A friend looking for all-mountain FS

core00

Hi,

I'm posting on behalf of my friend who is looking for a FS all-mountain for around £1500, I couldn't really recommend anything at the moment as I've just started MTB not long ago but this forum helped me decide which bike to go for.

I've seen some bikes from 2016 models are starting to drop the price, but I've only seen a few that fits the budget unless he's welling to stretch a bit for a better bike.

I don't have a list of bikes as of yet, so we're hoping some people can point out some bikes within the price range guessing he'll stretch the budget a bit more but certainly wouldn't go beyond £2k price point.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube ... prod141151
https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-fluid ... e-EV243391
https://www.evanscycles.com/trek-remedy ... e-EV251312
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/spectr ... l-6-0.html (but I heard they always have stocks and have to wait months for the bikes to be delivered)
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/9804/p ... -aqua.aspx

Please suggest, anything else if you know anything better.

rockmonkeysc

I'd go for a Giant Trance. Excellent frame and the best rear suspension set up. Really great ride and really well made.
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/318671/pr ... AmAM8P8HAQ

core00

Can you explain what's wrong with the list above? I'm guessing he'll be doing a bit of DH ride as well but mainly trail centres.

poah

I wouldn't go for the trance and the cube isn't a bad buy but it might be over biked for what your friend wants to do
but also consider this in the same type of bike.

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/rado ... /wg_id-802

There is also the boardman FS pro, the other bikes you have there are poorly spec'd for the price.

core00

POAH wrote:

I wouldn't go for the trance and the cube isn't a bad buy but it might be over biked for what your friend wants to do
but also consider this in the same type of bike.

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/rado ... /wg_id-802

There is also the boardman FS pro, the other bikes you have there are poorly spec'd for the price.

Thanks for the link, but we think ordering it within the UK is preferable not only for easy return but as well as can be picked if needed.

Why you wouldn't go for the Trance 2? any reason? He's been riding a hardtail for quite a while now but wanted to upgrade to FS as he sold his HT not long ago.

poah

other than the crap spec I'm not a fan of the suspension

poah

price of the bird bikes seems to have crept up recently

dirkpitt74

Have a look at the VITUS Range on CRC.

Some decent spec'd bikes for the price.

Was going to suggest Bird - but the cheapest Aeris is now £1700.00 - a shame really as they were a steal previously.

rockmonkeysc

core00 wrote:

Can you explain what's wrong with the list above? I'm guessing he'll be doing a bit of DH ride as well but mainly trail centres.

None of them would be great for downhill to be honest, but neither is the Trance. Suspension and geometry are critical for downhill so something like a Giant Reign, Transition Patrol or the Solid enduro bike (I forget it's name)
None of the bikes you linked to are particularly interesting to be honest. Cube and Canyon frames are just a bit below average and Whyte just don't seem as lively as they could be. Norco build quality is terrible and Treks rear suspension is wallowey and unpleasant.

core00

RockmonkeySC wrote:

core00 wrote:

Can you explain what's wrong with the list above? I'm guessing he'll be doing a bit of DH ride as well but mainly trail centres.

None of them would be great for downhill to be honest, but neither is the Trance. Suspension and geometry are critical for downhill so something like a Giant Reign, Transition Patrol or the Solid enduro bike (I forget it's name)
None of the bikes you linked to are particularly interesting to be honest. Cube and Canyon frames are just a bit below average and Whyte just don't seem as lively as they could be. Norco build quality is terrible and Treks rear suspension is wallowey and unpleasant.

I see, I mean we're planning to visit Wales probably early March so its not like he'll be riding DH all the time. There are some downhill in our local trails but its not comparable to Wales bike park where there's a proper DH trails. As mentioned above its going to be mainly riding trail centres with some downhill, I think that's the right wording rather than saying 'riding DH'.

Proper enduro bike is quite pricey to be honest or the giant reign, so sticking will AM bikes surely most AM bikes are capable handling some DH rides.

There's a Giant store in Guildford which isn't far from where we are.

As for the Aeris yeah looks like an amazing bike, not far from where we are as well so might visit them over the weekend. Shame that their £1700 doesn't have with a dropper post

rockmonkeysc

The Bird is as good as you'll get at the price. Anything with a dropper post at that price is sacrificing something more important to pay for it.
AM is just what enduro was called a few years ago. I think it might be just a trail bike you want.
Bike Park Wales doesn't have any proper downhill trails. It has trails that go down a hill but having been there with a downhill bike I'd never take it again, a decent trail bike is more than up to any of the black trails, even the pro lines were OK on my old Transition Scout trail bike with 120mm rear, 140mm front suspension. 160mm is the absolute max you'd want there, any more just kills the fun.

doomanic

How about a 2016 Nukeproof Mega 275 Race? 160mm front and rear, 2x10 and a dropper post. There's a few left around the country if you look. Under £1600.

I have no idea how good they are yet as I only collected mine this morning...

rockmonkeysc

The Mega TR would be better as an all-round bike. I had one and it's a great frame, just didn't fit me quite right. The only bad point of both versions of the Mega is the Rockshox Monarch shock. Put on a Cane Creek DB or a Fox Float X and it's an excellent bike.