My first bike...

truespin

I'm just about to buy my first bike since I was a youngster and thought you guys would be able to give me some good advice.

I want to spend œ250 - œ300 and will be riding it largely on the hills and downs of sunny Guildford - but would also take it on roads for local transportation too.

I've been recommended the Specialized Hardrock Sport by quite a few mates and have found the '06 for œ250 and the '07 for œ300 which puts them both in the right pricing ballpark for me.

So my questions are:
Is the '07 worth the extra œ50?
Can anyone suggest somewhere I could get these for less than I've found so far?
What other bikes in the price range would you suggest and why?

Cheers in advance

BTR

Links to both please.

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truespin

'06 http://www.devercycles.co.uk/dever-a-bi ... PZHARD0206
'07 http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70060

ride_whenever

Whichever mongoose tyax you can afford (i think it is either the super or the elite)

My Scott

My Single Speed

Always remember to pick your Uni according to the local trails or you'll be stuck with nowhere to ride for three years!

mongooseTE17

You can Afford the Mongoose Tyax Elite 2007. (like mine)

My Elite!
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1331161/

Flurry

hardrock gets my vote

click on the head of the worm in my sig for a pic of mine

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[}:)]
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MtbKid

Get the Mongoose Tyav Elite. I think that is supposed to be good...
I think you might aswell spend an extra œ50 for the new one, œ50 isn't that much extra..
Or get a GT Chucker, I use mine for everything!

<font color="red"><b>E</font id="red"><font color="black">m</font id="black"><font color="red">o</font id="red"><font color="black">i</font id="black"><font color="red">s</font id="red"><font color="black">m</font id="black"> <font color="red">i</font id="red"><font color="black">s</font id="black"> <font color="red">a</font id="red"><font color="black">g</font id="black"><font color="red">a</font id="red"><font color="black">i</font id="black"><font color="red">n</font id="red"><font color="black">s</font id="black"><font color="red">t</font id="red"> <font color="black">t</font id="black"><font color="red">h</font id="red"><font color="black">e</font id="black"> <font color="red">l</font id="red"><font color="black">a</font id="black"><font color="red">w</font id="red"><font color="black">!</b></font id="black">

BTR

There is no difference between the Hardrock 06 and the hardrock 07. Nothing noticeable anyway. Just save yourself œ50 and get the hardrock 06.

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truespin

I've also seen the Hardrock Sport '06 disk version for œ300 - quite tempted by that but am not sure whether the disk brakes will actually make any difference to me Or whether they're just rubbish disk brakes...
It has: Shimano BR-M465 mechanical disc with 6inch Centrelock rotor

billy79

Hardrock seems to come top in most test's in it's range, and looking at the spec difference, I would save some dosh and get the 06 model, and spend the rest of money on a decent helmet maybe?

Vote for my Bike http://www.moredirt.co.uk/ratebike.php?id=609

Anonymous

it will definately be worth going for the disc version if you can as it means when you decide to upgrade the bike in the future (and you almost certainly will) you wont have o fork out for new wheels too which can double the initial outlay.
also, even websters disc are better than rim brakes if you are offroad and in mucky conditions.

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Hodgie

yeah get the disk brake version

downhill all the way

truespin

thanks for the advice about disks
Are they more problematic to maintain or set-up than Vs?

I've now looked into the Mongoose Tyax Elite and it's the right price and looks pretty good - what makes this a better buy than the hardrock?

Flurry

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by truespin</i>

thanks for the advice about disks
Are they more problematic to maintain or set-up than Vs?

I've now looked into the Mongoose Tyax Elite and it's the right price and looks pretty good - what makes this a better buy than the hardrock?
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depends if they are cable of hydraulic discs, but i'd say V's are harder than both

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[}:)]
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ddoogie

They are essentially the same as vees. Calliper alignment is nothing difficult. The other option would be to go for the 2006 version and pick up a œ50 fork from Ebay. Something like a Marzocchi Mx Comp which would drastically improve the overall performance.

