£800 hardtail

lofty102
lofty102 Posts: 138
edited August 2007 in MTB buying advice
I'm looking to get myself a new bike in the very near future but there are sooo many to choose from!! I've been looking at the Orange EV08 which looks on paper a decent bike but i cant find any reviews or tests on it, does anybody know what its like to ride?? Also does anyone have any more info on the Boardman Bikes yet? any suggestions of a good £800 hardtail mainly to be used for XC would be really helpful!!
2010 Mondraker Factor RR
2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
2016 Planet x pro carbon
2017 Scott Spark 730
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Comments

  • Scubar
    Scubar Posts: 453
    Heres a nicely specced bike for the money

    http://chainreactioncycles.com/Models.a ... elID=20574
    ___________________________________________________________

    My Marin Hawkhill 2007 - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1382583/
  • Just purchased a Merlin Malt 4.

    20% discount if you order by tomorrow. £1000 of bike for £800.

    Nice

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • Red Panda
    Red Panda Posts: 269
    Just purchased a Merlin Malt 4.

    20% discount if you order by tomorrow. £1000 of bike for £800.

    Nice

    http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/

    An excellent choice if I may say so ;):)
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    thanks for that, 2 bikes that i hadn't even considered! i can see a lot of head scratching ahead!!
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • The Cube does look the biz though.. dont know much about it.

    Does anyone else?
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • adamskib
    adamskib Posts: 53
    Could I direct you towards the Decathlon 8.2?
    £699 and some awesome components.... two year warranty on ALL parts and they really stand by this.... ANYTHING breaks you will not have any issue with replacement
    PLUS a 5 year warranty on the frame!

    I have had mine a few months now and it has been amazing fun, has improved my riding enjoyment immensely and has withstood being crashed bashed and generally spanked in amazing style!
    The ONLY downside I can find is that the frame paint marks quite easily.... thats it... nothing else.

    Fantastic value for money and very light, relliable and fun
  • Where did you purchase your Decathlon?
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    Cheers Adam I'l definatly have a look. The Cube does look nice, but i don't know much about it. And the Merlin seems to be a very good choice. Anybody got any info/ experiance on the Orange EV08??
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • Scubar
    Scubar Posts: 453
    The Cubes have all got very good reviews, thats one of the reasons why i recommended it .
    ___________________________________________________________

    My Marin Hawkhill 2007 - http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1382583/
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    thanks, being german they are bound to be well built!!
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • Scott Scale 50?
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • royboy11
    royboy11 Posts: 71
    Norco Sasquatch '07 - Parts?.. break'em and replace'em
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    thanks royboy but i think the Norco is a bit too freeride for the riding a do. the scott looks like being a contender, cheers Mr Prince. As does the Cube. Still undecided about the decathlon. Ive jst been reading another forum about the boardmans and i think i'll give them a miss until they are a bit more proven and have got a good track record. Any others I should be thinking about??! I can't get it till after 8th August as I'm at work (offshore) till then so any other bike suggestion to add to my confusion would be great!!
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • teacherman
    teacherman Posts: 454
    I'm a big Kona fan - '08 Caldera will be well worth a look. I think it's going to retail at £750 so within budget.
    I hate it when people say David Beckham's stupid...its not like anyone ever says: 'Stephen Hawking - he's s**t at football.' Paul Calf
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    when will 08 bikes be out??
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • I was dead set on the Merlin Malt 4 and am poised to complete the order, but the looks on the Scott Scale 50 is really making the final decision hard.

    I will have the funds this weekend so a final choice will have to be made.

    I was in the same boat, looking for an £800 XC hardtail. My top contenders were/ are:

    Merlin Malt 4
    Focus Killer Bee (Wiggle)
    Scott Scale 50
    Trek 6700 Disc
    Giant XTC 2.5

    I then nailed it down via reviews and comparisons to the Merlin, but the Scott just looks sooooooooo good!!

    I will have to decide by the weekend.

    What are you leaning towards.

    PP
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    Looked at the Focus but sold out of my size, scott does look good and got good spec and i like the look of the cube. still trying to find a couple more reviews on them both, so i would say at the moment its between the scott and the cube!! but then again the merlin looks a good buy!!!haha

    You'll have to let me know which you decide to splash the cash on
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • Snap then. I was looking at the large killer bee also. Was perfect.

    I will buy this weekend probably so will let you know asap.

    I think it will be the Scott just coz it looks fast and is very light, and has room for upgrades later on.

    Am looking for something to race so light and fast are my main criteria.

    Let me know how you get on.
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    will do!
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • adamskib
    adamskib Posts: 53
    Light?

    8.2 is 11.7kg
    Firex chain doings, Shimano lx/xt gear changey bits, LX discs, Mavic wheels and rock shox rebas with the pop lock.
    Not too shabby for £699.... plus £40 worth of vouchers if you get a store loyalty card!

    Get a try of one before you totally write it off.... whenever the Decathlon bikes are tested by the mags they love them... it IS hard to overcome the brand recognition thing though.
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    can't fault the spec of the decathlon, i didnt realise it was that light tho! I'll try n find a dealer some where near me, up ere in the north east, Thanks Adam
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • tom_j
    tom_j Posts: 66
    before you make a decision check out this bargain (which is what i recently bought)

    marin eldridge grade 2006

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... b58s2p1107

    fantastic bike and available in 17" which is a pretty decent size
  • tom_j
    tom_j Posts: 66
    oh, the marin weighs 25lbs if you're interested
  • Considering my old Carrera is about 16+ kg, the Scott Scale is light enough.
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    sounds like the scott has won you over Mr Prince!! i've jst been looking at the trek 6700 found it for £700, http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek_6700_disc.html
    just in case you were interested!
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • stanny
    stanny Posts: 28
    I would go for a Saracen Zen 2 (£720) or Zen 3 (£900)

    http://www.carandcycle.net/www.carandcy ... h=&sought=
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    I looked long and hard at the saracen Zen 3 before i posted this forum topic and was very tempted by it especially with the fork it has! thnks for bringing it back to my attention!! :lol:
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • lofty102
    lofty102 Posts: 138
    Stanny,
    Do you have a saracen??
    2010 Mondraker Factor RR
    2014 canyon ultimate cf 9.0 sl
    2016 Planet x pro carbon
    2017 Scott Spark 730
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Merlins certainly fit the bill - nice ride. I got one last year. They used to have Magura forks, avoid these., but Magura brakes are great. Otherwise all of the Merlins are good. I had the Team SL - very nice - cost me £800. Very light weight for the money. The shop in Leyland is good - very helpful.

    Oranges are nice but too expensive for what you get.

    The focus range at www.wiggle.co.uk are good too.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Hey Lofty,

    Yeah was temped by the 07 Trek 6700. Have had a few test rides and liked it. Main issue was that lots of people have a trek, and the Scott is a little different, but at £700, thats £99 cheaper than in my LBS. Maybe worth a rethink.

    I feel like I am never gonna get a bike bought.

    What you leaning to atm?
    The Prince

    'RIDE HARD, RIDE HARDTAIL'