As per title looking for a cheap full suspension trail bike to buy for my nephew. Can anyone see any mega bargains out there or have anything super bargainous for sale? Budget ideally no more than £1200. Size large probably (6 ft 1).
Many thanks.
or a cheap short travel frame
I've absolutely no idea if this is suitable, or what year it is, but it's quite a saving.
You'd struggle to find a better bike for the money than that GT I reckon, even the usual "cheap but still pretty decent" bikes like the Calibre Bossnut and Polygon Siskiu are a few hundred quid more for a lesser spec.
I can do you a great deal on a 27.5 pre Boost Orange Five frame and Fox forks (and SLX brakes) but that GT looks good.
£1,300 for a Cannondale Habit: https://www.ibksport.uk/habit-4-cannondale-2024-ice-green/p
I bought the slightly higher spec ('3' rather than '4') for my kids and they're great, but price has increased on them since I bought:
There are some total bargains out there, especially the GTs. But before suggesting anything, I'd want to know a little more about the use-case.
Will the bike get left out in the rain? Will it be maintained? What sort of riding do they anticipate? Is this a kids bike or his own purchase.
I help out with our local school bike club & recently I've seen a good FS trail bike replaced due to a bit of negligence and a blown shock.
I'd only suggest a FS, hydro discs, etc if they appreciate there will likely be a few hundred ££ a year to maintain it (if it gets used). Otherwise a good, bomb-proof hardtail would be a better option than something that needs fixed in a year & never ridden again.
Thanks. Yes it's for my 19 year old nephew. He's ridden with me a few times now borrowing my e-bike while I huff and puff behind him on another of my bikes lol! He's getting into it and I'm keen for him to continue (he's neurodiverse and never really exercised or had any outdoor interests) hence me buying him a bike. I'll probably keep it at mine and I can maintain the bike for him. I may even sneak a ride lol but I've got 3 bikes already.
Use case will mainly be trail centre stuff, hence something short travel will be fine. Don't want to kill him or me in the process!
I've got a Bird 120LT frame. Size large. Fresh bearings.
Are we allowed stealth ads? I’m selling my Cannondale Habit SE very shortly. Given the price of new bikes, it’ll probably be very much in your budget….😞
Are we allowed stealth ads? I’m selling my Cannondale Habit SE very shortly. Given the price of new bikes, it’ll probably be very much in your budget….😞
Do feel free to send me details.
He's ridden with me a few times now borrowing my e-bike while I huff and puff behind him on another of my bikes lol! He's getting into it and I'm keen for him to continue (he's neurodiverse and never really exercised or had any outdoor interests) hence me buying him a bike
Has he only ridden the ebike? Do you know he'll like it when he has to put his own effort in? 🤣
He's ridden with me a few times now borrowing my e-bike while I huff and puff behind him on another of my bikes lol! He's getting into it and I'm keen for him to continue (he's neurodiverse and never really exercised or had any outdoor interests) hence me buying him a bike
Has he only ridden the ebike? Do you know he'll like it when he has to put his own effort in? 🤣
He did accidentally switch it off at one point lol. You may have a point. If it goes south I have another bike for myself!!
I'd be looking at used bikes personally if op is knowledgeable enough to spot anything that could be an issue. I picked up a 2023 Hightower C with Hope e4 brakes, GX 12 speed transmission and Fox Factory fork and shock and decent wheelset last year for my nephew for £1800, its absolutely spotless and the only thing I've changed is the tyres. The guy I bought it from had bought an ebike and not the Hightower for almost a year, said he'd used it 3 times since fitting the fork and shock and basically was after the money he'd spent upgrading them. There's bargains to be had and its pretty much a buyers market for non electric bikes these days
I'd be looking at used bikes personally if op is knowledgeable enough to spot anything that could be an issue. I picked up a 2023 Hightower C with Hope e4 brakes, GX 12 speed transmission and Fox Factory fork and shock and decent wheelset last year for my nephew for £1800, its absolutely spotless and the only thing I've changed is the tyres. The guy I bought it from had bought an ebike and not the Hightower for almost a year, said he'd used it 3 times since fitting the fork and shock and basically was after the money he'd spent upgrading them. There's bargains to be had and its pretty much a buyers market for non electric bikes these days
Been scrolling pinkbike and couldn't see anything that stood out tbh. Anywhere else worth scouting?
Local FB Marketplace.
I think I’ve messaged you. But I can’t see where it might have gone….
It's not my thing and I hear the internal routing is supposedly designed by Satan's wicked stepmother after a night on the sherry but brand new at just over budget. No personal experience of that but it came up on a couple of reviews,/Reddit threads when I was looking at this and the Genius and I have added some dramatic effect. 😜
https://www.99bikes.co.uk/products/2023-scott-spark-970-mountain-bike-in-silver
Been scrolling pinkbike and couldn't see anything that stood out tbh. Anywhere else worth scouting?
I've been doing the same the last couple of days and did before looking for a road bike and I don't know where people are seeing these mint £5k+ bikes for £2-3k on there.
Most of what I'm finding far enough South is at £2-3k and is a few years old and maybe retailed at £3-4k back in the COVID years.
I'm only just starting to look for a trail bike but these super bargains don't look like the norm to me unless people are throwing in cheeky offers.
Are we allowed stealth ads?
Might as well. Been meaning to list this.
The nukeproof mega 275 i got from CRC. I really do need shot of this.
XL carbon frame(165mm)fox factory 36(160mm), Hope pro5 wheels,Hope T4V4 on 200mm vented discs,fox elite dropper(hope lever)GX drivetrain,semi reasonable other bits(bars,saddle)Hope clamp,stem.
Every part bought/fitted new. I've not entirely finished it due to health concerns, so its all new and unused. Need to replace rear hose as i cackhandedly nicked it getting it through the frame(nightmare) £2k
TBH OP, You'd be uncle of the year if you presented him with the GT linked first of all, Not sure it's worth the effort of searching more He'll have a brilliant summer or two hacking about on that, by which point the bug will either truly have bitten or He'll be trading it in for a Scratty old hatchback...
Been scrolling pinkbike and couldn't see anything that stood out tbh. Anywhere else worth scouting?
Ebay is worth a look but I was checking almost daily for 5 or 6 weeks before I spotted the Hightower I got for the nephew. It had only been listed on Pinkbike for 1 day when I contacted the seller to check if the price on the ad was correct and as it was collection only I also did a 6hr round trip to actually buy it, which I'm guessing a lot of people wouldn't have done
