Mountain Bike

[Clippy]

Consider getting one second hand off eBay - I recently bought a nearly new Marin Sausalitito hybrid for 200 quid. It's 750 new.

link

That's some price saving - do second-hand bikes really fall in price that much?

Sure it's not nicked?

[badgerpig]

where Mountain bikes are concerned Ive found the saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is true, I started off with a £300 and killed it within a month, took it back to the shop who gave me a refund, I traded up to a more expensive bike from last season, its served me well over some rough terrain in the Lake District, Scotland and Wales, anything Specialized is generally bullet proof, If you definitely want a new bike Halfords have actually improved greatly as some of their bikes are now sponsored by team riders the kit on them is a lot better,plus you get comeback if it breaks, for that price Id either look on ebay and do some research or wait till the new season bikes come out and buy a "new" 2008 season bike from last years range, you'll get more for your money, for £300 (new) stay away from full suspension bikes as for that money they will be garbage!
youll get good advice from mountain bike forums (theres loads that give info on budget bikes) there is a lot of posing associated with mountain biking "all the gear no idea" people on 3 grand bikes complaining when they get muddy
so its not all about cost but you do need to invest a certain ammount to get something remotely hardy
good luck,

[Peoplesoft bloke]

And about 98% of people riding full-sus bikes really don't need them...

I plead guilty to that - and I'd like some other offences to be taken into account.

[JoJoGabor]

And about 98% of people riding full-sus bikes really don't need them...

Yeap I bough my first full suspension bike earlier this year and can't notice the difference. It just adds more hassle of keeping the rear shock at the right pressure. WIll swap back to a hardtail soon

[wurzel]

That's some price saving - do second-hand bikes really fall in price that much?

Sure it's not nicked?

It belonged to somebody who had emigrated to the States and he'd stashed it at his parents house. They put it on eBay with no reserve & I won the auction. To be honest though, it wasn't that new - it was a couple of years old but had never been ridden - so was as good as new.

[OwlHoot]

Decent mountain bikes start at about £500. You won't get anything worthwhile that will take even a medium amount of abuse under that price. I suggest getting something off eBay for a couple of hundred and spending the rest of your budget on parts and servicing.

Out of interest, what kind of mountain bike could one get for say up to £2000 ?

For example, how much would a bike with a titanium frame cost?

[OwlHoot]

Out of interest, what kind of mountain bike could one get for say up to £2000 ?

For example, how much would a bike with a titanium frame cost?

Edit: Just saw badgerpig's reply above. What about £3000, if there are quite a few models between 2K and 3K ?

I'm not interested in ultra-light racing bikes, with seats like razor blades, just tip-top quality indestructable mountain bikes.

[Bagpuss]

Now is a good time to buy a bike as the old model year bikes are sold off at discounts. Specialized rockhopper would be a good choice. £300 is pushing it though (no pun intended)

[bobsyouruncle]

Edit: Just saw badgerpig's reply above. What about £3000, if there are quite a few models between 2K and 3K ?

I'm not interested in ultra-light racing bikes, with seats like razor blades, just tip-top quality indestructable mountain bikes.

Well 2.5k gets you this

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2009bik...p?model_id=102

[Moscow Mule]

Well 2.5k gets you this

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2009bik...p?model_id=102

Or, you could build one of these,

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec018436

but with the titanium frame.