Newbe needing advice on which is best buy?

thehorsetm
thehorsetm Posts: 5
edited August 2011 in MTB beginners
:D Hi all,
New to these shores and looking for some advice......I am looking to buy a new mountain bike and wonder which of these is the best choice....

Specialized Rock Hopper SL (normally £700, getting for £500 at local shop)
Boardman Comp (£650 at Halfords)
Trek 6000 (Normally £800, £700 at local bike shop and £650 0f evans)

Any help or Info would be great....I is clueless...just want something that will be good on road, light trail and if needed can cut it on the rough stuff.

Thanks

Comments

  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Specs/link for those as it can depend a lot on the year.
  • All i know is they are 2011 models..
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    One those bikes it may come down to what has got the best forks. Can you find that out?
  • Boardman
    ■Approximate Weight (KG): 12.56
    ■Brake Type: Hydraulic Disc
    ■Chainset: FSA Alpha Drive 44/32/22T
    ■Forks: 120mm Suntour Epicon air suspension fork with adjustable rebound damping and lockout
    ■Frame Colour: White
    ■Frame Material: Alloy
    ■Frame-: Lightweight 6061 triple butted aluminium frame
    ■Front Brake: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
    ■Front Mech: SRAM X5
    ■Gear Shifters: SRAM X5
    ■Gender: Mens
    ■Handle Bars: Boardman 31.8mm alloy low-rise
    ■Headset: FSA 1 1/8 Aheadset
    ■Hubs: Formula 32 hole Q/R disc hub
    ■Number of Gears: 27
    ■Pedals: Wellgo alloy body
    ■Rear Brake: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
    ■Rear Mech: SRAM X5
    ■Rims: Alex double wall black 32 hole disc rim with CNC braking surface
    ■Saddle: Boardman black with cro-moly rails
    ■Seatpost: Boardman 400mm x 31.6mm black alloy
    ■Stem: Boardman black alloy 90mm x 31.8mm
    ■Suspension: Front
    ■Tyre size: 2.20"
    ■Tyres: Continental Mountain King 26"x2.20 Black wire bead
    ■Wheel size: 26"
    ■Fork Lock-out : Yes

    Specialized
    Frame:Specialized M4SL fully manipulated alloy frame, fully butted, integrated Head Tube, forged dropouts with replaceable derailleur hanger, disc only
    Fork:SR Suntour SF11-XCR-DS-26-LO-SP, 80mm, 1 piece alloy lower, 30mm steel stanchions, hydraulic damping with mic-tuned spike valve and lockout
    Front Derailleur:Shimano Alivio, 34.9mm clamp, top swing, dual pull
    Rear Derailleur:Shimano Deore 9 speed Shadow Long cage
    Number of Gears:27
    Shifters:Shimano SL-M590 Deore trigger
    Chainset:Shimano FC-M430-8, Octalink spline
    Chainrings:44 x 32 x 22
    Bottom Bracket:Shimano BB-ES25, Octalink spline, cartridge bearing, 68mm x 118mm
    Cassette:Shimano HG50, 9-speed, 11-34Chain:KMC X9, 9-speed, with reusable Missing Link
    Pedals:Alloy 1 piece body and cage, reflector kit, 9/16"
    Front Brake:Shimano BR-M505 hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor
    Rear Brake:Shimano BR-M505 hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor
    Brake Levers:Shimano BR-M505 hydraulic
    Handlebars:Butted alloy riserbar, 25mm rise, 8 degree back sweep, 6 degree up
    Stem:3D forged alloy, 7 degree rise, 31.8mm clamp
    Headset:Integrated 1 1/8" threadless, Campy type full cartridge bearings
    Grips:Specialized Enduro, dual compound Kraton, no flange, 131mmRims:Alex RHD 26", alloy double wall, pinned with eyelets
    Front Hub:Forged alloy, hi/low flange, double sealed, ground race, machined disc mount and flange, Quick Release, 28 hole
    Rear Hub:Forged alloy, mid flange, double sealed, ground race, machined disc mount and flanges, cassette, Quick Release, 32 holeSpokes:2mm (14g) stainlessFront Tyre:Specialized The Captain Sport, 26x2.0", 60TPI, wire bead
    Rear Tyre:Specialized The Captain Sport, 26x2.0", 60TPI, wire bead
    Tubes:Presta valve
    Saddle:Specialized Rockhopper XC, Body Geometry, 143mm width, front and rear bumpers
    Seatpost:Alloy two bolt, 12.5mm offset, micro adjust, 30.9mm
    Seat Binder:Forged alloy Quick Release, brass washer
    Extra Features:Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat
    Weight:Approx. 28.5lbs (12.93kg) for the 21 Inch Size. (PLEASE NOTE: Weight is approximate and is provided by Evans Cycles as a guide only, actual weight may vary due to manufacturing processes and other factors)

    Trek 6000
    Frame:Alpha Black Aluminium with semi-integrated head tube, formed down tube with integrated gusset, formed top tube, monostay seatstay, forged dropouts with rack and fender mounts. Replaceable derailleur hanger
    Fork:Suntour XCR-RL with coil spring, preload, remote lockout and 100mm of travel
    Front Derailleur:Shimano Deore
    Rear Derailleur:Shimano Deore XTShifters:Shimano M590 9 Speed
    Chainset:Shimano M521Chainrings:44-32-22 Teeth
    Cassette:SRAM PG950 11-34 9 Speed
    Pedals:Wellgo alloy platform
    Front Brake:Shimano M445 Hydraulic disc brake
    Rear Brake:Shimano M445 Hydraulic disc brake
    Brake Levers:Shimano M445 levers
    Handlebars:Bontrager Low Riser 31.8mm with 25mm rise and 9 degree sweep
    Stem:Bontrager SSR 31.8mm with 10 degree rise
    Headset:1-1/8" threadless semi-integrated semi0cartridge bearings
    Grips:Bontrager Race Lite
    Rims:Bontrager Ranger rims
    Front Hub:Shimano M435-L centerlock hubs
    Rear Hub:Shimano M435-L centerlock hub
    Front Tyre:Bontrager XR3 wire bead 26x2.2"
    Rear Tyre:Bontrager XR3 wire bead 26x2.2"
    Saddle:Bontrager Evoke 1Seatpost:Bontrager 31.6mm with 20mm offset
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The Boardman is the specced. Also probably the lightest. Try one out?
  • I thought the boardman would be better, but It's looking like the rockhopper for me as Halfords service and display is crap....they are of NO help!!
  • kinmofo
    kinmofo Posts: 172
    thehorsetm wrote:
    I thought the boardman would be better, but It's looking like the rockhopper for me as Halfords service and display is crap....they are of NO help!!

    halfords, they are less then the last option. avoid them. i dont know much about bikes, but its a damn sight more then those peeps in halfords. specialized i vote :P
    I'm a Nazi Zombie! And You Cant Kill Me!

    Out of all the things I've lost, I miss my Mind the most!

    dont get mad, get KROSS
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Depends on the Halfords! Plenty are good, some are bad - just like any bike shop. Most of the crap shops I have been in are independant ones.