FS or Hardtail

[Ootini]

Hi all,

I live in North Wales and have been riding a CX bike for around a year or so. For the past 6 months it's been a dedicated road / path only bike. The main reason for this being, a few mates have road bikes and keeping up with them on knobbly CX tyres was a nightmare and the paths and trails round here, were just a bit too much for a CX bike.
I'm looking at picking up a mountain bike so I can get back in to the dirtier stuff but I'm not sure if a hardtail would suffice, or whether I should go whole hog and grab a low end full suspension bike. I'd like to ride Llandegla, Marin, Coed Y Brenin etc. For these trails, would a full suspension bike be required? or would a hard tail manage?

FYI for a hardtail I was drawn to the Halfords Voodoo Bazinga 29er. For a full suspension bike, cost would be a more limiting factor. I've seen a KTM FS bike at my LBS for £1k.

Thanks

 

[Kestevan]

You can ride pretty much any of those trails on a HT.

IMHO unless you are looking to send some serious money (1K is absolute bottom end, better off adding another £500 - £1000) then you will always be better off buying a decent HT than a full susser.

 

[Ootini]

Thanks for the heads up. I thought that may be the case re: bottom end FS or mid range HT.
I just have no idea about the more technical requirements of those trails.

 

[Pale Rider]

I've seen a KTM FS bike at my LBS for £1k.

Thanks

As your bike shop does KTM, have a look at the 1964 Special Edition hardtail.

Lovely bike, and very light which you will appreciate coming from CX.

http://www.shop.flidistribution.co.uk/p/2015-ktm-ultra-1964-special-edition?pp=12

 

[derrick]

Go for the HT, unless you can afford a good FS, i Spent £1100 on a FS a few years back, and at that money the rear shock is rubbish,I will eventually get a HT frame and swop it all over. A HT can do it all and they are lighter.

 

[Oldbloke]

As your bike shop does KTM, have a look at the 1964 Special Edition hardtail.

Lovely bike, and very light which you will appreciate coming from CX.

http://www.shop.flidistribution.co.uk/p/2015-ktm-ultra-1964-special-edition?pp=12

I'll vouch for that as I bought one in December, excellent bike.

Try Googling the model name, seen it much cheaper than £999.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Im in the same boat, budget is negotiable but I can't find a particularly well specced FS below £1400 (Been looking at Giant Anthem/Trance + Canyon Nerve AL 6/7)

Id still be tempted by a well sorted HT, probably Carbon framed.

 

[Pale Rider]

I'll vouch for that as I bought one in December, excellent bike.

Try Googling the model name, seen it much cheaper than £999.

After your recommendation in the tetchy thread, I had a brief go on one of these yesterday.

A bit over my budget, and my mountain bike plans are not fully formed, but I was very impressed with the bike.

Saved me looking any further, can't see the point - I either want one of those or will leave it for the time being.

 

[ColinJ]

I would prefer a nice hardtail to a cheap FS. In fact, I don't really like riding fast over gnarly stuff, and am more interested in climbing so the lighter weight of the hardtail would always be my first choice.

 

[Hacienda71]

I have a fs Specialized and have ridden the Marin on a hardtail a couple of times and it was fine.

 

[Ootini]

Just been on the blower to the LBS and they have a Ghost Kato 3 Hardtail that they're recommending as a first HT.

Anyone got any views on this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ghost-kato-3-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod126378
VS
this: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-bizango-29er-mountain-bike-20

 

[Kestevan]

TBH at that price I'd be wanting better than Alivio gearing and Suntour suspention....

Have a look at Decathlons offering for the same price (26" wheeler though).
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockride...l#anchor_ComponentProductTechnicalInformation

If you can run to another £100 then the planet X parkwood is going to be hard to beat for the money....
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX5/on-one-parkwood-sram-x5-mountain-bike

Alternatively if you're a short-arse or freakishly tall look at the offerings on Pauls cycles for something from a major manufacturer at a knock-down price ( although you may struggle if you want a "normal size" as they tend to go quickly).

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Also been eyeing this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sentier-vrs-hardtail-bike-2015/rp-prod120722 if not this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-rapide-275-hardtail-bike-2014/rp-prod107045

I'm biased though as I've owned more Vitus' than I have fingers to count them on

 

[Jody]

Less than 12 months old (maybe slightly biased)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-GIAN...1201532075?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item566d55e0ab

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

That's gorgeous but too small for me I'm a big lad