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<font size="1"><font color="red">S-Works Stumpjumper FSR</font id="red"></font id="size1">

ride_whenever

The mongoose has decent mech discs and a hydraulically damped fork. It is ready to receive hydraulic discs if you want the extra control.

My Scott

My Single Speed

Always remember to pick your Uni according to the local trails or you'll be stuck with nowhere to ride for three years!

stephen1471

I got the hardrock and havent looked back. Good solid bike and if you get the disk version its easy to upgrade.
Upgrade the fork as soon as possible though - the rst's do nothing for you and the upgrade has such an effect on the overall performance.

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/?op=view& ... 175529#top

Norco_Will93

any of the gts, either aggressor 2 or 1, either chucker, or either avalance

i got a aggressor 2 (halfords special) dont laugh but it is awsome

http://www.freewebs.com/southwestbikin/ - My Site


http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/?op=list& ... rid=165952 - My Biatch

I rode once, i rode again

truespin

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by sheepsteeth</i>

it will definately be worth going for the disc version if you can as it means when you decide to upgrade the bike in the future (and you almost certainly will) you wont have o fork out for new wheels too which can double the initial outlay.
also, even websters disc are better than rim brakes if you are offroad and in mucky conditions.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

So if I was to get the non-disk version and at a later date decided I wanted to put disks on I'd need new wheels too? Hmm - spend more money now to potentially save it later...

What other upgrades should I be looking into (or expecting) for the Hardrock Sport (someone else mentioned new fork too...)

djjowle

Simple.

Buy a Hardrock Sport Disc
Save up
Upgrade the forks
Save up
Upgrade the discs

I got back into riding a year and a half ago. I got a Hardrock Sport and having upgraded, it rides better and (provided I don't wreck it) will last a lot longer. I didn't think to buy the disc version and had to get new wheels when I upgraded, but that worked well for me as I went for Pikes 426 forks, which have a 20mm axle.

The bike looks and rides great now and my riding has gone up a level for having upgraded. The forks give you more control, comfort and speed. Needn't say what the brakes do....! Much better.

Next up I'm going to save for a new (and better) frame to replace the Hardrock.

djjowle

rutheginger

go onto http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/index.html u can get very cheap bike stuff there and the postage is free!!

cyclone

Definitely get the disc version.
Even the cheapest disc brakes are better than V's when your rims are covered in mud/water.

Just save up for some forks as RST wont last long.
You can get Manitou Axel Comp from ChainReactionCycles for œ59.99 which is 40% off.

Or save up some more and get some better second hand forks like Marzocchi bomber or RS Tora.

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I used to be undecided but now I'm not so sure!?
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<font color="red"><b>My Spesh</font id="red"></b>
<b>MB-HP</b>

truespin

thanks djjowle - that's my current plan - now to get the bike for the right price...

Just out of interest how much are you talking for new forks and what would be suggested? Same goes for the disks (just so I know what I'm letting myself in for! )

cyclone

For reasonably good forks like Marzocchi MX Comp you are looking at œ150 new or about œ80 second hand.

A full set of hydro calipers/levers etc is about œ150

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I used to be undecided but now I'm not so sure!?
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<font color="red"><b>My Spesh</font id="red"></b>
<b>MB-HP</b>

djjowle

I'm sure other people will be able to offer more advice but here's my two pennies worth...

I can't speak for all these forks, having never owned them (except the Pikes, which are great) but they're what I was recommended on forums when I was looking around. You can pick up cheaper options but I think in the long term its worth saving that little bit extra. I did and its safe to say that Pikes have changed my life!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13117
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13115
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13123

As for disc brakes, I know less about them than I do about forks. CRC have some good deals and I would look at something like this to start.. Obviously depends on what you going to use them for and how much you want to spend but for a bargain I'd look at something like this.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16784

You can always look around on the forums for bargains, second hand. My advice would to beware of the well known auction site though. Its not all bad but just be careful.

Happy shopping.

djjowle

invert1

get the giant stp 2 it œ250 so if u dont like anything on it upgrade it wiv da money left ova or the charge stove or barcode 2thirds but i would recomend the giant stp 2