What mountain bike for €1,000? Advice please :-)

Zascar

I'm getting a bike on the bike to work scheme. I used to be really into mountain biking about 7-8 years ago, and want to get back into it now.

I only ever had hardtails back then, but I would like a full suspension if possible. Basically I'm not doing to be doing massive miles or anything, bit of downhill / trail riding, and some street type messing etc. If I can get a decent full suspension where you can lock out the rear suspension that would be sweet. But am I wasing my time and should I just get a decent hard tail instead? My mates who are into mountain biking all have savage bikes and sys full-sus is necessary.

Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction of a decent ful-sus for €1k?

Any other advice appreciated!

CheGuedara

Hmmm think you're looking for the holy grail there -

Remember the adage 'strong, light, cheap - pick two' - only at 1K for a full susser you're already in the 'cheap' category with only strong or light to pick from.

Just looking at one reasonably priced manufacturer (Canyon) knocking around your price range is the Canyon Nerve XC 4 - 12.9kgs with a mixed deore, SLX, XT group and Rockshox Recon forks, just a wee bit more could also get their Grand Canyon AL 7 bike with a more healthy mix grouppo consisting of entirely SLX or XT components and a better fork (Rockshox Reba) and wheels and comes in a whole 2kgs lighter.

I'll leave it up to yourself but if your budget is ~€1000 plus or minus you'll get better bang for your buck on a hardtail

Zascar

Thanks man, yes the holy grail indeed! That Canyon looks lovely. The only thing is I'm getting this on the bike to work scheme so I have to but from an approved store etc....

I found this irish site: http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/index.php?cPath=1_137&page=1&sort=3a - this is their list of full suspension bikes. I was advised the Giant Trance would be a good bike, might be out of my price range though. The Yukon is better priced, are they any good?

The FX1 is 1k and gets good reviews here: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/yukon-fx-1-08-29512 only real downside is its a bit heavy.

CheGuedara

Hmm I can see you're pretty far gone on a susser but if I had e1000ish to spend, and I had to spend it in Wheelworx (I think it sucks some places limit workers choice to a limited number of stores) and on a MTB I would roll out their front door on this bike

Giant XTC 2 (09 model) - every single component is better than that specced on the Yukon, and as I'm looking at their website better specced than the similarly priced Trek 6300.

Full suspension isn't the end all and be all of mountainbiking - unless you spend most of your off road days downhilling and jumping your bike the height of a house, but for 95% of what Ireland has trail wise a hardtail would be fine. If you feel you absolutely MUST have a rear spring I'd say put a few more greenbacks into the deal and get the Giant Trance X5 09 - the spec is better than it's '10 equivalents/rivals

petethedrummer

If I were going anywhere that full suspension was an absolute requirement, I wouldn't be trying to penny pinch on the bike. Though, I know very little about MTBing.

@Zascar: Where do you actually intend to go on this bike?

Doroteo

canyon it is a very good choice

Gavin

Wot Che said. Stick with a hardtail if you're spending 1000, or look around second hand for a full sus. I know you won't get the cycle to work tax break on a second hand, but you might save money overall.

Zascar

I just went and spent the evening talking with a mate who is mad into it and has been trying to get me back on a bike for ages. He said him and several of his friends all started on hardtails and basically upgraded within a few months and just wasted money - so he begged to do it properly and to get a proper fullsuss first time. I think I'm going to have to stretch my budget a bit though. €1200, maybe maybe a bit more if its really really worth it. I also have to think of other things I'm going to need like a helmet, gloves and well, what else will I need???

I did a lot of searching and that Giant Trance X5 gets fantastic reviews. This one: http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/wwx/article.php?story=20090514132717415 says in a test of £1k bikes it won beating all the (most expensive) competition. That canyon looks gorgeous, I've never heard of that make. Can you get them in Dublin? It has to be on the bikes scheme from an approved shop

When I was into bikes, it was all Shimano Lx, XT, and XTR. RoxkShox and Marajocci forks - now it is all very very different. In terms of groupset, what should I be looking for? What is good and which is better than others?

Thanks for your help guys this is really helpful!

ED E

Add one of these to your cart too:)
http://www.smithoptics.com/Holt-Audio_114_980.html?fl=flase

nomadic

Zascar wrote: »

When I was into bikes, it was all Shimano Lx, XT, and XTR. RoxkShox and Marajocci forks - now it is all very very different. In terms of groupset, what should I be looking for? What is good and which is better than others?

