Buying a new bike

Menthis

Menthis

Menthis

Associate
Joined
24 Aug 2010
Posts
533
Location
Southend-On-Sea
Okay so looking to purchase a bike it will used for just casual riding, downhill and abit of everything really. I was looking at maybe a hard tailed bike, but im unsure on where to go on from here, any sites? or bikes that are in my price range. Price range is around £200-300. Hopefuly looking to upgrade perhaps in the future.

Sam
 
Definately hardtail.
Best to look at second hand bikes in that price range, have a look on gumtree/ebay/local papers.
Avoid mechanical (cable operated) disc brakes, full suspension, and cheap forks (xcm, suntour, rst, zoom)
 
touch said:
Definately hardtail.
Best to look at second hand bikes in that price range, have a look on gumtree/ebay/local papers.
Avoid mechanical (cable operated) disc brakes, full suspension, and cheap forks (xcm, suntour, rst, zoom)
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Cheers thanks for the advice, maybe price range is abit low, i was looking at a diamond back groove 2010, read some reviews people are saying it is nice and in my price range.
 
touch said:
Definately hardtail.
Best to look at second hand bikes in that price range, have a look on gumtree/ebay/local papers.
Avoid mechanical (cable operated) disc brakes, full suspension, and cheap forks (xcm, suntour, rst, zoom)
Click to expand...

What he said ^

At £300 new you won't get too much. 7 speed trigger shifters,basic wheels and basic forks.

Try and find an old specialized hardrock or something along those lines.
 
kona lanai

£224
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75071&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom


just got one myself to get to and from work as my old scott fell apart. Pretty good and plenty of options to upgrade if you want, comes with disc ready wheels etc


Kona Lanai Specifications:
Frame Material: Kona 7005 Aluminium Butted
Sizes: 14", 16", 18", 20", 22"
Fork: Suntour SF-XCT 100mm
Crankarms: Suntour CW-XCC-T202
Chainrings: 42/32/22
B/B: FSA
Chain: KMC Z-72
Freewheel: Shimano HG30 11-32 8 spd
F/D: Shimano Altus
R/D: Shimano Altus SGS
Shifters: Shimano Tourney EZ Fire Integrated
Brake Calipers: Tektro M530
Brake Levers: Shimano Tourney EZ Fire Integrated
Headset: CH
Handlebar: Kona Aluminium Riser
Stem: Kona Control
Seatpost: Kona Thumb w/offset
Seat Clamp: Kona QR
Grips: Kona Mooseknuckle
Saddle: Kona XC
Front Hub: KT Disc
Rear Hub: KT Disc
Spokes: Stainless 14g
Rims: Shining MT-20
Front Tire: Kenda K-922 26 x 1.95
Rear Tire: Kenda K-922 26 x 1.95
Paint Colour: Blue & Silver
Click to expand...
 
We just brought a couple of Carrera Vengeance Mountain bikes of ebay which were basicly brand new condition only used a couple of times no marks etc for £100 a piece. could have probably paid slightly less if I didn't mind a more used set of bikes. They seem excellent and very very light so I would defiantly recommend them.
 
Yea, second hand is the way to go and a hardtail will get you best value for money. You should get something decent for that budget, as an example I am about to sell my hardly used GT Aggressor XC1 (prob 100 miles on it) specced with Marzocchi Bomber (120mm) forks, SLX/Deore drivetrain, Avid J3 Disks and expect to get £250-£300 for it. You would be spending £600ish for that spec new.

If you do buy used off eBay, try and get a local bike you can collect so you can go and see it to check it out for damage etc.

Size wise, depends how tall you are. Small bikes if you are up to 5’6” Medium 5’7” to 6’ and Large 6’+. Very much depends on the bike, the style and its manufacturer sizing.

If you want something for all over blasting then unless you are very short or very tall a medium frame will be more chuckable. No hard and fast rule on sizing though as everyone is different and has different preferences. You can tweek fit and comfort by changing the stem length and rise and bars rise and width as well as moving the saddle on its rail.
 
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Scrutinize said:
Yea, second hand is the way to go and a hardtail will get you best value for money. You should get something decent for that budget, as an example I am about to sell my hardly used GT Aggressor XC1 (prob 100 miles on it) specced with Marzocchi Bomber (120mm) forks, SLX/Deore drivetrain, Avid J3 Disks and expect to get £250-£300 for it. You would be spending £600ish for that spec new.

.
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Aha sell me it then ;)
 
Menthis said:
Aha sell me it then ;)
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Tis a mere 160 miles away to sunny Bournemouth assuming your location is correct :D.

