Hi All,
Currently riding a Boardman FS and looking at moving to a hardtail.
Most of my riding will be done on Cannock Chase trails and putting in weekday/weekend miles around local bridle ways/canal paths etc.
Would like a fun bike and hoping to keep budget under £1500.
Been looking at Specialized Fuse, Trek Roscoe, Nukeproof Scout.
Anything from any smaller brands that I should consider or anything glaringly obvious I'm missing for my budget?
Ragley have some good value options
Cotic have some nice hardtails in their ex-demo sale.
Depending on how much of your existing bike you can scavenge, or flex in your budget, or your love of Ti, there was a great PSA on here a few days ago.
Won’t leave a lot for the rest of the build, but...
Orange crush? Whyte?
Whilst I’m here I’ve got a medium Whyte 909 2017 that I’m going to sell soon if my local bike shop won’t take it as PX. If it’s the right size and you are interested it’ll come in under budget.
I was going to say a discounted 2019 Orange Clockwork Evo as there were some great deals about a month or two ago but it seems lock down has prompted a bike buying frenzy!
Found this though, seems a good deal on the current bike.
Why do you want to go from a Boardman FS to a hardtail? I went from a 2015 Pro FS to an Enduro bike then got a hardtail to compliment it.
The hardtail has a 140mm Pike / 11 speed GX / Code and Guide RE brakes / DT Swiss wheels with tubeless tyres etc. It’s less capable than the Boardman as an all round bike and that had 150mm Revelations / Guide RS / mavic 317’s with tubed conti MK2’s etc.
I’ve now gravitated back to a 140/130mm trail fs for most of my riding and the ht for playing on more then anything. Although in the current lockdown I’ve used it for a couple of bridleway rides linked by roads
Sonder Transmitter carbon?
https://alpkit.com/collections/sonder-transmitter/products/sonder-transmitter-carbon-nx-eagle
They've even got a few ex-demo Signal Titanium/Pike Ultimate for £1500...
You could almost buy two of these, just for the hell of it!
https://alpkit.com/collections/ex-display-sonder-bikes/products/ex-demo-frontier-sx-eagle-medium-1
Why do you want to go from a Boardman FS to a hardtail?
It’s a 2014 team model and is very tired now after a lot of miles.
It’s still more than capable but most on here will know what it’s like when you get that itch for a new bike. This would not be to accompany the Boardman it would be a replacement.
I did look at a new FS model but thought that with my budget I would prefer a higher end Hardtail rather budget FS.
Haven’t ridden a Hardtail properly in over 6 years so maybe I’m kidding myself it will be more enjoyable than a FS.
Some really good suggestions, thanks all.
Would love a Cotic but unfortunately out of budget.
Ragley Mmmbop looks nice and in budget.
Orbea and Orange look like possible options too.
Really interested in the Sonder, spec looks cracking for the money.
It’s a brand I’ve never heard of though, are they well regarded?
I was going to say a discounted 2019 Orange Clockwork Evo as there were some great deals about a month or two ago but it seems lock down has prompted a bike buying frenzy!
Found this though, seems a good deal on the current bike.
Well, I got once of those 2019 Evos and I second this. It’s a much more solid and well built bike than it looks in the pics. It’s one of those bikes that just feels well put together, simple and right. I love mine.
Sonder makes some great bikes I’d definitely consider them. Some cracking value for money options.
Ah I see - I was just thinking you might get a shock going from fs to ht.
I totally get the urge for a new bike - I’m a nightmare for it!
At that budget you’d get a better specced ht for the money but you are at a price where the fs bikes are more than rideable. Something like a Vitus Mythique is meant to be pretty good / not to heavy and the best specced one is £1600 I think.
Calibre have the BBB which isn’t bad for not too much over £1000 and now has a curvier / more expensive looking frame than previous models.
Just looking at a Mythique for £1600 vs a Sentier for £1600 realistically (even though I have a Sentier and love it) there’s not a huge amount in it for finishing kit.
Fork wise the Sentier has a Fox 34 rhythm which is basically the same as the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 on the Mythique. The Sentier has a better groupset (mixture xt/slx 12 speed) but the Mythique is still 12 speed although it’s only Sram SX. The brakes are lower end shimano on the Mythique, but I believe they’re ones that are generally less troublesome with bite point than the XT on the Sentier. Tyres are the same I think - and it even looks like you get a dropper with the Mythique.
If you were to go hardtail I’d get something with plus ish 2.6-2.8 tyres and not too stiff a frame. Something like a Sonder Transmitter or maybe Vitus Sentier - perhaps some of the Whyte hardtails have that size tyre too.
Looks like the Sonder Evol is on offer at £1699 too - not a bad option for another full suss.
So much choice, the more I try to read the more confused I get.
I’ve now added a Commercal Meta to the list.
I suppose first of all I need to decide on 27.5 or 29 and then go from there.
Have a look at Bird's? I have a Zero29 and rate it.
I suppose first of all I need to decide on 27.5 or 29
My race bike is a 29er - I have no sizing issues as I'm just under 6ft, but I took the gamble and ordered a 27.5 Clockwork Evo mostly on the basis my local rides are narrow woodsy twisty trails.
And I'm glad I did, with a 2.6 Magic Mary up front and 2.4 WTB out back the overall size its pretty close to 29 yet with massive comfy and grippy tyres on which don't even remotely challenge the space available in the frame, plus I have the extra travel in the fork.
Bird Zero Am SLX/XT build comes in at under £1,400.
Do Bird do demos or 1 day hires?
Yes they do but you'll need to check with them regarding the current situation. I have a Zero 29 and can confirm it's a great bike.