Howdy,
My brother is looking to get back into riding again and wants a hard trail for “some XC, single track and general messing about” (his words). He used to be all about Norco hardcore hardtails and free ride FS bikes back in the day but now wants something that’ll take a thrashing yet also pootle along a cycle path with his young kids.
I’m thinking some kind of modern geo trail hardtail is a good all rounder and more versatile these days that a burly 160mm huck bike.
As he’s not too sure how much biking he’s actually going to get to do he only really wants to spend about £1k. Needs to be a full build as neither of us has the t8me to build one up from frame.
So:
- £1k(ish)
- All round trail bike (XC, Singletrack, trail centre, DH, etc)
- Steel or aluminium
- Not short and tall geo
- 27.5 or 29 wheels
- 130-150 forks
- Complete build
- not a Hello Dave style gnarpoon
- not a gravel bike
- in stock
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Ta
Tom KP
Boardman MHT 8.9 has crept up to £1100 but often gets discounted back to a grand. It's one of the few options around that price that has a reasonable fork (Reba RL) and decent tubeless-ready tyres.
Ragley Big Al is similar price but slacker and longer fork if they do want something less XC and more capable down.
I paid about that for my scandal and it’s done all the things you list without issue . Not sure on stock though.
Vitus Sentier 29 VR is £1100 ish and very good spec for the price - has a Marz Z2 on it. Lots of other bikes at that price have a low spec RS Recon. XL currently in stock but not the other sizes.
On One Scandal / On One Vandal both around that price. Bizarrely the Vandal (Ti frame) is £1099 at the moment I think. Either are a good all rounder trail bike with a good spec broadly for the money. Mostly Sram Gx 12 speed - just the tyres are very cheap panaracers.
On-One Vandal if its still about a grand in the sale.
Sonder Transmitter/Signal depending on wheel size and frame material preferences.
The Nukeproof scout is currently discounted at some places to just over £1k
https://www.biketart.com/products/nukeproof-scout-290-race-bike-2021?variant=41562017464499
Or a nice Whyte Hardtail £reduced to £980
https://www.teamcycles.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/2022-whyte-801-v4-hardtail-mountain-bike-matt-granite-chalk-and-rose__24580?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=W8012MV4-22&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8J3k4sTN-AIVi9_tCh1hbQFZEAQYAiABEgIWv_D_BwE
Is second hand an option?
I was in a similar position and recently bought a used Orange Crush Comp for close to £800. Ready to ride.
For me it was wanting a decent base that if I decide to can be upgraded as and when. Mine only has NX but that will be replaced as will the Rockshox Sector 150mm fork.
When I went through this for my sun scandal was the answer
Gx group set rather sx
Shhhhh RAGLEY RAGLEY RAGLEY
I love my sentier vr
Love love love my stoic 2
I’d throughly recommend a nukepropf scout if one can be found to match the budget. My sister has one and we’ve just come back from a trip in which she road it on all the trails at anturstiniog as well as a big loop round swaledale. But she also uses it for flat waggonway loops round home. Got to be one of the best do it all bikes I’ve seen. Though some of the credit has to go to the rider in this case.
Ragley Big Al is good value, £1100 with a really solid Deore group set. And in stock on CRC.
