[Spec me] Mountain Bike

~Mike~ · 21 Apr 2014 at 20:34

Hi guys

Looking at getting a mountain bike, will be used off road/footpaths/trails/fields etc nothing too serious. Have a budget of say £300-£350 ish.

Been looking at my local cycle shop, Hargroves Cycles, what are the Specialized Hardrock bikes like? Any good?

Any advise welcome.

Phil W · 21 Apr 2014 at 20:59

If you're looking at Specialized id be looking at seond hand Rockhoppers rather than new Hardrocks.

Cuchulain · 21 Apr 2014 at 21:18

For £300, this http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-53-mountain-bike-white-id_8206682.html for £350 I'd probably go for a Hardrock, if you want second hand there are better specced bikes than a Rockhopper you could pick.

~Mike~ · 22 Apr 2014 at 08:30

I've thought about looking second hand so will see what's available.

The B'TWIN Rockrider for £299 looks interesting, thanks.

~Mike~ · 22 Apr 2014 at 20:51

There is a Decathlon near me so will go have a look.

darreny · 24 Apr 2014 at 23:51

If I was starting out again with the knowledge I have now then for that money I'd be looking at the second hand market for sure. Something like a boardman or the older carerra fury or maybe something higher up the decathlon range, I got a s/h rockrider 9.2 for £500 which is full sus and a lot of bike for that money but the higher models don't come up often s/h.

Something with rock shox air forks, SRAM x9 gears, hydraulic disc brakes not cable

Gambisk · 25 Apr 2014 at 09:28

If you know your way around a bike mechanically or have a friend that does then 2nd hand is the way to go, you can save about 50% on a year old bike. But don't bother unless you are happy to diagnose and fix any minor issues that may arise like indexing the gears or bleeding brakes.

I was going to recommend the Voodoo Bantu at Halfords but I see that the price is now £400. What ever you get make sure it has hydro disk brakes