Advice on ~E500 MTB please

kenmc

Looking at buying a new MTB, hardtail, disk brakes a must. Around 450-500 euro.
Thinking something along the lines of these maybe:
Specialized Hardrock
Cube Analog
Beone Karma 3
Beone 10
Cube Attention
Felt Q620
giant terrago

What size should I be looking at for a 5'9"? My road bike is medium planetx, but my Giant road bike is L (probably a bit big for me if I'm honest) - what's the equivalent in MTB terms - they all seem to be sized in inches. Should I err on the side of larger or smaller?

Thanks for any advice
K

Karma

same height and i use 16" and a 18"mtb
btw cycological have a half price sale on 08 bikes...Kona etc...
hope this helps

Gavin

My brother has a BeOne Karma 17". I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting you try it out for size. Doesn't come with disc brakes though, he stuck them on himself, around 100 for the brakes

Sizewise, 16-17" would probably be best, err on the side of smaller with the mtb, can always get a larger stem/seatpost if needs be. Smaller, lighter, easier to throw around, more standover height.

You not be better off sticking with the specialized frame you have and upgrade components? Could get a full new groupset, including wheels and disc brakes for that amount

kenmc

nah the frame i have is 21 or 22 inches, inherited from my gigantic brother. it's also around 7 years old. It's not worth pouring money into - the rear won't take disk brakes even.
This karma does have disks...

Gavin

Sorry ! I assumed it was an older version of the Karma. Looks good! Decent groupset, decent forks, ok brakes and ok wheels.

Greyspoke

Try checking out www.merlincycles.co.uk (I think that's the correct address) - the bikes they build are just about the best value around and are excellent general purpose trail bikes. I'm on my third at the moment. I'm also 5-9 and ride a medium 17in.

kenmc

Greyspoke wrote: »

Try checking out www.merlincycles.co.uk (I think that's the correct address) - the bikes they build are just about the best value around and are excellent general purpose trail bikes. I'm on my third at the moment. I'm also 5-9 and ride a medium 17in.

What happened to the first 2
Thanks though , will have a look see.

fenris

Don't go too small though - unless you enjoy being launched over the handlebars a lot if your top tube distance is too short!

I learned the hard way to take more than frame height into account, on the plus side, my tuck and roll has improved mightily!

concussion

I like the Be-One Ten - lx and xt derailleurs, a good fork and decent brakes. The Juicy 3's would be comparable to the Deore LX I have and they're a good brake.

kenmc

Thanks for all the advice so far.
Throwing this into the mix too - how does it compare to the others?
Focus FatBoy
I quite like the look of it, but also like the look of the karma

Drapper

kenmc wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice so far.
Throwing this into the mix too - how does it compare to the others?
Focus FatBoy
I quite like the look of it, but also like the look of the karma

read this :- http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/fat-boy-08-28606

looks tell you nothing about weight bro! ;-)

Greyspoke

Nothing bad happened to them - I just rode them for a couple of years and sold them to buy a new one. I would certainly recommend them. They usually do a few specials - I currently have a Malt 2 LX model (and the LX disc brakes are excellent).

blorg

From my very limited MTB experience (2 spins ), lockout on forks is fantastic, really helps with climbing and on the road- relevant to me as I'd often be cycling further to the trails than on them.

kenmc

yeah that's also a must - have that on my current setup - would expect it as standard on most bikes of this price range. Although occasionally I tend to forget to take it off after climbing - wondering why the track seems rougher than normal

dancecatz

whats ur leg lenght, i think you should be looking at a 18" you don`t want to get a 16" an be to cramped it would be a killer climbing hills.

kenmc

popped into cycleogical this evening. only thing they have close to that range is a trek4500 which he'd put disk brakes on - would be a deore groupset then. circa 700 euro. still better going with the karma or ten similar then I think?

DirkVoodoo

Just digging this thread up to ask a question: Which bike did you go for kenmc?

I have seen the appeal of mountain biking and am looking around for a good beginner's bike, nothing fancy. Just a cheap and cheerful workhorse to learn the basics on.

I was looking at the Scott Aspect 45 and Merlin Malt as they got good reviews from Bikeradar. Are cycleogical still havin their sale? Is it worth my while popping in and seeing if they have any bargains around €500?

kenmc

Went for the Merlin Malt 1
Hopefully be dispatched this week!
Cyclogical had nothing in hardtail for that price range.

DirkVoodoo

Thinking of ordering one now. Not too keen on the paintjob, but it seems like the best offer for around 500 euro.

I think we are similar enough in height, did you go with the 16.5"?

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

From my very limited MTB experience (2 spins ), lockout on forks is fantastic

...as long as you remember to unlock them.

kenmc

I emailed them for their sizing advice, recommended 17.5". Yeah we're about the same - I'm 5'9" thereabouts.

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

...as long as you remember to unlock them.

Yes I was wondering why that section was so difficult all right

kenmc

it's on it's way!!!! shipped this afternoon! Might be with me on friday.

Greyspoke

Congrats on choosing the Merlin - I don't think you'll be disappointed. It's a lot of bike for the money, especially when its been reduced down to £450. Basic Deore is sound gear and not too expensive to replace should you break anything. The bar mounted lockout for the forks is very useful too - it's much easier to press the button on the bar than having to reach down to the fork itself when you find you're on a tricky bit of trail and realise the forks are still locked!