Specialized Rockhopper or Carrera Vengeance

LadFromLimerick

Hi folks,
Have been offered a 2nd hand Rockhopper in good nick for €400. I was also looking at a new Carrera Vengeance (front suspension & disc brakes) in Halfords for €370
Obviously it depends a lot on the condition of the 2nd hand bike but in general what do ye think?
Thanks!

kona

Well. here are your two options:

1. Buy second hand, could possibly be a bargain, but then again probably not, will in all likelyhood need a sevice and certain consumables like chain and cassette and cables replaced, and gears and brakes adjusted....and thats taking into account a bike thats in decent nick. No warranty either.

2. Buy the carrera vengance, accept the fact that some halfords mechanics are abit "iffy" with their mechanical competance. Get a brand new bike. Save e30, with the possibility of getting some bits included in the deal. Get a free service in 6weeks. Get at least a 5 year guarantee on the frame and a year on your parts. Oh and since its a new bike, you know exactley whats happened to it.


Id go with number 2. Some will say number1.

Gavin

LadFromLimerick wrote: »

Hi folks,
Have been offered a 2nd hand Rockhopper in good nick for €400. I was also looking at a new Carrera Vengeance (front suspension & disc brakes) in Halfords for €370
Obviously it depends a lot on the condition of the 2nd hand bike but in general what do ye think?
Thanks!

If you can get someone with some experience to inspect the Rockhopper and they give it the thumbs up, go for it.

Otherwise new is best as Kona says. Been stung a few times buying mtb parts secondhand when I didn't know enough to realise they were worn out. Waste of money.

donothoponpop

I took my Carerra Vengeance disc out for its first offroad spin yesterday, and was very impressed with how it handled (caveat- I don't know too much about bikes, so take my advice with a pinch of salt). It was my first time using either suspension or hydro disc brakes, and I was blown away by the difference either made (my previous biking had been done using a 15 year old Rockhopper). Did about 20k on rocky trails and mountains, 5k on road (the tyres are too grippy to be doing a lot of road).

The brakes were rubbing the discs a bit when I got it frim the shop, but i did a little adjusting and I think they need a few spins to bed in anyway, but they stopped every time when flying down muddy 45degree hills. Bike seems a little on the heavy side, and is big for its 20" frame, but it seems very solid, and I'm happy with my purchase.

guym

how about throwing this one into the mix, only €559 new on wiggle so might be worth chancing an offer.
http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=155103&cat=52