a good light trail bike for £500-600 ?

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May 24, 2012, 05:19:27 AM

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[nickb]

my Girlfriend is looking for a new mtb but wishes to take advantage of the cycle to work scheme.She has a limit of £500 through her company but said she will add upto another £100 to get a better bike if need be.
The bike will only be used on light trails and paths etc,and maybe to work once in a blue moon.I have searched a few brands but was wondering if anyone could recommend any good bikes in that limited price range?

[fly6154]

most people will suggest diffrent bikes so here is my twopence worth.Kona firemountain kona blast.You can not go wrong with one of these and if she goes for the blast,and finds she really likes off road riding they are good enough for any trail she would do.Go for the delux version of the blast if you can.

[nickb]

thankyou i have just looked at the Kona Fire mountain Deluxe 2010 for £500 its a bargain as the Dart 2 fork is worth about £130 on its own
or sunsetmtb are doing the Kona Blast deluxe 2009 for £499

[fly6154]

I would get the blast delux then ,esp for that price.

[damo]

£409 here.

http://www.buybikesnow.com/43/Kona-Blast-Deluxe-Mountain-Bike-2009.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid43

Damo

[ando]

having just spent the day researching the exact same thing for my brother i would have to agree with fly. kona seem to have the best spec for the price. however heres a few more makes to have a nosey at, trek, felt, cube, haro, genesis (core). hope this helps 

[nickb]

yes Kona do seem great value,i have looked at Kona,Gt,Trek,scott etc but the GF currently likes the orange G2,not because its great value but because its not but she likes the look of it and thinks its a cool brand name.
http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=1168&category_id=81

anyways thanks for your advice its surprising how little you can spend to get a great bike ie £409 for a Kona Blast

[iain1775]

http://www.realcycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b58s2p1562
or
http://www.realcycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b58s2p2281

[andyfreeride]

My missus is selling her GT outpost. I think its the 08 model. Hardly used. She rode it round cwm carn  a few times and done some road/path rides. She now has a kona stinky which she races me DH. its a very basic entry level bike. But it gave her the mtb bug

[nickb]

thanks Andy,but the GF is a bit skint so the cycle to work scheme is the cheapest way to buy a reasonable bike.
According to the calculater a £500 voucher will cost her £17 net a month for 18months which is bloody good.

[willber]

bear in mind that only certain shops subscribe to the scheme, and there are a few different schemes, each opting for its own particular dealers, for example there is cycle to work, bike to work, cycle scheme etc. Find out which one your gf's employer uses, then go to their website and find out which shops are available. This might make your decision easier. I can recommend the Specialized Myka though. My mrs has it and its more than adequate.

[popey]

I bought my wife a cube hardtail, they are unbeatable value for money. I'm not so sure though she would of been better off with a womens specific model. They ahve a shorter top tube etc.

If she's not worried about wms specific, this cube looks good value: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44342

Or this one in the sale http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30552

[tank_rider]

Some shops will only sell bikes at full RRP through the cycle to work scheme too, so check that as well!

[nickb]

thats true about RRP but its daft not including old stock into the scheme as the shop gets a voucher which is as good as cash and they get rid of a older bike.

My gf hates women specific bikes as she thinks they look crap with silly colours,she has a good point but that said they are designed more for the fem body so would be more comfy.

[fly6154]

Depending were you based Delamere cycle shop are selling there hire bikes off,hardly been used at all,only 6 months old £180 kona fire mountain  £250 kona blast deluxe you can not grumble at that.Most people whp hire there only ride the fire roads so most bikes have had no abuse at all.