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A friend of mine has asked my advice on getting a bike at this price point.
Trouble is I have no idea - had anyone got any first hand/anecdotal advice/recommendations?
£500 would be top end of budget....
Cheers
I havent seen one in the flest but a canyon grand canyon 29er would ve my recomendation if he can stretch for postage if not the 13 bikes from halfords start at £499 and look pretty good for the cash
£500 was always the price point for a decent entry level HT, very competitive part of the market so IMO good value and sale items usually to be found. If it's going to be new I'd say definitely HT vs FS as the compromises on a FS at that price are too great. Any of the major manufacturers will have good offerings, Giant, Trek, Specialised, Cube, Lapierre ? As a note on spending less my first MTB was a £350 hard rock with rim brakes and although it took me all over the Surrey Hills, has been used as a comuter and is still ridden 10+ years later spending more would have got a lot better bike.
Get him to save £100 more and get a voodoo bizango. Great bike for the money.
See plenty of very nice 26" hardtails going for £500 or less on FB bike groups or ebay.
I'd look for stuff like Genesis core or altitude, saracen zen 2012 -onwards, Orange crush, Whyte.
Our ex-hire hardtails might be worth a look? Genesis Core 10s with brand new, unused wheels, tyres, cassettes, chains and rotors. Will be £395. For the £500 budget you could upgrade the fork to something reasonable too and have a very decent hardtail.
Another vote for the Bizango. One of the best value hardtails you can buy.
Just spoken with him and he is open to looking at second hand - he'll get loads more for his dosh that way.
Whereabouts is he rascal? My brother has a GT for sale. See FS post for more info.
I've got a 2013 Scott scale 960 in medium going for £475. Collection from Croydon.
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