Cube or Saracen??

Veddy
Veddy Posts: 29
edited September 2016 in MTB buying advice
I'm currently trying to decide between two bikes

The Cube Aim Pro 2016
http://www.cube.eu/en/products/mtb-hard ... reen-2016/

Or the Saracen Mantra 2016
http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/mountain/trail/mantra

Or suggest something else for around £400

Please help me choose and give reasons
Thanks

Comments

  • Danieljephcott
    Danieljephcott Posts: 334
    Voodoo hoodoo is better spec than both. It's a great. Ike:

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... ntain-bike

    A little above your price range but if you buy Halfords vouchers from there business site with the 10% discount code then you can get this for £450
  • Veddy
    Veddy Posts: 29
    Danieljephcott wrote:
    Voodoo hoodoo is better spec than both. It's a great. Ike:

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... ntain-bike

    A little above your price range but if you buy Halfords vouchers from there business site with the 10% discount code then you can get this for £450

    Thanks for the suggestion and I will take it into account. Just another note is that the Saracen seems to have quite good reviews
    http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/s ... 016-review

    Also I found this which seems promising
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitu ... prod135378
  • Danieljephcott
    Danieljephcott Posts: 334
    This is also a great spec for the money, rockshox forks and deore gears.

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-58 ... 36093.html
  • Veddy
    Veddy Posts: 29
    Danieljephcott wrote:
    This is also a great spec for the money, rockshox forks and deore gears.

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-58 ... 36093.html

    I think my budget is limited to 400- 420 :/
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Both are saddled with poor forks - very heavy, no meaningful damping. Unless you plan to upgrade it, I'd look elsewhere ie the Rockrider 540, Carrera Kraken or Calibre twopointtwo.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Veddy
    Veddy Posts: 29
    supersonic wrote:
    Both are saddled with poor forks - very heavy, no meaningful damping. Unless you plan to upgrade it, I'd look elsewhere ie the Rockrider 540, Carrera Kraken or Calibre twopointtwo.
    This has been pointed out in reviews but I don't plan to do much hardcore riding. Trail riding on blue and red trails. I heard that the mantra's geometry is superb and it rides well. The fork is okay for my level but if I do need a better one I will definitely upgrade.
  • JGTR
    JGTR Posts: 1,404
    Lol another poster who asks for opinions yet had already made his mind up. You seem set on the Mantra so go for it (even though there are better bikes).
  • Veddy
    Veddy Posts: 29
    JGTR wrote:
    Lol another poster who asks for opinions yet had already made his mind up. You seem set on the Mantra so go for it (even though there are better bikes).
    Guilty as charged I'm afraid, sorry for my stubbornness :oops: :D
  • ste_t
    ste_t Posts: 1,599
    Veddy wrote:
    JGTR wrote:
    Lol another poster who asks for opinions yet had already made his mind up. You seem set on the Mantra so go for it (even though there are better bikes).
    Guilty as charged I'm afraid, sorry for my stubbornness :oops: :D

    You aren't being stubborn, you're being ridiculous.

    Don't go out on the lash this weekend and use the money saved to go towards the rockrider or similar.

    Suntour do make some decent forks. The XCMs and XCRs are not amongst them. If you're riding red trail centre routes, it'll be much more enjoyable with forks that work.
  • Veddy
    Veddy Posts: 29
    ste_t wrote:
    Veddy wrote:
    JGTR wrote:
    Lol another poster who asks for opinions yet had already made his mind up. You seem set on the Mantra so go for it (even though there are better bikes).
    Guilty as charged I'm afraid, sorry for my stubbornness :oops: :D

    You aren't being stubborn, you're being ridiculous.

    Don't go out on the lash this weekend and use the money saved to go towards the rockrider or similar.

    Suntour do make some decent forks. The XCMs and XCRs are not amongst them. If you're riding red trail centre routes, it'll be much more enjoyable with forks that work.

    Ok, so I'm looking at the rock riders but the ones in my price range seem to have XCRs. If you could please link me to one with a good fork (sorry if I've blatantly missed one).
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The latest XCRs are pretty good - are based on the older Raidon with 32mm stanchions, and damping cartridges. The XCTs, most are horrible, undamped, top out and flex badly. The XCms vary - some are damped, most aren't and the quality is hit and miss. The XCR does take a step up from these.

    One bike I forgot to mention is the 13 Incline Alpha:

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015

    Limited stock though, bu the best fork on a sub £500 you are likely to find.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Veddy
    Veddy Posts: 29
    supersonic wrote:
    The latest XCRs are pretty good - are based on the older Raidon with 32mm stanchions, and damping cartridges. The XCTs, most are horrible, undamped, top out and flex badly. The XCms vary - some are damped, most aren't and the quality is hit and miss. The XCR does take a step up from these.

    One bike I forgot to mention is the 13 Incline Alpha:

    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015

    Limited stock though, bu the best fork on a sub £500 you are likely to find.
    Thank for clearing that up. I will take that into comsideration. Also, say I was to buy a bike with decent XCM or XCR forks would it be a good idea to upgrade to rockshox recon silver or gold (or toras if available) later in time?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Possibly, the Recon Silver replaced the older Tora, but the internals can vary. The Recon Gold gets lighter aluminium stanchions. The ones with Motion Control damping are the ones to upgrade to.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/

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