Starter Bike Advise

Hi All,

I am in the process of buying a new starter mountain bike.

I have taken a few spins on a friends and cant wait to get one myself.

Got a cheque from work as part of the cycle to work scheme.

So I'm looking for some advise please?

I've been looking at a few different options:

Trek 4300 Disc (trying to see if they have the hyrdo brakes)
Specialized Hardrock Pro

Would anyone recommend one over the other please?

I have bout €750 to spend....

Many thanks!
Hi GH90'sMTB'er,

Thanks for coming back so quick as I'm probably going to buy the bike tomorrow.

He quoted me: €749 for the Specialized when I said bike to work scheme?

This does seem a bit high I think.... I have a cheque from work now not a voucher so do you think i might get it a bit cheaper?

If you had €750 what would you buy?

Again your reply was much appreicated indeed!!

Cheers,
dave....
KTM Ultrafire ticks all the boxxes required for a starter bike @699 there pretty good value
Originally posted by Jaxon View Post
Hi GH90'sMTB'er,

Thanks for coming back so quick as I'm probably going to buy the bike tomorrow.

He quoted me: €749 for the Specialized when I said bike to work scheme?

This does seem a bit high I think.... I have a cheque from work now not a voucher so do you think i might get it a bit cheaper?

If you had €750 what would you buy?

Again your reply was much appreicated indeed!!

Cheers,
dave....

nah M8, €749 is the correct price: http://www.cycleways.com/store/produ...ro-Disc-17%22/

I would go for the Specialized, i'm not impressed with the Trek at all... though i'm slightly biased as I have Specialized Mountain and Road bike, both are hassle free and great fun! :-)
The specialized is a very good base to start with, But the KTM along with the back up of mountain bikers in the bike rack you cant go wrong!!
Hi Guys,

Don't think the bike shop in limerick has the KTM's but ill check when im in there....

I might get some free mudguards if im lucky!!! ;-)

Just wanted to say thanks again as I really dont have a clue about all this suff yet...

I can get the Teck 4300 disc (no hydro) off him for: €560.

do the hydraulic brakes make a big difference?

Where is the bike rack shop? I'm based in limerick?
Originally posted by Jaxon View Post
Don't think the bike shop in limerick has the KTM's but ill check when im in there....
I can get the Teck 4300 disc (no hydro) off him for: €560.
do the hydraulic brakes make a big difference?
Where is the bike rack shop? I'm based in limerick?
All disc brakes are hydraulic and thats the case on the Trek and the Specialized...unless they are cantilever brakes, which are not even worth considering..

The Bike rack is in Dublin, so prob a bit too much of a journey for you :)

Stay local, as if theres any problems you can just pop in and get it sorted then and there...
Cheers gentlemen...

€560 Trek 4300 Disc brakes (deffo not hydraulic)
€749 Specialized Hardrock Pro (disc brakes and hydraulic)

Is it worth the €189 difference as i have €750 to play with and was going to get some kit out of the remainder..... Would perfer to spend as much as possible on the better bike though rather than bits and bobs....

What about the Trek 4500? Is there much of a difference?

Thank you all so much for the help!
Dave...
Byrner will be on soon berating the quality of some of this advice!
Originally posted by GH90'sMTB'er View Post
All disc brakes are hydraulic and thats the case on the Trek and the Specialized...unless they are cantilever brakes, which are not even worth considering
Except for mechanical Disc Brakes...! Like the absolutely fantastic Avid BB7's etc.. great brakes for anyone looking to upgrade from V's without having to spend a fortune.. just make sure your wheels are disc ready and your frame / forks have disc mounts...

Cantilever brakes are something from the 1990's... they don't appear on 99% of modern mountain bikes

And a good pair of V-brakes, when set up correctly are almost as powerful as discs.. they are just not as reliable as discs when it gets wet and mucky..
ok, edit: the disc brakes on the 2 mentioned are Hydro's...

Trek: Promax DSK-907 hydraulic disc brakes
Hardrock: Dual-piston Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes

cheaper bikes will still have the cable pull ones, but they are about as good as V-Brakes!...
Hi All,

I am in the process of buying a new starter mountain bike.

