Tim-Grove

Right… My mates have started getting bikes and going riding again and I now seem to be the odd one out. So I’ve decided to give in to peer pressure and get another bike.

I sold my orange P7 about 8 years ago so I’ve been out of the loop for some time now and haven’t got a clue whats cool and crap now.

I’ve set my self a budget of about 500-ish quid.

I’ve been looking at 3 bikes so far and as I said I’m that far out of touch now I don’t know if their any good.

2006 GIANT XTC SX

2006 KONA HOSS

2007 Specialized Hardrock Pro


What you guys think?? Are they any good? Or would you get something else?

Tim-Grove

Ohh and does anyone know of any good mountain biking forums??

PG

Singletrack - Home

PG

As much as Giant bikes don't really excite me looking at the above bikes it seems to be the pick of the bunch spec wise.
The Hardrock Pro is a surprisingly heavy bike but built very well.
It may be worth your while having a look on Singletrack Classifieds as there are always bargains to be had.

Paul.

satanbaby

i have a bike for sale FSR Elite. XTR hydro discs full sus. cost me £2700
in 2004 must have done about 800-1000 road / light off road miles.

i am open to offers been in the garage for 2 years doing nothing.

if interested i can post pics.

loved my bikes untill i started driving

Tim-Grove

nice one guys i'll take a look

Tim-Grove

yeah post em up mate worth a look

satanbaby

Spring Heeled Jack

I have an FSR Extreme. Just finished a ride as it happens.

Great bike

stilover

Christ !!!!!

Bikes seem to have change quite a bit from when I used to bike around.

Still have my Railey Montage from way back when............. collecting dust

SJ_Skyline

Mountain Biking UK - MBUK.COM

Mountain Biking Wales

Mogsi

Common sense, but test ride them all. There is a huge difference in feel and comfort between all the manufacturers. One bike may well have the best spec but if it's not comfortable for you personally then it's useless...

*edited to say, for £549 you can get an 07 Rockhopper, a superb frame that can be upgraded around.

KiwiGTI

I'm a big Giant fan. I think the XTC and Kona above are in a different class than the Specialized and will definitly be better.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Thought of building one yourself from ebay bits or somehere like WWW.chainreactioncycles.com

Or speccing one and having it built, even to the wheels, by Merlin Cycles in Leyland? Their frames are pretty good.......... their wheels are second to none.

Alcazar

EddScott

Been looking at a bike myself around the £500 bracket. We're doing this cycle to work scheme malarky.

Going to the bikeshop tonight for a look. Need to budget for road tyres though

Mogsi

Schwalbe City Jets

Schwalbe City Jet Tyre Set for £23.99 | Schwalbe Tyres - MTB Road | Cycle | Wiggle

I use these on my daily commute and batter many a roadie

Tim-Grove

Looks nice but probably a bit out of my price range i really cant prend any more than 600quid

NeilT

not got any knowledge of the models listed, but got a Kona Explosif this end - awesome bike, love every minute of it - would definately recommend Kona if they are all as good as the Explosif.



Neil

PG

A fantastic scheme. I got myself a Spesh Rockhopper FSR comp through it a few months ago and hope to get either another road bike or get the wife a better bike next time round.

ciderhead

Just bought the Giant XTC couple of weeks ago, so far so good really nice bike dont hink you will get much better for your money.

l looked at the specilized at the same time thought they were quite heavy and not so well speced against the Giants Brakes / Gears etc

Go for it

jay knowles

my bike is wicked

andys

BIKEmagic - the total online Cycling resource
OFFERS - Pauls Cycles
Mountain bikes and components from Lancashire Bike Shop Merlin Cycles

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, decent bikes, but I'd not buy one while they retail in America for substantially LESS in DOLLARS then we are expected to pay in Sterling

Tried to buy a Kona frame for my lad: £700!!!!!, and the US price was $500, Ridiculous

Robbing bastids.

Alcazar

brihoppy

i bought my marin waaaaaaaaaay back in about '92/93 and its still going strong but ive noticed you seem to get a hell of alot more for your money these days...

andythejock01wrx

I have a Cannondale myself, but the Giant's seem excellent value.

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

get the spesh... got one for my mrs last year, she loves it ! as std they are not that XC friendly, but a change of stem and a few other adjustments transforms the ride.. (it has had most of my bikes cast offs)

i have an stumpy fsr too.. built it myself over a few months, it's finally finished to a spec I am happy with now..

Photo of douglas (hound) at pines

NeilT

got my Kona in an end of season sale, saved a couple of hundred pounds, so if by the time I'd imported one, paid shipping, paid import tax and bank rates wouldn't have been much in it. However that was a couple of years back. These days the $>£ rate makes for a different story.

Neil

EddScott

Don't mean to thread hijack but just wondered what the thoughts are of "Those in the know" of my shortlist. The problem I have is that some I've looked at are £450 and others are closer to £600 (the one I like the "look" of the most is the most expensive) but I'm wondering whether its worth spending the extra.

I know MTBs aren't the best for commuting but being in West Wales means there should be plenty of opportunity to use the bike properly too.

Trek 6000 shop where I have to get the bike from does this one for £500
Evans Cycles: Product: Trek 6000 Disc 2007 Mountain Bike

Evans Cycles: Product: Ridgeback Genesis Core 1.0 2007 Mountain Bike

I like this one the most but only from an asthetics POV (love the white) but not sure if I really need to uprated stuff this one has to the one above.
Evans Cycles: Product: Ridgeback Genesis Core 2.0 2007 Mountain Bike

Evans Cycles: Product: Gary Fisher Tassajara Disc 2006 Mountain Bike

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70056

This is the shortlist anyway. I've chosen these as that is what is available to me from the local shop. I asked about Kona and they said they've stopped dealing with them.

Again, sorry to thread hijack but I know theres a fair few on here that know about thier bikes.

SJ_Skyline

Edd,

Some good choices (IMO) there. Being in West Wales, sounds like whatever you buy will get a good riding so I would look for the more durable components. I've ridden around Gwydyr Forest, Nant-y-arian and Llandegla and they will eat up cheaper bikes and spit them out.

One thing to remember that in this price bracket you are moving into bikes that come with cleats so you'll have to factor in a set of shoes to go with the bike at £50-£80 or so and get used to riding with them and unhooking in a hurry or you can learn a very painfull, muddy lesson

Rich

pwhittle

I've put my '07 Spec. Stumpjumper FSR on ebay
getting a Rockhopper Disk through work's cycle scheme - ie - VAT tax and NI. That'll do for commuting, off-roading and the odd 24-hour jobbie, and work out at about £380!