£500 Hardtails

[brownm4]

I'm sure that this one's been done before but what do people advise as the best bet for a £500 Hardtail? I don't do huge downhills but enjoy mainly bridleways (especially hilly rooty ones). Other reviews seem to suggest Rockhoppers, Giant XTC 3.5, Kona Hoss etc. - what do people think?

[mick skinner]

if my stumpjumper is anything to judge specialized stuff by, i'd go for the rockhopper. or you could get on ebay buy a second hand steel frame and shop around on the internet for decent inexpensive components.....

[BigSur]

I have a Giant XTC 4.5 and i was great until I bought an ex demo Gary fisher big sur Yesterday! Fox forks, lx/xt, avid juicy 5 all for £600!!!

anyhow, the giant is a great bike if a little heavy, definately get the 3.5 if you can afford it becuase the forks are better, Rockshox darts are not even worth bothering with

[glueman]

I bought a Rockhopper Disc in last autumn's sales for less than £500. Unfortunately Spesh seem to have re-named a v.similar bike and hiked the price. Nice bike though.

[half cog]

Look for what fits you. O.K. that might sound silly but it isnt. I have a long body and short legs so I ride Kona with the lower and longer top tube. It allows me room to stretch and keeps the top tube away from the delicate bits. Rocky mountain are similar but slightly shorter.Some of the other makes tend to be too short in the length if I go to a size with the right amount of top clearance. You may be built the opposite way in which case a Kona would be like being stretched on a rack There are very few badly built frames now unless you get in to the real cheap catalogue fodder and the price you pay depends to a degree on the tube set involved. Try not to be swayed so much by whats written on the down tube as to what the tape measure says . Asking the question you have rightly asked is a bit like asking what shoes people ware. Its going to come back to what fits you and not what fits them. Once past the frame it is mostly shimano country and you gets what you pay for.Try not to fall for the makers who put a really choice bit of kit on an otherwise mundane set up in the hope that you wont notice the rest of it . Also try and get a ride on the chosen machine before you buy ( The shop is not going to be too willing but you may know someone who has one who will help)

[garygkn]

What makes have shorter top tubes?
This is of interest as I may want to put dirt drops instead of flat bars on an mtb.

[hamster]

This worked well for me on an old Marin. I converted a 1990 Palisades into a drop bar tourer 14 years ago and still use it. PM me if you want a couple of photos.

[garygkn]

YHPM

[bikerboy]

I'm sure that this one's been done before but what do people advise as the best bet for a £500 Hardtail? I don't do huge downhills but enjoy mainly bridleways (especially hilly rooty ones). Other reviews seem to suggest Rockhoppers, Giant XTC 3.5, Kona Hoss etc. - what do people think?

i have a kona explosive97 which i have ridden every day since i got
the frame is now the only thing original, will last forever