View Full Version : Which MTB for about £400ish?
I need to get fit and as my shins are knackered running is kind of out. Looking to take up biking; probably off-road on Salisbury Plain more than on road.
I've been looking on here at the MTB Thread and on a forum (something Raider?) but I haven't got a clue. Some have said the Carrera Kraken is good from Halfords but it's...well from Halfords :) Others have said the GT Avalanche (I think).
I haven't got a clue, don't even know which makes to go for/avoid. I'd spend more but this may be a hobby that I don't take to so it'll just sit in the garage for years :)
plowsie
06-04-10, 02:34 PM
I've got a Carrera Vulcan from Halfords, never had a problem with it, put it together myself got them to do my first free service etc. It was a good deal that I got on it too, can't complain. I don't use it anymore as I will be upgrading soon. If you fancy it, we could talk figures.
I took to biking a lot last summer, getting out if and when I could on a weekend, just hit roads and went for massive treks.
metalmonkey
06-04-10, 03:26 PM
Have you got a cycle to work scheme where you work? If you don't have one, then ask them set one up.
If so then get a bike through that its actually a really good deal. I cycle to work when I can, I have used my bike alot it has made difference cause i have lost weight and also its so much easy to get about.
You want to look for the web site bikeradar. Just put it into goggle.
fizzwheel
06-04-10, 03:33 PM
the forum is bikeradar.com
Andy, pop into this place and have a look around, and speak to the sales guys in there. They are a very good shop and have a good reputation.
http://www.stonehengecycles.com/
maviczap
06-04-10, 03:47 PM
When I was in Halfrauds the other day, they had offers on a GT and a Carrera. Both were of a similar spec, discs front and rear, plus front suspension.
I think the Carerra had slighty better group set (gears)
They were both around the sort of money you want to spend, I think the GT was under £300!
Nothing wrong with GT or Carerra.
Originally Carerra were made or assembled in Italy, certainly the top of the range ones were
There's a fair amount of choice at that price. This will give an idea of what you could get (price-filtered between £250.00 and £399.99):
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?sPrice=250&ePrice=399.99&catid=2&cName=Mountain-bikes
Shop around, search on forums and ask on here :thumbsup:
philbut
06-04-10, 05:56 PM
I'd go for something second hand but almost new if you see what I mean.
I just bought a second hand specializer Rockhopper disk 2008 model. They originally retailed at about £700 or so. I got it for £350 and the guy had ridden it about twice. Not a mark on it and the original chain grease by the looks of it. I'm very pleased with it and the spec is far better than a new bike of a similar price.
the forum is bikeradar.com
Andy, pop into this place and have a look around, and speak to the sales guys in there. They are a very good shop and have a good reputation.
http://www.stonehengecycles.com/
Haha, went in there after work. I'm now browsing the Marin and Specialized catalogues :)
They had a Marin Shoreline Trail for £349 or Specialized Hardrock Sport for £349 too, any comments?
Work do the Cycle2Work scheme but I'm having trouble finding out who runs it and I've heard it's only open at certain times of the year:mad: I'm getting more tempted by the Carrera's as it doesn't seem that anyone has a bad word to say about them for their price.
CheGuevara
06-04-10, 06:47 PM
Another vote for the cycle-to-work scheme. You will get a better bike for your money, or the same bike for less money on what is effectively a 1-year interest-free loan. I bought a £1k Kona for what works out to less than £70/month -not too shabby really.
fizzwheel
06-04-10, 06:54 PM
Specialized Hardrock Sport for £349
My brother has just purchased one of them. I had a look at it yesterday, for the price it looked really good. But I am not up to speed on what is current and what is not with MTB's.
Carrera's in general seem to have a good rep. Just watch for setup issues with Halfords, i.e. gears, brakes etc you might find it needs a tweak or to. The quality of the setup seems to vary between different halfords if you get a good bike mechanic in the halfords local to you, well you'll be set.
Personally I always prefer to use a decent bike shop, thats why I said to go to Stonehenge cycles. Enjoy the catalogue browsing :cool:
I got the 2009 Kona Blast for £399 last year, reduced from £550.
My 1st decent MB and i'm impressed with it.
Have a look here, Mitchell cycles, Swindon. (http://www.mitchellcycles.co.uk/offers.asp) they've usually got a few good deals on.
Got mine through the cycle to work scheme so it will work out i'll only end up paying approx £280, not to be sniffed at.
I just sold my 08 Rockhopper Disc due to lack of use. £600 bike went for £330 which seemed to be about right on eBay.
I might look around at getting another sometime in the future, or possibly a road bike. At the moment though, I just dont have time for it due to other hobbies.
