Marin Bobcat or Specialized Rockhopper

ry33

Hi

Looking to get myself a mountain bike, its been a few years, but now the kids are cycling and I am looking to get a bit fitter again I am after a bike. Nothing top of the range just fairly standard goo reliable bike, wont be used on roads will be all paths and trails.

Any opinions on the below

Marin Bobcat trail 4 29er 2017 £429 (believe this was £600)

Specialized Rockhopper comp 2018 £599 (can get for £510 with discount.

My top top end budget would be the Whyte 305 2018 but not sure the extra is justified for my personal use.

JBA

Links?

ry33

https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/specia ... -2018.html


https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bike-arch ... at-trail-4

JBA

Neither are particularly good value.
For the budget you have I'd have a serious look at the Voodoo Hoodoo or Boardman Comp.
Both have better transmission, brakes and, more importantly, forks than either the Spesh or Marin.

ry33

find it hard to believe neither of these are very good, for the intended use.

I looked a Voodoo before, not looked at Boardman but refuse to shop at Halfords, so would need to buy online for elsewhere.

The one I looked at was

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -22-frames

cooldad

JBA is right.

If you refuse to shop at Halfords, that's your choice, but in this case a bit silly.

The bikes are just better, much better forks, which make the main difference.

JBA

ry33 wrote:

... refuse to shop at Halfords, so would need to buy online for elsewhere...

Why?
They are good, well-specified bikes for a decent price.
Don’t let Halfords reputation for poor quality put you off. They do sell some shonky BSO’s and some of their staff leave a lot to be desired but if you know a bit about bikes and are ok checking one over and setting it up then you can get great value for money.

ry33

My dealings with Halfords before has been a terrible experience, they have not improved over the years.

Simply will not part with my money to them anymore not just on bikes but on anything.

The Marin and Specialized are my preference anyone got these bikes or advice on which is better?

02gf74

Sometimes you need to take a stance even if means it costs you money.

I have the same with Ribble cycles, will never have any dealings with them.

Surely those bikes are available elsewhere?

The Rookie

Halfords bikes have the same parts on as millions of other bikes, buy the bike, get it built elsewhere, ride it and never go back to Halfords.

Those others are simply not worth the money. In this case making a stance is spelt ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’.

ry33

I am really struggling to believe the select bikes I had narrowed it down to are not any good.

How about the Whyte 605? It is pricer but a budget I can go to if its worth it? Plus usually Easter deals on soon

https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/whyte-605-2018.html

The Rookie

Why are you struggling to believe it? You clearly don’t know much about bikes, you came and asked for advice which you don’t like and now question the more knowledgeable asked for advice (is your name Donald Trump?).

The Whyte is a little better, but still outpointed by the ones recommended.

Bikes are not like cars (to use an example), all except the frame are generic parts that the same suppliers supply to dozens of manufacturers, some may be branded (like stem and seatpost for example) but are still generic parts under the branding. The single most important component that impacts how a bike rides is the fork, none of those has the fork you should expect on a bike at that price point.

andy9964

If you won't go to Halfords, have a look here
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/cat ... -tail-mtb/

ry33

@The Rookie.... you know what I had typed out a reply for you but not even going to waste my time on you. However one question for you. What Halfords store do you work in?

@Andy9964 thanks, yeah I had a look at Boardman directly and Voodoo you can get online at other stores. I liked the looks of the Specialized and the Marin, and disappointing to hear the negatives on them as I thought these would be suitable and £429 for the Marin Trail 4 2017 seemed a good price for my intended use. I like the Whyte but was higher end budget and prob more than what I need to be spending for the use I will have for it.

I dont know all that much about bikes, hence why I am here. I do not plan to do any heavy mountain biking, I dont plan to cycle in any comps, I dont plan to make this my life. That may change over the years the more I do.

For now I need something entry level, so I can go out with the kids, something to keep my fitness up, cycling on pathways, around the reservoir paths, maybe even to work in the summer couple times a week.

I am not going o shop in Halfords for anything, the stores are terrible, staff are terrible, and people like The rookie support them.

The Rookie

I don’t work for Halfords, I’m just smart enough to be able to read bike specs (actually don’t really need to be that smart to do that and tell good from bad value).

For what you say you want, get yourself to Halfords, best bikes for the money, it’s just a fact.

JBA

ry33 wrote:

I am not going o shop in Halfords for anything, the stores are terrible, staff are terrible, and people like The rookie support them.

I agree that some of the stores and staff are terrible but look beyond that and view the products. Boardman and Voodoo both make excellent value bikes. Join British Cycling and you'll get another 10% off, so even better value.

The big name manufacturers such as Specialized, Marin, Giant, etc make some great bikes but as a general rule their lower end offerings are not good value for money.

If you still refuse to consider the bikes from Halfords then have a look at the Calibre bikes from Go Outdoors. The Two.Two and Gauntlet are good value hardtails.

At the end of the day it is up to you what you buy. It's your money. It just seems pointless coming on a forum to ask advice and then refusing it.

slc123

At the end of the day there is always going to be good and bad experiences with high street retailers and your opinion is your opinion, however people are giving you tried and tested advice that the Bizango and Boardman are better bikes that your original request and the best pricing you will get on them is from Halfords and you can get a further 10% off the cycling club.

