£1600 full suspension

RagnarL

Hi I have decided to make the jump and go for a full suspension. But rather than killing my bank account and not allowing the kids to eat I have set myself a budget of £1600 for a full suspension.

I have looked around the other posts and topics and been around a few bike shops aswell I have a view ideas of what feels good and what doesn't.

But can I ask..you all know what sort of bikes are around this budget... . If you had £1600 to spend on full suspension.. What would you go for?

I mostly ride some long distance but normal trail stuff, blues red, and occasional blacks but nothing to extreme.

Thanks

jamski

Can't pretend to know exactly what's around at that price point, but I think you'll probably find a lot of options slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive.

Look at Calibre for the cheaper end. If you could add another £300 or so you're starting to get into the Bird range, which I would obviously say are amazing! Check them out, www.bird.bike

david7m

Second hand Whyte T130S. Got mine less than 2 years old for £1500.

robertpb

A Calibre Triple B at £1400 with the discount card would be a good choice.

billycool

Maybe look at Vitus as well:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-escarpe- ... e-nx-2019/

You can go 2nd hand or look at new (old) 2018 bikes if you can find something you like.

RagnarL

robertpb wrote:

A Calibre Triple B at £1400 with the discount card would be a good choice.

The BBB is one of the first ones I went and looked at due to all the reviews all looked great but just didn't feel right sitting on both sizes M and L.

Went out again this morning and had another sit on a Giant Stance 1. That felt pretty good. Any thoughts on that one?

jamski

RagnarL wrote:

robertpb wrote:

A Calibre Triple B at £1400 with the discount card would be a good choice.

The BBB is one of the first ones I went and looked at due to all the reviews all looked great but just didn't feel right sitting on both sizes M and L.

Went out again this morning and had another sit on a Giant Stance 1. That felt pretty good. Any thoughts on that one?

It's personal choice, nothing wrong with it, but doesn't personally fill me with joy. How about the Hawk Hill?

https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/201 ... awk-hill-2

robertpb

This is the fifth thread you have started on which bike to buy since the begining of September last, just stick to one thread is the advise you were given some time back.
Have you actually bought any of the bikes sugested as the budget keeps changing as well as full susser or hardtail.
Do you have an MTB at the moment if so what is it and where do you normaly ride. We keep on sugesting stuff but we don't seem to have any background info on you.

RagnarL

robertpb wrote:

This is the fifth thread you have started on which bike to buy since the begining of September last, just stick to one thread is the advise you were given some time back.
Have you actually bought any of the bikes sugested as the budget keeps changing as well as full susser or hardtail.
Do you have an MTB at the moment if so what is it and where do you normaly ride. We keep on sugesting stuff but we don't seem to have any background info on you.

Sorry just thought it was easier to post again but I will listern next time. Yes I brought a hard tail last year based on advice. I'm currently riding a sarace. Mantra Pro with a few upgrades which I have done to get set up right.. And the reason I havnt brought a full susser yet as to me it's A lot of money thats not going on the kids etc and only for me I feel I need to make the right choice. I have been riding on blues and reds since September and have enjoyed every min. Spent time a cardinham Woods and haldon forest in Exeter looking at going to gawton. Not trying to cause any issues just trying to get my decision right.

RagnarL

It's personal choice, nothing wrong with it, but doesn't personally fill me with joy. How about the Hawk Hill?

https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/201 ... awk-hill-2[/quote]

This is one of the ones that has interested me aswell quite a bit but there is nowhere near me as far as I'm aware that does these to try them out. But this one has interested me and is on my list. Thank you.

jamski

RagnarL wrote:

It's personal choice, nothing wrong with it, but doesn't personally fill me with joy. How about the Hawk Hill?

https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/201 ... awk-hill-2

This is one of the ones that has interested me aswell quite a bit but there is nowhere near me as far as I'm aware that does these to try them out. But this one has interested me and is on my list. Thank you.[/quote]

Where abouts in the country are you? The original basic full suss Hawk Hill was my first ever full-suss demo, had a total blast. I didn't end up buying one, but they are lovely bikes, and a decent spec for the money these days too.

robertpb

There is a bit of confusion on the spec of that Hawk Hill as it shows in the all the pictures Hans Dampf tyres but in the bumpf it's Vee tyres which are not that good.

RagnarL

Where abouts in the country are you? The original basic full suss Hawk Hill was my first ever full-suss demo, had a total blast. I didn't end up buying one, but they are lovely bikes, and a decent spec for the money these days too.

I am down in Plymouth. I did look at the rift aswell and seems widely available but I believe the only difference is that the rift is a 29er.

This bike was pointed out to me by a friend who used to be based out in Germany. Any thoughts? Just curiosity really as over my budget.

https://www.radon-bikes.de/en/mountainb ... l-80-2019/

RagnarL

Also I have heard some good things about the canyons and they are both around my price range..

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/neuron-al- ... lsrc=aw.ds

Any thoughts on this one?

robertpb

That's their old Neuron the new bike is as the CF range, it's not as good as the Radon.

steve_sordy

david7m wrote:

Second hand Whyte T130S. Got mine less than 2 years old for £1500.

This is the one to go for!

The Whyte T130 is a fantastic bike! It rides like it has more suspension travel than it actually has, but in a good way. This was rated 5* by all the mtb magazines when it first came out a couple of years ago and it still rates as 5* in my eyes.

RagnarL

steve_sordy wrote:

david7m wrote:

Second hand Whyte T130S. Got mine less than 2 years old for £1500.

This is the one to go for!

