Im trying to work out werher it is worth me putting new forks on my old heckler, i just want to try this last option, what all mountain bikes are there that are decent for about 1600 new, i managed to find a nukeproof but only in small, i need large. I have checked the net but don’t really know what makes to pick out to begin deciding what im going to do. Ideally with a finance option

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/series/nerve-al-plus.html

Look at the YT Industries Wicked 160 too.

Canyon looks nice, YT too expensive, just seeing if they do finance

What’s lacking in the Heckler? It’s always tempting to throw good money after bad, but they’re basically decent and there’s a lot you can do to tweak a frame these days- slackening headsets, custom tune shocks, etc (so many complaints about the Heckler are around Santa Cruz’s erratic taste in shock size…) Just a thought. This budget could transform a tired-but-good bike.

what year is the heckler?
my Mk6 was helped with a new shock (RP23 from an alpine) from the classifieds a newer fork (160mm) and lighter wheels from what I had. It’s a very capable bike.
Some upgrades from the classifieds in here could make it awesome.
Your options otherwise are Euro Imports, low end UK distributed bikes mostly.

2012 RP23 £180 brand new (was £145 in price drop sale last week 😯 )

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=82842

I’m with Northwind, unless you fancy a change or the Heckler is battered I’d spend a fraction of your £1600 budget on the sort of upgrades he and Mikew mention.

2012 RP23 £180 brand new (was £145 in price drop sale last week )

Make sure it’s tuned right mine is M M 175 from an alpine so plays nice with a single pivot with plenty in the mid stroke, I’ve got a couple of older ones that have nothing in the mid and make a single pivot feel rubbish.

from a recent review on CRC their 215×63 shock is M M 200, when it was at £145 I nearly bought one for my Alpine 160.

I dont have an issue with the rear shock, thats fine, works a treat and handles everything i need. Still unsure what to get fork wise though. Everything i seem to find is tapered

Yep very few, try X Fusion or Suntour

There will be a ton of new unused 26″ bikes in the classifieds soon – so there will be plenty of choice!

Here’s a box ticker. Even some change left for a dropper 😀

follow

I didn’t think Saracen bikes were that great?