I'm after a new Mountain Bike as my current one is starting to rattle, and I'm fed up having my arse and other bits acting as shock absorbers.
I'm not an absolute nutter who hammers downhill, over boulders at great speed but the courses I go on can be quite demanding.
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnffw
Looking to spend £400-£600.
Not too bothered with hard-tail as I don't do jumps of any real height.
Does anyone here do mountain biking and could advise?
*cough* //www.marin.co.uk
Kona Blast or Blast Deluxe. Won a 12 bike shootout in MBUK, you could get the Deluxe from Evans for the same price as the standard should be.
Marins are great bikes. I have had a riftzone for over 10 years now which is still going strong and it's done 1000's of miles including x country and downhill racing. as you only have a budget of 400/600 I would avoid any of the full suspension they will be crap just add weight.
Kona make some nice hardtails around you sort of price. But if i was you i would go 2nd hand. you will pick up a cracking bike for £600. which will last forever. if your not racing x country you can't beat FRS.
I have had two Marin before and they are really good, but I must say my Specialised (S-works M4 ceramic hardtail) is the stiffest frame I have ever tried. That is above budget but I know they make complete bikes in that range you specify. Specialised in the UK (http://www.specialized.com/bc/home.jsp?a=b&minisite=10028&language=US)
assortment of mbikes here (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkSection.jsp?ssid=08MTB)
if you can stretch your budget a little and want to get a new full sus bike this is the one to go for , Mongoose Teocsli comp, £798,9/10 mbuk, otherwise i agree with armitage, go on ebay by a second hand O6 bike, you will get a £2000 for £600:yahoo:.
Or you could try and build your own (like we do with PCs :) )
I've been out of the MTB scene for about 10 years now so can't offer much help. Will get back into it one day, probably when my lad comes of MTB'ing age :)
The last one I have I bought in parts. One half I assembled, other half was done in shop. Second hand is a really good idea. People often buy them in too big frame sizes and sell them afterwards.
Quote from: delanvital;238840The last one I have I bought in parts. One half I assembled, other half was done in shop. Second hand is a really good idea. People often buy them in too big frame sizes and sell them afterwards.
Cool, I didnt ahve much money at the time and found my self with a nice GT Karakoram frame, I got it sand blasted and re-sprayed for £15. Then added all he parts (XT's, Magura Blues, RST's etc). It was quite cheap to put together and did me well, untill I hit a tree in mid air after loosing it on a tabletop. :crying:
Quote from: Jamoe;238844Cool, I didnt ahve much money at the time and found my self with a nice GT Karakoram frame, I got it sand blasted and re-sprayed for £15. Then added all he parts (XT's, Magura Blues, RST's etc). It was quite cheap to put together and did me well, untill I hit a tree in mid air after loosing it on a tabletop. :crying:
Auch :blink: I have done some flips, but for some reason I just end up lying somewhere on the ground with the bike elsewhere, and both in functional condition. I have crashed a lot, and hit trees and such, but always capable of riding home... but then again, I live in Denmark :rolleyes:
Best trip I have ever tried was Rallerveien (or something like that) in Norway, near Geilo. That track is just outright awesome. Lots of elevation, waterfalls and big rocks, but still maneuverable :flirty:
Btw Thulsa, check out this site:
http://www.mtbr.com/
Quote from: spudgun55;238836if you can stretch your budget a little and want to get a new full sus bike this is the one to go for , Mongoose Teocsli comp, £798,9/10 mbuk, otherwise i agree with armitage, go on ebay by a second hand O6 bike, you will get a £2000 for £600:yahoo:.
The name Mongoose sends shudders down my spine! I had one of their first full suspension bikes and it kept breaking the rear swing arm. I have a Turner XCE, getting on now but still in top nick. Sadly. I only pootle about on it now. How much it cost I daren't even think about to this day! :blink:
Quote from: Doorman;238850The name Mongoose sends shudders down my spine! I had one of their first full suspension bikes and it kept breaking the rear swing arm. I have a Turner XCE, getting on now but still in top nick. Sadly. I only pootle about on it now. How much it cost I daren't even think about to this day! :blink:
mongoose have come on a bit since the 60s!!:roflmao:
Quote from: spudgun55;238861mongoose have come on a bit since the 60s!!:roflmao:
Smartarse! :sideways:
LOL:roflmao:
Whats this talk of flips etc?
I'm a lightweight then!
Anyway, a neighbour has a hybrid thingy for sale, cost him £2000 and he then added lighter bits to it, and will part with it for £750.
Bit more than what I wanted to spend, but it's feather light and I know he doesn't skimp on anything.
May go for that.
May as well.
Don't know too much about them but I imagine there's a lot to be said if you know the provenance of a second hand bike.
PEN
Quote from: Thulsa Doom;238906Whats this talk of flips etc?
I'm a lightweight then!
Anyway, a neighbour has a hybrid thingy for sale, cost him £2000 and he then added lighter bits to it, and will part with it for £750.
Bit more than what I wanted to spend, but it's feather light and I know he doesn't skimp on anything.
May go for that.
Do you want to go off road, single tracking, p*ssing about in the woods etc? Because a hybrid ain't going to do it for you.
Quote from: Doorman;238915Do you want to go off road, single tracking, p*ssing about in the woods etc? Because a hybrid ain't going to do it for you.
correct. great for street riding and canal/tow paths as well as forestry commission gravel tracks but that is it.
Maybe I shouldn't have used the term hybrid.
What I meant was he put on better bits. I guess it's a Heinz variety.
I'm not downhill racing etc, I guess I'm ****ing about in woods, tracks, logs, boulders, dry river beds etc.
Been offered a Massi Trax , 20" frame, Shimano Deore stuff at £425.
My neighbours bike has mostly Shimano XT (maybe some XTR, need to recheck).
Had a quick Web search for the Massi bikes, they seem to be OK.
Quote from: Thulsa Doom;239144Been offered a Massi Trax , 20" frame, Shimano Deore stuff at £425.
My neighbours bike has mostly Shimano XT (maybe some XTR, need to recheck).
Had a quick Web search for the Massi bikes, they seem to be OK.
XT or XTR - in your case it does not matter. Greatest difference is weight and durance, of which both only matters for enthusiasts.