Budget MTB Decathlon

[Eziemnaik]

Dear forum
A friend is looking for a budget bike and is torn between these two
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/27-5-mountain-bike-st-530-uk/_/R-p-327423?mc=8600521&c=BLACK

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/27-5-mountain-bike-st-900/_/R-p-301098

For various reasons decathlon is the only option
Is it worth paying extra for st900?
Bike would be used for pottling around, some very easy tracks

 

[nickyboy]

For pootling around and easy tracks the cheaper one is 100% suitable. However, I would choose a hybrid for this sort of riding. Suspension, fat knobbly tyres etc are not needed at all. Decathlon has plenty of similarly priced hybrids

 

[FrankCrank]

+1 wot he said

 

[Cycleops]

He could also consider this hybrid:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/hybrid-bike-riverside-900/_/R-p-300794

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

He could also consider this hybrid:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/hybrid-bike-riverside-900/_/R-p-300794

No, not one of those things with sus forks! Just extra stuff to wear out and need maintenance. Basic version Riverside with rigid forks will do the job.
For that matter, if you're just riding easy gravel and dirt tracks and just want MTB fat tyres for comfort, you could get away with a £100 Challenge Conquer 26" bike from Argos. OK, they are only really glorified gravel cruisers because they have limited range gears, but there' plenty of riders pootling around on them.

 

[FrankCrank]

No, not one of those things with sus forks! Just extra stuff to wear out and need maintenance. Basic version Riverside with rigid forks will do the job.
For that matter, if you're just riding easy gravel and dirt tracks and just want MTB fat tyres for comfort, you could get away with a £100 Challenge Conquer 26" bike from Argos. OK, they are only really glorified gravel cruisers because they have limited range gears, but there' plenty of riders pootling around on them.

Looks perfectly adequate, a quick glance at the welds would be the decider for me.