MTB recommendation please

Russman

Hi all,

Complete novice on the MTB side of things, so bear with me

Looking for a MTB recommendation, its for someone who's going to take up MTBing having seen it up in Three Rock and deciding its great craic !

Budget is €1,000 and its to be a hardtail (thats the one with a front suspension only, right ?)

Been looking at CSS, Wheelworx, Canyon etc and is it fair to say that at that price point the different brands will be much of a muchness ?

Any ideas welcome, thanks

C3PO

As you say, probably not much to choose between the brands at that price point! Stay away from Suntour forks - I would suggest Rockshox Recons as a minimum! SLX brakes would be nice too!
Where are you based - is there a decent local shop that you would trust?

Russman

RPL1 wrote: »

As you say, probably not much to choose between the brands at that price point! Stay away from Suntour forks - I would suggest Rockshox Recons as a minimum! SLX brakes would be nice too!
Where are you based - is there a decent local shop that you would trust?

Thanks for that.
Its actually for a mate, I'd have a fair knowledge of road bikes (mostly thanks to folks on here ) but wouldn't know the first thing about MTB to be honest. The nearest shop to him is Joe Daly's, I told him they were very reputable and to go there and sit on a few.

C3PO

Russman wrote: »

Thanks for that.
Its actually for a mate, I'd have a fair knowledge of road bikes (mostly thanks to folks on here ) but wouldn't know the first thing about MTB to be honest. The nearest shop to him is Joe Daly's, I told him they were very reputable and to go there and sit on a few.

While I'm sure Joe Daly's is a very reputable shop I think they specialise more in road rather than mountain bikes! I would suggest Alfie in Expert Cycles in Rathfarnham Main Street or Richie Byrne in the Cycle Superstore!

funkyjebus

The Grand Canyon AL 6.0.There is no way you will get close to that spec elsewhere for the ame price point. I have one and it is amazing, especially considering it was less than a grand.

fuerte1976

Howdy, I've a hardtail La Pierre MTB and love it . Got it for approx €1000 on 'bike to work ' scheme

papac

Hey Russman
This
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777757_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

for 900 euro -ish if you use axa discount.
Looked at one in the flesh the other day and was impressed with finish and looks. Hard to beat spec at that price I'd say.- If you can handle the Halfrauds factor.

Russman

papac wrote: »

Hey Russman
This
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777757_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

for 900 euro -ish if you use axa discount.
Looked at one in the flesh the other day and was impressed with finish and looks. Hard to beat spec at that price I'd say.- If you can handle the Halfrauds factor.

Thanks Papac, look decent alright, will pass the info on.


Might even give the whole MTB thing a try myself sometime :-)

funkyjebus

papac wrote: »

Hey Russman
This
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777757_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

for 900 euro -ish if you use axa discount.
Looked at one in the flesh the other day and was impressed with finish and looks. Hard to beat spec at that price I'd say.- If you can handle the Halfrauds factor.

The canyons spec is far superior to the boardman. Even with the discount id pay the a lot more for the canyon spec.

for a hardtail with reba rl fork, avid juicy 3, xl slx drivetrain and mavic crossrides wheels the price in a lbs is normally about 1500. Canyon is 1000. I did a lot of research on this last year and there was only ever one bike that stood out.....

random.stranger

If he is willing to spend that sort of money, I'd say Canyon too.
Spec aside, looking at the gear ratios:

Min gear ratio of Canyon is 11% lower than Boardman (making Canyon easier to cycle up steep hills)
Max gear ratio of Canyon is 8% higher than Boardman (making top speed of Canyon higher going down hill, although other factors are likely to come into play on the down hill bit!)

Hope I got my sums right!

Anodised black frame is a nice option too.

Russman

funkyjebus wrote: »

papac wrote: »

Hey Russman
This
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777757_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

for 900 euro -ish if you use axa discount.
Looked at one in the flesh the other day and was impressed with finish and looks. Hard to beat spec at that price I'd say.- If you can handle the Halfrauds factor.

The canyons spec is far superior to the boardman. Even with the discount id pay the a lot more for the canyon spec.

for a hardtail with reba rl fork, avid juicy 3, xl slx drivetrain and mavic crossrides wheels the price in a lbs is normally about 1500. Canyon is 1000. I did a lot of research on this last year and there was only ever one bike that stood out.....

Yep, I reckon the canyon is the one to go for myself alright, thanks for that. Nice to hear it from someone who's been down that route.

For the likes of 3 Rock, is a hardtail the best option or should he consider a full suspension ?

triggermortis

It's usually better to start off on a hardtail, as its less forgiving and lets you know where you're going wrong (if you do go wrong). You will develop skills quicker on a bike with less suspension and it will be lighter to drag uphill.

+1 on the Canyon too

dingdong1234567

+1 for canyon. Was on ballinastoe at the wkend and my nerve am 6.0 chewed the climbs with very little bob. Bike is smooth and the traction on this thing is unreal conpared to a hardtail imo. Go with the Canyon you will not regret it.!

Tenzor07

Up your budget another €700 for a full sus unless you buy 2nd hand..

www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2563

Charles1412

Russman wrote: »

Hi all,

Complete novice on the MTB side of things, so bear with me

Looking for a MTB recommendation, its for someone who's going to take up MTBing having seen it up in Three Rock and deciding its great craic !

Budget is €1,000 and its to be a hardtail (thats the one with a front suspension only, right ?)

Been looking at CSS, Wheelworx, Canyon etc and is it fair to say that at that price point the different brands will be much of a muchness ?

Any ideas welcome, thanks

Hi I have a GT the last 4 years purchased in Halfords great spec and has stood the test of time very well. I use it most weekend s offroad and also use it for 40-50 K spins every week or two and I'd defo get another. I paid €1150 but they may have come down in Price since then.

Charles1412

Russman wrote: »

Hi all,

Complete novice on the MTB side of things, so bear with me

Looking for a MTB recommendation, its for someone who's going to take up MTBing having seen it up in Three Rock and deciding its great craic !

Budget is €1,000 and its to be a hardtail (thats the one with a front suspension only, right ?)

Been looking at CSS, Wheelworx, Canyon etc and is it fair to say that at that price point the different brands will be much of a muchness ?

Any ideas welcome, thanks

Hi I have a GT the last 4 years purchased in Halfords great spec and has stood the test of time very well. I use it most weekend s offroad and also use it for 40-50 K spins every week or two and I'd defo get another. I paid €1150 but they may have come down in Price since then.

Tenzor07

triggermortis wrote: »

It's usually better to start off on a hardtail, as its less forgiving and lets you know where you're going wrong (if you do go wrong). You will develop skills quicker on a bike with less suspension and it will be lighter to drag uphill.

Don't believe that for a second! You don't need to start off on a HT to improve your skills... In particular if you are buying a full suss trail bike over an XC bike..Why skip around rocks on a HT when you can just roll over them!

The extra traction gained from a full suss will easily make up for the extra 1lb in weight over a HT...