New/First bike

Santrypad

Hi, id like some advice on a particluar bike and all or any would be great.

A few months ago I sold a specialzed rockhopper as i didnt use it and regret in now as want to start getting into the cycling so was looking at bikes.

I seen this one in halfords for 250,i was told it is the older modelbut to be the honest its the only one I like...really like.

On purchase I would be changing the handelbars for straight ones as its preference also silver bullbars and maybe the saddle.

Anyway I have seen some mixed reviews so just thought id say exactly what i want from it and see what id advice I get......I will be using it mainly for lesuire/get fit, I may cycle to and from work and may to a bit of off road but nothing to serious.

Basicaaly just looking forany conswith the bike as for looks and feel its more of less the one i want.

The bike in question is a Diamondbike M05,alluminum frame 21 gears front disc brake....any advice be great.

blorg

It doesn't look like a great bike TBH. If you are not really going majorly off road, get a hybrid without a suspension fork- expect to pay around €350 for a decent entry-level model. Less if you buy second hand.

Santrypad

Well im open to 2nd hand and have been looking here.

I want one with a front suspension though thats the only must have...again its just a preference.

I might do a bit of `off road` but wouldnt be much more than the park or throwing the bike in the car and driving to mountains/forest maybe.

Why do you say it doesnt look a good one?

blorg

Basically from Halfords you want to be looking at Boardman or Carrera to get a decent bike. The problem with suspension forks is you will not get a good one on a 250 quid bike and it will cause you no end of problems. Why do you think you need it? On road you would be better off getting a hybrid with wider tyres to absorb bumps. To be honest you are not for 250 going to get something that will work well on and off road but if most will be on road a hybrid with wide (37-45mm) tyres will be fine for cycling along the occasional fire road or what have you.

Santrypad

Yeah ive seen some bad reviews from Halfords alright.

Its not that I think i need front suspension but more I want it,as i said its just a preference....I went to Halfords just to have a look around and this was the only one that i actually said yeah i like that,well that and a thousand pound GT i think but thats outa range at the moment.

Basically its just something to cover everything(even a little) and something half decent,the reason I posted this was I reviewed it and seen alot of complaints ie brakes been weak,gears been noisy and slipping,things snapping etc and just wanted to know are they really that badly built or unrealiable.

I thought Diamondback was one of the good makes?

blorg

Note I was not criticising Halfords (although there are questions on bike assembly ability there) - Boardman and Carrera are Halfords-exclusive bikes that are widely acknowledged to be good.

I think Diamondback probably are like Raleigh or Falcoln at the low end, they had a good name but not good bikes at that end these days.

The issue with suspension is that unless you pay more money you will get crap suspension, which is far worse than no suspension at all. To be honest for road use you want NO suspension anyway. Suspension is not "free", it saps pedalling power as you bob up and down... I have a halfway decent fork with lockout on my MTB (Rockshox Reba) and even when locked out it saps a hell of lot more energy than a rigid fork. And that is a fork that alone costs twice what you are planning on spending on your entire bike!

Santrypad

Appreciate the advice, I know its not gonna be the top end at that price its just i think its the one I want,obviously its a far cry from yours and probably the real mountain bikes but from your experience do you think `normal` cycling would leave it like the reviews I read.....ie brakes failed,chain snapped, gears failed/slipping,frame weak etc?

For just what i want it for im happy to have it for that but the reviews were a bit of a kick and obviouslyif it really was that bad then id steer clear of it.....or pivot around it

blorg

My general point is that 250 is not a lot to spend on a bike so the simpler you get the better it is going to work. The more complicated stuff you get (like the fork) the more heavy it will be and the more problems you will have. Money put towards the fork is taken from elsewhere on the bike (and at that price range the fork will also be bad.) To be honest if buying new in an Irish shop not in a sale you might want to look at spending a little more- not much more, 320-350 range- and getting the simplest bike possible, without stuff like front suspension.

Again, WHY do you think you need (or alternatively why do you want) a suspension fork?

Raam

For what it's worth, I gave my dad my MTB after I switched to road bike riding. It's a high end MTB with quality forks and he loved cycling it... until we got him a road bike. He couldn't believe the difference and doesn't want to go back to the MTB. He hasn't touched the MTB since getting the road bike.

DualFrontDiscs

How on earth does the username 'AIB' only get registered in June 2009?

DFD.

