Carrera Kraken 2020 vs Voodoo Bantu

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mtbsk2
Posts: 2
Joined: 10 Jun 2020, 3:14pm

Carrera Kraken 2020 vs Voodoo Bantu

Post by mtbsk2 »

Hello, new to the forum and planning on upgrading from a broken £200 Decathlon Rockrider to a better bike, which should make a world of difference considering my main area is in the moors of the Peak DIstrict, on and off road. After ringing around local shops to check stock, which there isn't a lot of at the moment, I have decided to buy one of these two, since they are coming into stock in my local store this month. I know that these are very similar bikes, with hydraulic disc brakes, good forks with 120 mm of travel and great gear range, but since there is a price difference of £50, I was wondering if there is anything that is better between the two bikes that I should be aware of. I have attached the specs of both bikes...
Thank you in advance :)

Carrera Kraken:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/carrera-kraken-mens-mountain-bike-2020---blue---s-m-l-xl-frames-347654.html
Voodoo Bantu:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-bantu-mens-mountain-bike---16in-18in-20in-22in-frames-445828.html
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LinusR
Posts: 472
Joined: 24 May 2017, 7:27pm
Location: London
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Re: Carrera Kraken 2020 vs Voodoo Bantu

Post by LinusR »

mtbsk2 wrote:Hello, new to the forum and planning on upgrading from a broken £200 Decathlon Rockrider to a better bike, which should make a world of difference considering my main area is in the moors of the Peak DIstrict, on and off road. After ringing around local shops to check stock, which there isn't a lot of at the moment, I have decided to buy one of these two, since they are coming into stock in my local store this month. I know that these are very similar bikes, with hydraulic disc brakes, good forks with 120 mm of travel and great gear range, but since there is a price difference of £50, I was wondering if there is anything that is better between the two bikes that I should be aware of. I have attached the specs of both bikes...
Thank you in advance :)

Carrera Kraken:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/carrera-kraken-mens-mountain-bike-2020---blue---s-m-l-xl-frames-347654.html
Voodoo Bantu:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-bantu-mens-mountain-bike---16in-18in-20in-22in-frames-445828.html


Difficult to choose between the two. I have a Voodoo Bizango which is a slightly higher specification and I have no complaints for the £500 I paid for it three years ago. The brakes are very good. I would try each bike first before buying one or the other.
mtbsk2
Posts: 2
Joined: 10 Jun 2020, 3:14pm

Re: Carrera Kraken 2020 vs Voodoo Bantu

Post by mtbsk2 »

LinusR wrote:
mtbsk2 wrote:Hello, new to the forum and planning on upgrading from a broken £200 Decathlon Rockrider to a better bike, which should make a world of difference considering my main area is in the moors of the Peak DIstrict, on and off road. After ringing around local shops to check stock, which there isn't a lot of at the moment, I have decided to buy one of these two, since they are coming into stock in my local store this month. I know that these are very similar bikes, with hydraulic disc brakes, good forks with 120 mm of travel and great gear range, but since there is a price difference of £50, I was wondering if there is anything that is better between the two bikes that I should be aware of. I have attached the specs of both bikes...
Thank you in advance :)

Carrera Kraken:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/carrera-kraken-mens-mountain-bike-2020---blue---s-m-l-xl-frames-347654.html
Voodoo Bantu:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-bantu-mens-mountain-bike---16in-18in-20in-22in-frames-445828.html


Difficult to choose between the two. I have a Voodoo Bizango which is a slightly higher specification and I have no complaints for the £500 I paid for it three years ago. The brakes are very good. I would try each bike first before buying one or the other.


Yes, it’s very hard to choose between the two, while I would order both and test ride them, it’s only available for click and collect due to the shortages at the moment unfortunately. The voodoo seems to be well respected within the budget MTB market, while the Kraken hasn’t yet come out, so that’s one positive for the Bantu. A positive for the Kraken would be the gears which are further along the Shimano hierarchy being Acera, with an XCR fork which I’m told is more up to date than the XCM in the Voodoo. Thanks a lot for your help!
Peter F
Posts: 143
Joined: 25 May 2020, 8:16am

Re: Carrera Kraken 2020 vs Voodoo Bantu

Post by Peter F »

On paper they both look similar so I couldn't choose between them. My head would say get the cheapest but you could equally just pick the one you think looks nicest.
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