new hardtail

shadowcreaper · 3 Feb 2009 at 15:26

Just decided to see if you guys know anything about bikes, i been around bike forums but just wanted to see some more insight.

i looking to get a hardtail bike and got upto 400quid to spend.

atm i looking into getting a specialised rockhopper sinse it seems to have the best spec on the market and good value.

i also looked into scott 60 though it hard to find one under 400 and those tht are go fast.

anyone got any other ideas, i looked at a few gt, ect blast, but the forks suck or the shimo set is pretty poor ie below decore.

cheers for any insight..also if you know any good shops tell me so far evans seems the best.

shadowcreaper · 4 Feb 2009 at 00:12

^^ sadly i have yet to find one.

i seriously considering this malt 1 deore special

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1491&categoryId=100

shadowcreaper · 4 Feb 2009 at 01:15

aye yes, i been all over the forums

just checked and found merlin bikes way way west UK and im london, going to be interesting trying to figue out a test ride....or do i dare order without test ride..

shadowcreaper · 7 Feb 2009 at 14:48

i been looking for this bike, sinse if i can get the cash then i would get this merlin, sadly i seem to be unable to find this.

Merlin Malt 1 (09) | £525
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/malt-1-09-33656

anyone know where i can get this from, links be great.

shadowcreaper · 7 Feb 2009 at 17:19

i still trying to find this:
Merlin Malt 1 (09) | £525
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...alt-1-09-33656

atm can only find the decore special bike.which still a good bike, anyhow.

it either this decore special malt 1 or a rockhopper 2008 disc break,both simular priced

I ended up with a Carrera Fury for £480, which I'm delighted with.

Id never get hallfords so that bike out of question, had to many issues with them with my old bike and just type hallfords into bike forums and you allwas get bad reveiws and issues with terrible quality.

still at least you got a good one

shadowcreaper · 7 Feb 2009 at 18:43

tbh at the moment the merlin guys seem to have the best spec and good reveiws behind them, i going to try a rockhopper disc out at evans and see if they have it in stock and what sort of deal i can get on it.

also spec wise the merlin do seem to have better gear,

main reson though is that i just dont trust hallfords, also their returns policy is rather lame, being you cant get money back when you buy from them only vouchers or gift certifs or store credit, so if it goes wrong theres no option for money back.

still if you get a good hallfords bike your very lucky

tell us how you find the bike as you ride more sinse i found after about 1 week-2 weeks the gears on hallfords bikes tend to become quite bad, ie slipping gears or unable to shift smoothly, also found the breaks tend to be either over tight or very loose.

so let us know how it rides as time goes on