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What Electric Bike Should I Get?

What new mountain bike should I get? Full sussy or hardtail?

  • Basically, I've just had my GCSE results and I'm very happy with them, so are my parents! Therefore, they've decided to get me a new bike, which is something I've wanted for a long time. I am interested in acquiring a mountain bike of some sort, but need some advice on what type to get. The bike will be used for everyday travel around inner city London, as well as the occasional off-road leisurely cycle with mates, although I am not sure what type of mountain bike is suitable for such purposes (full suspension, or hardtail, i think these are the two types?!). The budget will be around £500 and no more than £800-£900, but simultanesouly something that will last me a long time, e.g. through university, possibly next decade?, and something that is not too heavy. I've looked at bikes on the Evans Cycles website, who are currently having an end-of-season sale on various mountain bikes. The problem is I have no idea how to interpret the specs. Some of the full sussy bikes appeal to me, only since they are only a select few on sale, but I'm not sure if they are ideal: Mongoose Teocali Comp 2008 Mountain Bike @ £649.99 Kona Four 2008 Mountain Bike @ £699.99 Bianchi Legor 5200 Disc 2008 Mountain Bike @ £699.99 Trek Fuel EX 5.5 2008 Mountain Bike @ £749.99 Pinnacle Tent Peak 1.0 2007 Mountain Bike @ £749.99 Scott Aspect FX 25 2008 Mountain Bike @ £799.99 Pinnacle Evolution 2.0 2008 Mountain Bike @ £849.99 As for the hardtails, there are so many to choose from! PS: I am planning to do a charity bike ride to Birmingham next year, so something fast would be good. THANK YOU SO MUCH IF YOU CAN HELP ME!

  • Answer:

    Seriously, if you are going to spend over £500 on a nice bike, don't ride it or park it (even locked up) in London, or any other town or city. Budget £30 for an old second hand rigid framed mountain bike, no suspension, no frills, and preferably no quick release wheels or saddle! make it look distinctive but not desirable. You can get one of these from your local free ads paper, or on eBay. Then budget about £20 for a decent lock, buy it new from a decent bicycle shop. If you insist on using a £500+ bike in London, budget at least £50 for security, plus insurance; you'll get insurance discounts for certain locks, so check this before you buy. Then for your main bike, buy a hardtail, not a full suspension bike. A hardtail is MUCH better suited to the sort of riding you'll be doing, 1) You will get much better components on a £600 hardtail than on a £600 full susser. 2) A full susser is only better than a hardtail for a small percentage of the average range of riding, ie, jumping, racing, and some black routes. On the majority of riding, they are noticeably heavier, and absorb your pedalling power by bouncing. 3) A hardtail will climb more willingly, and steer more responsively. and in that price range, will be sturdy enough for any cross country riding and even aggressive red routes. Most bike shops are having end of season sales around now, so don't feel limited to Evans, have a look around. For your charity ride, you would benefit from having a lockout feature on your front forks, and a set of hybrid or slick tyres to swap on just for road riding. Of the brands you listed, I would recommend Trek, Kona, Mongoose, Scott, in that order, Pinnacle is not such a well known brand, and Bianchi is more of a specialist in road bikes.

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A hardtail in your price range would be one of VERY high quality. The full suspension for that same price would be crappy and fall apart. Also, only the most extreme forms of mountain biking truly benefit from the full suspension. Others just think it looks good and buy it anyway. For the type of riding you'll be doing go for the quality hardtail.

9 hundo

You can get an Orange with hydraulic disc brakes for £650.The new 08 Marins are out in sept. You can get A hawkhill with discs for £579. Alloys are strong and light. Steel is strong and heavy.

Happy Man

Hardtails are alot lighter than sussy's.

si

Have you considered a cyclocross bike? It's pretty much a road bike but can take some offroading as well. If the geometry is right, it works better than mountain bikes for longer distance like charity rides. But yes, like all previous answers you don't need a rear suspension especially if you want to keep the weight down. If you need more suspension, change out to a fatter tire (tyre) on the rear and it helps out the traction too.

Ron S

Doesnt really sound like you need full suspension for what you'll use it for. Ive always been a fan of GT bikes, I love the lightness of the frame and the more bmx style, which have a great position for both off road and round town. The full suspension I-drive is good http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_271273_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_90930_crumb_33980-90909_parentcategoryrn_90930 They also do a Town/Hardtrail cross bike that may suit http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_271207_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_90930_crumb_33980-90909_parentcategoryrn_90930 Ive just got a standard Hard Trail GT, I do about 50/50 road and off road. The key to choosing a bike is to try and sit on as many as possible, which ever you feel comfortable with. This is mine http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_271269_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_90930_crumb_33980-90909_parentcategoryrn_90930 May aswell stick with hardtrail

between 500-900 you can get a very good hardtail or a reasonable full suspension bike. full suss bikes are heavier than hardtails and due to 'pedal bob' (when pedalling fast the suspension causes a slight up and down bobbing motion) they aren't as fast as hardtails either. something like a kona kula would be a nice bike to get

iamalsotim

If you consider a hardtail, get a steel frame. It's a nice ride that's easy on the bones and last longer than aluminum. Steel is a bit heavier, but it's not as heavy as a full suspension, and you'll get used to it easily. Plus, you can't beat the ride quality.

Darth Scandalous

There have already been some good answers. To echo most of them, I'd say definitely hardtail unless you're doing regular punishing off road. My only other comment would be re spec. I just bought a new Boardman Mountain Comp. The spec is excellent for a £650 bike. Most bikes use 3rd party components like brakes, chainsets etc so a good way of comparing is to look at the prices of each component across the makes. For instance, some £650 bikes use £90 front forks, some use £250 front forks. Hope this helps

leigh_at_ch9

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