I have taken a few spins on a friends and cant wait to get one myself.

Got a cheque from work as part of the cycle to work scheme.

So I'm looking for some advise please?

I've been looking at a few different options:

Trek 4300 Disc (trying to see if they have the hyrdo brakes)
Specialized Hardrock Pro

Would anyone recommend one over the other please?

I have bout €750 to spend....

Many thanks!
Hi GH90'sMTB'er,

Thanks for coming back so quick as I'm probably going to buy the bike tomorrow.

He quoted me: €749 for the Specialized when I said bike to work scheme?

This does seem a bit high I think.... I have a cheque from work now not a voucher so do you think i might get it a bit cheaper?

If you had €750 what would you buy?

Again your reply was much appreicated indeed!!

Cheers,
dave....
KTM Ultrafire ticks all the boxxes required for a starter bike @699 there pretty good value
Originally posted by Jaxon View Post
Hi GH90'sMTB'er,

Thanks for coming back so quick as I'm probably going to buy the bike tomorrow.

He quoted me: €749 for the Specialized when I said bike to work scheme?

This does seem a bit high I think.... I have a cheque from work now not a voucher so do you think i might get it a bit cheaper?

If you had €750 what would you buy?

Again your reply was much appreicated indeed!!

Cheers,
dave....

nah M8, €749 is the correct price: http://www.cycleways.com/store/produ...ro-Disc-17%22/

I would go for the Specialized, i'm not impressed with the Trek at all... though i'm slightly biased as I have Specialized Mountain and Road bike, both are hassle free and great fun! :-)
The specialized is a very good base to start with, But the KTM along with the back up of mountain bikers in the bike rack you cant go wrong!!
Hi Guys,

Don't think the bike shop in limerick has the KTM's but ill check when im in there....

I might get some free mudguards if im lucky!!! ;-)

Just wanted to say thanks again as I really dont have a clue about all this suff yet...

I can get the Teck 4300 disc (no hydro) off him for: €560.

do the hydraulic brakes make a big difference?

Where is the bike rack shop? I'm based in limerick?
Originally posted by Jaxon View Post
Don't think the bike shop in limerick has the KTM's but ill check when im in there....
I can get the Teck 4300 disc (no hydro) off him for: €560.
do the hydraulic brakes make a big difference?
Where is the bike rack shop? I'm based in limerick?
All disc brakes are hydraulic and thats the case on the Trek and the Specialized...unless they are cantilever brakes, which are not even worth considering..

The Bike rack is in Dublin, so prob a bit too much of a journey for you :)

Stay local, as if theres any problems you can just pop in and get it sorted then and there...
Cheers gentlemen...

€560 Trek 4300 Disc brakes (deffo not hydraulic)
€749 Specialized Hardrock Pro (disc brakes and hydraulic)

Is it worth the €189 difference as i have €750 to play with and was going to get some kit out of the remainder..... Would perfer to spend as much as possible on the better bike though rather than bits and bobs....

What about the Trek 4500? Is there much of a difference?

Thank you all so much for the help!
Dave...
Byrner will be on soon berating the quality of some of this advice!
Originally posted by GH90'sMTB'er View Post
All disc brakes are hydraulic and thats the case on the Trek and the Specialized...unless they are cantilever brakes, which are not even worth considering
Except for mechanical Disc Brakes...! Like the absolutely fantastic Avid BB7's etc.. great brakes for anyone looking to upgrade from V's without having to spend a fortune.. just make sure your wheels are disc ready and your frame / forks have disc mounts...

Cantilever brakes are something from the 1990's... they don't appear on 99% of modern mountain bikes

And a good pair of V-brakes, when set up correctly are almost as powerful as discs.. they are just not as reliable as discs when it gets wet and mucky..
ok, edit: the disc brakes on the 2 mentioned are Hydro's...

Trek: Promax DSK-907 hydraulic disc brakes
Hardrock: Dual-piston Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes

cheaper bikes will still have the cable pull ones, but they are about as good as V-Brakes!...