I wasn't actually trying to sell it to you lol, just pointing out what can be had and for what price. New bikes are getting more and more expensive with the relative spec getting lower and lower at each price point due to price hikes across the board so buying second hand or new 2010/2011 discounted stock makes great sense.

Email is in trust if you were actually considering it :p.
 
Menthis said:
All depends if your willing to deliver for free? ;)
just joking yeah that is a bit of a distance. I thought i was in complete luck then, didnt look where you lived :(
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Lol, I could get it as far as Winchester for you but that would be it. Well worth the 2 hour drive from your end imo:D;)

By the sounds of it you are looking for an aggressive hard tail so really with 120mm to 150mm suspension travel and some decent widish tyres 2.2-2.35. You could cope with a 100mm fork if it is well rebound damped and the frame geometry is more relaxed (head angle approaching 71-73 degrees compared to a cross country bike head angle which will be in the high 60’s). If you go for an older or well used bike you can blow your budget on refreshing the odd drivetrain part or a suspension service (mid to higher end forks can cost £80-£150 for a service if they have been neglected) etc, unless you get very lucky and it has been kept in a garden shed all its life or just had a full service.

When I bought my GT last year I was in the same position looking for exactly the same type of bike. The laugh is I only used it for pootling up and down the beach front in the end. I looked at everything in budget and in the end upped my budget to £600 to get the GT new. I gave up trying to find second hand as a lot of the auctions said one thing and when I went to see the bike, they all had issues, damage etc.

Your budget really limits you to a handful of bikes in your price range worth looking at and I would consider the GT Aggressor XC1, Carrera Fury or Genesis Core 10/20.

The Aggressor XC1 is actually a really good choice of bike as long as you get the last version they did circa 2010 (I got mine last year in Halfords end of line clearance). Its got some good kit like the Deore SLX rear mech and Deore Front mech and shifters where bikes like the genesis only have alivio and possibly a Deore rear. Not only that but you get a great Marzocchi Bomber fork. It is basic but has the usual ultra plush Marzocchi damping and because it is coil sprung and not air and has a sealed all in one compression unit, maintenance is nominal. It is a much nicer fork than the lower end 120mm Rock Shox and Suntours etc.

You could get a cheap Carrera or Cube or any other cross country type of bike but it really doesn’t sound like the sort of riding you are going for and if you get it wrong you won’t enjoy the cycling as much.
 
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Scrutinize said:
Lol, I could get it as far as Winchester for you but that would be it. Well worth the 2 hour drive from your end imo:D;)

By the sounds of it you are looking for an aggressive hard tail so really with 120mm to 150mm suspension travel and some decent widish tyres 2.2-2.35. You could cope with a 100mm fork if it is well rebound damped and the frame geometry is more relaxed (head angle approaching 71-73 degrees compared to a cross country bike head angle which will be in the high 60’s). If you go for an older or well used bike you can blow your budget on refreshing the odd drivetrain part or a suspension service (mid to higher end forks can cost £80-£150 for a service if they have been neglected) etc, unless you get very lucky and it has been kept in a garden shed all its life or just had a full service.

When I bought my GT last year I was in the same position looking for exactly the same type of bike. The laugh is I only used it for pootling up and down the beach front in the end. I looked at everything in budget and in the end upped my budget to £600 to get the GT new. I gave up trying to find second hand as a lot of the auctions said one thing and when I went to see the bike, they all had issues, damage etc.

Your budget really limits you to a handful of bikes in your price range worth looking at and I would consider the GT Aggressor XC1, Carrera Fury or Genesis Core 10/20.

The Aggressor XC1 is actually a really good choice of bike as long as you get the last version they did circa 2010 (I got mine last year in Halfords end of line clearance). Its got some good kit like the Deore SLX rear mech and Deore Front mech and shifters where bikes like the genesis only have alivio and possibly a Deore rear. Not only that but you get a great Marzocchi Bomber fork. It is basic but has the usual ultra plush Marzocchi damping and because it is coil sprung and not air and has a sealed all in one compression unit, maintenance is nominal. It is a much nicer fork than the lower end 120mm Rock Shox and Suntours etc.

You could get a cheap Carrera or Cube or any other cross country type of bike but it really doesn’t sound like the sort of riding you are going for and if you get it wrong you won’t enjoy the cycling as much.
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Thanks for the offer but that is still a bit of a distance to be travelling for a bike. I will have a look around and see what i can find thanks for all the advice guys
 
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