How good is the Saracen Mantra 1 mountain bike?

Should I Buy A Mountain Bike Used?

• I'm looking at a used Saracen Raw 2 bike on eBay, its about 20 miles away from me so I will need to get a train down to get it and look at it. Its only £120 and £300 new (but discontinued now). Its either that, or get some cheap looking Trax bike from Halfords or one for £400 thats off a similar spec to the one I am looking at but new :/

• Answer:

  Yuk. Hideous piece of junk. Right, now that is out of the way. You have an option. Rutland cycling has a large fleet of rental bikes. They occasionally sell them off as they update their stock. Yes they have been ridden hard, but on flat, well paved track. You can get a viable susser for about half price. Option 2. Pitsford cycles has ex rental stock. It also has trade ins that they renovate. This means that you can get £700s worth of mountain bike for £150, where the rear cassette, chain and derailleur has been replaced and comes with a warranty. Option 3. American imports or last years models. You can pick these up from places like Evanscycles or Paulscycles. Option 4. There are quite a few charities that will take bikes from the tip, or donated, recondition them, replace worn parts and give you a three month warranty. One I know of is OWL bikes (Opportunities Without Limits), where people with disabilities are given the chance to work on the bikes under citek qualified mechanics. A typical hard tail mountain bike can be gained for £65. option 5. E-bay. Take somebody who knows what they are doing when you look the bike over. Luck