Old forum member here (before this place went all flash!). Been away from the mtb scene for a few years so need a new hardtail and don’t have much cash. I’m more xc than freeride and saw this the other day. £499 seems pretty cheap for the spec but is the frame just junk?

I had one, rode very nice, frame is better than you think.
But I would get the 8.0 bike, much better value.Same frame. But one was for sale for ages on here, and I mean ages, I think he almost gave it away in the end. So resale is poor.

Is the 8 better value? I’m looking at the forks, brakes, groupset and wheels and thinking £130 isn’t much of a difference in price for the upgrades to that lot…

However I am now thinking that the xc replica with a full carbon frame may be even more of a bargain…