^OPM^

Thinking of buying a new mountain bike-willing to spend around the £500 mark-i only want front suspension, not full, would like disc brakes and must be suited to XC riding and able to take some stick as i like to ride hard and fast, plus as i do ride fast i want a geometry set up suited to fast riding not a sit up and beg style.

Can also be last years models as you can get some bargains on them now

So views please and experiances please.

Terzo 333

I recently bought a 2005 Marin Palisades MTB with disc upgrade - excellent bike I would definately reccomend it

^OPM^

just looking at web at that bike now- a few questions if i may-feel free to pm me answers if u like-

1-how do u find the black rims-years ago i had a bike with black rims but normal brakes so after a few miles the rims were worn down round edges to silver which then matched with black didn't look so good-i know with disc's that bit wont happen-so do they still stay looking good now?

2-does the black wear of the top of the suspension from moving up and down?

3-how good do u find those suspension forks, as i have never rode with suspension before?

4- is £450 a good price for this bike as i have found it at that price?

5-anything u dont like about bike?

thanks

Terzo 333

I can't really specify answers to your questions as I've only done about 100 miles on the bike and I am a complete MTB novice.

All I will say is I haven't found one little thing wrong with it, not even a little niggle

£450 seems a good price (Is that with disc upgrade ) I paid £525 in February from these people www.moonglu.com which at the time was a very good price.

Abdabz

I bought me one of these with my research determining this to the the daddy of the £500 bike range

http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/cb/capewrathDD.html

ChrisB

Spend £600 and get a Trance 4 with HFX-9 upgrade. Forks aren't great but it's bloody good frame - it got 9/10 (with V brakes) in a recent MBR test. It climbs like a mountain goat.

Or at £520, the Olympus Pro.

^OPM^

yes that was with the disc upgrade as well

^OPM^

trouble is non of these ads tell u the weight of the bikes-weighed mine as best as possible on scales and its 26.5 lbs-so i dont want a heavy bike-i like a lively bike under me downhills that bounces round a lot

Brit_in_Japan

For that money I don't think you can go too far wrong with an Orange Gringo. You should be able to pick up a 2005 spec model for 450 quid, maybe less. Frame is very strong. It has V brakes, but the frame is disk ready and IIRC the levers are compatible with mechanically operated calipers.

Ultimately there is no substitute for trying a few out and seeing which feels best to you. Everyone will have their favourites but it's what feels right to you which counts.

ChrisB

Get the MBR (Mountain Bike Rider) magazine - out 3rd May and it has their "Dirty Dozen" tests. 12 £500 bikes tested together and they usually put weights in the features table.

^OPM^

cheers will do-im getting to thinking i mite have to up me budget to avoid disappointment-unless i can get a good deal on a last year model-think i will pop up swinnertons cycles up chase and have a chat to them if they are open tmmrw

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88...I/IMG_0044.jpg

can't have it for £500 though

ChrisB

I'd expect them to be open at Birches Valley. Had mainly full sussers last time I was there though.

I'd take that Trance for £600 - the frame alone is £700 to buy.

^OPM^

seems a bargain then-never rode a full suspension tho before-bet it weighs a tonne tho

NeilT

I've got a Kona Explosiv, paid £900 for it last year, so not sure but think you might be able to get one inside your budget if you shop around.

Simply superb bike, can't fault it

Neil

^OPM^

always had a soft spot for kona's-never owned one but they always look hardcore-will look on net now for deals etc and specs of one

a

^OPM^

cheapest i can find is £950 for last years model-eeks-you would think if you got it for £900 last year i would get it cheaper now-this years model is £1200

Iwan

Same, I've been looking around for one of these and cant find one cheaper than £950, if I found one for £600 i'd be taking their arm off to get it!

ChrisB

Probably 31 or 32lb, which is typical (if not good) for a full susser for that price (RRP £900 with V brakes). However, the same frame is used on the Trance 3,2 and 1. The 3 weighs in sub 30lb, the 1 at 26lb so it's just component choice making it heavier, not the core frame.

^OPM^

my bike as best as i can weigh it comes in around 26.5 lbs-on bathroom scales tho-think i only need a front suspension bike-after all i have rode for 15 years with no suspension-damn flexy arms lol

NeilT

i looked everywhere for my kona, and found lots of unhelpful dealers trying to sell me their brands.

found out that halfrauds were the biggest uk dealers, so wandered into the local store, who had one kona explosiv left, display model, so haggled a bit and walked away with it for £899.

Neil

Wizzbang

In my opinion, Giant has to be the best value for quality bikes in the lower price bracket.

I bought one of these last year



Giant XTC SE '06, very well built frame, MPH hydro brakes, Deore chainsets, Marzocohhi forks, etc,etc

For the price(£500) I really struggled to find anything that had a similar spec

steve1192

I bought a Kona hoss last year and it is a very strong hardcore XC bike with

discs etc and i think you can still get 05 models for 500 quid. they retail at

750 normally! Very good solid bike.

Jamesemt

Along similar lines, can anyone recommend a hybrid under £300...was looking at the Carrera Gryphon from Halfords, but don't want to spend that much really...

Cheers


James

bigsinky

bought my kona for about 500. it was last years model so i got some money of it.