MTB Decision Thread

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Evening guys, back again!

As the title says i'm in the market for a MTB and i've narrowed it down to two...maybe three.

I'm not looking at a massively expensive bike, just one for training on & offroad, need to build up my cardio again!

Anyways, choices are:

'07 Saracen Mantra 3
'07 Carrera Kraken
Brand New Carrera Vulcan

Why are the first two '07 I hear you say? One word....eBay :)

Both are cracking spec + condition, just need some info especially from owners of any of them :)

Thanks in advance.
 
I would tend to stay away from Carrera bikes, ive had a few in the past and they both fell apart within months.
 
At the cheaper end of the market, I would always go for an offer on last years kit. That's where the deals are... you either save cash, or get more for the same cash.
 
Davyb said:
I would tend to stay away from Carrera bikes, ive had a few in the past and they both fell apart within months.
Click to expand...

Had my carrera for 2 and a half years, the fury, and its lasted really well I dont look after it especially well and only thing that has needed replacing was the bottom bracket I think, and I use it at least once a week for 15miles of off road riding I would guess with some commuting on top of that as well.
 
The carreras are a bit better than the mantra,the mantra is an overbuilt xc bikes...more of a dj/xc bike combo. Just make sure the crank bolts are kept tight and the fury should last an age. That is the only problems i have come across and i sell the things....
 
Just took delivery of a Carrera Vulcan '08 and i'm wondering how do you harden the suspension up? Bit soft for me atm!
 
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what forks are on it?

I assume they are a version of Suntour XCM's. If you post which type they are we should be able to track down what adjustments are possible.
 
Good call that, very good entry level bike. I've had my old Carrera Krakatoa for 16 years, it's never been properly serviced for a decade :D Still practically works- the advantage of all those gears is that half of them can stop working and you still have too many ;)

I've just got a nearly-new Carrera Kraken, which is the step up from your Vulcan, it's got the next step up suntour forks and the hydraulic tektro brakes but it's overall a pretty similiar bike. Very solid, performs well enough- very well for the money. Don't be fooled that these bikes are awesome or anything as some people will insist, but they're certainly adequate bordering on competent. I lent it to a mate who fired off down a red run at glentress, declared it boingy and rattly and too heavy but still good enough for the daft stuff. I've dared him to do a lap of the black on it, he might actually take that up (while I go and do blue runs on his heckler) The Vulcan isn't as good but it's not massively inferior, it'll do you OK.

But the forks are a definate weakspot on mine, and yours are worse... They're not awful but they're not good either. Oh, and the pedals are the same as on mine, and they're awful, no grip. And you'll bend the saddle if you land in it too hard, the rails are too flexy. But the forks you can live with, and the rest you can easily replace. Pedals and saddles are a matter of taste anyway so that's not a big deal. If you like the shape and style of the pedals but not the slippyness, try V8s, they're basically V8 ripoffs without the studs.
 
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The kraken is an ok bike and the brakes are pretty good for what they are. I just did 10 miles back from my gfs on a subway with Vbrakes....world of difference from my bighit! I only fell once,pulled up behind a van thinking it was in the lane but was actually parked! Didn't unclip in time! I am quite like SPDs though!
 
Oh, for the OP- that bike probably came fitted with Tioga Extreme XC tyres? If it did, you should probably get rid of 'em as soon as you can- they're slow, they're not very grippy, they cling mud and they weigh over a kilo each. Horrible tyres in every way. I just changed mine for nevegals and the bike feels about £100 better- accelerates faster, carries its speed better, much easier to ride but it also sticks to the ground better too. Not to mention saving nearly a kilo! You'd pay a lot for that much carbon fibre and titanium ;)
 
I don't think you can do much with the suspension, perhaps setting less preload on it so it sits higher and isn't sitting halfway through the travel when you're riding on the flat.

The pic on the Halfords site doesn't really fill me with confidence, it looks like the dust seals are halfway up the stanchions!

Lighter tyres will make a huge difference, rotating mass (i.e. that on the wheels) is more noticeable than additional mass anywhere else on the frame. The bike will roll faster, accelerate better and be a lot more lively than it is at present.

al
 
Sorry about delay in posting in a thread i made!

Sit Rep on my Carrera, it needs to go to halfords to get its wheel straightened and the crankset is off a bit.....dont ask.....couriers ***....

Need to ask, can anyone recommend a new front suspension set and new tyres, too much resistance on then for what im using the bike for.

Thanks in advance.
 
They are rotten tyres. Not many tyres are good on and off road, it's tricky that, I use Kenda Nevegals which are excellent off road and, er, barely adequate on the road. But far better than the Tiogas you had. There's probably better though, Kenda Small Block 8s or COntinental Speed Kings.

How much do you want to spend? Rockshox Tora is the default upgrade fork just now. You can put a bit of extra fork length into a Vulcan, the frame's built for 120mm and it makes them a lot more capable offroad. Not v-brake compatible, do you have the disc or V vulcan?
 
ive got the disc version, not really sure what my budget is, i dont want to spend heap loads.

tyres on it atm are awful lol, not sure halfords would have a good selection of tyres, heard of nevegals but i'd be more on-road about 70/30 tarmac atm.
 
Hmm. To be honest I gave up on that, not to say there's not tyres that'll do it but I ended up just rebuilding my old mtb as a commuter with road tyres. So, not very helpful there I'm afraid. Would it be realistic to swap tyres? I did that for a while, it's a pain but it works.

For forks...

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=49&categoryId=18

You won't get better than that under £200. The claimed weight is a bit optimistic but they're very good forks, at a silly price. You could go for 100mm or 130mm, I think they can be converted at a later date if you don't like the length you choose (but maybe not).
 
If you find yourself leaning towards the 130mm Tora, let me know as I'll have a lightly used 08 model to sell soon, once my new Revelation dual airs turn up ;) I'd say though, that it's pretty much down to your riding preference, the 318 Tora with 100mm travel will keep the bike handling and riding exactly like it does now, but with a wee bit more travel (as the XCM you have doesn't use its full 100mm). If you find the bike right but the fork wrong, then the 100mm Tora makes most sense. If on the other hand you find it nervous on downhills and over rocks etc, a bit more travel might suit you. But be aware that it'll make the steering less exact and probably also make the bike more wheelie-prone.
 
thread res!

quick question fellas, would 26x2.1 wheels be ok for 26x2.35 wheels? looking at a set of nevegals.
 
26x2.1 is tyre size not wheel size. Look at the width of the rim to determin maximun tyre size. 2.1" Nevegals are more like 2.35" and 2.35" Nevegals are more like 2.5".
 
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