Looking To Buy MTB, But On A Budget - Any Recommendations?

[Vanch]

Hi guys,

I currently train 5x a week at my home gym, although I'm looking to add some proper cardio into the mix to prevent too much fat gain & to increase my endurance.

I live in the UK & decided to pick up a bike, as it would get me out in the fresh air & help to burn calories etc. The only thing is, I have around £150 ($230) or so max to spend on a bike. I realise many of you will be wanting to advise me NOT to purchase a bike for a price as low as this, although at the moment I have no other option. I understand that you can have problems with cheaper models, although I've had cheap(ish) bikes in the past, and never really had any major problems with them, therefore I feel seeing as I'm not trying to get into competitive cycling or anything like that, a bike for around £150 should suit me fine for the time being.

Anyway... The problem is, I don't really want to just spend £150 on any old bike. I'd rather get the best bang for my buck, and get the most out of the price I'm paying for the bike. Granted, £150 is not that much, but I'd still rather get the best possible bike I can for that price as opposed to just buying any old thing. Therefore, can you guys recommend any bike make or model which may fit my budget? Seeing as there is so many bike stores online and so many makes/models, I'm not quite sure what to go for. I've seen full suspension Raleigh models on Amazon, Argos etc for £150 and even cheaper. Raleigh is probably the only bike make I'm actually aware of, so I don't know which to look out for.


I'm just going to be using it to ride on cycling paths or non busy pavements etc. I won't be taking it into any rough terrain pretty much at all. The reason I decided to go with a mountain bike as opposed to a road bike though, is A) Because of the price difference, and B) Because some of the roads/areas I will be traveling down tend to have potholes & cracks in the road etc. I just don't want to be flying all over the place due to lack of suspension.


And finally, for my budget would a full suspension bike be worth buying or will it just be noticeably low quality? I heard that if you're on a budget, you should probably avoid suspension bikes due to the fact that the suspension isn't very good, although ideally I'd LIKE to get a bike with suspension.


Thank you!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Vanch and to CycleChat.

On a low budget I'd suggest getting the simplest bike you can. Forget about full suspension at that price as it's pretty rubbish. I speak from experience as I bought one of these a few years ago as a runabout:


For the usage you describe I'd suggest what the trade likes to call a "hybrid" bike (I hate the term but everyone uses it). These have larger diameter wheels which roll easier than a mountain bike but wideish tyres which give a more comfy ride than a racing bike.

The Btwin Riverside 1 from Decathlon is in your budget: LINK. If you really have set your heart on a mountain bike their latest Rockrider 5.0 looks reasonable for the money.

 

[vickster]

Decathlon have some decent bikes for that sort of money as ^^^. Doesn't sound like you need an MTB

 

[Widge]

I would absolutely agree that if you are going to get anything decent at that sort of price...then SIMPLE is the way to go.

Cheap front suspension is(mostly) just flabby boingy heavy mayhem waiting to fall apart and seize up-if it even works at all by all accounts. Cheap suspension is basically 'unfixable'.
Full suspension is twice as bad by that reckoning!!

Purely and simply.....the AIR in some moderately voluminous tyres will be better insurance and more comfortable than shonky 'suspension'.

Sadly those once great 'names' (Muddy Fox, Raleigh, etc) are just 'names' at the lower end of the market. Trademarks sold on to pile em high, sell em cheap merchants who flood Tescos with Monstrous Clanky Gridirons.....(I've had a look-and they indeed are!)

Not to say Raleigh and MFox aren't still capable of producing a decent bike higher up the range - but they have somewhat cooked their own goose by making BSO's.

I have seen a handful of decent alu framed bikes with working bits around at that price...but it's hard work finding them!

(edit; yup - that Decathlon Rock Rider looks like one)

For a few dollars more.....
................................................well, everybody says that............
....it (should) get easier.

 

[sheffgirl]

Decathlon have some decent bikes for that sort of money as ^^^. Doesn't sound like you need an MTB

I got a Rockrider 5.2 about 6 weeks ago, but it was probably out of the OP's budget at £230. I could have gone for the 5.1 at £160, but I opted for the lighter one with the better spec (and front disc brakes).
I probably don't need a MTB either but I like them, and the suspension helps on the bumpy roads. I will more than likely graduate to a road bike at some point when this one is worn out, but hopefully it will last a good few years

 

[Saluki]

I was looking for a MTB last year, to get me through the winter. Like you, I had a smallish budget so I looked on Gumtree and got lucky with a Specialized Hardrock for £140. Its a decent MTB with good front sus. If I can find one for that sort of price, I'm sure that you can too.

OH found a second hand roadbike advertised in our local bike shop. That came in £50 under budget. Good bikes, if you are willing to give second hand a look, are out there and you generally get more bang for your buck. Welcome to the forums

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Put out a request in the wanted section on here, you might be amazed at the offers you get.

 

[Ozzrahog]

Just over your budget at £200 but I am looking to sell my 2012 Jamis Trail X3, less than a year old, Schwalbe City Jet Tyres (plus the unused tyres that came with the bike), mudguards and Raleigh pedals with toe clips

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/12_trailx3_wh.html

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Possibly consider second hand to give you a better quality/better manufacturers frame.
I got a brilliant trek 800 for similar day to day riding for £35 & £50 cleaning & replacing practically everything: chain, cables, brake pads, grips, touch up paint etc it ran like new for barely any outlay and it was so good some b*****d nicked it!

But from what you describe, a mountain bike would be overkill, a hybrid if you like straight bars or racer type (cross country or pure road bole) if you don't mind drop bars and want a better aerodynamic position would suit your described riding better.
Even pretty fragile looking road bikes are quite robust and able to soak up cracks and pot holes without damage or throwing you off in bucking bronco style.