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£400ish hardtails.....
 

[Closed] £400ish hardtails..help!

 Alex
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[#3587551]

As I'm considered some kind of bike expert by most of our friends, mainly due to my ceaseless drivel talking about it, I've been asked to find a £400 ish HT for a lad of 14.

I just stopped them buying a 20inch Halfords special. He's about 5ft8 in old money and growing like a beanstalk. Reckons he wants it for "general razzing in the woods but not jumping" (so he tells me but kids today eh...). 20inch would have been ace eh?

Originally he'd seen one of these: http://www.stif.co.uk/mtb/product/cube-analog-disc-bike-2012/8909 but they only want to spend £400 max.

Any thoughts on what might work? Really wants new but 2nd hand an option. Ta.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 1:51 pm
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 Alex
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Thanks Nick, I'd forgotten about Paul's cycles. Some good options there.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:18 pm
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Any of the edinburgh bike co op ones any use to you?


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:20 pm
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Also, I'd say 20" frame might be too large. I'm 5'9 and ride an 18" bike.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:32 pm
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As per PaulsCycles you want a shop discounting a £500+ bike, solid mainstream brand like Specialised, Giant, GT, Cube etc but I think you know that. That way if he wants to trade up later he's got an easy bike to sell on.

IMO for £400 new you're looking at v-brakes and a ropey shock, exactly what my first MTB was a £400 Hardrock.

If he's 14 5'8" and growing get an adult medium at least !


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:35 pm
 Taff
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Crap I had an email yesterday about a £500 bike down to £250. Small sizes too...where the hell is it


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:38 pm
 Taff
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 Alex
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Oh the 20 would be WAY to large, I was being ironic. Only not very much, clearly...

There's a decent spesh on EBC for less than £400. I've also encouraged them to try the LBS who'll do a discount on Spesh. Most important thing it to find something that fits the fella.

Thanks all for the suggestions so far.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:44 pm
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Cube Aim Disc 2011? 499 Euros so more or less in budget - http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/a54567/aim-disc-grey-n-blue.html


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:44 pm
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mrs has a rockhopper disk and its not bad pretty heavy but will take any abuse only thing that lets it down is the fork. but rode it fine in the fod when I took the mrs there to get her into mtb.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 2:58 pm
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I think the Saracens have been coming up as good value recently.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 3:05 pm
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That GT 1.00 at Paula cycles looks a great buy.Those GTs are a bit tougher than the Average as well.Plus its in white.


 
Posted : 20/01/2012 8:40 pm
 Alex
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Thanks all. I think we're sorted now. So many fab bikes at that price. If it was me, I'd have gone for the GT, but I think the colour of another bike might have swayed it! kids today eh 😉

Thanks again, really helpful.


 
Posted : 21/01/2012 1:16 pm
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http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-80-id_8194500.html
i know its 30quid over budget but looks good for the money....


 
Posted : 21/01/2012 3:05 pm
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MBUK did an article about the best 400 quid bike to buy this month in their bike test. Carrera Vulcan got 5 stars!


 
Posted : 21/01/2012 4:08 pm
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So what,s he got and why?


 
Posted : 21/01/2012 6:04 pm
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just picked up a Genesis Core 20 for £400 from Real Cycles for my brother
It was shop soiled (slight scratch on downtube) but Steve does have some other similar bikes between £400-£500
You can take 10% off the listed prices if not using finance too

http://www.realcycles.com/m1b0s2p3000/SARACEN_2011_Mantra_Trail_%282011%29%0A


 
Posted : 21/01/2012 6:53 pm