New bike options - budget hard tail

[derek badger]

New year, new plan. Shift some timber. Yup, the same old story: "Eat/drink less, move more..." Since lockdown I've fallen into a terrible routine of drinking at home...every single day. This is being addressed as is adopting a healthier diet (fibre, fruit/veg, etc.). Running bores the tits off me and I'm not joining a gym, so cycling it is.

As a kid I cycled everywhere - two paper rounds, over to see mates that lived 6 or 7 miles away etc. In the early 90s a bunch of us got in MTBs and used to cycle from Cranleigh up to Pitch Hill and Holmbury and throw ourselves down the sides before anyone had suspension or any single tracks were even built there. After college came booze, cars and motorbikes I never really got the bug again until about 10 years ago when I discovered road cycling and MTB again.

Then came children, and what free time I had was spent in the pub with my mates. The kids are now 9, 11 and 13, so life is a bit easier, and the plan is to sell the budget (£1K) full-sus I bought about 5 years ago. It's too heavy/full-on, I don't plan to drive over to Swinley/Rogate etc., and I have a plethora of local XC trails (literally) on my doorstep here in Surrey, so I'm looking at sub £800 hardtails. I'm not willing to bite the bullet on a carbon frame yet, so I've it got down to a short list of 3.

Trek Marlin 5 (2026)



https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Trek-Marlin-5- ... ku=1040166

Giant Talon 2 (2025)



https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/mou ... cha__74575

Marin Bobcat Trail 3 (2025)



https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/marin-bo ... 1&187=4593

99 spokes comparison - https://99spokes.com/en-GB/compare?bike ... 27%25252e5

Any models I've overlooked? Worth stretching the budget further? Any advise welcome.

There's a Giant dealer in Guildford, so I'll go and size one up, but it's likely to be a small (27.5 wheels).

[weeksy]

TBH you're not going far wrong with those thoughts. The reality is that better bikes are better.... but it depends how much you'll use it and how hard you'll go. But you won't know that until it really grabs hold of you or not, as the case may be.

In terms of spec, there'll be very little in it... So may as well just go with whatever is prettiest colour

If you had a bit more knowledge and experience i'd arguably say you'll get a better bike with second hand... but until you know more, just go with one of those.

Pauls Cycles usually has some cracking sale bikes.

[weeksy]

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/mou ... ite__11251

That's arguably better spec... but more money.... not crazy more though.

[derek badger]

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/mou ... ite__11251

That's arguably better spec... but more money.... not crazy more though.

Yea, but only in M or L.

[MingtheMerciless]

I'd go Trek or Marin but only as I have an irrational dislike of Giants.

[weeksy]

I'd go Trek or Marin but only as I have an irrational dislike of Giants.

Giant have a few quirks in terms of warranty that would keep me away from them.

the Trek Marlin looks ace mate, i like the paint

Trek just do things right

[Numnut]

Apparently the Whyte Secta bikes are meant to be good.

You will notice the difference between a cheap fork and a slightly better one - when I got a cheap whyte 603 a few years back it came with a suntour coil fork and it was heavy and rattly as hell. I swapped that for a Rockshox Judy Silver air fork (which is also an entry level fork) and the difference in weight was noticeable straight away.

I'd agree with Weeksy, the Trek does look nice, but if you can spend a little more, I'd go for a couple of models up (https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Trek-Marlin-7- ... 20Splatter) to get a slightly lighter fork.

[Mr Moofo]

Of that selection, I would go with the Trek.
I have a Trek eeb - and much to my annoyances it is an extremely well thought out and put together piece of equipment. It’s not over sexy, just everything works.
Annoying because I have always hated the big brands - esp Giant and Trek ( well, I did buy a Y11 in the 90s, it was rubbish). I have always hankered after Cotic/ Orange/ Starling/ Whyte etc.
Trek do big volumes, reasonable cost bikes well.
And Weeksy buys hundreds of them, so that has got to be good

[derek badger]

The Bossnut is now sold so I'm actively looking for a. HT replacement. Would you buy a 2nd hand bike with a carbon frame?

https://ebay.us/m/tQnkVm

[weeksy]

A pink fairly cheap mediocre one, probably not.

But at 650 ors better than the others that are new

The fact it's carbon wouldn't worry me in an xc bike

But id read up on the model to see of anyone was having issues or known weak points

[derek badger]

Thanks. Budget bike it got pretty good reviews. Discontinued now though.

https://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/ ... ngo-carbon

[weeksy]

Rrp according to that is £1000?

[derek badger]

Rrp according to that is £1000?

It was on black Friday or something. £1300 normally, but now discontinued

[derek badger]

Pushed the button on this.



Specialized Rockhopper Expert. £300 off the RRP of a grand.

1x11 Deore and RockShox’s Judy SoloAir forks. Just need to order some DMR V11 pedals.

[weeksy]

Pushed the button on this.



Specialized Rockhopper Expert. £300 off the RRP of a grand.

1x11 Deore and RockShox’s Judy SoloAir forks. Just need to order some DMR V11 pedals.

Nice mate nice.

I'm not going to argue with V11s, they're what I run too. I could get them for free but still pay

[weeksy]

Can you fit an internal dropper?

[derek badger]

Can you fit an internal dropper?

I believe so, but it wasn't one of my requirements given the terrain I'll be riding.

Edit - just checked, yes. "...the Rockhopper’s butted aluminum frame features hydroformed top and downtubes to keep weight low and strength high, all while providing increased standover clearance, slick internal cable routing, and dropper-post compatibility..."

[weeksy]

Nice mate, you can't got far wrong with the big players.

[derek badger]

New bike day!







Impressed with 99spokes, ordered Sunday and arrived at 10:00am today. Came with a decent toolkit to do what little assembling was needed.

Reflectors and plastic guard behind cassette removed, new pedals fitted and controls/seat adjusted.

[MingtheMerciless]

Green ones are always the fastest........