Hi,
I've been riding a £400 Specialized for the last two years as I wasn't sure whether i would enjoy it. I love it! However it is starting to fall apart. Question is do I patch it up and carry on or buy a new bike?
Next part: I really like the look of the Lapierre Zesty but I think it is out of my price range? Any other suggestions? I have never ridden a full suspension and I am bit nervous of the potential outlay of maintenance etc.
Any pointers would be welcome thanks.
Excellent position to be in and well done for asking.
First things first, where do you ride most often? Do you ride a variety of trails, or stick to one thing mainly?
Full suspension will almost certainly be nicer to ride downhill, but usually at the penalties of costing more, requiring more maintenance, and being a bit heavier.
I'm still of the opinion, that for most people, unless you ride somewhere really flat or really steep/rocky/technical, if you can only have one bike you're best off with a hardtail with a 120mm suspension fork, discs and a good range of gears. Others will disagree of course, but IMO it's a good middle ground bike that you can have fun on most places.
That said, have a go on a full sus bike... You may love it so much you feel you couldn't live without one!
Look for a quality second hand one from here...
There are always loads of bargains to be had....
Just be sure to check out the seller's profile first!
Good Luck
what you using it for ie what type of rideing ?
if you do go for full sus then there is loads of bikes for £1200 notes.
look for bargins sale stuff or ex demo.
Or get second hand and spend some cash on your old bike then you can have both HT and full sus ?
mboy, Cheers. I ride mainly local woods the dales, Dalby and Gisburn. I personally think I don't need full suspension it's just I like the sound of it! I agree a hardtail would be fun in most places. I'm a bit stuck!?
I reckon my cash would go on a top spec Boardman HT, unless you are fussed about the name.
Do you guys think it is better/safer buying off here as opposed to a popular auction site?
iainc, funny you should say that I have kept my eye on ebay for a few months now and think the pro hardtail would be ideal and nearly new ones seem around the 600-700 mark. Of course when I'm in the market there aren't any!
I think I am getting impatient as my MJ-872 is arriving next week!
most of the sellers on here are decent folks, there are few bellends to watch out for but they tend to only post in the classifieds rather than elsewhere. Fleabay is a damn site more expensive as well most of the time.
i got a 2009 Boardman team HT for £250.
the seller had it ending at 3am on new years day 
when very drunk i won it. and its mint the owner got it for work used it twice and lock it up for 12mth in the garage.
so i would look on here and ebay also local adds. there are bargins out there.
if you want new HT or full sus and not a brand snob.
http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/rockrider-er1-141013220/
http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/rockrider-8-xc-replica-170475071/
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_777757_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_777755_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
also look at on-one. http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/YBCL114484/on_one-summer-season-trail-slx-18-inch-mint-sauce-green
With ebbat patience i got a trek fuel ex6.5 ridden once for £800
I've got the previous model Boardman ht pro and can't fault it. Oh except the saddle that is which could only have been devised by Lucifer himself.
Thanks very much guys really helpful. Feels like for my riding and budget a hardtail is the way to go. I'm not very mechanical and my after ride care is pretty slack. So low maintenance is good.
ampthill I think you nailed it, it is patience and not rushing into it.
Well, one things for sure it is a new bike not patching up the old one!
Have a look on Pauls cycles, they have Giant anthem and Trance X4's for £1100ish. Either of those would be good for Dalby/Gisburn sort of stuff.
You can get zesty's for about £1400 so a bit over your budget, but my mate hammers his doing all sorts on it and it's great,pretty light as well. If my five dies I reckon i could go for a zesty.
Man! This is hard. My head says hardtail and cheaper but I really like the look of this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lapierre/zesty-214-2011-mountain-bike-ec024837?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle
I'd go second hand on your budget. Leave enough money to get the suspension serviced and you'll be laughing.
Maybe buy my Meta 5 frame haha.
If you can stretch to the Zesty i'd go for it. they're seriously fun. If you're not that mechically savvy you should have a while before you have to do anything on a new bike!!
Obviously second hand you could get more for your money but I think you have to know what you're looking for and know what your doing mechanically.
Good touting Ashley!!
I think the op is up north though.
O.K cool. No worries about going second hand. This opens up lots of avenues again! Thanks again for the input.
The new Canyon range came out last week. Both of these are inside your budget -
Hardtail:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2540
Full Sus:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2555
Hammy, Shoot me a email I might be able to help you out, my email is in my profile.
I think the problem I have is my lack of experience I'm not 100% if a bike is 'good value' (I suppose google and research will help but it becomes so time consuming and intimidating) hmmm nice position to be in but... man!
tbh I be very tempted by one of these:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO456TR/on_one-456-trail-slx
Or this might be a better bet for a few quid more:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOCAR456TRAIL/on_one-carbon-456-trail-slx
b r on one has crossed my mind for sure, that bike looks great and also the white rose of course;)
hammy
I'm a Yorkshireman too 
Bought a 456 as a winter project a few years ago and ended up selling my other frames (6" FS and carbon HT) as I just enjoyed riding it. A year later I bought a 456Ti frame, still have it as my only bike. Does everything.
b r yes I feel a slight obligation to look very closley at them. Problem is they only have my size in glow in the dark green!? Hmmm it will scare the doggers away! 
"RockShox Revelation RLT 140 Suspension Fork" are these the same as rebas but longer?
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