New bike :)

LostAndConfused · June 2007

I'm going to be getting a new bike soon, but I'm not entirely sure what to get. I'm looking for a nice all-round hardtail that'll be used mostly for cross country riding, but also for the occasional bit of downhill, jumping and just about everything else mountain biking has to offer. [:)] My budget is roughly œ600 (œ650 max). The bike that has interested me most is the Specialized Rockhopper Disc, but I'm not sure if this can cope with anything other than cross country?

All advice will be greatly appreciated! [:D] Thank you.

keeko · June 2007

Check out tthis shops other products if this one doesn`t suit. Top prices. And No, I don`t work for them.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... m1b7s1p165

Guess the frame in my picture!!!

_Tyler_Durden_ · June 2007

I was in this situation couple of days ago and bought a Marin Hawkhill. It is one hell of a sexy machine, check it out.

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... k_hill.jpg

I know it doesn't possible, but it looks even better in real life!

gravityengine · June 2007

Both those bikes^^ have poor spec's for the money, LostAndConfused, you are thinking on the right lines with a Spesh Rockhopper, it will stand upto a fair bit of abuse but nothing too extreme or often.

Also have a look at Rock LobsterB-52 which is a bit burlier than the Spesh.

My Bikes howies© Orange Bikes

ddoogie · June 2007

I'd be very tempted by the Merlin Malt 2

œ625 and you are getting a very respectable fork and Top of the range Mavic rims. Decent groupset and potential for upgrades.

<hr noshade size="1">
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR

gravityengine · June 2007

The Malt 2 is very good, but like the Spesh, it's more xc than anything else, I thought the B-52 was a better all rounder (IMHO)

My Bikes howies© Orange Bikes

ddoogie · June 2007

Yah, but when you are doing mostly UK trail riding you can't go far wrong with a Trail bike. Most people do small jumps/drops/rock gardens on XC hardtails with no problems.

<hr noshade size="1">
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR

gravityengine · June 2007

True, I do/did it all on my Gringo (Also worth a look LostAndConfused, now known as the Orange G2 & G3) and it's fine, shame it's relegated to a 'beer scooter' now I have the Susser!.

My Bikes howies© Orange Bikes

LostAndConfused · June 2007

Oo, thanks for all the advice everyone. [:)]

Keeko, I'm more interested in getting a hardtail than a full susser at the moment. I've been told that my budget isn't high enough to be able to afford a decent full susser anyway. [;)]

Tyler Durden and Ddoogie, the Hawkhill and Malt 2 both seem fairly similar to the Rockhopper, and I think I'd choose the Spesh over them. I'll do more research into them though.

Gravityengine, the Rock Lobster does look like the sort of thing that may fit the bill. I'm not sure about it though... I don't know why... perhaps it's the colour. [:p]

Thanks for all the help once again. [:D] Anyone else got any other suggestions? [:)]

Singletrackjamie · June 2007

The lobster all the way! thats an awsome bike for the money, those magura forks are really nice in the flesh as well.

keeko · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by LostAndConfused

Oo, thanks for all the advice everyone. [:)]

Keeko, I'm more interested in getting a hardtail than a full susser at the moment. I've been told that my budget isn't high enough to be able to afford a decent full susser anyway. [;)]

Ty [:D] Anyone else got any other suggestions? [:)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It was more the shop i was pointing you to rather than the bike dude.Their pricing and delivery is excellent.You didnt say how tall/heavy you were as the B-52 only came in small sizes.Shops will heavily discount stuff thats only available in awkward sizes.Its ok saying your budget isn`t good enough for a full susser but what about one thats 50% or more off the rrp? As a buyer you`re looking for the best deal you can get for a bike that suits YOU not somebody else.As far as specs go, parts can be upgraded, its the frame that really makes the bike.But if youre kinda short on the upgrading front then have a good scan over the important bits, Good luck

Guess the frame in my picture!!!

steelo · June 2007

Specialized Rockhopper all the way if its a first all-rounder machine. I've had mine about a month now, and love it! I'm 17st and do XC riding as well as the occasional bomb hole or small kicker and its fine at the moment. I would expect the components to fatigue eventually as with any bike. For the money I think the Spesh 'hopper frame is definitely one of the best as it's the '06 stumpjumper hardtail frame.

LostAndConfused · June 2007

Ah, I see Keeko, thanks. [:)] Only problem is that I'm fairly average at a little under six foot and eleven stone (still growing a little though [:p]), so I doubt I'll be lucky enough to find a heavily discounted bike in my kind of size range. As you have said, that also means that the Rock Lobster isn't really a suitable option if it's only available in smaller sizes. I'm not particularly keen on buying a bike and upgrading it. I mean, I'd be putting new parts on it when and if I need it, but I don't really want to buy a bike and then change most of it instantly (perhaps that's why I'm attracted to the Rockhopper and it's decent spec).

