[Closed] First full sus - advice?

Used complete bike will be best combination of cost/simplicity. if you intend to just thrash it around over the winter then a used bike is perfect. You can replace bits/drivetrian come the spring if necessary. I have no doubt there will be lots of choice in the classifieds.

I'd recommend buying a new bike. You'll not spend much more, and you'll have warranty and hopefully support should anything go wrong with it. There are good bargains to be had this time of year, and even base spec full suss are now pretty good.

Buying a second hand full suss, unless you are very mechanically astute can be a mine field. Typically, you are just buying someone elses problems. I've seen £1200 repair bills to get second hand bikes back to good order. Extreme example, but they are out there.

Buying a used frame and building it up will almost certainly work out more expensive than you think unless you are very disciplined.

Yeah, two conflicting answers... which is the big dilemma.

I'm thinking budget only around the £1300 ish mark for this, as it is just a bit of an experiment rather than something I want to spend a ton of money on. However, that means there's not much choice in new complete bikes. Best I've seen so far is the Canyon Nerve AL 6 for £1200 (plus delivery), but that only has 120mm of travel - yeah, I know that's probably enough, but I want to play with more. :o)

I've been trying to price up used components, obviously starting with a used frame but it's a bit of a minefield in terms of compatibility - and it would probably take me the full winter to build it anyway.

Second hand Nukeproof Mega, the old shape one (but with the updated chainstays) circa 2012?

I love mine, doesn't climb too bad considering travel and you can just point it down a hill and howld on while grinning!

I'd be looking in the sales for a new 2013/2014 models from one of the big brands to get the best value for money. Spesh Camber? Giant Trance? Trek Fuel?

I'm not convinced that the riding you describe warrants an all-mountain/enduro machine. I personally think you'll have more fun on a shorter travel, lighter and more nimble machine and - unless you're a lot better rider than I'm guessing you are - you won't feel under-biked when you have your "fun days".

I ride a Transition Bandit and love how well it copes with everything from a quick evening blast through the woods to big day-long epics to playing on the downhill tracks.

nickewen

Second hand Nukeproof Mega, the old shape one (but with the updated chainstays) circa 2012?

A brand new 2014 mega tr comp is about £1600, not far off his budget. There's plenty of sale stuff about atm.

[url= http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/listnew/?region=5&q=specialized%20pitch&category=2&price=500..1000 ]Used Specialized Pitch[/url]

Can't go wrong really - bought my 2011 Pro used two years ago and including a 1x10 conversion, SLX brakes, Command Post and a set of Lyriks it still owes me less than your budget. Does everything from taking the dog for a walk, to a week in the Alps. Bombproof. Standard shock so easily swapped/serviced. ISCG tabs. Buy right and you won't lose money if you decide to sell.

2nd hand 2014 Nukeproof Mega Tr frame - I know of one for sale very soon. 6 months old with Lyriks 🙂

Used Specialized Pitch

Not a bad call if you're set on an all-mountain/enduro bike. I had a day in Spain on one and was very impressed with how capable and stable it was. It was a plodder uphill though so I'm not sure I'd be happy with one as my one and only bike.

Get a 2nd hand frame, preferably with forks. Something as simple as possible like an old Turner, Ventana or Santa Cruz. ie, something with reliable/easily serviced bearings. Leave the virtual pivots, multilinks for the summer. You could get a complete bike for £750 ish if you're lucky, but certainly less than £1000.

Used 2nd hand full build. If you get a frame on its own you'll be tempted into expensive components...unless you're really disciplined and it'll end up costing a small fortune!

OP, interesting post as I'm in exactly the same situation.

Have looked at KTM bikes, Lycan 274 which seem to offer a lot for the money.
Few deals around on the web with 2014 bikes.

http://www.ktm-bikes.at/en/bikes/full-suspension.html?action=bike_details&bike_id=110592&cHash=bc952cbcc6b7e787ee6b4b966a8cec1f

Have a hunt through pinkbike and see if anything catch's your eye.

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/listnew/?category=2

You will have to watch out for neglected wrecks though...

You do need to know a reasonable amount and have your wits about you if buying secondhand, but £1,300 should get you a really good bike.

TBH £1k would get you a good bike with a budget for fixing and upgrades.

