I'm in the market for a new bike.

My old one has now done about 6k miles (over 5 years) and is knackered.

It's used primarily for commuting on road with the odd bit of off road.

Budget is £400-500

Due to the (mainly) road use, would like a hard-tail.

Would quite like hydraulic disc breaks (having tried my brothers - they are amazing!)

I know very little about makes / components to avoid - so advise here would be good.

Have been looking at the following:

Mongoose Amasa Comp 2008 for £469.99 | Mongoose Hard Tail MTBs | Cycle | Wiggle

Mongoose Tyax Super 2008 for £399.99 | Mongoose Hard Tail MTBs | Cycle | Wiggle

Saracen Mantra 2 2008 for £400.00 | Saracen Hard Tail MTBs | Cycle | Wiggle

Felt Q920 2007 for £560.00 | Felt Hard Tail MTBs | Cycle | Wiggle

Thanks in advance

J

 

this is what you want. Won this months MBUK sub £500 hardtail test

Focus Fat Boy 2008 for £449.99 | Focus Hard Tail MTBs | Cycle | Wiggle

 

Bill

IMHO

If your off-road excursions amount to nothing more than the odd forest track or canal path, then I'd buy a hybrid instead.

The (flatter) angle of the top tube will be much better suited to the road and gearing will undoubtedly be better too.....along with the advantage of the bike probably coming with semi-slicks already....

If your off road efforts are more proper mtb trails then I'd go for anything Cannondale (tends to be a very light frame suited for road.....but flexible for off-road) or if not Cannondale , then something sub 25lbs in weight......

Don't worry too much about the spec of the components as you'll need to replace them soon anyway if you ride through the winter on the roads as salt obviously just eats bike components...

Concentrate on the best frame you can get for the money and it's well worth getting decent disc brakes (stay away from cable) especially if you are using them on the road. The cheap ones can sometimes offer NO progression (ie. one touch and they effectively lock up!!) which is not what you need on the road.....

 

Have a look on e-bay. There's just been a two-year old Specialised Stumpjumper sold, excellent condition, it went for £220 or thereabouts.

Alcazar

 

Cheers.

Off roading tends to be very lumpy & fast.

Fatboy does look good.

 

what about that place on the paper two for 99 quid

 

 

One to get two work, the other to get home again

 

I'd go 2nd hand. A couple of year old stumpjumper would be excellent. Loose a little on road from full sus, but worlds apart once you get on to anything loose.

I ride this years stumpjumper and don't feel at all disadvantaged on the roads, you can also heavily press up the rear shock if you know you won't be doing much off road, you loose very little from movement then.

 

All very valid......but one small problem

 

2.5k for a bike!

 

Yeah granted, but....

2nd hand is the way, I certainly would if that were my budget

 

Love my Gary Fisher Mullet Lovely offroad, soaks it up, and on road with road tyres on it, superb for long distances too.
No hydraulics though, only normals. Would have liked them, but not got round to getting any. Not ridden for a year though.

How about....
Evans Cycles: Product: Specialized Rockhopper Disc 2007 Mountain Bike

Evans Cycles: Product: Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc 2007 Mountain Bike

or

Evans Cycles: Product: Kona Stuff 2005 Mountain Bike
Im even tempted myself lol apart from the small crankset

 

ended up going for a Fatboy '08

 

Good Choice

 

Another vote for the Hardrock Pro, I have a 2008 model, excellent bike.

 

Dude, coming out biking with me then? got some quality off-road tracks round here

 

Good lad, enjoy it!