The halfway point between £500 and £1,000 is a very competitive price bracket. Budget is prioritised above all else when you’re sticking below £500. But breaking the £1,000 mark gives the manufacturers a little more wiggle room to tailor their frames to specific purposes and spec higher-quality components.
At £750, however, you’re caught between managing your budget and keeping your expectations realistic. You’ll be coming across some nicer kit on the bikes in this price range but it may be only one or two standout components among a spec list that’s predominantly made up of basic parts.
Don’t worry too much about compromising though as the manufacturers realise this is a price point that’s largely governed by budget. As such they tend to focus their attention on producing a decent frame and pick components that will keep the costs down, on the assumption that you’ll gradually upgrade them as they wear out over time.
ADVERTISEMENT
The trick, therefore, is to seek out a bike with the frame that’s best for you and use that as a platform on which to build in future.
It’s easy to get fixated on finding the best fork, gears, brakes or wheel and tyre combination but you need to consider the sort of abuse the British weather and landscape can inflict on them in a relatively short space of time — especially during winter. So if you’re compiling your Christmas list for Santa and you’re limited to £750, prioritise the chassis over the fancy baubles hanging off it.
VooDoo Bizango
- Lighter than its rivals
- Better gears than its rivals
- Performance to beat more expensive bikes
Diamondback Heist 2.0 27.5
- The presence of a RockShox Recon fork is a pleasant surprise
- Decent frame with wider-than-usual handlebar
- Enjoyable ride that encourages you to push harder
Whyte 604 Compact
- Compact geometry is ideal for smaller riders
- UK-specific touches add to durability
- Triple transmission means you won't run out of gears
Saracen Mantra Pro
- Great frame that’s ripe for upgrades
- Suntour fork is willing to take a beating
- A playful bike that’s determined to push the pace
Calibre Gauntlet
- Easily adjustable suspension fork
- Heaps of upgrade potential
- Capable tyres are hard to find at this pricepoint
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
via BikeRadar All the latest from BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/1PNw5mV
No comments:
Post a Comment