I’ve already had a lot of help from people on the forum to get me to a point where I’m (almost) ready to buy my second MTB. Still a bit of a newbie so all advice has been hugely helpful.

I was going to get a Boardman Team or Voodoo Boker but Halfords (20 miles near me) didn’t have any in stock and wouldn’t order one in so I could test drive it with no strings attached. Because of this I refuse to buy from them.

So, I’ve whittled it down to the following bikes. I’m test riding the Norco, Jamis and Genesis on Thursday. I’m trying to think of not only the best bike but perhaps what represents best value – that is, below £750.

Specialised Rockhopper Expert – £720 at Evans/Dales (including discount)
Specialised Rockhopper Comp – £600 at Leisure
Norco Charger – £580
Cube Attention – £562
Cube Acid – £634
Radon ZR Team 6.0 – £640
Canyon Yellowstone 5.0 – £608
Genesis Core 26.2 – £570
Jamis Durango Race – £650

Thanks in advance

I’d raise my budget* £50 and go for a discounted Orange Pure 7

steel lovliness

A better platform for the inevitable upgraditis. And just an absolutely bloody great bike to ride!!

* funny how that always happens, isn’t it?

again, 50 quid more, but a decent steel bike that you can throw about a bit more than the ones you have mentioned above…

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=62607

or look second hand.

I should have said that it’s a Norco Charger 6.1

As for the suggestions, I’m already stretching the budget and I don’t have the know how to wean out the good from the bad when it comes to second hand.

depends which halfords you go to…
my store will happily let you go for a test ride on any bike they stock

2013 rockhopper 29r out soon – looks lovely – saw it today

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p3696
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p3457
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p3484
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p3229

2012 bikes are so last year… Or something…

As for the suggestions, I’m already stretching the budget

then why worry about getting another bike? what is wrong with your current one?

if it is just a case of wanting another bike, why not save for another year, ride your current one into the ground and invest in a better bike next year? surely having one “top” bike is better than having two “ok” bikes…. no?

I`d probably go for whatever Genesis Core I could afford.

All the Halfords stores nearby me (Greater Glasgow) didn’t stock them and wouldn’t order them in. Very annoying.

As for the 29ers, I don’t think I’m tall enough (5:11) to take advantage of them. But that’s just me.

On the 2010-11 bikes, I’m with you there. Been on Paul’s site way too much recently and the Scott bike you highlighted and the Aspect 10 took my fancy.

The Canondale also looked good but put off with reviews.

I`d probably go for whatever Genesis Core I could afford.

+1

Have a 2011 Core 20 and absolutely love it. There are better specced bikes for the money but its a pure joy to ride. Good base for any future upgrades as well.

Alpin, all good points. I need another bike because my last one (Carrera Vulcan – see told you I was a newbie!) is totally done.

I’ve been using my girlfriend’s Specialised Rockhopper SL on and off for a few months too. It’s a good ride. I also had a weekend ride of a Giant Talon 2 which, although tons of fun, was quite heavy.

In sum, I’m buying a bike now because I need one not because I want one.

can you not search the classifieds for bits to bring your Carerra up to scratch?

why is it buggered, i.e. what is wrong/needs replacing?

you could pick up a decent Rock Shox fork for ~150 notes and a set of wheels for about the same. that’d save you weight.

i think you’d be better off waiting till you can afford a better bike. not much wrong with a 750 quid bike, but once you get into four figures components and spec improve greatly…. IMO, of course….

It’s impossible to bring it up to scratch – it’s in a bin. Bike got totalled when our car (with bikes on top) hit a barrier we didn’t see. Yes, I am one of those daft people who forgot bikes were attached to the roof!

Everything was screwed (including the rack and some of the car). Took it into two bike shops in Fort William who both advised that it would take too much money to fix. So i listened. Thankfully, my gf’s bike was ok.

Would I have saved it if I was closer to home and know what I know now? Yes.

I’ve been procrastinating for too long as it is, so not buying a bike is an impossibility.

Thanks for the advice though

The Duster linked by Verses.

In the spirit of just recommending whichever bike you have, Genesis Core. Bloody love mine.

As for the 29ers, I don’t think I’m tall enough (5:11) to take advantage of them. But that’s just me.

Before you discount a 29er, at least take a test ride on one. 5’11” isn’t short by any means. You might find it suits you.

