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I'm a Saracen fan. I admit it. I ride a 2012 Kili Flyer and it's luvverly.
But a 2014 Saracen catalogue has just landed on my workbench and, my oh my, do they have some cracking bikes out this year. The Kili Flyer 122 is probably the pick of the range for me or the Zen with dropper post 2x10 Deore/SLX and Sektors for £1499
At the other end there's the Tuffrax Elite, an 8sp, hydraulic disced, 700mm barred 29er for £420! That's a proper usable first MTB at a price that undercuts Trek and Specialized by a clear £100.
Flicking through the spec it's obvious someone has thought long and hard about what UK riders need. I'm very impressed. 🙂
The Terminal BMX is lush in an old skool fashion too.
I love the new range they have. Look well designed with a good spec BUT the FS bikes are to expensive. Charging more than kona/Giant/Spec for the same spec. It's a shame as I was looking at the Ariel.
butt itz sarcin innit? 🙂
Is there a 29er Zen?
I saw a proto pic a year or so ago but I guess they dropped it for 650b.
No steel. 🙁
I wish they would make some sort of steel HT under the Kili name.
I get the impression madison were wanting to shift the mtb market to saracen from genesis?
I wish they would make some sort of steel HT under the Kili name.
I'd agree, but they did and it must not have sold.
But then perhaps they were asking way too much for it.
Edit - And the Zen is a remarkably comfy alu frame, as well as being light and stiff.
CFH: 2011 - Saracen Kili Cromo - lovely 853...
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Few were still available NOS last time I looked.
^^ that's like PP's. Tasty frame.
I had a 2013 Zen, 17" last Summer, it sort of became my favourite bike! 650b, dropper, velvet forks, SLX etc, for sale as I want the 2014 version. 😯
Got a kili flyer 121 at the start of January , hopefully it lasts longer than my genesis grapil .
Did you break your Grapil? I broke 2. 😳
Agreed its sad there's no steel but the steel Kilis were too expensive. Lovely frames, prototyped by Enigma, but £750 was too much for the frame. I bought mine used off here. 🙂
And the best thing about Saracen, Genesis and Ridgeback?
All Madison brands, so no Avid brakes. 🙂
lol at PP - indeed.
Saracen was my first ever MTB. Saracen Sahara Elite back in 1993. Eventually I upgraded to the top of the range Kili Ultra Ti (1997 I think).
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Sold it recently - bit of a heartbreak to see it go but I couldn't really justify keeping it and never using it.
It was awful when Saracen went all cheapo BSO, was so good to see them back with the steel hardtails again.
Their range this year does look good. If I was in the market for a new FS, the Kili Flyer 123 would certainly be up there
IHN - Memberbutt itz sarcin innit?
I guess some of us are old enough to remember the time before that.
In fact they weren't really on my radar at all during the 90s (once I'd become attached to Konas).
Did you break your Grapil? I broke 2.
I broke mine too DaveH, 😥 doomed frame unfortunately, although they were very good about it in the end. They tried to get me on a sarcin, but not my bag.
If we get back to the Tufftrak being the first proper bike of kids, that's one more thing right with the world.
(having said that, we have 2 Halfordz Sarcinz in the garage, a Raw 2 and a Rufftrak, they are brilliantly awful. The Rufftrak weighs more than my 224 and has suspension that mysteriously only seems to go up.
[i]I guess some of us are old enough to remember the time before that.[/i]
Oh, indeed, we are.
My mate had a Tufftrax in about, ooh, 1988. I was very jealous.
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My brother picked up a Kili Flyer Cromo last year, still brand new in the box for £1000.
The retail price of £2600 was a joke though, beautiful bikes.
I've had two.
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/13146208@N08/7379126640/ ]IMG_0452[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/13146208@N08/ ]100%of thetime60%ofthetime[/url], on Flickr[/img]
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/13146208@N08/8399695304/ ]IMG_0807[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/13146208@N08/ ]100%of thetime60%ofthetime[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Those steel Kili's are bloody lovely.. I couldn't find one in a small when I was looking though.. : (
Did you break your Grapil? I broke 2.
Yeah I also broke 2 , they wanted me to wait till a re designed rear triangle was available ! So to get them moving I told them I wanted a full refund , they offered me a kili flyer 121 , might as well give this 650b caper a try 🙂
£1499 turned my head so I checked out their website. Lists 2014 prices for the Kili as £1999 for the 121, £2599 for the 122 and £3199 for the 123
Disappointed now 😕
They are lovely looking bikes. I haven't ridden one for 2 - 3 years but, if I was in the market for a new HT, they'd be on my list.