Its still the same. SLX is new enough and is really good and it come in between LX and XT. You can't really go wrong with Rockshox or Fox suspension wise.

CheGuedara

Canyon is a well known German direct from manufacturer - you buy directly from them via their site (no middlemen = reduced prices). In principle you shouldn't have to buy off a limited list of suppliers but TBH for the money and the choices available to you if you do have to go FS that Trance X5 is likely to be a very difficult to beat buy.

Re. components Rockshox and Marzocchi are still major players in suspension and have been joined by Fox Racing in the suspension race. The Rockshox food chain is Dart, Tora, Recon, Reba, Sid, Revelation, Pike, Lyrik.... Boxxer (going from basic coil forks to air sprung xc race and then into Freeride and DH forks.

In grouppo terms (shimano) it runs Deore, SLX, XT, XTR from entry level to top shelf race equipment.

Given that the X5 has a mixed deore/SLX group and a recon fork in addition to Avid hydraulic disc brakes it's more value for money than 2010 bikes which usually have lower spec at a given price point due to currency wobbles between 09/10.

Bear in mind that the XTC linked earlier will see you with an uprated fork, a SLX/XT mix grouppo and wheelset. Just sayin' is all....

at1withmyself

If you are going to be going off road a lot then I'd tend to agree with your mate about getting the double suspension bike as I have a hard tail and if it wasn't so expensive I would have changed to a full suspension by now. If your heart is set on one then go for it and if you get one with a lock out there not as heavy as they used to be so can still be pushed along the road, just not too far comfortably!

As the others have said though the 1000 mark for what your looking for is going to be tough to meet. If you are tied to Irish bike shops then have you considered the Cycle Super Store or Worldwide cycles, both provide delivery and a great service (IMO):

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/home.asp

http://www.worldwidecycles.com/

I'd try up the budget and go for something like this, see can you get a few more euro off:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=233&idproduct=31426

Zascar wrote: »

I just went and spent the evening talking with a mate who is mad into it and has been trying to get me back on a bike for ages. He said him and several of his friends all started on hardtails and basically upgraded within a few months and just wasted money - so he begged to do it properly and to get a proper fullsuss first time. I think I'm going to have to stretch my budget a bit though. €1200, maybe maybe a bit more if its really really worth it. I also have to think of other things I'm going to need like a helmet, gloves and well, what else will I need???

I did a lot of searching and that Giant Trance X5 gets fantastic reviews. This one: http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/wwx/article.php?story=20090514132717415 says in a test of £1k bikes it won beating all the (most expensive) competition. That canyon looks gorgeous, I've never heard of that make. Can you get them in Dublin? It has to be on the bikes scheme from an approved shop

When I was into bikes, it was all Shimano Lx, XT, and XTR. RoxkShox and Marajocci forks - now it is all very very different. In terms of groupset, what should I be looking for? What is good and which is better than others?

Thanks for your help guys this is really helpful!

Alkers

+1 for a full susser.
I'd seriously consider having a look second hand also, 1k can get you a serious bike on the second hand market and even though you won't get the tax relief it may be a better buy all things considered.
If you're only getting back into the biking you'll probably need a good helmet, a decent set of shoes (with cleats) and good gloves. You may also need to buy new pedals if getting a new bike. For the rest of the gear you can get by quite well on the cheap aldi/lidl clothes and backpacks etc.

sxt

CheGuedara wrote: »

Canyon is a well known German direct from manufacturer - you buy directly from them via their site (no middlemen = reduced prices). In principle you shouldn't have to buy off a limited list of suppliers but TBH for the money and the choices available to you if you do have to go FS that Trance X5 is likely to be a very difficult to beat buy.

Re. components Rockshox and Marzocchi are still major players in suspension and have been joined by Fox Racing in the suspension race. The Rockshox food chain is Dart, Tora, Recon, Reba, Sid, Revelation, Pike, Lyrik.... Boxxer (going from basic coil forks to air sprung xc race and then into Freeride and DH forks.

In grouppo terms (shimano) it runs Deore, SLX, XT, XTR from entry level to top shelf race equipment.

Given that the X5 has a mixed deore/SLX group and a recon fork in addition to Avid hydraulic disc brakes it's more value for money than 2010 bikes which usually have lower spec at a given price point due to currency wobbles between 09/10.

Bear in mind that the XTC linked earlier will see you with an uprated fork, a SLX/XT mix grouppo and wheelset. Just sayin' is all....

Hey CheGuedara,off topic but is there a hardtail canyon around the 1k or below/ alot below that you would think is good value? Thanks!

