First proper MTB £600

mrkev83
mrkev83 Posts: 184
edited June 2015 in MTB buying advice
Hi, I've got a road bike and fancy a MTB too. I've got a £600 voucher for Evans cycles. Thinking I'll be able to get a Deore groupset in this price range. Narrowed it down to:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/trail-x-ltd-2015-275-mountain-bike-ec116242
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/charger-72-2015-mountain-bike-ec073456
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/avalanche-elite-2015-mountain-bike-ec070827
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/komodo-comp-2015-275-mountain-bike-ec072098

Any advice is welcome on what to look out for. I was initially going for the Trek Marlin 7.0 but the ones above all have the Deore groupset

Thanks in advance
http://www.strava.com/athletes/mrkev83

Built for comfort... Not for speed

Comments

  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    The Jamis Komodo is the best of that bunch by a reasonable margin the fork is the single most important consideration, but this http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-560-mountain-bike-id_8293151.html is a whole lot better AND cheaper.
    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.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    The Jamis Kimono is easily the best of those bikes. Decent fork for the price.
    Forget about groupsets on budget mountain bikes, the fork is far more important and will have a much greater effect on how the bike rides. You really don't want an undamped pogo stick making the bike unpleasant to ride off road.
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,474
    Is the coil XC32 better than the air XC30 in the Norco?
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Depends on the usage, stiffer but heavier, damping much the same.
    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.
  • mrkev83
    mrkev83 Posts: 184
    Cheers for the advice guys. Roll on getting my bike so I can get up Rivington
    http://www.strava.com/athletes/mrkev83

    Built for comfort... Not for speed