New Hardtail - help needed!

Cookeh

Cookeh

Cookeh

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Joined
21 Jan 2010
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Hey guys,

Looking to get a new bike, and decided on a hardtail because it will be used for general use as well as some trail biking (aim to start in summer and join a club during Uni).

Budget I really don't want to spend more than £300, around £200 would be nice :)

Could you guys tell me what I should be looking for spec wise? I know I really like trigger shifters, like the Shimano E-Z Shifters on my current bike.

Would you also be able to throw me some ideas as to bikes I should be looking at?

Also, any one know much about the Muddyfox Voltage? (I can't find any review sites) Sports direct has it half-price atm - down from £500 to £249.99.

Thanks guys,
Cookeh
 
I'm utterly new to proper mountain biking, I'd have thought £300 would be more than enough for a beginners bike :p

By join a club, I simply mean the various groups in Uni that can give me advice and "teach" me so to speak.

At the very least, what should I be looking for spec wise?
 
Okay, I'll have a look at the Kraken then.

Any good reviewing sites out there?

Also, any opinions on the Decathlon Rockrider?
 
Why the £50 price difference between the Vulcan and Kraken?

Is it simply just the hydraulic disc and the extra 20mm of fork travel?
 
So the shortlist at the moment looks like a Kraken or the £50 cheaper Rockrider 5.3?

Anything else to consider?

Perhaps the most important question: What kind of specs should I be looking for?
 
The bump was more aimed at finding out the kind of specs I should be looking at (e.g. travel, type of forks, best frame material, best gear set-up, crankshaft etc), and exactly what it all means (e.g. dual alloy rims, etc).

Buying a bike with no knowledge of why you're buying it seems pretty daft to me, don't you agree?
 
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Could someone explain the advantages and the finer points of each bike? By no means is the spec identical from looking at the websites.

Could someone also explain just what each thing is, and what the best thing to look for is?

Is second hand an option? If so, what should be coming into my price range?
 
Is travel everything when it comes down to forks, or is there - as I assume, a lot more to it than that?

What difference does the crank used make?

I really do know nothing about bikes, I can repair mine when it breaks but other than that . .
 
I know -how- bikes work, and can repair them. Why, however, I should chose certain components over others I have no clue ;)

It is, but if the fork has bad damping it could recoil to the extent that it bounces the handlebars out of your hands, correct?
I'll feely admit I didn't know what the lock out did, thanks for telling me :)

Is there anything special or crucial to look for in cranks/forks/gears etc??
 
I can easily extend the budget, however having never done this before I'm not sure if I'll actually like it or have the time to get into it in any great degree with Uni just round the corner - hence the beginners trails. I'd like to keep costs down for this reason, but it's not as though I can't be flexible. Should I find myself advancing and enjoying it then I'll have no qualms upgrading or spending significantly more.

As stated in the OP, if there are any good review sites or sites with information explaining what I've been asking about I'd happily trawl through them rather than trouble you.

By all means, link away and I'll be out of your hair. Hard to find sites when I'm not sure what I should be looking for ;)

Time, at the moment is the major shortcoming as I'm in the middle of my A2s.

EDIT: Rather than continually referencing the £300 budget and hence there is "nothing to know", and it's "all much of a muchness" could you explain the advantages of certain specs over others, regardless of budget so I know what's important and the best features for said parts? Principally so I don't have to trouble you all so much at a later date.
 
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weescott said:
As previously posted. Bikeradar is a good place to start. But be wary of all the kids saying omgz my Specialized hard rock is amazing...etc..

To have a basic understaning of what is what. Look at the Shimano Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano

Bike mags frequently do budget bike reviews. Something like MBR would be a good buy.

As vague and unhelpful "all much of a muchness" sounds, it's actually very true. Components at this price level are very basic and you won't notice much gains between one bike and the other in terms of performance. What sounds good on paper might actually ride horribly. Find a review of a bike online that you like the look of, or even better find a good local bike shop and try some bikes out for size. It's not until you start riding that you appreciate what is good and what isn't, then you start disagreeing with half the reviews you have read.

If you stick with the big brands like Trek, Specialized, Giant etc..then you can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

Thanks, and ty Rob.

If that's the case, would it be best to pick a bike with a reasonable/good fork/frame then upgrade it as I progress (if indeed I do)? If so, any ideas which bikes within the budget (£400 wouldn't really be an issue seeing as the Kraken is £350, and a sat/sun shift nets me over £90) would be the best to look at?

Would it be worth looking into Specialized Hardrocks second hand? Or are they likely to have been abused to kingdom come?
 
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I want a bike that I can use on road and use for getting into XC trails.

I was told there is nothing semi-reasonable that can be bought for £2-300 hence I have to expand my budget :p

Thanks for the time guys, has certainly cleared some things up :)

Guess I'll be on the lookout for a second-hand (any particular year to try and get?) Hardrock or a new Kraken
 
Hence the word "new" ;):p

So other than the mentioned Hardrock, what others bikes should be attainable at my budget second hand?

Define better platform :D Am I looking for the best frame possible, or the best fork? What sets frames apart from each other at this new higher price?
 
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