Best bike for my money £1500 ish

martyn4950
martyn4950 Posts: 12
edited January 2008 in MTB buying advice
Want a full susser.Need pointing in the right direction. Cross country weekend rider
Any help or offers

Also what bits do i get for that ie group sets. Last bike i bought was 12 years ago so you can tell ive lost touch a bit

Thanks

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    Pure xc, or general trail?

    Pure XC: Giant anthem 2 (80/90mm travel), Giant trance 2 (100/106mm travel)

    General trail:Orange 5 (140mm travel), Commencal Meta 5.5.2 (140mm travel)

    Loads of bikes that could fit the bill.

    Spec level should be Shimano LX maybe XT, or Sram X7 or X9 with decent hydraulic brakes & decent forks.
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • I have a Cannondale Rush and just use it for weekend light XC and trail work. I find it spot on giving me a good blend of weight, turn of speed and comfy bounce bounce. A simple single pivot design and many not great fans of the 'dale but I loved them since I bought a Super V back in 95. More than happy to go a bit more indepth for you
  • zero303
    zero303 Posts: 1,162
    As a very soon to be Orange 5 owner I'd second that notion but £1500 won't even stretch to the base model, and then you'd really want to take them up on the Fox Float R upgrade for an extra £65...

    You're looking at £1765 minimum really...

    With that in mind, I reckon a Commencal 5.5.2 as Andy also recommends... (and have just realised is also over budget)

    Man, I reckon we have the same taste in bikes Andy ;)
  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    True, the Orange & Commencal are a tad over£1500, but martyn4950 did say £1500 ish ;)

    You could be right about our similar tastes in bikes zero303, I own 2 Orange bikes & have recommended a Meta 5.5.3 (£1300) to a mate for his new bike, will be testing one soon :D
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  • zero303
    zero303 Posts: 1,162
    I had my Orange 5 test ride at the weekend - everything was great, best days riding ever! The biggest downside was that my chosen spec went from £1765 to £2050 Arrrgh!

    Have you noticed that new Orange ST4 looks quite like a Meta in terms of pivot action?

    Martyn, if you can get an ST4 test ride in, could be a lovely XC/trail bike!
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    Haven't tried them to recommend either, but the base Specialized Stumpjumper and Trance X both cost £1,500 and seem very well equipped for the money.

    My friend is very pleased with his new Stumpy.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    If youre not bothered about the brand then this is one to go for. The Saracen Ariel 3.
    http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/products.php?plid=m1b5s1p187

    Good fox forks and rp2 rear can,deore/mavic wheels and deore hydraulics. To me the main focus should be one the suspension and Id go with fox over anyone else.