Santrypad

Thanks am taking this all on board,i suppose the main or first thing for me anyway is the look of the bike and that particluar one I thought was perfect, it has a airbrushed type alluminum frame and wheels with writing around the inside of the wheels.....trivial I know but just the exact look I like and if the price was more I would probably pay it if it was a good one.

I seen some of them carrera bikes and no offence to anyone that has one but honestly didnt like them.

Ill think of all what was said anyway and maybe take a little longer or look around a little more....or indeed spend a little more but the first thing as i said is the look of the bike and that one far as im concerned has it just the reviews changed my mind.

Thanks for the time and advice anyway am logging off but more is always welcome.
Thanks

Raam

AIB wrote: »

i suppose the main or first thing for me anyway is the look of the bike and that particluar one I thought was perfect, it has a airbrushed type alluminum frame and wheels with writing around the inside of the wheels.....trivial I know but just the exact look I like and if the price was more I would probably pay it if it was a good one.

Folk on here are probably more than aware that I'm all about the look, however, function really should come first when picking your bike. Many low end bikes certainly look the part but cause nothing but problems once you start riding them in earnest.

All of Blorg's advice is sound and I would echo the parts about suspension. It is simply not needed.

Best of luck with your purchase.

kenmc

No point in have a great looking piece of sh;t.

Gavin

kenmc wrote: »

No point in have a great looking piece of sh;t.

True. There's many a time I've lamented the lack of an audience for a good dump.

Santrypad

Anyone ever heard of a make huffy?

Seen a similar looking bike today for 350 in wicklow(was there by chance),price was 300 and your man said includes free service for that.

I know same rules apply as previously posted but regards the make huffy are they good bad or anyone any views on them?

Again appreciate anything said.

Santrypad

sorry 300,think it was 350 but now 300

swarbrick1979

well my first bit of advice is to buy a bike with lockable front suspension so that you can lock it for commuting and unlock it for the park or offroad. most bikes are made in the same factory so the frame etc will be good quality. where you lose out is the breaks, gears etc which are cheaper on cheaper bikes. my advice is to go with the diamond back if you like the look and the feel as you can always upgrade parts etc as and when you need and can afford to. ps. i am picking up my new carrera vanquish road bike tomorrow from halfords after riding an Apollow dual suspension mountain bike i bought from them 10 years ago and its still going strong! hope this helps!

Santrypad

ok lads....this weekend i plan on making a decision on the bike....ive seen this carrera in the link and i like it,im 5 11 14st and they only have an 18inch but it seems to be ok sizewise???


http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_273419_langId_-1_categoryId_212589cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-03-0907-bikes-m-1-_-PRODCAT_ESPOTMAIN_212512-_-03-0907-bikes-m-1z


Again any advice on this would be great as im really stuck as what to get

Is that a good bike etc?

swarbrick1979

looks good to me!

ozt9vdujny3srf

AIB wrote: »

ok lads....this weekend i plan on making a decision on the bike....ive seen this carrera in the link and i like it,im 5 11 14st and they only have an 18inch but it seems to be ok sizewise???


http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_273419_langId_-1_categoryId_212589cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-03-0907-bikes-m-1-_-PRODCAT_ESPOTMAIN_212512-_-03-0907-bikes-m-1z


Again any advice on this would be great as im really stuck as what to get

Is that a good bike etc?

I'm not trying to be a smart-arse, but having just read through this thread, you have pretty much ignored everything that has already been said to you. All of the advice given about the other 2 low end bikes with suspension are going to apply to this bike as well more then likely.

petethedrummer

2 reviews of the 07 model:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/vulcan-8984
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/vulcan-07-27707

User reviews of the 09 model:
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews115466.html

Santrypad

Hi Truckle,yes i know it looks that way and i knew somoeone would say it but I DONT WANT A HYBRID so what i was asking was regarding the make realiabilty of the bike etc.....i know the same applies and im also not trying to be a smart arse as i appreciate ALL replies but things like using more energy etc im not bothered about but this like gears snapping /not working/brakes failing etc is what im concerned about.....once imhappy the bike realiable enoughand sturdy enoughwithin reason then thats my main concern apart from the look obviously.

Thanksfor the replies lads im gonnamake a decision by 2moro and appreciate all input.

Thank you and hope no offence.

Lumen

I think, if you're honest with yourself, what you really want is a full suspension mountain bike.