What would you do?

sfrs4
sfrs4 Posts: 3
edited July 2019 in MTB beginners
so after dragging myself and my bike out of retirement last year (good year for riding) i have shoved around 1000 miles under us both, 2009 GT Aggressor xc3 completely standard and me at 40 cough 3 years old. the old girl is starting to show signs of age.
So to the original subject, What would you do? I want to progress a little, at the moment I ride mainly byways/ bridleways and national cycle routes, one of which ends up at Sherwood Pines hence the progress a little. So I have been looking into replacing the old girl with something a little more up to date and modern. I believe all I need is a hard tail with fairly decent air front forks as i don't think i yet justify a full sus bike.
My choices are restricted by a limited budget of sub £500 so below is what i was thinking
1. s/h air forks forks, new chain, new group set on the old girl
2. second whyte 901 at an absolute max spend more realistic is an 805 or 809
3. new Vitus Nucleus VR

Comments

  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    The old girl will have old style geometry and may not reward your expenditure.
    The Whyte HTs are great bikes, but you need to know what you are doing when buying a used mtb.
    The Vitus Nucleus VR gets a good review from Guy Kesteven (long time respected bike reviewer).
    https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes ... vr-review/

    The Vitus is a good review, but it says it is a hard ride. If that bothers you go for the used Whyte, but keep your wits abit you.
  • sfrs4
    sfrs4 Posts: 3
    steve_sordy wrote:
    The old girl will have old style geometry and may not reward your expenditure.
    The Whyte HTs are great bikes, but you need to know what you are doing when buying a used mtb.
    The Vitus Nucleus VR gets a good review from Guy Kesteven (long time respected bike reviewer).
    https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes ... vr-review/

    The Vitus is a good review, but it says it is a hard ride. If that bothers you go for the used Whyte, but keep your wits abit you.

    Thanks for the advice, I had looked at few whytes recently and just thought it could be a whole can of worms to get into and a huge waste of money if i choose wrong.
  • billycool
    billycool Posts: 833
    My HT is 2006 and has older geometry and it's harder to get forks for it etc. I'd like something a bit slacker now.

    2nd hand HT shopping isn't too bad - less things to worry about than a FS bike. Still need to know what you are looking at. Whyte are good but so are plenty of other brands.

    Vitus is good for £499. Brand new, modern geometry and good reviews.

    Maybe also look at:

    https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -22-frames

    https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15903294/c ... e-15903294
    "Ride, crash, replace"
  • layers
    layers Posts: 20
    I'd go for the whyte personally, New bike is never a bad choice :)

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