Full suss MTB advice - decisions, decisions...

Mr November

Looking for a bit of advice here. Gonna splash out on a new mtb bike. Always rode hard tails (Cheap & Heavy!) & probably really only got into getting out mountain biking consistently over the past 12 months, having messed around with it now & again previous to that...

Having spent a bit of time doing some research, reading forums, mags, reviews, speaking to bike shops etc etc I'm leaning towards either an Anthm X4 or a Trance X3 based on value for money + suitability...

All of my riding to date has just been recreational... for fun & fitness... although I'm starting to lean towards the idea of giving some of the XC races a go &/or getting involved with one of the clubs to improve fitness, skills & also to get out on some new trails...
I dont see a point in me getting a pure XC hard tail as there's no guarantee I'll actually get involved with racing properly... just happy to 'give it a go' first...

Typically i'd do a lot of riding around the Three Rock area simply because it's on my door step so it's definately the best option for evening spins after work... over the winter i'd cover on average 20k (road + loop on Three Rock/Fairy Castle/other) in an evening/night rides which i'd cover in about an hour & a half. Inevitably i'll do a lot more of that with the brighter evenings.

With this in mind i'm thinking that the Anthem is perfect for what i'm generally doing?
However, I do enjoy going for more epic type spins on a weekend for 4+ hours... e.g. via Three Rock, Prince William etc to Cloon... or Ballinastoe, Djouce, Maulin... Camaderry & around Glendo... wana do Lug over the summer & also weighing off doing Dublin to Wexford via some of the WW & other trails at some point... which makes me wonder about the Trance vs the Anthem.

Any help, advice, opinions would be welcome.

These are what I've narrowed myself down to at the moment. Any other suggestions besides? Was also looking at zesty's but got put off them somewhere along the way...

Specialized Epic Comp 20112940Giant Anthem X3 20112695Giant Anthem X4 20112150Giant Trance X2 20112999Giant Trance X3 20112699

Cheers

Ah_go_on

Have a look at the Canyon Nerve, got a fabulous review in this month's What Mountain Bike - Beat the Trek Fuel EX8 and Zesty. They sell direct so you are getting better bang for your buck as there is no middleman involved.

www.canyon.com

Icyseanfitz

just out of interest whats your budget? new full suspension bike can be very expensive i have a bionicon edison ltd and its the best of both worlds, great uphill and downhill love the bike, if i where you id ask this question over at madmtb.com or epicmtb.com and even look through the second hand bikes they have on their forums

Mr November

Cheers will have a look at that... (just to confuse myself further!)

Looking to spend between 2 - 3k... i dont think i'd really need to spend more then that...

Yea will get onto mad & epic although I've read similar older threads there so I'm guessing the opinions will be much the same as they were...

andysheehan2003

trek fuel ex8 .....
i have mine for last 12 months and i cant speak highly enough of the bike ( what mountain bike trail bike of the year last year).. i have done ballyhoura weekly since i bought it and it has never let me down...only thing i i didnt like where the tyres bontrager tyres are specced for dry dusty trails ( not much of those in ireland) so i changed to nobby nics...perfect...
best of luck in your search and your new mtb pursuits...:D
p.s prepare to spend any spare cash time on mtb related stuff...it will change your life...:eek:

Tenzor07

The Giant Anthem's or Specialized FSR's would be a good choice, though I find that those sort of "All rounder" short travel full suss machine's will do XC and downhill fine, but not brilliantly...

I have a Spec FSR that I hope to sell soon and go for a good AM bike like the Spec. Enduro: Here

davey101

I have an FSR comp and find it fantastic for long rides, but for racing i dont think it would do the job. Although i am going to try my club league with it this year and see how i get on. I do know of a few who use the trance (x3 i think) for both spins and racing and find them great.

