MTB for trails

Rallymad

Looking for advice on a second hand MTB for ballyhoura and the likes ive been pushing pedals on the tarmac for years tried ballyhoura and i loved it i know very little about MTB,s looking to spend 500/600 euro what should i look out for on donedeal im 6'1" so i know i need a 20 inch is that also a large? Just looking to know what to get and to avoid . All advice welcome.
Thanks Paul

xxyyzz

Rallymad wrote: »

Looking for advice on a second hand MTB for ballyhoura and the likes ive been pushing pedals on the tarmac for years tried ballyhoura and i loved it i know very little about MTB,s looking to spend 500/600 euro what should i look out for on donedeal im 6'1" so i know i need a 20 inch is that also a large? Just looking to know what to get and to avoid . All advice welcome.
Thanks Paul

Talk to the lads at trail riders(the rental guys at ballyhoura) , they sell of the rental bikes in your price range fully serviced after a certain length of time.

Stark

20" would be about large yeah.

Look for a hardtail bike. It's unlikely you'll get a full suspension for that price and if you do, it's probably in poor condition or a supermarket job. 26" wheels are the standard size but for a tall guy like yourself, 29" is a good option. You'll find loads on the Internet about the 26" vs 29" debate but essentially 29" bikes tend to roll over rocks and the like more easily and have nicer geometry for tall people.

Good brands are brands like Lapierre, Giant, Cube, Canyon. Trek are also popular but I'm not a fan myself (very heavy frames and overly aggressive geometry, though the geometry is okay for the likes of Ballyhoura).

As per the previous posters advice, it's probably better to buy second hand off a rental company than Donedeal. Biking.ie in Dublin/Wicklow sell off stock regularly as does the rental place in Ballhoura.

Rallymad

xxyyzz wrote: »

Talk to the lads at trail riders(the rental guys at ballyhoura) , they sell of the rental bikes in your price range fully serviced after a certain length of time.

Sound ill do that would they have had a very hard life though?

Rallymad

xxyyzz wrote: »

Talk to the lads at trail riders(the rental guys at ballyhoura) , they sell of the rental bikes in your price range fully serviced after a certain length of time.

Sound ill do that would they have had a very hard life though?

Rallymad

xxyyzz wrote: »

Talk to the lads at trail riders(the rental guys at ballyhoura) , they sell of the rental bikes in your price range fully serviced after a certain length of time.

Sound ill do that would they have had a very hard life though?

Rallymad

xxyyzz wrote: »

Talk to the lads at trail riders(the rental guys at ballyhoura) , they sell of the rental bikes in your price range fully serviced after a certain length of time.

Sound ill do that would they have had a very hard life though?

djfattony2000

Id go for a new bike if was you.

If you go 2nd hand chances are the cassette, brake pads etc will need to be replaced soon.

This is in budget and has decent spec.

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3328

Good few options on crc too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/mountain-bikes

xxyyzz

Rallymad wrote: »

Sound ill do that would they have had a very hard life though?

Tbh, they'll have a bit of mileage up but they are professionally maintained probably better than most people's mtbs. It's no harm to have a chat with them anyway to see what's in stock. My buddy bought a cube from them and had no complaints.

Another option would be the bike to work scheme. With your budget you'd be able to pick up a decent €1100 hardtail.

Rallymad

xxyyzz wrote: »

Tbh, they'll have a bit of mileage up but they are professionally maintained probably better than most people's mtbs. It's no harm to have a chat with them anyway to see what's in stock. My buddy bought a cube from them and had no complaints.

Another option would be the bike to work scheme. With your budget you'd be able to pick up a decent €1100 hardtail.

Ill give them a buzz see what they have comming up for sale i know a guy bought his bike of them. Cycle to work is out the window already used it for a road bike thewifes when i traded that for a full carbon so have to pay for all this myself.

mint man

a secondhand rental hardtail could be a good option if got at the right price. should be well maintained

if you were interested in a full sus im selling a large giant anthem on donedeal ,it has had all the key components replaced ,cassette ,chainrings brake pads...its well speced with fox front and rear .
http://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/giant-anthem-x3/6595515

ryan0380

I recently picked up a cotic soul hard tail in your budget and it is a beaut. Very comfy and solid, def worth checking out. They often come up second hand. Keep an eye on the epicmtb and madmtb for sale forums.

Cuddlesworth

I'd pop into stagg cycles in Lucan. They have a Spanish make hardtail with some decent specs in your price range. I was so impressed with them I went back and bought a second one.

murph226

Is an 18 too small for you?

I have an almost new Cube Hardtail if you're interested, I'm 6 foot, when I checked the sizing it said an 18 inch will do 5'8" to 6'1".

davgtrek

I can't see where the ballyhoura rentals would get such a hard life. Most serious enough lads who could give a MTB a real hard life would arrive in Ballyhoura with their own. The trails there are smooth enough so no big hits/drops etc. so an ex rental one would be a good enough buy I reckon.

Rallymad

murph226 wrote: »

Is an 18 too small for you?

I have an almost new Cube Hardtail if you're interested, I'm 6 foot, when I checked the sizing it said an 18 inch will do 5'8" to 6'1".

Thanks but definately want a 20

Rallymad

Thanks for all the replys thinking now of puttinga few more quid together and buying a cube acid 29 test rode one and liked it .

shaka

Ballyhoura ex rental bike might be the job for you.


Saw a nice Scott at reduced price last time I was in Kilmallock Cycles ( not ballyhoura MTB rental). Worth a look if your local

Trollhättan

Hi Rallymad,

I just see your wanted ad and am wondering if you got sorted with a bike yet?

I have a Trek 4500 hardtail, size 21in that might suit you.

It like the one in the picture below.




If you are interested I can take some actual photos and upload them...just let me know.

Thanks!

C3PO

There's a Large Cotic BFE for sale on the MAD site at the moment with great spec at a very reasonable price - perfect for what you're looking for!

bazzamac

Ive a specialized rockhopper sl (19").I'm 5 11" and its too big for me.am willing to sell it to purchase something smaller.will send pics if your interested.

hairyman

As some of the lads have said, a hardtail is the best place to be given the budget that you have.
You'll more than likely be looking at a 26" wheel size.
Groupset wise, I wouldn't be picky with the spec.
If it's a used bike, then chances are it will be a shimano Deore/SLX mix, or Sram X5/X7 mix.
Both get the job done very well.
I personally wouldn't to to pushed with drive train spec, and sooner concentrate on the likes of an air fork with hydraulic brakes.

These have a far greater effect on how a bike rides in my opinion.

Rallymad

Thanks for all the replys i got sorted out with a bike a few weeks ago just clocking up the miles on it now and enjoying it