Is this not the best £500 MTB ?

Raymond Lin · 19 Jun 2006 at 12:25

they are both realllllllllllllllllly nice, no pedals thou !!! thats another £40. :rolleyes:

Youstolemyname · 19 Jun 2006 at 13:13

I am really happy with my specialized hardrock sport that I picked up for £225 (£240 inc delivery) from here:

www.bikebike.co.uk

It's a nice little starter bike and will get me around town and up and down the trails in the pinewoods by my house. It is specced down on a lot of things but I aint gonna be entering competitions or biking down insane drops!

I think I got a bargain imho

Bennah · 20 Jun 2006 at 12:50

Hi there,

Thought, it would be best not to start a new thread as I have the same question as you really,

Im also looking into buying a new MTB. £500 or just a little over is what Im going to spend. Basically, Im after a quality bike that aint going to break when I give it some pushishment.

Ive got a 2005 Claud Butler Alpina atm, its starting to show signs of wear and tear. Its around 17 months old. New crank shaft needed, as I think this one is bent. Left peddal keeps coming off, had to change the bolt. Does'nt come off now some makes a small noise from time to time. New back wheel needed, as its got 2 nicely sized dints in the rim.

Generally from wear and tear, need 2 new tyre's, pads front and back, new grips and new seat.

The frame and forks are still great. Frame has a few marks on it but nothing to worry about. Im thinking of just buying a new bike that might be a little more solid than this Alpina. It was my first 'propar' bike, looking to get something more better though this time around.

So, Ive been looking around, came up with a few...

Specialized Hardrock Pro 2006
Kona Blast Mountain Bike 2006
Claud Butler Cape Wrath Disc
Giant XTC SE 2006 (one in original post)

Basically, Im after the best in the £550 max budget region.

I dont know much about bike components, whats hot and whats not atm. Thats where you bike guru's come in

Hopefully pointing me in the right direction of a decent solid bike

Comments, suggestions very much welcome.

Thanks.

Clarkey · 21 Jun 2006 at 00:30

Breamy said:
disk brakes are good for muddy and wet conditions. offer more power, better modulation and are much better in the mountains due to less brake fade

Funny that, my v brakes never faded, but my juicy 5 185mm turns to mush at the first sign of a steep hill, squeals and makes a wierd turkey gobbling sound.

Anyway, that bike looks ok to me.

Breamy · 21 Jun 2006 at 08:05

your juicy isnt set up right then. how long you had it? sounds like theres air in the hose to me as my juicy 7s are amazing

Matt · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:07

Does that Giant XtC come in any other colour but grey?

dunker · 23 Jun 2006 at 03:10

Bennah said:
Hi there,

Basically, Im after the best in the £550 max budget region.

I dont know much about bike components, whats hot and whats not atm. Thats where you bike guru's come in Hopefully pointing me in the right direction of a decent solid bike

Comments, suggestions very much welcome.

Thanks.

with £550 i'd be very tempted with the Merlin Malt 1-06 at £539 it does'nt come with any pedals but stick some DMR v8's or DMR magnesium v12's ooooooo

the wheels are even hand built to order by Frank heh. Merlin bikes are top quality from what i've been reading ppl even race on the cheapest Merlin 1 and it looks really nice.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/Merlin_Bikes.html

dunker · 23 Jun 2006 at 15:16

£563 for the LX £60 off, here http://www.cpcycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b3s2p96&tbv=GIANT_XTC_LX_

Klytus · 23 Jun 2006 at 15:28

dunker said:
with £550 i'd be very tempted with the Merlin Malt 1-06 at £539 it does'nt come with any pedals but stick some DMR v8's or DMR magnesium v12's ooooooo the wheels are even hand built to order by Frank heh. Merlin bikes are top quality from what i've been reading ppl even race on the cheapest Merlin 1 and it looks really nice.

I've got the malt 1 -05 and its ******* Awesome!!!!

Oakesy2001uk · 23 Jun 2006 at 15:56

The XTC is an amazing bike for the money, I ve just got £410 for mine at auction, only payed £375 for it. thats a nice bit of business! My mate gave me a Dr Jekyll frame and I decided it deserved building so i built it. spent over £1000 so had to get some pennies back from the giant. It is a great bike and you wont go far wrong for £500

6thElement · 23 Jun 2006 at 16:54

I'm also considering a new bike but I can't seem to find the mentioned Giant models anywhere near me, but I have found the Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc mentioned above for ~£500

Does this spec look right?
http://sidsbikes.com/itemdetails.cfm?action=specs&ID=3545

Breamy · 23 Jun 2006 at 18:58

personally i hate the hardrock pro it feels to jump bike like and really short. i would recommend the giant or a gt over it anyday. what brands can you get near u?

6thElement · 23 Jun 2006 at 19:35

Feel free to nominate from this list

I'm after an offroad, front suspension only, not looking to kill myself going downhill or jumps

Spamalot · 23 Jun 2006 at 19:55

got mine for £380 (rigid)-

linky

georges · 23 Jun 2006 at 20:20

Skull said:
I just thought I'd pop my head in and ask - why are mountain bikes getting disk brakes these days? I suppose they provide more effective stopping power, but is that necessary? I also suppose they dont wear down as easily, but does this justify their cost?

Better in wet, and also you don't get them full of crap so easily in muddy conditions unless you _really_ try, and they usually clear themselves with the slots on the discs.

"andy" · 23 Jun 2006 at 23:15

Spamalot said:
got mine for £380 (rigid)-

linky

brother got a gringo at beggining of year. think he paid 500 but they put some manitou forks (forgot wich model) and some deore hydro discs on, great bike IMO

i was suprised at how good the cheap hydro discs work too.felt much snappier than the hayes on my old DH/jump bike

6thElement · 28 Jun 2006 at 03:15

Holding back on the Specialized at the moment as the 2007 models are released in a couple of weeks.

However I'm seriously considering the Gary Fisher Tassajara Disc, again costing me ~£500.

Frame: Gold Series 6061 T6 internally and externally butted aluminum | Genesis Geometry

Wheels: Shimano M525 disc hubs + Bontrager Ranger Disc rims + 14G Stainless Steel spokes |Bontrager Jones XR 26x2.25 tires

Suspension: Manitou Axel Platinum Air fork w/TPC Lock-Out | 100mm travel | Magnesium lowers

Componentry: Shimano M-571 LX rear derailleur + M-511 Deore shifters + M-510 Deore front derailleur | Bontrager Select 44/32/22 crank | Hayes Sole XC hydraulic disc brakes w/6" rotor | Shimano M505 ATB clipless pedals | (Full Specs)

edit: n00bd the url.

Breamy · 29 Jun 2006 at 08:19

i say go for that fishers are lovely bikes

6thElement · 29 Jun 2006 at 13:31

Struggling to get anything in a 21" frame at the moment as most of the manufacturers appear to be about to release their new 2007 models :/

Bennah · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:46

dunker said:
with £550 i'd be very tempted with the Merlin Malt 1-06 at £539 it does'nt come with any pedals but stick some DMR v8's or DMR magnesium v12's ooooooo the wheels are even hand built to order by Frank heh. Merlin bikes are top quality from what i've been reading ppl even race on the cheapest Merlin 1 and it looks really nice.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/Merlin_Bikes.html

I like it very much. Its looking to be that or the Giant XTC LX that are at the top of my short list.

The thing, I like about the Merlin, if I get it from there, I can customise the spec a little. One thing, I have noticed that I would like the riser bars.

How much do DMR v8's or v10's pedals usually cost? They any good?

Cheers