I'm looking to spend no more than £300 on a man's mountain bike and I'm totally confused by the many brands on offer, I know he wants disc brakes but other than that I'm at a loss of what 'name' to go for. Who makes the best mountain bikes please?
2007-05-04 03:29:48 · 14 answers · asked by beauty-trivia52 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
It's a bit like asking which is the best car for a given amount of money. Certainly at that price point there is no single one that is head and shoulders above the rest, competition is that fierce that specifications and quality are very similar.
As has already been mentioned, take a look at the more established international brands first like Marin, Kona, Trek, Giant and Specialized for example.
Having said that the bikes sold by Halfords have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and you can get a good bike for your money there as well.
2007-05-04 03:41:06 · answer #1 · answered by 203 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he's looking to take the bike on some of the trails that are dotted all over the country then certainly get into a local shop and let them know this as the strength and components fitted are essential for him and the bike surviving a fall. Go to a local shop and not one of the chains, you'll end up better for it. They'll do you as good a deal as any of the chains and probably won't be tied to certain brands. You might also get a few things thrown in.
If you know somebody who has a clue about bikes get them to search the Internet, especially for previous models. Some of the companies will reduce back stock to clear them out and will reduce bikes by a couple of hundred pounds. This is how I got mine and by luck it had a better spec than the newer models.
The girl from the shops advice is the best though. The bike has got to fit the rider and not the rider to fit the bike, especially if he's going on the trails.
Good Luck...
2007-05-04 18:01:42 · answer #2 · answered by John J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... there are a lot of brands that could be called the best.. but unfortunately they're well over your budget. That's like saying which brand of cars is the best to buy someone. But Ferrari and Porshes are way over my budget, don't take this comment in a bad way.
I think that you should look localy, since I think you're in the UK, and most of us at the other side of the pond are more used to US brands than English ones.
Disc brakes are expensive, so bikes for around your budget will come with low end brakes, maybe not worth it. But what you can look is if the bike accepts disc brakes, your SO can buy them later. What you need to check for is that the frame and fork have the tabs (the places to screw the calipers on) and that the hubs are disc-ready.
2007-05-04 17:47:41 · answer #3 · answered by Roberto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For A bkie like this, do not go to a large department or discount store. You should go to a bike shop and see what is available in the price range. When you buy at a big box store, you could save some money, but you get a bike of inferior quality that is assembled by stock room staff. Unfortunately this usually erodes all of the savings as you wind up having to go to a bike shop to have the bike rebuilt or adjusted.
Go to a local shop and see what brands they have. Bike from Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc. have very good reputations. In that price range, disk brakes may not be possible, but check it out.
2007-05-04 10:48:20 · answer #4 · answered by Jay P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
best to go with your partner to get it so you can size it properly. also suggest a good secondhand bike off Ebay as you will get a lot more for your money. Spending £300 in the shop to get disc brakes will mean the rest of the bike will have cheaper componants. Again ask your partner what sort of bike he wants and how he will use it. Buy a magazine or look on the net at prices
2007-05-07 20:17:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're buying it for someone else you should take him with you to the bike shop. He needs to be fitted for the bike and without a proper fit you're just throwing money away! It will be a much better experience for both of you if you include him in the decision making process.
Try giving him a Bike Certificate and setting up a time to go to the shop and get everything taken care of. It'll be time well spent and your money will go alot farther!
Good luck!
2007-05-04 12:00:35 · answer #6 · answered by Kristy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there are a lot of good brands, but the most important part of choosing a bike is to find the bike u like, a light weight bike, a bike has good suspensions, and good brakes
2007-05-04 19:36:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trek, Specialized, Giant, and KHS are great
stay away from Diamondback
go to your local bike shops and look around, ask questions, and "get fitted" to ensure the correct size and set up
2007-05-04 10:36:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Muddy Fox is a great brand of mountain bike.
2007-05-04 10:34:44 · answer #9 · answered by livinfortheweekend 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Kona, Santa Cruz, Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Haro, GT, Klein, Giant, etc... etc....
2007-05-04 11:49:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