viking Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 im after a mountain bike budget is £500. been into halfords today and looked at a carerra vulcan £350 and a whistle miwok 1383D £375 any thoughts on these, and any other recomendations?? thanks, Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 For that money look at trek or specialized. Don't mess about with disc brakes or full suspension,the components would either be heavy or poor quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 i used to have a nice claude butler for around that money, simple but well built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocette Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Far better to buy a used hard tail with that budget,,front suspension and definitely disc brakes. Loads of top quality brands out there like Marin, Specialised or shop builds like Merlin or Handsome Dog. Fashion changes quickly in the bike world and you'll get well over a grands worth for your £500.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 +1, go used route but deffinately hard tail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 i was thinking hard tail. and disc breaks or not?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfbee Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Used. Trek, Specialized, giant etc. You'll get hydraulic discs and a decent branded suspension fork if you pick up a 2 yo bike that retailed for a grand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) For that budget lee go hard tail, you won't get a decent sus bike for that it's really just a gimmick, buy secondhand for 4/500 you will get a decent bike, I have a cube you can pick them up secondhand for £500 Also specialized , trek , boardman , orange , it's whatever suits personally I don't like Carreras but it's whatever floats yer boat. Try gumtree preloved fleabay. 161218244044 kind of thing that might interest you half price and ticks all the boxes, if you can, get front and rear disc brakes, + front shox anyone that disagrees has never had neither Edited February 12, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning 425 clay hunter Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 As above get a used bike much better value. Disc brakes may be a bit heavier but so worth it. Personally with your budget I would save another 300/400 and for 800/900 you will get something very nice. I paid £1100 for mine and that cost £3600 new. There's a website called pinkbike, sounds dodgy but one of the best sites for secondhand. ATB 425 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird Lugton Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Hard tail and look out for either last years or the years before model brand new. In March 2013 I purchased a brand new 2011 BMC Teamelite which in 2011 was £1899, Evans cycles had it for £899. All brand new and much better rated components (Fox forks etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 im after a mountain bike budget is £500. been into halfords today and looked at a carerra vulcan £350 and a whistle miwok 1383D £375 any thoughts on these, and any other recomendations?? thanks, Lee Please don't entertain any mountain bike from Halfords apart from the boardman. They are ALL tosh IMO. For £500 you can buy a decent bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 I used an abused a specialized rock hopper. They are around £700 new and a GREAT bike for the money. You can pick up 18month old ones for around £400 no problem. Or choose the hard rock, but this has a cheaper build. Save a fortune on second hand, got my Rize for £700 ex demo bike with dropper seat post from a shop, new they are £2k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 plenty of good info here chaps, im finding out more decent makes, i dont really want to spend any more than £500 on a bike just yet as it may be just a fad, iv had many before, im not going to be doing any hardcore riding on it either as im a bit over weight and smoked for 25 years, but the idea of the bike it to shed a couple of pound and try get fit, but as many i like nice good looking things. keep the good info coming.. thanks, lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Two good days of owning a bike,the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Lee, if you are over weight it may be an idea to get a bike with rear suspension if possible. The ride will be more pleasurable if set up correctly, especially if it is novice riding/trails. That said, you will get a better bang for your buck on a hardtail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 As said, a used hard tail. For that money, Specialized or Trek. I've got a Specialized RockHopper Comp, bought it a year old off a lad who bought it through work and hardly used it. Cost me about that money. Much better than any Halfrauds carp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Lee, if you are over weight it may be an idea to get a bike with rear suspension if possible. The ride will be more pleasurable if set up correctly, especially if it is novice riding/trails. That said, you will get a better bang for your buck on a hardtail! im talking a stone max, not 10 stone a hard tail will do fine. thanks heard lots of bad things about halfords, only popped in as i was passing and to see what they had, thanks, lee whats a 29er?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning 425 clay hunter Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) A 29er is the wheel size. Usually 26 but recently 29's are the rage. Look at cube's. Usually hard to beat for money-spec ratio. Also as mentioned specialized amongst others are good. Before I got mine I had an orange g3. 750 new should be in your price range second hand Edited February 12, 2014 by Browning 425 clay hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 what are ghost bikes like, 4900 and a 3900 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Good brand, reputable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Can't help with the bike spec but a colleague, a keen mountain biker bought one from Halfords. He wanted to take it in its pack and assemble it at home. Halfords would have none of that quoting elf & safety. So they assembled it, did the 3000 safety checks as advertised and away he went with his new bike. 3-4 days later on a trail going downhill (steep) he did whatever bikers do in that situation and.................the handlebars came off. Basically I'm saying find another retailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Merida ..... Simples My mate owns 2wheels only in tamworth with bikes starting at £400 upto £5000 . Google him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 what are ghost bikes like, 4900 and a 3900 the 4900 and 3900 should of been 4500 and 3500, and they were trek bikes, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeceknight Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Get a good second hand trail/ cross country bike for that. specialized are good I had a downhill specialized and a norco. If money is no object get a nuke proof or lappierre. the Rolex of bikes in my opinion. like everyone said go for a hard tail for that money you will get a good set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I'm in the same boat. I need a bike for a charity event I'm doing, I did the same event last year on a borrowed hard tail, which was perfect and wanted my own this year. My budget is slightly more than yours, but not by much. I was advised to buy second hand as bikes depreciate massively and you get so much more for your cash. But, I've been scouring the small ads, fleabay, Gumtree etc for yonks and nothing suitable has showed up. So I bit the bullet and bought new. I tried a load but settled on a Specialized Rockhopper from a local bike shop. Ordered a week ago, I collect it tomorrow. I paid £650 for a 2014 model, I get 10% of that back in vouchers for accessories plus a couple of free services. 2013 models are about £100 cheaper online, but I wanted the advice and back up of a local shop. I'll find out over the next few weeks if I've made a wise choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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