Building something from scratch with a mix of new and secondhand could be the best option though in the current market.

£400 for a frame
£300 for [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-slx-m675-10-speed-double-groupset/rp-prod115086?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gs=1&gclid=Cj0KEQjwh96hBRCnsefbvZrKrpcBEiQAF7oMdNh4Nh52jTJk3IIv1naRYZah_reA63IA4HIDLp8GmmgaApnz8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds ]complete SLX 2x10 groupset[/url]
£330 for a new [url= http://www.alltricks.com/mtb/forks/forks/rock-shox-2015-fork-pike-rc-26-solo-air-150mm-axle-15mm-tapered-black-131-173043.html ]Pike from Alltricks[/url]
Superstar are selling off some 26in Switch/Tactic wheels for £150
And source the rest of the stuff from the classifieds here for £50 or so.

Yeah, some good ideas here, thanks.

I had also considered building something with a mix of new and s/h, and to be honest that's probably the direction I'm most leaning in - partly because it will help me bump up my skills in terms of maintenance and stuff, and partly because I quite like doing all that kind of stuff anyway.

So...

1x10 rather than 2x10 - I've been running 1x9 on my do-it-all hard tail (narrow/wide 32t chainring, no guide) for a while now, and have found it to be looser, freer, quieter, more reliable, etc, etc than it was with a front mech.

26 vs 27.5? Can't decide on this, although I guess i'll have a tough time finding a used 27.5 tweaked frame, right. Having said that, I'd already spotted those 26" Superstar wheels. ;o) EDIT --> THEY'RE OUT OF STOCK

Not bothered if the bike comes out looking like a mess of random/used parts - I think I'd prefer that anyway.

Now, to start looking for a frame...

I don't think you'd get the fork, frame, wheels or tyres at a bargain price in 650b.

29in on the other hand...

...and then I notice something like this within the budget.

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-swoop-190-7.0-20241/wg_id-2

But I wonder if that geometry would be too slack for a full sus do it all thrasher bike?

That's a freeride bike. Too heavy for riding up hills.

Yeah, you're right. The weight was making me think twice, too. :o)

Canyon Spectral 1700 if you're feeling cheeky.

I've been eyeing up the Canyons for a week or two now.

I reckon a £1700 budget would need some kind of 'special clearance' though.

weekend trails/parks and mucking around on evenings, plus my ten mile e/w commute

You haven't tried it, you wouldn't know, but i would certainly say the type of bike you're lusting after isn't going to supply the sort of fun you're imagining, on the riding im imagining youre going to do from the description above.

Get a demo on the type of bike you're lusting after and give it a go.

If it really is an experiment, you can pick up the older Spesh Enduros (either the pierced seat tube 2006, or the 2007-2009 one the Pitch was based on) for under £800 quite easily, and they're reckoned to be awesome bikes.

I say unless you have a specific frame you 'want', as it'll get expensive or just complicated (buy parts, then don't use them for a couple of months only to find there actually broken or just don't fit when you do) just go for a complete 2nd hand bike. Lots of bargains to be had, pinkbike and faceache groups are full of stuff including latest 650B. Advert on FB has just appeared with nice looking G150 for £1500 which seems pretty darned good (not necessarily the bike you want but just an example of nearly new stuff for sale 2nd hand).

Care to share any of those FB groups? I made a thread asking for some groups a while back and got all of zero replies.

Somewhere like Pauls Cycles may be worth a look - there's a[url= http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s154p5255/CANNONDALE-TRIGGER-29ER-3-2013 ] Cannondale Trigger going cheap at the minute depending on size needed.[/url]

Obviously missed that thread Plyphon.. TBH I found the groups off an obvious 'FB dealer' (with an open profile 😀 )

Mountain bikes for sale mtb
Chase trails - follow the dog
BUY & SELL BIKES & PARTS UK ALL BICYCLE RELATED
Bike Buy & Sell
moutain bike/parts for sale or swop
BUY & SELL BIKES & PARTS UK
Mountain/dh/freeride bikes only!
Ross's rides
Cycling Buy,Swop & Sell

There loads for more for "specific areas" (eg: Mountain Bikes For Sale In Cleethorpes /Grim) but I tend to stick with one reasonably local to the midlands & a largish membership... Any more anyone know of? (got 2 more bikes to sell).