£500 First time MTB advice!

Pizzer
Pizzer Posts: 4
edited November 2014 in MTB buying advice
Me and my girlfriend are looking to purchase our first mountain bikes for around £500-£600, we are complete novices but I've managed to narrow it down to these two:

http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/2014/kili-trail

and

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/ ... p-29#specs

My girlfriends down to these two:

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/ ... sport-650b

and

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 256/77404/

If you could offer us any guidance that woud be amazing. We know Decathlon is widely recommended here but we don't have a local shop to test out the bikes.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Comments

  • PS I found the Saracen for £599 from Ms
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    Voodoo bizango is the best bike in that price range checkout the reviews online.

    For the Mrs , from my experience best to take her to a bigger bike shop and let her see and test ride some bikes, she may prefer mens mountain bikes.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Avoid specialized at this price, tey are woefully specced, awful forks. The Saracen is a nice bike. Voodoo, carrera will serve you well.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    The Giant is OK, but specced about the same as a £350 Carrera so why would you.....

    Consider also the Rockrider 8.1 (name changed yet?) for circa £550, excellent value.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • BLW
    BLW Posts: 96
    Voodoo Hoodoo or the Bizango, both super bikes for the prices.
  • Thanks for the advice guys!
    The Rookie wrote:
    The Giant is OK, but specced about the same as a £350 Carrera so why would you.....

    Consider also the Rockrider 8.1 (name changed yet?) for circa £550, excellent value.

    Took the misses to have a look at a Carrera Vulcan today (http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -2015#tab1) and she really liked the feel of it - any opinion on that model here?

    Cheers again everyone
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    The Vulcan contains the minimum you need to ride off-road, hydraulically damped forks and hydraulic brakes, it's a competent bike but the Decathlon offerings are better at the same price point.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.