Ah_go_on

andysheehan2003 wrote: »

trek fuel ex8 .....
i have mine for last 12 months and i cant speak highly enough of the bike ( what mountain bike trail bike of the year last year).. i have done ballyhoura weekly since i bought it and it has never let me down...only thing i i didnt like where the tyres bontrager tyres are specced for dry dusty trails ( not much of those in ireland) so i changed to nobby nics...perfect...
best of luck in your search and your new mtb pursuits...:D
p.s prepare to spend any spare cash time on mtb related stuff...it will change your life...:eek:

That Canyon absolutely trounced the Fuel EX8 in the WMB test (even though the trek is a superb bike). Spec is unbelievable for the money, raging I seen the bloody review as I just spent €2.5k on a lesser specced bike last month,.

This MTB game isn't cheap is it:rolleyes:

C3PO

If you're going to race the Anthem or an Epic would be your best bet and will fulfill the "allrounder" role also! The geometry of the EX8 or the Stumpjumper (and I'm guessing the Canyon) is really not great for racing!

fenris

The Anthem is more race orientated than the Trance, the Trance is probably a better all-rounder as a do everything bike and plenty of them are to be seen in XC races!

Don't know anything about the Specialized but you would not go far wrong with either of the Giants. The Trance would probably be more fun in general whereas the Anthem would probably race better, see if you can get a spin on both, they are very different bikes and you would know pretty quickly which one you want to spend time on.

Mr November

Yea that'd help alright... just gotta find somewhere that actually has either of them in stock in store first!... i have a sneaky suspicion that i'll run short on patience soon & end up just goin for which ever one I can get my hands on first!!

Tenzor07

Mr November wrote: »

Yea that'd help alright... just gotta find somewhere that actually has either of them in stock in store first!... i have a sneaky suspicion that i'll run short on patience soon & end up just goin for which ever one I can get my hands on first!!

Cyclesuperstore
Hollingsworth's
The Cycle Inn
Wheelworx
The Bike Rack
53Degrees North


??

Mr November

last time i checked, cycle superstore had none in stock (in my size anyway)... hollingsworth the same... will check out the others, thanks

Icyseanfitz

Ah_go_on wrote: »

That Canyon absolutely trounced the Fuel EX8 in the WMB test (even though the trek is a superb bike). Spec is unbelievable for the money, raging I seen the bloody review as I just spent €2.5k on a lesser specced bike last month,.

This MTB game isn't cheap is it:rolleyes:

sure isnt ive spent nearly as much on new gear as i did on my bike ffs

davey101

Cycle Inn have both trek and giants in stock. Some cracking KTM's also, but that will just confuse you situation even more:eek:

studiorat

Ah_go_on wrote: »

This MTB game isn't cheap is it:rolleyes:

It's as expensive as you want to make it. It can be done much cheaper if you keep an eye out for a deal, especially this time of year.

Besides riding a cheap bike takes the sting out of being lashed out of it by some hot shot on the hills. And makes you feel much better when you're stuck to their back wheel on the descents. Even more so if you've got your best GAA gear on!!

davey101

studiorat wrote: »

Besides riding a cheap bike takes the sting out of being lashed out of it by some hot shot on the hills. And makes you feel much better when you're stuck to their back wheel on the descents. Even more so if you've got your best GAA gear on!!

Now that is a sight i always enjoy seeing!
It is an expensive game if you want to get set up right, even the cheap bits you come across are only cheap in terms of the original cost. but you can do it over time and just never ever have any spare cash, or maybe i just have too many bikes

Ah_go_on

davey101 wrote: »

Cycle Inn have both trek and giants in stock. Some cracking KTM's also, but that will just confuse you situation even more:eek:

Yeah bought my 29er there, very nice and knowledgeable staff there too. Know their stuff regarding mtbing. Have to say the one thing that would put me off buying online is the pre and post sale service from a lbs

studiorat

davey101 wrote: »

but you can do it over time and just never ever have any spare cash, or maybe i just have too many bikes

Indeed. You don't want to be neglecting any. More than 3 or 4 is cruelty.