[Closed] help choosing hardtail for £1600

On-one Lurcher for £1300 with oodles to spare for kit?

What about lowering your budget and buying without finance? If that's possible, you're likely to get a bigger discount from your LBS.

I don't think Canyon offer test rides but from a VFM perspective it's difficult to look past them. Cube are also pretty good VFM but I've never ridden them. Spesh rarely produce a bad product IMHO but tend to be pricey. Can't go wrong with Giant.

I keep sneaking a look at the Kona Honzo at the moment. If I were to go to the larger wheel size I reckon this would be high on the list. They do a slightly cheaper alu version called the Taro as well.

Genesis High Latitude 2x10 should be on your trial list - lovely bike...

Cheers

Danny B

The Whyte 729 at £1499 is worth considering too.

cheers, the whyte 729 looks nice.
the main reason i like the specialised hardtails and full sus is because im a tall guy and find there height in stems are perfect for comfort.

i had to sell my trek because the seat was way higher than the stem and hated being arched over to much.
i love the seat to be nearly the same height as the stem if you know what i mean. think its called stack & reach measurements are more my style on the specialised and to low on other bikes.

Kona Explosif 650B? I rode one yesterday and was very impressed. Going to pick mine up Saturday. AWCycles in Reading has a 19'' demo version. If you like the look of it then I'd strongly consider demoing one. If you are near Newbury you can ride my 17''.

Hi Chalky46 - I think we're probably similar height (Im 6'4") and have the same issues with geometry. Ive always bought specialized bikes (size XL) as they just seem to fit me and I know exactly what you mean about the riding position. Im pretty sure the Carve is more XC focussed so it wont be as comfortable than say a Rockhopper 29er.

Ive recently bought an XL Orange clockwork 29er frame and built it up with 120mm forks and the geometry and riding position is absolutel superb. Its more "trail" focussed so a bit slacker and think you'd find it comfortable.

The Clockwork "S" is within your budget and the "Pro" just outside, or you could build one up as and when yuo can afford it?

I've just got a Canyon HT 29er - it's a great bike. What Fandango says ^^+1

Addressing OP's (and others) points:

1) In VFM terms you won't do better
2) Which means you can spend less and get same/better spec than elsewhere
3) Which is good because they don't do finance
4) But you could do your own finance with a 0% credit card ([url= http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/?WT.seg_3=Common/promotion/credit_cards/hpos3/credit0-credit000-pos3-cardrange0-r2 ]like this[/url])
5) You get 30days 'no quibble' returns with Canyon - if you don't like it, send it back and they refund you

Simples.

hi warns74,

you are the man i need advice from!!
just sold my trek 6500 series from 2010 model. used it about 10 times and found it a killer on the road.

so i want to spend about £1600 on a good hardtail with good spec parts that i know will last.

ive been looking at the geometry measurements on all bikes and none of them come close to specialised. i love the look and spec of the carve and sat on one yesterday at birmingham store. well i sat on the expert and love the pro more.

birmingham has an orange shop do you think its worth a go? im off all week and will go tomorrow.

Hello!

No problem, happy to help if I can. I also had a trek hartail years ago (7000 I think) didnt last long before I went back to a Rockhopper Pro. Since then every bike Ive bought has been an XL spesh as they just fit. Being tall it seemed logical to give the 29er thing a serious look (opens can of worms) but wasnt that impressed with the Rockhopper 29er spec and it felt heavy. In the end I had a sit on a large Clockwork to convince myself it was too small, (it was) then bought an XL frame and built it up to a decent spec, (within you budget) and with a short stem and wide bars its superb. Not put many miles on yet but know it fits well.

My advice would be (given youre on the extremes of sizing), ignore the specs for the moment and find a frame that fits you, then buy what you can afford with a view to a couple of upgrades when you can afford it, or buy the frame and build it up.

Off the top of my head mine ended up being just under your budget and with a mix of XT/X9 drivetrain, XT brakes, Hope Pro/crest wheels, Roxshock Revs. Shop around and there are bargains to be had.

Definitely go to the Orange dealer and if nothing else rule out the clockwork or decide that you like the way it fits.

BTW. I think the basic model has a 100mm fork so be aware if you sit on one that the front end will be lower, look for the "S" or Pro model to try which both have 120mm fork.

second the Kona explosif 650

cheers warns74,

if you get time can you have alook at the geo on both for me?

there sizing is a bit different to specialised and a bit confused now 👿

as far as i can see the orange lenght of cross bar on 21inch frame is 2cm longer than specialised and im trying to work out orange's effective TT lenght compared to specialised's

cheers really appreciate your help.

dannybgoode, thanks for help.

just checked out bike.radars comments on Genesis High Latitude. they have called it an oddball but i do like the look. geometry needs to be the same ish as specialised carve,lovely fit for tall blokes.

Not sure thats quite right, (unless Im reading it wrong, in which case I did when i bought the frame too!!), as far as I can see they are identical to within 2mm, which is totally insignificant.

XL Orange Top Tube (actual length) = 622mm
21" Rockhopper Top Tube (actual length) = 621mm

XL Orange Top Tube (Effective / Horizontal) = 648
21" Rockhopper Top Tube (Effective / Horizontal) = 650mm

Importantly bear in mind this is where the trail gemoetry comes in for the orange, I think the head angle of the Orange is quoted at 70 degrees which is already slightly slacker than the rockhopper at 71, but I read somewhere that the 70 deg is based on the basic clockwork model with the 100mm fork and with the 120mm fork makes this around 68 degrees, plus it also brings the front end up by 2cm, more comfortable and arguably more fun!

head tube lenght on the carve pro 130mm??

unless its me!

Sorry, slightly confused, you were asking about actual/effective cross bar (top tube) length rather than head tube? Carve, Rockhopper and Clockwork all have 130mm head tubes in 21"/XL.

sorry its me!

chalky46 - Member
head tube lenght on the carve pro 130mm??

Will this be long enough for cannock chase?

davidtaylforth,

please explain?

@Chalky - the High Latitude got a very good write up in MBR and my friend has just built one up and is very complimentary also.

Tis a lovely looking thing as well and had I gone 29 its the bike I would have bought. A

s it is and purely 'cos I got a smashing deal I went for the 26er Latitude and love it - I'm 6' 2" and don't find the kiddie sized wheels a hindrance at all. 😉

Cheers

Danny B

Bottom line is you need get yourself to a shop and sit on them, theory and geometry comparison is a useful exercise but you need to swing a leg over!