I like the way they've turned themselves around. Honestly, 'UR bike iz sarcin', I thought, spelled the end of the brand as a serious MTB'er name.
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/new-bike-content-5 ]djbagines post [/url]of his new Ariel 15x [i]really[/i] caught my eye. Esp. as I'm a full sus = ugly kind of person!
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slightly more disappointed by the absolutely terrible coulour schemes and graphics on the bikes, the Kili's ref'd above in pics were beautiful, nice understated classic colours, great block graphics etc
this years some horror show of garish colours. they look very cheap IMHO.
edit - the black one above is actually very nice
however this one isn't!
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[url= 
]Ariel 151[/url]
Frame only is black and looks great. Bit of a competitive price range for frames at £1600 though.
Yeti 575 or Saracen? I know which I'd go for!
hmm, maybe it's black n grey
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I love that! Looks like a 90s trainer. The blue is a bit lost though
The chrome detail on my brothers frame is so so so nice.
The chrome detail on my brothers frame is so so so nice.
Have a word with him about those mudguards though, eh?
Bit of a competitive price range for frames at £1600
Hmmm, £1.6k for a Saracen frame when we all know the complete bikes will be going for less 10 months later? I'm not trying to be a clever dick, I'm genuinely a bit sad that they are so deluded on pricing.
Nothing wrong with the one on the forks but the rear is a bit pointless.
And I agree with the price, My brother picked his up brand new in the box for £1000.
Bought from a guy in Newcastle who had it for 9 months and never got round to building it, makes sense.
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I just had to Google this due to an above comment.
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Looks mint.
Looks mint.
More like teal I think.
I love the old style Redline-a-like forks that are fatter at the crown on that BMX.
the team colours on the ariel 152 sold itself too me. Like christmas, can‘t wait till payday to pick it up from lbs 🙂
I broke mine too DaveH
Ah, it got you too. I think the terrain and my weight accelerated my failure! I blazed the customer service path for you! What did you go for afterwards? I got a Bandit 26.
they offered me a kili flyer 121
How does that compare?
How does that compareOnly got out on it 3 times before a rather eventful Boxing Day ride when I came of big time and broke 5 ribs and damaged lung , I liked the grapil it rode well . The flyer feels a bit heavier but i don't mind as long as it's better built , bit harder up hill but felt fast downhill , maybe that's why I crashed 😉
On the plus side it must be a bike that goads you on!
On the plus side it must be a bike that goads you on!
It is a rather fast bike ! ( downhill)
That bmx frame is way too low slung, hate em like that! All about the tall standover bmx frames. Love the looks of the Saracen Ariel though. I've wanted one since the first incarnation of the frame. The black and gold one looks awesome.
But even the most expensive Cotic Rocket - now built in the UK - is cheaper than that Kili frame.
WTF are they thinking?
That Kili flyer 122 is what yeti should have done with an asr5.
I really hope they don't have one on show special at the bike show, otherwise I'll be on here desparately trying to sell a yeti.
Ah, it got you too. I think the terrain and my weight accelerated my failure! I blazed the customer service path for you! What did you go for afterwards? I got a Bandit 26.
Yeah afraid so.
I got a Yeti ASR5 and very happy with it. Shame about the grapil as I loved it, and it had a lot going for it, the geometry and suspension feel was ace. Was well thought out for Uk riding - good mud clearance, tough finish, etc. The geo and fit were spot on, just a shame it folded like butter.
I really hope Genesis dont give up on Mtbs as I really like the brand and don't see Saracen in the same light. Saracen seem to be targeting a younger market with their branding etc. There is definitely a place for Genesis making well thought out quirky bikes, in a similar vein to Cotic and I hope next year they expand their range again. I think Saracen need a reality check on their pricing too.
That Kili flyer 122 is what yeti should have done with an asr5.
I cant understand why Yeti ditched the ASR but kept the 575, which is heavier, no carbon rear and only slightly more travel.
Got one of the Ti frames last year following the PSA.My brother picked up a Kili Flyer Cromo last year, still brand new in the box for £1000.
Built it up with Reba RLTs, a few upgrades on the standard spec here and there, and more white for a smidge under £1,300.
Love it!
Also got a "Sarcin".
An early noughties Blitz which I'm rebuilding.
Happy memories, even if it does weigh more than y0 mumma!!