Andy Hall

Im looking to replace my 10 year old mountain bike, I think I can justify up to about £400.00. I probably do about 30-40 miles a week mainly off road.
I would like rear suspension, but am aware that unless you are spending at least twice what I'm looking to pay, its not worth it.
It must have front suspension, more gears the better. I quite fancy the idea of disk brakes as I have a tendency to bend wheels, so I assume that if they are slightly Pringle shaped you don't get that iritating rubbing, and hopefully they work a bit better as they are usually a bit further from the mud.

Any advice gratefully recieved.

Cheers
Andy

dome

I'd avoid rear suspension at that price, however a half decent front suspension bike with disc brakes is possible.

Have a look here for some candidates and reviews

http://www.bikemagic.com/review/revi...er=asc&SP=&V=2

dome

Trek 4300 Disc is worth a look at £400 is a good place to start...

Ciaran

iTrader: (16)

you have a simple choice when u come to bikes of this value.
u can eigther buy a bike with a good hardtail frame and ok components and suspension but with a good frame at least u can upgrade parts as u please.

where as if u but a cheap bike with good components it will way a ton and no matter what components u change it will still way a ton.

so i recomend looking for a bike with a good frame.

ChrisB

If you dont mind having an older model, http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/ have some good deals

Andy Hall

Thanks for the responses, I nipped out at lunch time and quite liked a Giant XTC with hydraulic brakes.
It was a hell of a lot lighter than I'm used too. Its a bit more than I was budgeting but it should last a few years.

n one

iTrader: (5)

Same as dome said, avoid rear suspension & yes Trek come recogmended.

mikefyfe

Try Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/c...l.cfm?ID=19064.

They deliver UK wide.

Mike

Andy Hall

Any views on the Giant XTC, its got hydraulic brakes, any problems with these, obviously if you get a leak its a bit of a bummer.

Andy

Alan C

Much of a muchness in that price range mate.

You'll get standard 6061 aluminium with some Marzochi or Rockshox forks. Deore/LX/XT will be the likely groupset mix with some Mavic rims..

Stay away from rear suspension, its a bit of gimick at the lower end of the price scale and will bob a lot if you weigh a bit.. soaking up all your drive energy into bouncing you up a hill..

Best thing is go in and ride it. You may be surprised how good V brakes are compared to old cantilevers... so it would be better to go for decent set of V's rather than a cheap set of disks, IMO.

A ride will make sure it fits and looks ok FOR YOU... the ride is very important... test it before departing with your hard earned. As mentioned, go for a good frame.. first, then upgrade around it as and when..

A good frame will always be light and ride well...

Andy Hall

Thanks for the links and advice, is there any major advantage of hydraulic over cable disk brakes?

imlach

If you want last years model, the Giant XTC is only £429 on the paulscycles website above....

IMHO, no point going for this years model - the difference in equipment is probably minimal and you'll save a few hundred.