Steelo, I most likely will be getting the 'Hopper as things stand. I didn't realise it has the same frame as the '06 Stumpjumper. [:)]

Looks as though I'll probably be getting the Rockhopper Disc then. Unless anyone else can think of something that I should consider? [:p]

crianza34 · June 2007

i've got a rock lobster b 52 and it's great. easton rad tubing (the same as a cove stiffie) will take the hard knocks.
i've done xc races and downhill and dirt jumps on mine and it's still going strong. i would highly recomend it

Wheelyman · June 2007

Lot of bull in this thread but ah what the hey its to be expected.

Just bear in mind that all bike companies will do something around that price point. Every company however will focus on different parts of the bikes. Marin for instance concentrate heavily on the frame so you get a gorgeous hydroformed frame with a lifetime warranty which you will struggle to ever need as their frames are so over built.

GTs give you a pretty standard all round balanced spec although some people prefer higher spec brakes than they put on. Look at the avalanche range???

Scott do a few bikes too, Reflex 20 is œ580 and has a pretty nice balanced spec and again a nice hydroformed frame, not as over built as the marin but still takes plenty of abuse.

Also look at the scale 70 at œ500, upgradable to hydraulic discs by most shops for an extra œ100. Though this bike is more of a race geometry.

Another one i forgot to mention is the Marin Northside trail. œ500 and again get it upgraded to hydraulic discs, awesome Awesome bike. Its designed as trail hardtail and has a pretty good spec, awesome frame and rides really really well.

Specialized bikes that i've seen have tended to favour better brakes over gears and not always a great fork and some of their frames are just single butted alloy and pretty plain looking. But again im not 100% familiar with their range.

Shop around for bargains, awkward sizes being discounted more is kinda bollox. There are a few bargains knocking round on the internet but just remember your warranty. Going your local bike shop makes warranty issues easy, means your bike comes fully serviced and also usually guarantees you good service afterwards.

My Enduro SX : http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albu ... CN0635.jpg
My Sidekick :http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/643/871643/DSC00086.jpg
my email address is actually headcasebob@hotmail.com. Not the one in my pro

gravityengine · June 2007

The Marin Northside trail has possibly the worst fork in the world, Marzocchi MZ (bar RST).

My Bikes howies© Orange Bikes

Wheelyman · June 2007

Its not the worst fork in the world. Jeez how much of a drama queen are you???

Its not amazing i'll give you that. But it does the job and is obv the first thing you'd upgrade. Or if you're happy to go with cable discs for a while then ask the shop for a price to upgrade the fork instead for around the œ600-œ650 mark. My shop fitted a set of tora's with u-turn and remote lockout for œ630 on a northside.

But even with the marzocchi fork the bike does handle really quite lovely like.

My Enduro SX : http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albu ... CN0635.jpg
My Sidekick :http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/643/871643/DSC00086.jpg
my email address is actually headcasebob@hotmail.com. Not the one in my pro

gravityengine · June 2007

I did say possibly [;)]

The MZ's are really poor, how Marin can justify putting them on a œ500 bike is beyond me, on a œ300 bike yeah ok, but on a œ500? They're just using their name to sell the bike, hoping the less knowledgeable folks won't notice the rest of the bike is crap value, compared to something like the Carrera Fury.

My Bikes howies© Orange Bikes

Wheelyman · June 2007

Marin put more time and detail into their frames. The Marin frame comes with a lifetime warranty, you will struggle to ever need that! Thats why the spec isn't as high as other bikes.

Carrera = halfords = poo

We had a guy bring a GT in today. Brand new from halfords, they couldnt service it for him coz they didn't know anything about hydraulic brakes. Awful awful shop

My Enduro SX : http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albu ... CN0635.jpg
My Sidekick :http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up7/643/871643/DSC00086.jpg
my email address is actually headcasebob@hotmail.com. Not the one in my pro

gravityengine · June 2007

Carrera are not crap bikes, the Fury is one of the best value œ500 bikes there is.

It's just the service @ halfords can sometimes be shoddy, it all depends on which branch you go to.

The carrera has a fully double butted frame, Tora forks, decent gears & brakes, just 'cos the Marin has a nice frame doesn't mean it's a good value bike.

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keeko · June 2007

Kinda bollox eh? Wheelyman you`re the reason I can`t be fukkt with forums. The reason they`re discounted so much in most cases is that they can`t sell them or haven`t sold them and they`re usually small or XL. Do your fukkin homework before writing a pile of ****e. Knob

LostAndConfused · June 2007

Calm down guys, no need to get aggressive. [;)]

keeko · June 2007

Sorry mate, can`t be arsed with keyboard hardmen and know it alls.

Guess the frame in my picture!!!

Scubar · June 2007

I would say go with the hopper or hawkhill, The Fury does have good spec for the price but the frames are pretty poor, especially in comparison to the Specialized and Marin. Have you looked at the Trek 6500 Disc because that was one of the bikes i also looked at when searching for a Hardtail in the œ650 range.

My Marin Hawkhill 2007 - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1382583/

New bike :)

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