Looking for a bike, not sure what to spend!

PulseTurbo

EDITED SUBJECT - SEE FURTHER DOWN

Hi all, I'm not looking for anything fantastic (I know I won't get anything up to much for 200 quid), but I was wondering your recommendations. I don't mind buying second hand. I'd like something in the style of this (although obviously not as expensive):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/gt%20chu ... 1%2007.jpg

mikeyboy36

try ebay,you can get a good 05 model for quite cheap

PulseTurbo

Anything else you would recommend I keep an eye out for on eBay? Would a saracen be a terrible buy?

BTR

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

Anything else you would recommend I keep an eye out for on eBay? Would a saracen be a terrible buy?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Yes.
Look for:
DMR
Identiti
24seven
Charge
Flow

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

It's because muslims are far more into amateur pyrotechnics than christians.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"></center>

fozy

If you up your money to œ240 then you can pick up a GIANT Yukon quality spec for the price.

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/index ... 5&brandID=

Silver Bullet

What do you want the bike for?
Becuase if it's just a bit of light XC then you could easily get a second hand Specialized Hardrock for that money, with plenty to spare for upgrades as well

***
'06 Scott Voltage YZ2

<center>Reality Is But A Figment</center>

PulseTurbo

I want a bike for a bit of light XC and cycling with the missus, that's all really.

Btw, I know it's out of my budget, but I've been looking at either:

Gary Fisher Mullet (2006): œ350
Kona Shred (2007): œ425

What do you all think?

PulseTurbo

Oh, also... Can you show me an example of what kind of specialised hard rock I could get second hand for the money???

Silver Bullet

There are 17 Hardrocks on ebay atm
Something like this would definitely be worth a look, just make sure its the right size frame for you

***
'06 Scott Voltage YZ2

<center>Reality Is But A Figment</center>

PulseTurbo

Looks good. So when looking at bikes, what makes/models should I stay away from (as in, totally crap), and what components?

PulseTurbo

How about a bit cheaper.... Would I notice the difference?

Gary Fisher Opie (2005): œ270

mbukjames

Well check out CRC and Evans Cycles, They tend to do good deals on bikes.

<font color="red"><u>Mr</u> <font color="red">Chucker</font id="red"></font id="red">
<font color="blue"><u>The </u>frame</font id="blue">
stikorz [:D]
<u>My</u> Ride

supersonic

Chucker isnt a light XC bike BTW, its a jump bike.

Have a read of this for what to look for in a budget bike:

http://www.whatmtb.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18410

Its important to try it, and I'd buy from a local shop to take advantage of this, plus the build, free service and warranty.

For 200 quid I'd recommend the Giant Boulder or Decathlon Rockrider, both well equipped and decent parts. For 280 the Mongoose Tyax Elite is a great MTB, with tough frame, discs and the jewel in the crown, the adjustable hydraulically damped fork. No offence to others, but I'd stay away from the hardrock. Overly heavy, not very well specced abd very bouncy forks. It is however tough, and maybe worth upgrading.

<center><font size="1"><font color="red">GT Zaskar LE</font id="red">
<font color="red">GT Ruckus</font id="red">
<font color="red">Me!</font id="red">
<font color="red">Supersonic</font id="red"><hr noshade size="1"><font color="red">Park Tools - help and instructions for all general bike fixes</font id="red">
<font color="red">Sheldon Brown - info about anything and everything</font id="red"></font id="size1"></center>

PulseTurbo

Thanks everyone. I'm really just starting out looking for a bike, so not sure quite what I'm looking for yet. Sorry for being a useless tit at the moment!!!

I want something which I can comfortably ride on the road, paths and also the odd grass path with the missus (nothing major at all). That'll be the main part of riding the bike, but also when I have spare time in the day, I will be riding alone, so want something I can gradually build up to being only a tad more adventurous on. I'm not at all interested in doing jumps or anything like that though I don't think. I know this probably leads to just a normal mountain bike, but I'm finding a problem because I can't find a normal mountain bike I actually like the look of. I'm more interested in the type of thing already mentioned, with my favourites being the Mullet and the Shred, that kind of style. Would these kind of frames really be suitable?

Also, I'm not really looking for something which requires constant maintainance if possible, and don't want to be spending out on services unless I can get them cheap enough (any ideas on prices based on these bikes?).

I really liked the look and the feel of the Kona Shred, I tried it out in a bike shop, and I've looked at Wiggle and Evans, and the bike is around the œ600 mark there, whereas in the shop, he will sell it to me for œ425 (although I'm not sure if it's the 2006 model or not - were any components changed?). I totally agree with what supersonic has said, and I will try to get it from a bike shop if they can match the online price (or near to it), and with the Kona, it's a HELL of a lot cheaper!

Does anyone think with the kinda riding I'm going to be doing though, it's a bit overkill going for a œ425 bike. Would I be just as well off going for something cheap and cheerful, for example the 'Giant Rock' from Wiggle for œ135 (after 10% discount), seen here:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 5360030049

PulseTurbo

What would you all recommend for me, as I think I'm looking mainly at 'miss daisy' riding, with some mild XC thrown in. Trying to keep the price as low as poss.

stick

I'd say go for a second hand hardrock. That giant rock bike is fine for what you plan on doing, but it has limited upgrade potential if somewhere down the line you decided to take the sport more seriously. Neither the frame or forks have disk mounts, and the frame has the old smaller diameter steerer tube which limits your suspension fork options. You'll get better longer lasting components on a second hand bike for your budget.

<i><b><font color="red">Whats 12ft long?</font id="red"><font color="black">black </font id="black"><font color="red">and and has four people astride it?</font id="red"> </b></i>

BTR

Hardrock/rockhopper.

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

It's because muslims are far more into amateur pyrotechnics than christians.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"></center>

Tony06

ive got a gary fisher mullet. for the price it has to be one of the best all rounders ever!!! i use it for everything but now got it more dh orientated put still cant fault it for a beginner.

Irish DHThe Mullet

PulseTurbo

Thanks for all your help so far everyone. Any other tips? I'm not in a rush to buy a bike, so just taking my time about choosing the right one at the moment!