MattCollins
07-04-10, 07:43 AM
Good way to stay fit. I ride a 15km loop through the local ridges every day that I am home on an '03 Avanti Hammer. Specs haven't changed a whole lot since new, but the price has plummeted although it might still be more than you'd want to spend.
In that price range I'd skip the disks (if possible) which tend to be a bit gutless anyway - I put an 8" rear on mine. The other bike that I was looking at the time (still would) is the Avanti Barracuda which was available with or without disks. I'm not sure if it is currently available without disks, but if it is then it would only be a slight stretch of the budget.
BTW, there is a sweet spot in the middle of between GBP600 & GBP800 (based on exchange rates) where you can get decent gear without paying the pro prices.
metalmonkey
07-04-10, 10:24 AM
Haha, went in there after work. I'm now browsing the Marin and Specialized catalogues :)
They had a Marin Shoreline Trail for £349 or Specialized Hardrock Sport for £349 too, any comments?
Work do the Cycle2Work scheme but I'm having trouble finding out who runs it and I've heard it's only open at certain times of the year:mad: I'm getting more tempted by the Carrera's as it doesn't seem that anyone has a bad word to say about them for their price.
Do try to find out about the cycle2work, it will be so worth it. Then you can get the all the kit you need at the same time so its a better bargin. Also it means you spread the cost out as well, there is no way I could have paid upfront for what I have.
Have a look here;
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/
These guy have some bikes on sale, there is also chain reaction cycles as well. Evans have a sale at the moment as well, I have just two more tops from them if your a small build you will find something. I was locked into Evans for buying a bike, they have been ok ish.
Can't really help with he the what bike to buy, apart go for a hard tail. You might find that useful. But go try out some of the bike you like, kind of like buying a motorbike really.
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/index.php?c=3&sid=03dd0f13ffd03864e197f3bbe67bda9a
My own bike is very light and its aweesome to ride, hope you find what works best for you.
Right o. Have been speaking to work and Halfords. I have to buy a bike from Halfords but I can speak to head office and order most bikes available not just their usual range. I've been lookign at the following, a little over budget but as it'll be on the scheme it doesn't work out much.
Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc £550ish if Halfords can get one
Carrera Fury £550
Boardman MTB Sport £550 - recommended by guy at Halfords as better than the Fury at the same price.
Anyone got any other ideas or comments on the above?
Drew Carey
08-04-10, 01:57 PM
Right o. Have been speaking to work and Halfords. I have to buy a bike from Halfords but I can speak to head office and order most bikes available not just their usual range. I've been lookign at the following, a little over budget but as it'll be on the scheme it doesn't work out much.
Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc £550ish if Halfords can get one
Carrera Fury £550
Boardman MTB Sport £550 - recommended by guy at Halfords as better than the Fury at the same price.
Anyone got any other ideas or comments on the above?
They are all pretty similar to be honest, all running SRAM/Shimano Altus gear, with Tektro brakes. Forks are the main thing, I've seen some Fury's being sold on tinterweb with the Suntour Epicon forks. Some with Rock Shox Dart 3's and some again with Rock Shox Tora's.
If you can, keep away from the Suntours, a number of avid XC MTB mates of mine all say to keep clear when they were advising me. Whereas Rock Shox seem to always be the prefereable lower end shock of choice.
If it was me personally, would go for the Specialized or the Boardman.
philbut
08-04-10, 02:33 PM
I have the Specialized (rockhopper so slightly different) as already mentioned and I rate it highly. Not sure what forks the Pro has, but I have the Tora 102SL's and they are fine for trail work.
A good frame is more important IMO than components as you can upgrade as and when stuff wares out, but a carp frame will always be rubbish.
I'd also steer clear of any Suntour stuff, and go for at least Deore components. A good rear mech is more important than front mech, and shifters IMO.
I've got a Carrera Vulcan from Halfords, never had a problem with it, put it together myself got them to do my first free service etc. It was a good deal that I got on it too, can't complain. I don't use it anymore as I will be upgrading soon. If you fancy it, we could talk figures.
I took to biking a lot last summer, getting out if and when I could on a weekend, just hit roads and went for massive treks.
I got one of those from Halfords too. It WAS badly set up and I had to do a few tweaks with it. Can't complain seeing as all I could afford was the V-Brake one and they actually gave me the disk version which was considerably more expensive. :)
It's been a good bike and is good enough for the novice mountain biker.
CheGuevara
08-04-10, 10:09 PM
I got one of those from Halfords too. It WAS badly set up and I had to do a few tweaks with it.
Indeed - I have a Boardman Hybrid I bought from Halfords -the wheels were so far out of true it was untrue :) Before I rode it I took the wheels to a proper shop and paid to have them set right.
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