I've been looking for a short travel XC hardtail and was thinking of the Specialized Chisel or something similar. I've found the Rockrider RACE 540 on Decathalon's site which ticks pretty much the same boxes. Geo/Weight all comparable to a few mm, compenents seem decent, nothing I'd want to upgrade immediately. I'd even prefer the Manitou fork over the Judy.
Has anyone had one, the other models or any experience with the brand? Other than a bit of badge snobbery I can't really see any reason to pay nearly double the price for a Specialized, Treks at the same price point all have QR axles!
Links:
29" semi-rigid aluminium frame touring MTB, RACE 540 beige | Decathlon
My mate has a carbon hard tail XC Rock Rider - a lot of bike for not much money. Had it a couple of years and has been spot on.
Decathlon higher end bikes are normally very good.
The lower end / budget stuff is verging on BSO as with most warehouse type stuff but Van Rysel and the higher end Rockrider is really well regarded.
They do a full suspension Chisel copy too, the Race 700S, £1500
Looks reasonably well spec'd - also nicer looking than the Chisel, and it has a straight seat tube.
I've had a couple of HT Deore-spec RR MTBs
Perfectly good for not much money. I preferred them for the lack of proprietary standards (Spesh!) that you sometimes struggle to replace in the future.
The only thing that I'd prefer on the 540 is a threaded BB rather than PF, but it's not a deal-breaker
Always been very good value, I worked in one about 20 years ago!
They are typically very 'euro' and a bit short/steep compared to more typical progressive British or American brands maybe however if your actually looking for a nice light racy hardtail - then thats exactly what your going to get.
That particular bike though looks like absolutely brilliant value, the Manitou fork I reckon will be really, really nice compared to a budget Rockshox or even a Suntour you would like find elsewhere.
The only thing that I'd prefer on the 540 is a threaded BB rather than PF, but it's not a deal-breaker
You could always swap for a thread-together BB like the Token or Wheels ones.