The Whyte T130 is a fantastic bike! It rides like it has more suspension travel than it actually has, but in a good way. This was rated 5* by all the mtb magazines when it first came out a couple of years ago and it still rates as 5* in my eyes.

Thank you it looks great but doubt I will find one. Shame even at new it is outside the budget. Thank you for your comments though.

RagnarL

BillyCool wrote:

Maybe look at Vitus as well:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-escarpe- ... e-nx-2019/

You can go 2nd hand or look at new (old) 2018 bikes if you can find something you like.

Many thanks.

RagnarL

jamski wrote:

Can't pretend to know exactly what's around at that price point, but I think you'll probably find a lot of options slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive.

Look at Calibre for the cheaper end. If you could add another £300 or so you're starting to get into the Bird range, which I would obviously say are amazing! Check them out, http://www.bird.bike

Can I ask what makes them amazing for you.?? . I see their shop is in Portsmouth so it's doable for a demo..

RagnarL

oxoman wrote:

Have a look on Pauls cycles website at giant trance 2018 or they have a small anthem 29er running xt etc both better than the stance.

Thanks. For the anthem I believe this is more xc ordinated? however as I am relatively new to this and still learning about geo etc, but to me the specs looks very good and would be what I need for.

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/490/produ ... ckred.aspx

jamski

That's budget is creeping up! £1800 now. Check as www.bird.bike and spec yourself a nice little Aeris 120. Central get one for under £2k I think.

kirkymtb

I know real mountain bikers don't go to Halfords but if you did you'd find the spec of bikes is very high in your price range. The Voodoo Zobop at £1250 looks good as does the Boardman MTR8.9 at £1600. My Boardman FS Pro has a Rockshox Pike, SRAM GX 11 speed and Guide brakes. I bought it in a 20% off week reduced from £1500 to £1200. A bargain.
Remember if you consider used that the suspension pivots are bound to be part worn, as will be the transmission, so more money will need to be spent sooner rather than later.

RagnarL

jamski wrote:

That's budget is creeping up! £1800 now. Check as http://www.bird.bike and spec yourself a nice little Aeris 120. Central get one for under £2k I think.

Well the budget is always flexible!! Depending on how I pay. Not sure the wife will be to happy though . Thanks for the great advice people, much appreciated. Heading up Haldon Forest again this weekend on my hardtail then will be making my decision on which way to go.

RagnarL

jamski wrote:

That's budget is creeping up! £1800 now. Check as http://www.bird.bike and spec yourself a nice little Aeris 120. Central get one for under £2k I think.

This is a slightly beginner question based on specs but spending nearly 2k with deore drive isn't that great or am I missing something..?

RagnarL

I am also trying to find one preferably from a local shop, unless the right deal comes about on the ones that people have suggested, can I ask people thoughts on this one as it is available from a local shop. Yes again budget a lite bit more than 1600

[url][/url]https://www.redbrickcycles.co.uk/occam[/url]

jamski

RagnarL wrote:

jamski wrote:

That's budget is creeping up! £1800 now. Check as http://www.bird.bike and spec yourself a nice little Aeris 120. Central get one for under £2k I think.

This is a slightly beginner question based on specs but spending nearly 2k with deore drive isn't that great or am I missing something..?

No, in one way you're not wrong, but you get to decide where your money goes with Bird, and at the end of the day the frame is the single most important thing. I'd actually put drivetrain at the very bottom, as you will end up replacing that eventually. The frames are amazing, transferable lifetime warranty and amazing service.

jamski

Check out the special editions. If you can stretch the budget, this is 100% where I would put my money. Insane value. The 145s.

https://www.bird.bike/five/

RagnarL

jamski wrote:

Check out the special editions. If you can stretch the budget, this is 100% where I would put my money. Insane value. The 145s.

https://www.bird.bike/five/

I can see exactly what you mean about the value and specs and looks stunning.

The only issue I'm having though is the geometry and trying to match a size. The M would suit me better but the reach is at 460 and am only used to 435 on my hard tail but am definitely looking into it more. Thanks. And struggling to force myself the extra dosh

RagnarL

oxoman wrote:

Yes your correct the Anthem is more xc biased, mine gets used on pretty much all red trails throughout the UK with no issues. If you want a bit more travel then go for the trance. The bird and the whyte are also good bikes, I'm just biased towards the better suspension set up of the giants.

Many thanks, lots of good information from you, the search is getting narrowed down now.

What makes the suspension set up better on the Giant?

JBA

That Anthem is a great bike. 130mm front and 110mm rear suspension will be fine on most trails. In the USA the 130mm Anthems are classed by Giant as XC-Trail bikes.
Maestro rear suspension is superb. Very little pedal bob, stiff on the uphills and fluid on the downhills. Combine that with 34mm forks and a decent shock and you have a very good suspension set up.

I have done Llandegla blue and red and BPW blues and reds on an older 100mm travel Anthem without any problems.

The Anthem is also a very comfortable bike for long days in the saddle.

steve_sordy

RagnarL wrote:

steve_sordy wrote:

david7m wrote:

Second hand Whyte T130S. Got mine less than 2 years old for £1500.

This is the one to go for!

The Whyte T130 is a fantastic bike! It rides like it has more suspension travel than it actually has, but in a good way. This was rated 5* by all the mtb magazines when it first came out a couple of years ago and it still rates as 5* in my eyes.

Thank you it looks great but doubt I will find one. Shame even at new it is outside the budget. Thank you for your comments though.

I have just looked on eBay and there are quite a few. I found out to my cost that almost nobody ever gets the money they want for their bike, so make them an offer. There are other places to look too.