CheGuedara

sxt wrote: »

Hey CheGuedara,off topic but is there a hardtail canyon around the 1k or below/ alot below that you would think is good value? Thanks!

Well it's taking all the fun of opening their website and checking away from you but kicking in/around the 1K

Grand Canyon AL 6 - nice spec, GOOD fork, and decent wheels

And if you're working on a shoe string I wouldn't go any lower than their Yellowstone 4.0 - it's a bit weighty but it still has Deore components which will last, an air sprung fork and decent brakes so should be trail competent.

fenris

I have owned a 2009 XTC2 and currently ride a 2009 Trance X4, I definitely would have saved by just going directly for the Trance!

A hardtail is grand and will mean that you have to skill up more to ride the equivalent terrain at the same speed as you would on a full sus bike, so theoretically hard tail first, the reality is that I hit trails faster on the Trance than the XTC, I climb better on the Trance and it is more forgiving of stupidity on my part on the technical and downhill stuff, the downside is that cornering feels a bit more sloppy at first and the rear wheel doesn't feel as planted, but a few spins is all that it takes to get the hang of things.

The rear Maestro suspension system on the Trance is great, practically no pedal bob when climbing in the saddle so no need to worry about rear lockout and it just works with no messing needed.

The reason that I changed from the XTC to the Trance was that I made the fatal mistake of getting a spin on one at the Djouce challenge last year and it just worked and felt like I had instantly gained 50% more skill, it made getting back on my XTC depressing. So if you think that you are going the hard tail route don't even contemplate sitting on a Trance let alone taking one for a spin, you will be left with a niggling discontent with your hard tail that will eventually lead to you selling a kidney or something to buy a full sus bike!

Check out the Bike Rack in Johnstown Road or Cycle Surgery, the lads in both are MTBers and will set you right.

Zascar

Thanks guys. The more I look the more the 2009 Giant Trance X5 looks the best value. There is also the 2010 Giant X4 which is the same price but the brakes are Alivo whereas they are "Juice 3's "on the X5. X4 does look better though.

I found a list of dealers here I think I'll call them all and see who will give me the best price.

Zascar

I'm torn between the 2009 X5 and the 2010 X4 now... Can anyone tell me which is the better fork?

X5: Rock Shox Recon 335 Solo Air 120mm travel fork with Turn Key lock out
X4: RockShox Tora 302, 120mm suspension fork

The Alivio brakes on the X4 worry me, would there be that much of a difference between them and the Juicy 3's on the X5?

Thanks

fenris

I think that the recon is the better fork and it has a lock out, as for the Juicy 3's I found them spongy and non progressive on my 2009 XTC, they are also a bitch to bleed. The Juicy 3's were the one component on the XTC that I would have changed out if I hadn't traded up to a Trance.

Zascar

Right, turns out I cannot get the X5 any more.
So really all I have to choose from is the 2010 X4. Kinda worries about the quality of brakes and shocks - but then again on the Giant front page they have this review:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/news/14962/

Hot on the heels of Giant's recent test winning TCR Advanced 4 in Triathlon Plus, Giant's Maestro suspension system continues the winning ways on the mountain side of things in June's MBR Magazine as the Giant Trance X4 rises to the top of the pile in the 1K Wonders budget bouncers test. Even better - it's the front cover star!

"As usual, the finish and construction on the Giant frame is top notch and could easily pass for a bike costing more than double the £995 asking price."

The Trance X's 'beautifully engineered' Fluid Formed chassis boasting 5 inches of Maestro suspended magic did the business and felt 'super solid and stiff on the trail' with Giant's own brand shock 'hassle free' and easy to set up.

Giant's new Contact componentry gets a nod of approval; "an excellent wide bar" fitted to the Trance X 4 along with the new Sole-O Lock On Grips with colour coded anodised lock rings.

With the 'super-stiff' and well balanced frame transferring the power through Maestro's 'active and well controlled' suspension system the Trance X4 offers 'stacks of grip to inspire confidence and lets you really enjoy the trails.'

"Bottom line is the Giant simply feels sorted, steady and surefooted yet still capable of good speed...The Giant Trance X4 is an excellent bike for the money and easily the best on test...you get the best frame on test with great potential to upgrade over time. It also costs £100 less than the less-dialled Specialized."

"A stiff and solid frame with good geometry and a sorted suspension make the Giant Trance X4 first class at cornering, climbing and descending - what more do you need?"

With 10/10 this is a must read! The latest issue of MBR Magazine is on sale now.

Any comments?
Cheers lads