Help me decide on hardtail MTB, £650 budget

[Wicksta]

Hi all,

The company I work for is involved in one of these cycle schemes which basically means I get a bike for half price! I've been given a £650 voucher to spend and want a hardtail for cross country biking. I'm not quite sure which bike to go for but have been looking at the following:

Kona Cinder Cone
http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/cinder-cone/cinder-cone.php

Marida MATTS TFD 700-D
http://www2.merida-bikes.com/en_GB/Bikes.Detail.21

I wondered if anyone here had any suggestions as to which would be the better bike, or could recommend me a similar but better bike. I have to order the bike through Halfords, but they can get pretty much any brand in.

Thanks for the help!

 

[z0mbi3]

Nice to see you're upgrading from your old bike:

 

[Wicksta]

Are you still interested in buying it?

 

[Wicksta]

Starting to head towards this one:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product....oogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Rockshox Tora, LX FD, SRAM RD, and only 50 quid more.

 

[Wicksta]

Grrr, I can't add the extra and get that one, so I've going for this Gary Fisher one I think:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/XC_Hardtail/product_125698.shtml

Has a Tora fork which is better than the Dart one in the Marida or Kona, all other specs seem similar. It has the highest review score as well.

 

[dunker]

Merlin Malt 2 £630
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=50&categoryId=39
rockshox reba.
full LX groupset.
handbuilt xc717 wheels.

Focus Black Forest 2008 £650
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032355&N=Focus Black Forest 2008
looks nice but not as well specced as the malt2.

 

[SpeedFreak]

get the Merlin, far better spec that the others and the frame geometry is great. They are also a fantastic company to deal with.

 

[barkey52]

get the Merlin, far better spec that the others and the frame geometry is great. They are also a fantastic company to deal with.

I agree, if only i had known about them sooner.