Need help picking out a new bike - Enduro/XC bike with a budget of £4000

[SilentDeus]

Hi again,

This ones fairly straightforward. I'm looking for a new Enduro/XC bike with a budget of £4000.

I would prefer to use this site as I get a slight discount with our company.

My sights are mainly on the Stuntjumper Carbon and the T-130C RS. Other suggestions are welcome, but I don't want to go over budget too much unless there's a valid reason.

Thanks

 

[mustang1]

Spesh Tarmac.

 

[vickster]

For mountain Biking?

 

[SilentDeus]

Spesh Tarmac.

For mountain Biking?

Yes, I should mention that this is for mountain biking.

 

[vickster]

Yes, I should mention that this is for mountain biking.

That was clear to me

 

[Drago]

Ride them, buy the one that suits you best. You'd be insane to spend that much without trying it out.

 

[vickster]

Indeed especially as CyclesUK have a number of shops, as long as you're in the SE

 

[SilentDeus]

Ride them, buy the one that suits you best. You'd be insane to spend that much without trying it out.

Problem is, the guy who it's for lives in Birmingham. I'm fairly new to mountain biking as well, so I'm just trying to go off of specs and reviews. Knowing this, any pointers to say which one has the edge?

 

[Drago]

You won't really know until you try them. Spec lists aren't an automatic indicator of better 'quality', ride or performance, and one mans meat is another mans poison in terms of preference. You wouldn't spend £500 on a car you'd not tested, and I really wouldn't recommend dropping four or more big ones an an MTB without cocking a leg over.

He may well live in Birmingham, but if he doesn't want to risk disappointment he'll make the effort. This is particularly important, as the gent seems a little confused about what he's after. You state he's after an XC or enduro machine, but you then list 2 x good, all round trail machines instead as possiblities. In the MTB World 'XC' and 'enduro' are generally competition styles machines, the exact opposite of the motorbike World where the terms usually mean more sanitised all-round beasts with number plates.

There's nothing wrong with buying an XC race bike and using it for general trail use, or a general purpose trail bike and using it to go XC racing - they'll both do the job, but will be compromised, won't be the most efficient tool for the task. For 4 grand your man needs to be properly sure about what he wants, what he intends to actually use it for, and then looking at and asking for the correct style of machine. Ask the shop for an 'XC' bike and then use it to go general trail riding and he risks buying a probably capable but nevertheless sub-optimal steed for his budget.

 

[Kajjal]

Spending four grand with no idea what you want is a very bad idea. Start with where you plan to ride it.

 

[SilentDeus]

Kinda knew it would come to this. This is what happens when you're the 'bike guy' and people with more money than sense come up to you. I'll explain the situation to him. Thanks for your help

 

[vickster]

£4000, no idea and new to mountain biking, seems fairly mad (unless 4K is pocket change to him)! Why doesn't he go get advice from a MTB focused shop locally to him? He'll be riding this bike not you? If he's a friend of yours that would be sensible advice to give

 

[Cycleops]

Another reason to go personally to a bike shop and try is to get a good fit.

Your pals got a lot of cash to splash around on what seems like a whim. Is he a banker? Or maybe a hedge fund manager?

 

[mustang1]

Yes, I should mention that this is for mountain biking.

I know. I was in some kinda silly mood. Usually am. Work tension and stuff.

 

[DRM]

Kinda knew it would come to this. This is what happens when you're the 'bike guy' and people with more money than sense come up to you. I'll explain the situation to him. Thanks for your help

My advice would be to go to a trail centre with your mate, hire him a bike and see how he gets on, to me £400 is too much to spend on something, which has the potential to be something that he could actually hate doing, MTB'ing can be quite scary to someone who has never done it before, I personally wouldn't spend £4000 on any bike out of a shop,I would be looking to build up a frame with the exact spec that I wanted, for a lot less money, £4000 is a lot of cash just to get something on a whim.