Yes, you may have a personal dislike for Halfords, but if you want the best entry level bikes at the lowest price then that's where you will need to go. If you are happy to pay more for a less bike because of that then that's up to you also. I don't go to Halfords a lot but when I do I accept the service isn't going to be the best, but it's convenient and they sometimes have good pricing on items.

I personally think it's silly to discount them, but if that is what you are going to do then checkout Go Outdoors and Decathlon. I've got mates with a Calibre and a Rockrider and both seem good for the money. However, my final point is the Bizango and Boardman are still better bikes at better prices

ry33

Thanks for the other recommendations will take a look

I really was hoping to stick to the more known brands sold in the bike shops.

The Marin, Specialized and Whyte have so far have had nothing good said about them.

Views on the below? Could be affordable if I could hopefully get some Easter discount or a 2017 model.

Cannondale Trail 3 29er 2018

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Tra ... gJmzvD_BwE

cooldad

Better but significantly more expensive.

And still low end parts at the price.

With name brand bikes you are paying a premium for the name. Makes less difference at the top end, but at the lower end it's a significant amount for effectively nothing.

I won't mention the name, but much, much better parts, by orders of magnitude, for less.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/j ... -20-frames

ry33

I am going to have to go at least take a look at these Halfords bikes, they must be something special or all you guys are on Halfords commission ;-)

I am absolutely amazed that even when suggesting spending £1k on a cannondale...bloody Halfords still comes up.

That Halfords bike in the last like does however look truely disgusting.

I get that buying branded you will pay more but is the reliability and end finish and styling not over all better on the more expensive brands?

You may get more for your money with the cheaper brands but is it a case tho that you lose out on reliability over the more expensive brands.

cooldad

Not really, the bits are all either Shimano, Sram or Suntour. And you tend to get the higher level bits on the recommended bikes. The only 'unique' bits tend to be the frames, and most of those are made in the same Chinese/Taiwanese factories anyway.

And at the same sort of price you can get a really good FS

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-bos ... ke-p403001

Video here is worth a watch.

http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/cheap-bike-vs ... ike-365291

I'm not trying to get you to avoid brands. My shed includes Trek, Marin, five assorted Konas and a Nicolai. I even have a Raleigh. Plus a few others in bits. But at the price/budget the ones recommended here are bargains. And they are not 'made' by Halfords.
Voodoo is a reputable US brand, designed by Joe Murray who was responsible for some classic Konas BITD.

slc123

I’ve owned two different trails and they’ve been fantastic bikes. The only two things I would say is that they never put a decent set of forks on them and you will get better value for money on other brands as per cooldad and other comments.

JBA

ry33 - what is your budget?
You started with £500 bikes and have since mentioned a £1k bike.

ry33

Apologies, didn't mean Halfords own branding with Voodoo just that they sell them almost exclusively.

My budget is pretty open

I would like to spend around £500, but I already said that I would go to the Whyte 605 if the extra was wroth it at £750.

The Cannondale is prob a little too pricey but its not a problem if its going to be worth it, but I'd prob hold out for Easter deals or look for a 2017 model if spending at the higher end of £1k.

I'm going to try and nip to Halfords at lunch today to have a look, but if I was to stick with the more branded names which would be the best buy for my intended use.

Marin Bobcat trail 4 29er 2017 £429 (believe this was £600)
https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bike-arch ... at-trail-4

Specialized Rockhopper comp 2018 £599 (can get for £510 with discount)
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/specia ... -2018.html

Whyte 605 £705
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/whyte-605-2018.html

Cannondale Trail 3 29er 2018 £1000 0r (2017) £approx £650
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Tra ... gJmzvD_BwE

ry33

Went for a look around halfords, and wasn't impressed with the actual design of the Voodoo, the design and style IMO look rather s***

I get the point that your getting more for your money, but styling wise pretty horrible.

They are also all 1 x 11 or the likes, the others or 2 x or 3 x. Is it not better to have 2 x or 3 ?

One that did prob look the best all of what I looked at was the Boardman Team

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -19-frames

Noticed the links didn't work on last post, updated below, so if I was to stick with the more branded names which would be the best buy for my intended use.

Marin Bobcat trail 4 29er 2017 £429 (believe this was £600)
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/marin- ... -2017.html

Specialized Rockhopper comp 2018 £599 (can get for £510 with discount)
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/specia ... -2018.html

Whyte 605 £705
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/whyte-605-2018.html

Cannondale Trail 3 29er 2018 £1000 0r (2017) £approx £650
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Tra ... gIaS_D_BwE

ry33

yeah the Boardman team looks to be on there discounted range so discounted at £730 but yeah may be open to more off.

I seen the comp also but want 29 wheels, the pro was also in store but horrible colour

The Rookie

I've never worried what a bike looks like, you don't look at it while riding and by the time you stop (in the UK for about 50 weeks of the year) its mud coloured.

This has a much better fork than anything you've linked to
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p ... -27-5-2016
This adds 10 speed
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p ... -80-D-2018
And this 11 speed altghough a slight Fork downgrade
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p ... -27-5-2016

All in budget and cheaper than the overpriced big names.....

ry33

all 27.5 though

JBA

If you're not worried about specs or value for money then get whichever you think is the prettiest.

andy9964

Just to add another spanner/dilemma into the mix, Halfords have a further 10% off until midnight tonight

ry33

@JBA where did i say I didn't care about spec's or value for money, I simply said IMO the Voodoo styling was pretty awful.