Best MTB around £ 300

[Chris P]

I did see another thread based on the same subject but it was quite old so I thought I would start a new thread.

Whats the best all round Bike with Hydraulic/Mechanical Brakes for around £300, nothing hardcore, basically for fitness and a bit of off road.

[Skinleech]

When I first got back into biking I was looking to spend about the same cash as you. Ended up with a Mongoose, though can't recall the name of the model currently. It was £280 from what I recall & had consistently strong reviews so that could be a good starting point for you.

[Dooms]

From my research a couple months ago for anything less than £500 you are better off looking at some 2nd hand bikes. My budget kept getting higher and higher until I doubled my budget and went for a Cube Analog 29er new :/

[ConnorLowe]

How about this?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165499

They do the 18", 20" and 22" models also

[jimborae]

Go 2nd hand and you'll get way more for your money, my preference would be for good condition steel framed, Orange P7.

[Chris P]

Thanks guys, I would get a better deal second hand but I always like to buy stuff new....

ConnorLowe - I was actually looking at this Bike, its a good spec and has good reviews but for a little more I went for the Carrera Vulcan, which has slightly better forks and 120mm travel and lockable forks - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...Id_165499#tab1

Before deciding to go cheaper to see how much I use it, I was looking at the Cube LTD SL 29 - http://www.cube.eu/en/hard/cross-cou...d-sl-29-black/

Next time I think i'm going to buy all the parts and have a go at building one myself, should be fun and cheaper

[bytejunkie]

it wont be cheaper. no economy of scale and think of the tools you'll need.

[jim]

Good challenge though. One of my mates did it, and whilst he still buys retail bikes, I don't think he'd ever let anyone take his bike.

[kalniel]

it wont be cheaper. no economy of scale and think of the tools you'll need.

Mostly normal tools you already have surely? Maybe bikes have moved on, but they used to be quite simple to build/maintain.

[bytejunkie]

never had to split a crank then? think there is a strage tool for a headset too no?
decent stand is a must if you;re going to service it yourself too imo. cant just flip it over like when we were kids

[kalniel]

never had to split a crank then? think there is a strage tool for a headset too no?
decent stand is a must if you;re going to service it yourself too imo. cant just flip it over like when we were kids

You used to just bang cotter pins in with a hammer

[Dooms]

never had to split a crank then? think there is a strage tool for a headset too no?
decent stand is a must if you;re going to service it yourself too imo. cant just flip it over like when we were kids

Hey I did that the other day to work on my wheels! It still works!

[ConnorLowe]

I remember trying to remove the giro on my old BMX because I didn't want to have brakes on it. Bashing the hell out of it with a hammer doesn't really work!

It's always nice to build your own bike, just like a PC, you can pick what you want to make it fit its purpose

[Chris P]

I priced up the cube Bike like for like but with much higher end Fox forks and it came out to be around £100 more expensive but the forks were a few hundred pounds more, the unique tools for Bikes maybe an issue but I know someone with a Bike shop that could help me out .

Picking up the Carrera today, also ordered a Sigma Sigma Sport BC12.12 STS Wireless Computer from Amazon at a good price, they seem to be a very good brand from looking at reviews.

EDIT: ( Sigma was £ 32.95, not the price the forum auto linked to )