Spec me a mountain bike £500

Soldato
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Saracen Mantra Pro, most local dealers will discount them a little if you ask nicely.

Tbh though bikes at this price point are much of a muchness.
 
Soldato
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Looks pretty decent just concerned about having just 20 gears.

Don't fall for the more gears is best gears thing - in fact 99% of the time you'd want to be going for 10 or 11 over 20 or 30!

First few bikes I got had 30 gears, I'm now down to 20 gears and it's miles better - less weight, less frequent gear changing, less cog swapping also means less chance of a derail, more reliable.

Look at the high end modern bikes on the internet - the very best have "only" got 10 or 11 gears! Unless you've got lady legs you're really honestly not going to struggle with "only" 20 gears - it'll be fine.
 
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No problem lads just thought the more gears the better range I'd have.

I haven't had a mountain bike for years used mainly ride bmx when I was young.

This is just for fun, road and off road. No competition.

Are air forks better than spring?
 
Soldato
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Raidon forks are as good as you are like to get for ~£500.

Number of gears makes no odds, it's the range and how big the jumps are between them. My Voodoo Wazoo had a "megarange" 8-speed cassette, the easiest two sprockets were 26T and 34T, it made the change to the easiest gear very clunky. Jumps of ~4 and under are far smoother.

For something a bit more out there, http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-dune-fat-bike-p347149 is ~£460 after buying through Topcashback.
 
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Raidon forks are as good as you are like to get for ~£500.

Number of gears makes no odds, it's the range and how big the jumps are between them. My Voodoo Wazoo had a "megarange" 8-speed cassette, the easiest two sprockets were 26T and 34T, it made the change to the easiest gear very clunky. Jumps of ~4 and under are far smoother.

For something a bit more out there, http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-dune-fat-bike-p347149 is ~£460 after buying through Topcashback.

Yeah I am liking the Halford one thanks :)

Hate this one though!

I must have air front forks and hydraulic brakes.

Do you not like the bike I posted?
 
Soldato
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Yeah I am liking the Halford one thanks :)

Hate this one though!

I must have air front forks and hydraulic brakes.

Do you not like the bike I posted?

The vitus is not bad but suntour xct/xcm/xcr forks are thier budget range, the suntour raidon is a step up.
Forks are expensive to upgrade.

The trek and rhe specialized linked above are also running budget forks.
 
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The vitus is not bad but suntour xct/xcm/xcr forks are thier budget range, the suntour raidon is a step up.
Forks are expensive to upgrade.

The trek and rhe specialized linked above are also running budget forks.

Thanks buddy, so do you recommend a bike not listed above?
 
Soldato
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The voodoo bizango from halfords is slightly better than the boardman, but it's listed at £600, but if you can get it discounted/on offer it has bettter kit on it.

Out of the above the boardman is best.
 
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The voodoo bizango from halfords is slightly better than the boardman, but it's listed at £600, but if you can get it discounted/on offer it has bettter kit on it.

Out of the above the boardman is best.

I'll check that out thanks. Might up the budget a bit ;)
 
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