Are these good value

jsisidore

Greetings. Spring is nigh and I'm hunting for a decent hardtail as the old one got nicked, budget 700ish
Thing is lots of good buys are out of stock, I'm 6.2 so I need the biggest size there is

Here's what I found do far:
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bikes/mo ... -2017-bike

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Saracen-Mantra ... AQAvD_BwE#

P. S. I got warm feelings for 29ers but it's not a must

mark_fogel

I got the Marin it's fantastic... add a dropper and you can ride anything.

jsisidore

mark_fogel wrote:

I got the Marin it's fantastic... add a dropper and you can ride anything.

Good good. So it rides as well as it looks.

How about this btwin?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-9 ... 66620.html

Thing is I don't know anything about the fork brand. Is it on the level with recon, raidon or reba. I really really liked my reba solo air fork but anything close will do.

mark_fogel

jsisidore wrote:

mark_fogel wrote:

I got the Marin it's fantastic... add a dropper and you can ride anything.

Good good. So it rides as well as it looks.

How about this btwin?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-9 ... 66620.html

Thing is I don't know anything about the fork brand. Is it on the level with recon, raidon or reba. I really really liked my reba solo air fork but anything close will do.

The rockrider is okay... Nice and light but a bit old fashioned... It's okay for cross country riding bit for that sort of money I would suggest a bike which is a little more trail specific... The Marin is a very good option.. another is voodoo bizango it calibre line 10.

jsisidore

oxoman wrote:

Have a look on paulscycles website as usually loads of quality bikes discounted.

I followed your advice and got myself marin bobcat 5 2017 with a big discount. 20 inch only but it was considered their biggest and when arrived it looked massive, bigger than my old 22 inch hybrid. Overall perfect I just wish it had a wider seat tube.

ry33

@ jsisidore how are you finding the Marin? I was looking at the Marin 4 2017 but was advised no good, and bombarded with Halfords Voodoo recommendations, was not keen on the Voodoo's however.

cooldad

That has a decent air fork and decent finishing kit. At the price it's not bad at all. Batter than the others you were looking at, but a bit more expensive. The original price was a rip, but the sale price is ok.

ry33

£469 so decent price for 2017 model, its a 27.5 tho, cant get a 29er in the 2017 range only in 2018

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b58s182 ... -27-5-2017

cooldad

Coil fork, so a bit heavier than the air in previous posts, and down on spec overall, but better than the ones you were looking at originally. The fork is properly damped though and quite plush.

But only if a 20" will fit you - that's quite big.

ry33

yeah i'm 6ft so should be fine.

Just one for consideration, I had read to go for a 29er but for my intended use its not overly a must, I suspect.

cooldad

I wouldn't worry about wheel size too much, and as 27.5 is just about the most common these days, there's a big choice of tyres.

ry33

cooldad wrote:

Coil fork, so a bit heavier than the air in previous posts, and down on spec overall, but better than the ones you were looking at originally. The fork is properly damped though and quite plush.

But only if a 20" will fit you - that's quite big.

I presume when you say down on spec you mean compared to the Voodoo's? I've not compared this to the Whyte 605 or Cannondale Trail 3 29er yet.

Just one for consideration at the sale price

JBA

"ry33 wrote:

I presume when you say down on spec you mean compared to the Voodoo's? I've not compared this to the Whyte 605 or Cannondale Trail 3 29er yet.

Just one for consideration at the sale price

I think CD means compared to the Marin Nail Trail and Saracen Mantra linked to at the start of this thread.

ry33

I doubt I’ll hear from the original poster who bought the Marin.

I am tempted just to go for it at the price.