Little advice?

[Damoizgod]

Hey I'm looking to get a bike to commute to work on but I'm stuck for choice. I'm more of a motorbike person so I have no idea what bikes are worth purchasing and what aren't. I'm looking to spend about £300-£400. I'd like one with lock out suspension and I like full suspension bikes but am definately willing to go to a hardtail if the full suspension bikes I'm suggesting are crap. I've found these so far:

KTM Ultra one - £359
Carrera Vulcan - £359
Python Impact 9000DD - £310
2011 Python Venom 240 DD - £350
Seracen Tufftrav - £340
Carrera Vengance - £270
Mongoose Switchback comp 2013 - £340
Coyote Kronos -29 £350
Diamondback Outlook FS - £380
GT 12 Avalanche 4 - £375
Diamondback - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIAMOND-B...1235977809?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3a7ed4ca51
And that one which doesn't give a model.

That's probably quite a big list. But any suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Damo.

 

[fossyant]

Got the Vengance for my 12 year old - cracking bike but you will need to sort out the fine tuning when you get it. I got that and a girls Carrera Luna for my daughter and took them away in boxes. The Vulcan has fork lockout and hydraulic discs over the Vengeance which doesn't have lockout and cable discs for £90 more. Components are the same though.

Don't forget the forks aren't the best in the world, but are OK for general use. You have to pay more than the bike price for good forks.

 

[Lee_M]

do you commute to work thorugh the woods?

Just asking as I'm wondering why a full sus mtb would be your choice for a commuter bike?

 

[helston90]

Mate has just picked up a Voodoo Hoodoo from Halfrauds- join ctc for further discount to bring it nearly on budget and he's chuffed to bits with it- and it has push button lock out front sus with a very good review from bike radar- just to add to your decisions.

 

[Damoizgod]

No hahaha,
I've just always preferred them. I have a 6 mile journey to work then a 6 mile journey back. Which I obviosuly currently do on a Motorcycle. But the summer's coming and I want to lose some weight. I guess the hardtail would be the best choice really.

 

[chqshaitan]

definitely bud, riding on a mountain bike with chunky tyres,will be much harder than on a suitable road/hybrid/cx bike.

Also they they tend to be heavier due to rugedness and suspension etc etc. I commute 7.5 miles each way on a hybrid with marathon plus tyres, and while some of the short hills can be challenging, in the main its a nice ride (besides the unreliable english weather)

 

[helston90]

I would venture more into the realm of hybrid- else you're just carrying the weight of the sus for no real benefit, and that's before we go into tyres and gearing.
Looking mainstream for your first froray at things like the Specialized Sirrus and Trek 7.1, the list is endless but not sure MTB is the best thing to get- go try a few out and work out the difference.

 

[vickster]

If you like suspension, something like a Crosstrail is in between a fast road flat bar and an MTB. Don't think you'd get with lockout fork for under £500 though

Decathlon have some good hardtails, I'd hazard a guess that these are better than the ones you've listed...or go second hand and you'll find one from one of the big brands (there was a Specialized in the for sale section, but in Scotland I think)