PG

But what to get ?
I have a budget of £1k - £1.2k max (ish)
Looking to buy an off the shelf MTB and thus far have the Spesh FSR XC Comp or Pro or the Spesh Rockhopper Pro Disc.
I have a well spec'd Cannondale hardtail atm so I am thinking more along the lines of a full suspension bike.
I have looked at the Giant Trance 3 but I think the Spesh is slightly better value.
I am looking to get a shortlist that I can then go and test.
What can you recommend ?

Cheers

Paul.

richiewong

Personally no idea but my brother in law got a Whyte and recommends it.

He also managed to get it for a £1K cheaper as well.

Philip Attaway

You'll get a nice frame for that money

^OPM^

I just brought an 06 model marin eldridge grade a few months ago at a good price-i know its not a full susser.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

What are you going to use it for? IMHO, unless it's for proper downhills, a full susser is sledgehammer and walnut time

Most of my riding is on the road, firetrails, tracks etc, so my bike is lightweight, (sub 22 lb), and springy, (titanium rigid frame, Pace rigid forks, Hope discs annd full XTR groupset).

Because it's so light, it's NOT a PITA to go uphill, either...........

Alcazar

Edcase

Just get fitter!

Then you can lug the suspension up the hill and still have even more fun coming back down

I just built this for pure DH / Alps trips:

image0002.jpg @ Fotopic.Net
image0003.jpg @ Fotopic.Net
image0004.jpg @ Fotopic.Net

Scoobedoo

I've recently bought a new Giant Reign 2 for £1200 (slightly discounted).

Comfortable and very capable. Not managed to use it that much but it has been pretty effective so far.

Edcase

Another thumbs up for the reign, great bike.

Marin

iTrader: (1)

If you fancy something a bit different, how about a Cove Hustler frame and swop the parts from your old bike. I've had one for nearly two years and just love it. Climbs well, descends well, tough as old boots and not a huge number of them around...

ChrisB

Can recommend the Trance. Climbs like a goat on speed

anc-sti

Most modern full sussers are great climbers nowadays, refined designs and anti bob shocks make for excellent climbers. Lots of good bikes out there in this price bracket. Can't go wrong with specialized great bikes and great back-up should you break anything, mind you that can be said of Trek, Giant, Marin, Whyte etc, etc.
You gotta demo the bikes its the only way!
My previous steed was a S-works Epic which was a proper mountain goat and proficient descenter but a bit twitchy on the serious stuff. My new toy 'Ellsworth Epi' out climbs any bike I've come across, its a serious techincal climber. It gets up stuff here in the lakes a hardtail just can't make because the back end can't track the rocks. The Talas fork also allows the front end to be lowered which balances the bike on the steep stuff. Adjustable forks are a feature worth looking for IMO. The extra travel on the Elly means its a different world on the downs compaired to the epic.
I used to be of the 'hardtail the only way' to race brigade, I've since seen the light

Any excuse>

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

I've got a spesh stumpy FSR XC thats kitted out with mono m4's and full xtr.. I do really enjoy the ride (having previously being hardtail only), but I am thinking of jumping up to the S Works version in the summer...

anc-sti ~ the epiphany has to be one of my favourite frames.. got close to one on ebay in the states the other week, but bidding got a bit crazy in the last hour.. good choice !

cottonfoo

That's quite attractive, what does it weigh? I wouldn't mind a full suspension bike, but my hardtail is titanium/CF and weighs virtually nothing, which comes in handy for all the times I have to carry it over styles and fences and things.

Steve.

ChrisB

Styles and fences? Ride a fair bit of cheeky?

cottonfoo

I'm not even sure what that means

anc-sti

With my other wheels(SL's) it came in at 11658g or 25.7lbs give or take a little.

PG

I'm liking the look of this a lot right now!
I really like their road bikes and seriously considered one instead of my Ribble but I haven't heard much about their MTBs.
Another attraction is the fact that I am buying the bike via the 'cyclescheme' and most of the rest of the guys at work are getting Spesh, Giant ect so it's just a little different.
Is it worth shortlisting for a test ride?

ChrisB

Cheeky Trails have styles

anc-sti

Looks nice, its a true 4 bar linkage. European companies aren't constrained by the Specialized and Ellsworth patents on this design. IMO its the best suspension design out there still, but I would say that with a Specialized and Ellsworth background. Only thing I would say looking at the bike is check out the laterial stiffness of the rear end, it looks kinda lightweight/flimsy in the rocker arm. Only a test will prove either way. If it was flexible the back end won't track so well when the going gets rough.

Another european manufacturer who is getting very good reviews at the moment is Commencal, different design but apparantly very good. Worth a look.




COMMENCAL, Welcome on the bicycles d'opinion

Ultimate Pursuits : Cycle Store=#

cottonfoo

Hah

TopBanana

Whatever happened to internal gears? I read a few years ago that they were just around the corner...

ChrisB

Rohloff have a geared rear hub which has a bit of a following in the market.

Nicolai and a small number of other brands have gearbox frames (I think GT have made a few). Not cheap though. That said, Nicolai frames are worthy of mounting on your lounge wall. The Helius CC looks lovely, the quality of the welds is fantastic.

anc-sti

Weighty and complex. Current systems are to heavy for weight obsessed bikers.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Have to admit to a wry smile at the many comments about "light" full sussers, and "how well they climb".

Not disputing either, guys, I just choose NOT to ride up any hills I go up with an extra two bags of sugar strapped to me, (or even more for cheapy full sussers. ) Most are 28 lb and above!

My youngest has a Scandium frame. His comes in at 22 lb with XT and LX stuff, and alloy forks instead of c/f. Heaven knows what it's be if he went after it like I have mine. Sub 20 lb, I expect.

Alcazar

BTW: interesting, last summer. My eldest is a trials freak. Watching him ride down a trail that had ALL other cyclists walking for at least part of it, was an eye opener. He just hopped and jumped off stuff others carried their bikes round, or over. Several French and Dutch riders asked him to repeat it so they could video it

anc-sti

Good to see the 'Old School' are still about

SJ_Skyline

Reminds me of you nearly piling into that gate in the Vale of Pewsey coming off the downs!

Yes, there is a gate here!

To be fair to Chris, we were in about the 5th hour of the adventure race so he was just getting into his stride

ChefDude

how much for a bike?! and you still have to power it!