is where money makes a difference to how a bike rides.

supersonic

Have you considered the BTwin Rafal 720? A little cheaper than the ones you listed, but a great XC spec for the cash:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rafal-720-mo ... 37929.html

woodboy76

Thanks that clears up a lot I'll look over the suggestions. Out of the 5 I have listed what would people choose if they had to?

The Rookie

The Superfly, joint best fork but decent tyres that won't need changing straight away.

woodboy76

I really cant decide between these 3:

Cannondale F-SI Alloy 2 2016 Mountain Bike
Scott Aspect 900 2016 Mountain Bike
Scott Scale 950 2016 Mountain Bike

supersonic

Have you seen them in the flesh, tried for size? That may or may not rule some out. The main difference in the Aspect and Scale is that the latter has a lighter, more XC oriented build and frame - though the geometry is very similar.

If spending 1k though the Pinnacle is superb - the Rev RLT fork gets a better damper than the Rebas with dedicated high speed circuits, and a big step up from the crude Recon on the Cannonondale. The OnOne Parkwood is worth a look too:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPW29GX1 ... ntain-bike

More relaxed geometry than the others, shold that be what you want, which wioll add a little more stabilty in the rough stuff and downs.

woodboy76

Unfortunately have been to 3 evans stores and they havent had any of these in, I really want to see them in the flesh before committing

BloggingFit

They should be able to order them in for a demo.