[Closed] £3000, full bouncer, Mostly for XC. Advice please.

No brainer http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2551

if I had £3k burning a hole right now, it would be this for XC:
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trek-Superfly-Elite-Gary-Fisher-29er-17-5-inch-frame-Full-Suspension-Carbon-/160674524262?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2568f2ac66#ht_1495wt_1240 ]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trek-Superfly-Elite-Gary-Fisher-29er-17-5-inch-frame-Full-Suspension-Carbon-/160674524262?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2568f2ac66#ht_1495wt_1240[/url]
really want one I do, but don't have 3k lying around.

Have you ridden some? Is it for racing? If so, get the one that you were fastest on. If it's not, just get the one you enjoyed riding most.

For that sort of money you're going to be near the top of the shorter-travel spectrum, so you'll find it hard to go too far wrong no matter what you choose.

EDIT: Evans have a 2011 Trek Top Fuel 9.7 for under budget if you're tall. [url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/top-fuel-97-2011-mountain-bike-ec026290 ]Link.[/url]

this http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=61538&scid=1100&scname=Mountain

I haven't a clue about full suss, what about giant??

define XC, for that sort of money and i would be getting a Top Fuel and making a couple of changes, but i accept it isn't the bike for everyone.

That'd buy quite a lot of Anthem X and leave a fair amount over for premium phone sex chatlines.

Surely you'll want to save some cash for some lycra 🙂

Blur XC Carbon with some basic running gear.

Define XC= everything except downhill. I've never raced so just for leisure. I've tried the bike I have
In mind and I loved it. However I have tried no other full suspension.

And no body has mentioned my desired choice yet.

Transition Bandit

I'm going to get flamed for this, but try a Five.

*Runs for cover*

Edit: What was the bike you tried and liked?

Sorry for stating the obvious - you've only tried one squishy bike and want to spend 3k on it without comparing it to others? I wish I was that easily pleased! Unless 3k is small change, see what others are using near you / usual routes, and beg borrow steal similar? Or is all that too obviuos now that you're in "love"?

You're going to have to give us a clue as to what model this is - and also what you're used to now!

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1959-LAMBRETTA-Li150-SERIES-1-RED-WHITE-TAX-EXEMPT-HISTORIC-VEHICLE-/330626269481?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4cfadc8129#ht_1311wt_1185 ]SteEeEeD[/url]

I currently have a genesis altitude 10 hard tail. I tested the orange five pro about 2 months ago at Innerleithen and Glentress. So it's by no means an impulse buy, or I'd have put an order in there and then. Is it worth trying a laperrie zesty or whatever theyre called?

Anthem X1? Bloody love mine!

A 5 is a single pivot bike (as are most yetis, commencals and lots more). Maybe try a trek or giant or something with a dw link. I'm neutral on this btw - for 3k you can have a lot of fun trying stuff - then be sure of your choice. That's my 2p's worth.

Ahhh, this man talks sense.

Try the Zesty, buy the Five, and make sure you get the Kashima RP23 and Fox 32 RLC's, well worth the extra £200 IMO.

I got mine the other day, any excuse for photos.

[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6329095757_141d2b9618_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6329095757_141d2b9618_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/61104469@N02/6329095757/ ]Kashima RP23[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/61104469@N02/ ]J@yk@y[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6329902484_352c1aa3a7_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6329902484_352c1aa3a7_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/61104469@N02/6329902484/ ]Kashima Fox 32 RLC[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/61104469@N02/ ]J@yk@y[/url], on Flickr

Also don't listen to any of that "its a single pivot" crap.

The Orange 5 is a nice bike a few friends have them and they all rate them. I rode one in the Alps and it was a great climber. But I would try and ride a few other bike for a comparison. See if you can find a bike shop that has demo bikes. Stif in Pately Bridge used to have a few different makes and most trail centres have a demo fleets. Don't worry about price just find a bike that suits you first.

Ahhh, this man talks sense.

If that's aimed at me (I doubt it 😉 ) I followed my own advice and now own a commie and a yeti. I prefer single pivots. I've no idea why.

Whyte 146S (if it was me) or a Devinci if you prefer DW links get a well equipped Dixon for that or frame and £1500 for forks and kit.

Get out and try as many as you can, it's a lot of money if you get it wrong but a great investment if you get it right.

I prefer single pivots. I've no idea why.

Because they rule 😉

Canyon offer the best value and for £3000 you can get a dream spec bike to do any definition of XC you may choose very well.

The other sensible alternative not mentioned yet is to shop around and build a bike up from parts- you will end up with a much higher spec and have the satisfaction of knowing everything is 100% to your tastes/ riding style. I would personally never buy a full bike where value is a consideration. Places like Merlin Cycles that have odd bits and pieces with huge discounts is a good place to start.

You can't really go wrong with any modern bike. Go for what takes your fancy and enjoy every second of it 😀

Is there anywhere you can test ride Canyons over here yet?

I'm loving the pics flow. 🙂

3k on a bike - you gotta be nuts

Five makes for a monstrous XC bike tbh. Depends on your idea of XC but if you're not going to be using it pretty hard then like any other big bike there's drawbacks.

flow - Member

Also don't listen to any of that "its a single pivot" crap

Is it not a single pivot? 😉

Is there anywhere you can test ride Canyons over here yet?

Not that I'm aware of but I'm sure there's a few of us on here who'd let you borrow one to get an idea of sizing.

Define XC= everything except downhill. I've never raced so just for leisure

for gods sake dont spend 3k on an xc race bike! You WILL hate it after the first few rides. the position on them is designed for racing, not for pootling around the countryside and when designing the frame the comfort of it was way down the list of requirements. I cant say what bike to get, but it sounds as though you need to do a LOT more riding before even you know what you want. if in doubt, buy an orange 5, should hold its value if you want to buy something a bit faster in a few years.

Float. I never said I wanted a race bike. I want a bomb proof bike that will handle me crashing it!

A friend of mine has just bought a sorted-looking Remedy for about that much.

There are no real dogs / bikes to avoid for that sort of money. Some better value than others, and certain bikes are more racey/less comfortable than others. Experienced riders will have their own lists of wants and dislikes (angles, BB height etc), I have my own opinions on what I'd choose for that money, but I can't think of a a single objectively awful bike.

Decide how much travel you want first.

ah good, you got me worried for a second there 🙂

Yeti ASR 5 custom build - with classifieds input.
Should cover most XC & be reasonably light.

Another vote for Anthem X, fantastic all round bike, much less than £3k !