Help me pick my next bike!!!!

[ShxdowRider420]

So.. I'm pretty new to mountain biking. I grew up all my life pretty much attached to a BMX but now that I'm 25 I decided to swallow the pill and get a MTB... I picked up a Carrera Kraken 27.5'' 2015 edition (white and blue). At first I bought this bike just to mess around on and to get from A to B. It wasn't until me and my m8 went to a few local MTB trails at the beginning at the summer that I for the first time experienced fast paced downhill mountain biking (on this bike) and have decided to stick to it. We've probably been to the tracks around 4/5 times over the summer for the full day and had great fun...

In summary, I feel the Carrera Kraken is genuinely unbeliavble on the trails. Both speed and control of the bike is brilliant. I couldn't help notice that every other rider there had high spec bikes though. Most of them full suspension bikes worth £1000 and most times even more. Its got me questioning wither or not the Kraken is the appropriate MTB to upgrade and keep for hammering these steep and technical trails ... I can't help but feel everyone is looking at me for having a cheap bike even though most time it looks better than theirs ..

I ride my bike pretty hard up and down the steeps yet I have still to witness a single chain slip on the Kraken. Everything seems to work perfectly, the 120mm front forks regardless of what the consumer reviews say are high on performance in my book.. Its like landing on a cloud when I have them activated. Really spongey and nice.. my computer says I hit around 22mph down the steeps and I can honestly say that not once did the bike feel shakey or uncontrolled. The adrenaline rush I get from it is second to none... for me, the best bike i've ever had. On a few occasions I've actually passed people on the trails who have encountered some kind of technical issue with their big fancy bike at the side of the track as mines glides flawlessly past them... What does this mean?? is paying over the odds for a MTB really over-rated??? can a budget hardtail like the Kraken really be used for Red and Black rated trails????

Bare in mind that I'm not really looking to race or try act professional with this I'm just looking to just hit fun speeds down shifty tracks and maybe the odd little jump here and there.. As I said, I'm new to mountain biking. The thing is I don't want to spend anymore than I would spend on buying a decent second hand motor bike either (£1000) I also don't wanna spend anymore than £1000 for a bike that i'll end up bumping and bruising to hell off rocks the size of my head... I can't really afford it enough to justify it.

but yeah, If anyone could give me advice it would be greatly appreciated. If downhill mounting biking is what I'm going to do, Am I considered an idiot for sticking with the Carrera Kraken? Is there another type of bike that would be best suited? Can the kraken really be utilised on such tough terrain and expect to withstand the brutality of the bumps and jumps?? Should I just keep the bike seeing as I like it and just upgrade it as I go along?? is a full susser really necessary?? ... Is the whole idea of having a bike worth more than your car really that essential in the world of MTB??? someone help

 

[Jody]

Where to start? If you're happy on the carrera the keep going for a while until you decide what you want and how you ride. Don't feel you need a high end bike because others do. If you enjoy what you're doing then thats all that matters. There are different types of MTB depending on what you want out of them, downhill, trail, short travel XC fs, hardtails etc. All of them are good for their intended purposes. I doubt you want a DH bike as they can be hard work riding around and involve a lot of pushing uphill. You also won't get a new one for £1000. More like £3000+. A full suss is not necessary but does make riding rock gardens and rough terrain easier. But you can still ride most if not all terrain on a HT.

From what you describe and your budget I would be looking for a year old 140ish mm full suss. Ride it for as year or two and see where you go from there.

Out of interest where do you ride and what type of terrain?

 

[Cycleops]

What a great post! I think this highlights some of the horse manure marketing and hype which seems to surround Mountain biking in particular.
You felt your bike was just as good and performed just as well as its more expensive counterparts on the trail, but you felt the owners of more supposedly sophisticated machinery looked down on you. Welcome to the MTB equivalent of the king's new clothes. Your bike gives you just as much satisfaction as machines costing many tines more. Sure you could get an advantage from a better pair of forks but it doesn't stop you having fun which is what its all about.
I should stick with the Kraken and have a good laugh at those who have spent a ton more money and only get a 'better' bike when you can see a real performance improvement over your current one.

 

[fossyant]

Boardman FS Pro old stock. Or get a second hand one.

Fantastic bikes for the money. Dead happy with my 2014 model (the silver one)

 

[fossyant]

A couple of lads I go out with have the Voodoo Hanzo and they are capable bikes. Both bikes a good few years old. Both are one of the quickest in the group. One lad with a Santa Cruz Chamelion is one of the slowest up hill, a good £3k bike for a hard tail.

 

[ShxdowRider420]

Thanks for the replies folks!! I've made the decision to keep the kraken for year or so.. this gives me time to save up for a better bike. I would very much prefer a full suspension bike over a hardtail next time round as I've never had a good full susser in my life. The Carrera kraken is as good as its got for me

... I had my eye on the Giant Trance Series Bikes. Specifically the 2 and the 1.5

They look great to me. Right up my alley in terms of visual. Above that, the specs on them also look insane, all components on each of them look well branded and high quality as well. Have a look... I know I said I wouldn't pay more than 1000 but I think I may stretch my budget to 1500-2k max to get a real good bike

Giant Trance 2 GE MTB Full Suspension Bike:
https://www.bikester.co.uk/giant-tra...ck-696837.html

Giant Trance 1.5 GE MTB Full Suspension Bike:
https://www.bikester.co.uk/giant-tra...ey-696834.html

are any of these 2 bikes a wise move for the money? is there any other bikes of similar spec that would be better within the same price range??? Any suggestions for my first serious mtb bike would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ShxdowRider420]

Where to start? If you're happy on the carrera the keep going for a while until you decide what you want and how you ride. Don't feel you need a high end bike because others do. If you enjoy what you're doing then thats all that matters. There are different types of MTB depending on what you want out of them, downhill, trail, short travel XC fs, hardtails etc. All of them are good for their intended purposes. I doubt you want a DH bike as they can be hard work riding around and involve a lot of pushing uphill. You also won't get a new one for £1000. More like £3000+. A full suss is not necessary but does make riding rock gardens and rough terrain easier. But you can still ride most if not all terrain on a HT.

From what you describe and your budget I would be looking for a year old 140ish mm full suss. Ride it for as year or two and see where you go from there.

Out of interest where do you ride and what type of terrain?

Thanks mate! I am fairly enjoying the Kraken. I'm going to keep it for the next 12 months and just buy a new bike next summer. This gives me time to save up. I'm gonna stretch my budget to 1500-2k max for a decent bike so I would appreciate any suggestions you may have on what bike to get when that time comes. I had my eye on the Giant Trance 2 or 1.5 GE. I posted links in the thread somewhere... have a look and see what you think. Feel free to suggest any other bikes worth looking at in the same price range.

I'm riding in the West Coast of Scotland. Nature trails , mounting walks, forestry ect..