Help with purchasing a MTB, possibly Hard Trail.

[enthusiast17]

Hello, im selling my 08 red carrera banshee and i am in the look for a new bike.

I found boardman from halfords but i dont know if its overpriced or if you can build your own bike with better parts for cheaper or the same price??

I have seen a lot of nice custom bike builds here so i think this is the right forum to ask for help.

The bike im eyeing up is this (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_77 7775_langId_-1_categoryId_165499)

here is the spec of the bike:

Approximate Weight (KG): 12.56
Brake Type: Hydraulic Disc
Chainset: FSA Alpha Drive
Fork Lock-out : Yes
Forks: 120mm Suntour Epicon air suspension fork with adjustable rebound damping and lockout
Frame Colour: White
Frame Material: 6061 Alloy
Frame-: Lightweight 6061 triple butted aluminium frame
Front Brake: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
Front Mech: SRAM X5
Gear Shifters: SRAM X5
Gender: Mens
Handle Bars: Boardman 31.8mm alloy low-rise
Headset: FSA 1 1/8 Aheadset
Hubs: Formula 32 hole Q/R disc hub
Number of Gears: 27
Pedals: Wellgo alloy body
Rear Brake: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
Rear Mech: SRAM X5
Rims: Alex double wall black 32 hole disc rim with CNC braking surface
Saddle: Boardman black with cro-moly rails
Seatpost: Boardman 400mm x 31.6mm black alloy
Stem: Boardman black alloy 90mm x 31.8mm
Suspension: Front
Tyre size: 2.20"
Tyres: Continental Mountain King 26"x2.20 Black wire bead
Wheel size: 26"
Frame Size: 19-20

For £649 there isnt alot there or am i missing something?

One thing i hate is Suntour Forks, iwe had two on two seperate bikes and they fail pretty soon.

So what im asking for is some expert help on either pointing to a bike in that price range or cheaper or tell me if and what parts to use for a custom build.


Thanks for looking, and please help me :)

Or would this be a better choice?

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/123325.html

[Hax]

I do like my bikes but wouldn't call myself an expert.

Have you looked into last years bike ranges, 2010? You can usually have some right bargains there. Leisure Lakes had nice looking Cannondale's around your price range with good specs on.

[enthusiast17]

i havent TBH. i dont even know where to look. :/

Anyone builds their own bikes?

[enthusiast17]

Really nobody?? Joey Propane?? Wunderlust?? :D Were is all the pros gone?

[marsey99]

i try and build bikes mate but tbh im not sure where i would put the engine and fuel tank on those frames and there is no way i could use tyres that thin :D

like hax said have a look from something from last years range, a mate got a 14 month old 2k specialized bike for £400 (needed wheels only) a couple of years back and it is still the best push bike i have ever played on.

[Joey Propane]

Boardman cant be beat for value, fact.

Bike prices have risen drastically over the last few years, and they aren't slowing down. Example, the Trek EX8 I paid £2000 for at the start of 2010, the 2009 model was £1800, the 2011 model is £2300....

Personally i'd step up to last years Team model (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_50 1999_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab) or Voodoo Wanga (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_51 5327_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab), not as pretty but much better specced for barely any more dosh.

[enthusiast17]

Boardman cant be beat for value, fact.

Bike prices have risen drastically over the last few years, and they aren't slowing down. Example, the Trek EX8 I paid £2000 for at the start of 2010, the 2009 model was £1800, the 2011 model is £2300....

Personally i'd step up to last years Team model (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_50 1999_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab) or Voodoo Wanga (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_51 5327_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab), not as pretty but much better specced for barely any more dosh.

Thanks, if i was to build my own (with no Building experience) how much would that cost me?
Just for a Hardtrial bike?

One problem with the voodoo is that it doesnt come in 19" frame. ( is what i have ATM) and it does feel pretty small. So i dont know if i was making the right choice if i was to buy the voodoo.

[enthusiast17]

Also neither of those two bikes are available for collection OR delivery. So yeah sold out.. :(

[jointhedotz]

Thanks, if i was to build my own (with no Building experience) how much would that cost me?
Just for a Hardtrial bike?
.

I ususally build my own bikes, price will come down to the components you use, but be prepared to go about 10-20% over your initial budget whatever you set it at, It's inevitable.

Unfortunately I can't offer any specific advice, haven't been into my bikes much over the past few years.

one thing I do remember, and it may be worth having this confirmed, is that merlin cycles built amazing wheels.

Anyway, building a bike is very much the same as building a pc, research, reasearch research......and take your time and make sure you have the correct tools for the job.

A more bike specific forum should be able to offer you more up to date advice, try BikeRadar (http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/)

[Joey Propane]

The problem with building a bike is that the tools are very specific and consequently, expensive.

The minimum you'll need to build a basic hardtail are:

-Good quality cable cutters
-Crank and bottom bracket install tool (Hollowtech II if your buying Shimano cranks, which you should be ;))
-Chain whip and lock ring tool
-Quality set of Allen and torx wrenches/keys
-Pedal spanner
-Grease and lube (oi oi)
-Rubber Mallet

It all gets a bit expensive but if you spend the extra and get decent gear it'll last you plenty of bike builds... Personally I like Lifeline tools and Rock'n'Roll grease. ;)

[enthusiast17]

I have been trolling gum treee and there is some quality bikes for cheaps in my area but all have sold already. had a GT agressore XC2 for £75 :eek: Missed that :(

[Joey Propane]

If your willing to buy a 2nd hand frame and keep an eagle eye out for sale/clearance/bargain items you can build a decent bike for less than a equally specced new one.

Check out the Buy/Sell section on Pinkbike, its where i got my £1200 Devinci frame for £450. ;)

[jointhedotz]

might be worth a look at collection only stuff on the bay as well tbh, seen some bargains recently

[BurningFeetMan]

The Boardman bike you linked to has Suntour forks. I've not heard anything more positive than "they're alright" about them. I would be tempted to look for a bike with either Rockshox or RST's. Halfords do have some good deals on Carrera bikes but im not sure they aren't skimping somewhere on them, especially on the cheap-midrange units.

Like has been mentioned, it may be worth a look at the 2010 bikes as you can get some good bargains on them, here (http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b65s2p3425) for example.

For a 2011 bike you might look at something like this (http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/cube-attention-mountain-bike-white-n-blue-id59722.html).

Having said that, never buy a bike without seeing it in the flesh first, of course im sure your aware of that, but it's important :)

Have you got a local, decent cycle shop, they may even be happy to pricematch or throw in some free stuff, helmet, lights, gloves etc.