(I don’t have a Duster).

Before you discount a 29er, at least take a test ride on one. 5’11” isn’t short by any means. You might find it suits you.

True. Almost every bike shop I visited put me off 29ers due to the lack of available cheap wheels.

In the spirit of just recommending whichever bike you have, Genesis Core. Bloody love mine.

Anyone who rides a Genesis Core seem to love it. I suppose I’ll find out tonight when I get a shot of one…….

That Giant linked to by verses looks like fantastic vfm.

I recently bought a Radon road frame from dike-discount.de its top value for the money.
Looking at their hardtails, they’re brilliant value too…

£590 for Rebas, SLX/XT
or
£787 for Floats and X9/XO

I’m not sure you can top that!

The only problem with the ZR Team 7.0, if you can call it that, is that it’s out of stock.

I’ll look at the Giant. Had ruled it out because I wasn’t overly impressed with the new Talon 2

Specialised Rockhopper has had very good write-ups.

The only problem with the ZR Team 7.0, if you can call it that, is that it’s out of stock.

Not sure what you mean, but oh aye, its out of stock.

The other one is in stock and in budget though. The spec on it is what you would end up upgrading the giant to in a couple of years!

The spec on it (Radon) is what you would end up upgrading the giant to in a couple of years!

+1

Awesome vfm 😯

Gt avalanche 1.0 2011. Now around 400 quid new. Leaves you money for new pedals, crank and bars/stem. You then have a mean bike. Maybe even change left after that. The UK version is 120 mm travel not the 100 mm version.

If it was my £750 then I would be buying the Piglet for £799 and living off beans on toast for a while.

But if the budget really is that strict then I find it hard to imagine buying anything other than the Duster for £709, especially when they only have it in your size.

Thanks everyone. Teat drove a number of bikes yesterday. The Norco was ok but it didn’t win me over. It had a strange geometry.

The Genesis Core 26.2, which I had been looking forward to trying for a while, was a let-down. Easily the heaviest bike I’ve tested – clunky with poor manoeuvrability. Good spec’d bike but not for me.

Through another forum I had been directed to the Rockrider 8.1. I was wary because of the price (£500) and who sold it (Decathlon). But I was very impressed.

A light, well spec’d bike I could see myself having a lot of fun on. Reminded me a lot of the Kona Blast.

So, it’s between: Rockrider, Radon Team 6.0, Kona Blast and Boardman Team. I found a store who have a Team in stock and with online sale offers (and British Cycling discount) I can get it for £688 which is a steal.

Testing the Team tomorrow.

So, it’s between: Rockrider, Radon Team 6.0, Kona Blast and Boardman Team. I found a store who have a Team in stock and with online sale offers (and British Cycling discount) I can get it for £688 which is a steal.

Boardman bikes are very hard to beat for value for money at any price point

Voodoo wanga on sale 799 at halfords. Great fun bike

Ended up not getting to test the Boardman Team because they were too busy. I continued to get messed about by the Halfords store. I was supposed to be testing it on Wednesday but again it wasn’t set up.

I tried to contact Boardman to let them know the problems I’m experiencing trying to source one of their products. I couldn’t find an email address or phone number on their site. Just a facebook/twttier a/c which I contacted.

I’ve heard nothing and I’m pretty disappointed. It’s shocking customer service. Needless to say, I’m not buying from Halfords or Boardman. In fact, their substandard service has forced me into buying a German bike.

Has anyone ever had any joy in contacting Boardman?

I’d dig deep, pay the extra 50 or haggle down in a shop for a ragley M74.

Not great spec, but brilliant riding bike, everything you need, good geo, maxle forks, reputable wheels, good cockpit saddle/seatpost, compromised on the the groupo a little, sram x5, but the important stuff is sorted.

rockhopper

I realised that I hadn’t tied this discussion up and properly thanked people for responding.

In the end, and out of nowhere, I got a Kona Cinder Cone 2011. It had a decent spec and got it at £560 from CRC, albeit it is red!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=74284

The ride is excellent and is exactly what I needed as a cross country rider. It has to be said that it is a bit cumbersome in the trail centres. But all in all, very happy.

I had a few issues with the bije. Front disc brake was buckled and it had some scratches. CRC sorted it out and gave me a voucher to apologise. Still, probably wouldn’t shop with them again.

Thanks for all the help