How important is age?

[silk186]

I can look up reviews of older bikes and check the RRP but I'm not sure how to compare for example a bike that retailed for £600 in 2008 vs a bike that was £400 in 2012.

Also, does anyone know how to compare a giant revel vs giant talon?

 

[yello]

Don't buy into "best bike" thinking for starters. There are few real lemons out there, from reputable manufacturers at any rate.

Look at and compare specs and geometries. Decide what YOU want from a bike, and how much you want to pay for it. Both bikes you mention are doubtless good bikes; one might suit you more than the other, or both might, or neither.

What are you looking for?

 

[silk186]

I'm looking to spend around £130 for something that is fun too ride. It will mostly be a computer bike going to uni and work. It must be light and handle well, with good brakes. I want front suspension as it's more fun to ride and the roads here are poor.

Below is my current bike.
The rear brake is a Shimano DX.
I also bought a Giant GRS but I sold it as I thought it was terrible to ride. I didn't like the grip shift for the gears and I felt like the bike was ready to brake every time I would go up or down a curb. The frame was also heavier. In general I thought it was very poor value as I paid £40 for it and my current bike was only £25, and is a much better ride.
I ride aggressively and I'm 100kg, so I want something that feels solid.
I'm going to look at a 2009-20010 Giant talon 3 on Monday.
Obviously I'm buying use which I can only check bikes as they become available.

 

[Kins]

Plenty of decent hard tails for that money. You won't get hi spec components unless you're very lucky but loads of lightish frames with 3 x 9 gearing. Altus and Acera are the low end mountain bike groupsets. You should be able to get a mixed group of Alivio/Deore for that sort of money. Maybe better if they don't know what they are selling.

 

[KneesUp]

What is the problem with your current bike?

 

[Cycleops]

There is loads of stuff out there from the eighties and nineties for that sort of money. Steer clear of suspension forks and gripshifts and you might get something decent. The tyres will give you more bounce than a pair of cheap sus forks.You have got to know what you are looking at though otherwise it could end up costing you a lot of dosh. Get something that has been looked after or little used.

 

[silk186]

The problem is that when i try to suddenly accelerate or pull up the front I feel like something is going to give. I also want better brakes as I will often ride in the rain.
Thanks Kins, that's the type of advice I'm looking for.

Are Shimano BR-M416 any good? I'm not finding much on them online.

 

[John the Canuck]

brakes