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Good MTB for under £250?

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Wabby
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 25 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 21:28 - 01 Jun 2013    Post subject: Good MTB for under £250? Reply with quote

Anybody any suggestions on a good second hand MTB for under £250?

Preferably need a larger than normal frame size (20-22"+)?

Ta
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Frog
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PostPosted: 09:06 - 02 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Depends on your definition of good Confused
At that money, your want a hardball rather than full suspension.

I can't be of massive help, but the next questions will include:
What are you using it for? Road/off-road/bit of both
How often will you be using it / how many miles are you planning on doing?

At that sort of cash I'd be looking to see what I can find on the eGhey.
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arry
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PostPosted: 09:14 - 02 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go S/H and pick up something like a GT Avalanche 1.0, Specialised RockHopper etc

New, £250 won't buy you anything decent. You may get something for £350 ish from Decathlon which aren't actually bad bikes for the money. £500 upwards for a 'decent' hardtail with reasonable front forks
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Bubbs
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PostPosted: 09:40 - 02 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check here mate: https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/?region=5&countryid=193

I doubt you'd get much for £250.00

You'd be looking more at £500-700 for a half decent 2nd hand bike.
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Wabby
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PostPosted: 10:27 - 02 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looking at a rockrider big rr 5.3.

Any good for a first serious mtb?
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Frog
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PostPosted: 11:59 - 02 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wabby wrote:
Looking at a rockrider big rr 5.3.

Any good for a first serious mtb?


Depends on your definition of serious. Are we talking big drops, knarly berms and rock gardens, or flat fire roads and commuting?

I've never heard of rock rider, but I'm pretty sure those forks are budget. At that price, I suspect that's a compromise you're going to need to make.

'bad' forks are ok on road, smooth trails, and maybe even occasional drops / rocks etc., but on anything technical you're going to want to upgrade them pretty quick if you're looking to take it up seriously.

EDIT: junk might be a bit of a harsh word to use there. Low quality or simple are probably better options. Let's go with "budget"
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Frog
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PostPosted: 12:10 - 02 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Having said all of that, you're still getting a lot of bike for the price. As always with bikes (up to a point), you just get much more with just a little more money.... Confused
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Wabby
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PostPosted: 07:08 - 03 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ended up going with a second hand Rockrider Big RR 5.3.

Seems good tbh for the price paid.

Did 12 miles on it last night and all goes well - other than my now mega sore arse!

Roll on some off-roading Smile
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HJM
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PostPosted: 20:30 - 04 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey mate, sorry for the revival but how much did you pay for the RR 2nd hand?

Been looking at decathlon's range as a way to break into MTB and they seem to be coming out on top.

Cheers man.
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stinkwheel
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Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 21:58 - 04 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did the Phoenix trail at Mabie forest at the weekend on a fully rigid, single speed MTB which started life as a road hybrid.

I paid £55 for it off ebay, bunged some 29" tyres on the 700c rims. Bent the chainstays so the tyre would fit. Fitted a single speed freewheel, a singleator and cut down an old 3-ring crankset I had lying about.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/CIMG0984_zps08721baa.jpg

I had a great time. Only fell off once and that was because a brake pad came loose and locked the front wheel.

Suspension is for pussies. On a rigid single speed, anyone who beats you with suspension and multiple gearing still loses.

Buy a cheap bike. Fit expensive tyres and brake pads. Ride it.
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HJM
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PostPosted: 22:03 - 04 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wish i could :/ im fooking clueless about bikes and have not the slightest idea what to look for in a bike, and what makes a bike 'good' ect.

Im on a ridiculously tight budget of <200 if possible so my only hope is s/h, but as above....im a clueless c*nt.

Neutral
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 22:08 - 04 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

HJM wrote:
I wish i could :/ im fooking clueless about bikes and have not the slightest idea what to look for a bike, what makes a bike 'good' ect.

Im on a ridiculously tight budget of <200 if possible so my only hope is s/h, but as above....im a clueless c*nt.

Neutral


I bought that one because I liked the look of the curvy tubes on the frame. No other reason.

See if there is a bicycle recycling charity near you. They often have shitloads of older bikes for next to nothing. Get talking to someone in the workshop part who looks like they know what they are talking about and tell them what you want. If the ones I've been to before are anything to go by, they have a warehouse full of scrap bikes stripped to their componant parts. They'll probably build you one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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HJM
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PostPosted: 22:11 - 04 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers for the advice, will defiantly have a look around, theirs bound to be loads of them around London.

Its a shame this cycle 2 work bollocks doesn't apply to students lol, would be nice.
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 22:18 - 04 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

HJM wrote:

Its a shame this cycle 2 work bollocks doesn't apply to students lol, would be nice.


It does. It applies to any bike you purchase as a student.

Cycle to work allows people to buy a bike by subtracting the cost of the bike from their salary before tax is deducted. Resulting in an effective 20%(ish) rebate on the total cost of the bike as they are not paying income tax on the money used to purchase the bike.

Since you don't pay tax as a full time student, you get this anyway.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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SQL
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PostPosted: 00:33 - 05 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

HJM wrote:
I wish i could :/ im fooking clueless about bikes and have not the slightest idea what to look for in a bike, and what makes a bike 'good' ect.

Im on a ridiculously tight budget of <200 if possible so my only hope is s/h, but as above....im a clueless c*nt.

Neutral


I just sold my Voodoo Shango for <£150
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400bandit
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PostPosted: 22:27 - 05 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I picked up my Voodoo Bantu for £180 off ebay in great condition. I doubt you can do much better that a Bantu.
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Tarmacsurfer
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PostPosted: 10:15 - 18 Jun 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
stuff


Mr.Wheel, you're awesome. Don't ever go changing on us Thumbs Up
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