Repair or time for a new bike?

[PeteSmith]

I took my rockhopper into the bike shop for some well overdue repairs, it badly needs a new chainset, as the gears slip and i have trouble shifting. However i knew full well it needed much more doing to it, the tyres were worn (resemble slicks) and the disc pads need changing. This is what i have been quoted:

Tyres x 2
Chain Cassette
Chain Rings
Front/Rear Pads
Rear Hub
Headset
Cables

Parts + Labour will come to £288. Now i'm well aware this is probably more than the bike is worth, afterall it is 3 years old (cost ~£700 new iirc). So the question is should i repair or should i put the money towards a replacement bike. If i do replace i'm going for a full sus this time around. Any suggestions welcome.

FYI i am looking to buy my 1st home sometime in the near future so money can be better spent elsewhere, that said i do a lot of riding so i can't do without a bike. Budget is tight.

[Lowe]

Why not price up some stuff yourself? A few people I've bought from and had decent service from:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com
http:/www.wiggle.co.uk
http://www.discobrakes.com/

You'd probably save a packet and get better quality parts if you did it yourself? You'd probably be best of buying a new chain as well if you're changing the cassette/chain rings since it's probably worn/stretched as well.

[jackvdbuk]

well budget and full suspension does not go hand in hand. to even get a decent full suspension i suggest spending at least £1,000. not to mention the extra maintenance on the second suspension over a hardtail...

if it was me id go for a fresh bike £300 is a nice sum to put towards something new and better (usually) really depends on yourself if you want to spring the extra cash (over the 300) to buy a decent hardtail/full suspension bike. even £500 you can kit yourself out with some nice stuff (hardtail though)

i also agree with lowe actually - you have been specced this stuff but without knowing what parts you'll be getting, its hard to know whether this £288 is worth it or not! ive seen XT chainsets foir like £90 a couple of months back and thats top end gear!

[PeteSmith]

Thanks for the replies, yes a new chain was included in that price. I'm not sure they are charging that much for labour considering the amount of work and parts required.

By my calculations they are charging £30 for labour, which to me seems reasonable considering.

[[GSV]Trig]

If there changing the rings and casette at the same time they should of put chain on there.

damn it you replied while I was typing..

[JPreston]

Originally Posted by Lowe

Why not price up some stuff yourself? A few people I've bought from and had decent service from:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com
http:/www.wiggle.co.uk
http://www.discobrakes.com/

You'd probably save a packet and get better quality parts if you did it yourself? You'd probably be best of buying a new chain as well if you're changing the cassette/chain rings since it's probably worn/stretched as well.

I'll add http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/index.php if they aren't the same place as Disco Brakes

Agreed, best thing is buy the bits yourself and put them on. Maybe headset needs installing at a shop as there is a knack to do it without the proper tools. Get a whole new handbuilt wheel from merlin cycles, best in the UK apparently and I bet cheaper than what you were quoted for your hub, and tyres are better bought separately anyway (choose your price and match to your ground conditions).

[Mblaster]

The headset and rear hub would be things I wouldn't want to do myself, the rest should be do-able though.

About the quoted price, without knowing the exact parts being put on it's hard to tell whether or not it's a good price, those parts can vary from about £150-500 depending on the model.

[PeteSmith]

The parts are to be replaced on a like for like basis. It's the 2007 rockhopper, spec as below:

Frame: M4 manipulated alloy frame
Forks: RockShox Tora 302 SL 100mm
Gears: Shimano Deore M-530 front and Shimano LX rear derailleurs
Shifters: Shimano Deore SL M511
Chainset: Shimano FCM-442-8 Octalink Spline with replaceable rings and alloy outer
Brakes: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic discs with 6 inch G2 Clean Sweep rotors
Wheels: Specialized/Alex RHD 26 double wall disc rims built on Specialized Hi Lo disc CNC flange and disc mount QR front and Shimano FH-M475L cassette disc QR rear hubs
Tyres: Specialized Fast Trak 26x2.0 inch aramid bead tyres
Handlebars: Specialized 31.8mm XC Rise
Stem: Specialized 3D forged alloy
Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry
Seatpost: Specialized alloy micro adjust
Pedals/Extras: Specialized alloy pedals

Obviously where like for like parts can't be sourced they will be replaced with the modern equivilent.

[lego batman]

Look second hand maybe, but as said above do it yourself apart from headset and hubs.
If you need it as a commuter, you could look to buy a cheap road bike off ebay in the meantime and then repair the fun mountain bike later when funds are available. Would give you a speed boost too!

[Rave]

I've done a headset, they're easy enough. But why does it need replacing? Do you adjust it regularly? If so you must do a hell of a lot of mileage?

Are they going to dismantle your wheel and then lace it all back up with another hub? If so I reckon you might as well just buy a new and possibly lighter wheel from Merlin and then just fit that instead.

TBH I haven't bothered pricing up the parts but with labour included it looks like a reasonable price- although nothing there is hard to do yourself. IMO every serious cyclist should be able to do any job on a bike short of wheelbuilding. And the bike's only three years old so there's no good reason to get rid of it that I can see.

[PeteSmith]

Well i got it fixed up and its good as new again, and i'm happy. Can't wait to get out at the weekend. During the summer i use it most nights, and every weekend, so yes it's done a great deal of mileage.
I don’t mind doing the odd repair but not this – too time consuming. I enjoy cycling immensely, so i don't mind paying a small premium to get the job done quickly and professionally.