Saracen Kili 29er for a new rider?

phototropic
phototropic Posts: 4
edited January 2013 in MTB buying advice
Hi folks,

A friend of mine is looking to buy his first mtb after coming out on a couple of rides in the last few months. Before this autumn he hadn't ridden a bike for about fifteen years, so he's a slightly tentative rider after a good, solid beginner-friendly bike he can ride and improve on. His budget is around £500.

The local bike shop have recommended the 2013 Saracen Kili 29er for £550:

http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/trail/kili

They've changed the brakes to Avid Elixir 1's and will throw in a helmet and maybe a couple of other bits. The Kili name has been around for a while, but the 29er edition is new this year which means there's no reviews yet... is it a good bike?

I know the RockRider 8.1 is the de facto £500 answer here, but was wondering how the Kili stacks up against it? Will the larger wheels and slackish head angle make it a more confidence inspiring ride than something like the RockRider? (The Bike Radar review made the RockRider sound quite aggressive: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-decathlon-rockrider-81-10-39599).

Are there any other good options in the January sales?

Cheers!

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