We Tested 4 Great Value Mountain Bikes | Specialized, Vitus, Cannondale & Merida Hardtails Reviewed
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- čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
- The best mountain bikes around £1000 right now represent a huge leap forward in terms of spec, geometry and value compared to their counterparts from just a few years ago.
That said, for those new to the sport or those who don’t have masses of money to spend, 1000 dollars or pounds is a lot of cash to spend on a bike, and the prospect of upping that budget even a little bit is a daunting one.
Watch the whole video to find out the difference between a bike worth £750 and a more expensive £1350 bike - is the extra money worth it?
BikeRadar’s technical editor, Alex Evans tested four hardtails on a mix of the trails they’re most likely to be ridden on. The trails ranged from fireroads and bridleways through to more technical trail-centre loops and singletrack in Scotland’s Tweed Valley, home to the famous Glentress Forest trail centre and host to the UK’s round of the Enduro World Series, to find out exactly where they excel and where their limits are.
Bikes on test:
Vitus Nucleus 29 VRS - 01:58
Cannondale Trail SE 4 review - 05:54
Specialized Fuse 27.5 (2021) - 09:23
Merida Big.Trail 500 - 13:24
Vitus Nucleus
→ www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bik...
Cannondale Trail SE 4
→ www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bik...
Specialised Fuse 27.5 (2021)
→ www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bik...
Merida Big.Trail 500
→ www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bik...
What would be your top value mountain bike for around 1000 dollars or pounds? Which bike would you choose from the four bikes we tested? As always, comment below!
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#mountainbikereview #MTB #hardtailhero - Sport
Finally some merida bikes getting featured 🙌
Yes, it is good Merida are getting mentioned. I dont know why they knocked so much considering they own Specialized!
Indeed, I am riding for 24 years. I'm 30 now. Unfortunately, my old bike's frame broke, so it was time for a new bike, covid certainly did not make it easy for me. I was researching a lot before buying a bike. Sometimes they can rip you off easily with price/quality ratio. I just bought a merida big nine 60 which was a pretty good price/quality ratio though. Initially, I wanted a Giant Talon 4 and upgrade it. They increased it's price from the 2021 model to the 2022 model by 230 euros. The cost is 700 euro now for a new talon 4. Equipped with mechanical breaks, microshift basic components and xct fork. That I call a huge rip off. Fortunately, I could buy the last merida nine 60 in XL in the country while they already increased it's price by 100 euros and it costs 830. If I go in 1 day later I pay an extra 100 euros. I am more than happy with this bike, it rides like a dream. I love the frame, and it's very modern and has a great geometry. Although it's only have a rock shox spring coil fork. It's still better than an xct fork with basic components on a 700 euro bike like on the Giant Talon 4 2022. My LBS told me that prices will even further increase so everyone who can get his dream bike now in stock will be very lucky considering the upcoming years. He said that as he conctacted other brands as well, they stated that this will last about until 2025 and the price increase will not stop. Specialized, Merida and Giant and every other brands increased their prices just now like in the past as well because of covid. A simple 2022 Specialized Rockhopper is 615 now. And then January will come as well when prices will increase again.
I like you guys and the reviews are genuinely really good all the time. Although this video stretched a bit the proportions going from a £800 to a £1400 bike; but have to give credit to the fact that you checked affordable MTBs in the market.
Here is a suggestion: get a friend that has a lot of experience with MTB's, go online and get yourself a second hand bike for the same budget that you initially set out. You'll probably get double the value for your money and enjoy better shifting, braking and overall performance! But other than that, good list and I really appreciate Bike Radar spending some time at more affordable bikes!
Depending on where you live, the used market at the moment is crazy, used bikes going for at or above MSRP because nobody has any new bikes in stock.
You have no experience in bikes you could be buying a lemon.
I saw a guy just yesterday, trying to sell his bikes above original price with 200 euros. It was amazing, I gave him a heads up that maybe he mistyped it but no. He said this is the price. I was like okay. Funny thing, the bike has a newer 2022 with way better specs than his 3 years old bike.
But they’re not going for half. Most bikes are going for only 10-20% under msrp used. And new stock is available
Also. Its nice to get the lifetime frame warranties on new bikes
Wow.. the price of these bikes are making my old bike collection look even better value. ...
Mate wicked vid but I was looking at the trek marlin 6 vs the vrs29 what would u go for
Nicely done… refreshing seeing a video on economy bikes instead of 5 figure super machines.
I have the Merida, and as a novice I cant give a comparison but its very good for me. 100% reccomend it.
Considering Merida own Specialized they should know what they are doing.
I'm choosing now between big.nine 600 and big.trail 500. Tell me, how does big.trail go on the asphalt? is it versatile enough?
Are you hitting the chainstays with your feet too?
whats your height and frame size buddy? just asking for reference. thank you
Is that a GPS unit on the Fuse stem? Who makes it? Do you like it?
I just got the Marin SQ 2 in L very happy so far
Shall I get the vitus nucleus 27 vr or marin bobcat trail 3?
Excellent
Good luck actually being able to buy one of these!!
Indeed! Here in the Philippines, even the other familiar brands (e.g., Giant, Marin, etc.) are always out of stock. You need to be enlisted for reservation if you want to acquire one.
But not so much with the not so familiar, cheap bikes. They are ubiquitous! I don't recommend these bikes though. They easily get ruined to pieces!
I'm 5'10" and buying a Merida Big Trail. As this is my first modern 29er would you go L or XL. Review says XL but I wonder if it will feel too large when you're not used to 29ers.
Just brought myself a 2021 Nucleus 27 VR, coming this week, first bike I've brought in 15 years :D
How is it? I wanna hit trails fast and hard. Would this be a good hardtail?
@@joshuawest5967 for a beginner its amazing, the only downside I could give it is the cassette, it needs 10/11 gears, if you get one I would put a replacement cassette on the list with it.
I ride regularly with my friend who uses an Orange clockwork, he finds my bike fantastic... not as good obviously, but it belies its price tag 100%.
@@rak8024 sweet! I passed on this one and got a Trek Roscoe 6 earlier. Not long after I commented. My birthday is the 7th so why not. I should have it by the beginning of June.
just recently purchased a Merida Big trail and i can say it is the best Hardtail i ever own.
I have the big trail 500. I agree, such a nice ride.
How’s your heel clipping?
Are you finding it an issue…
@@blusta24 not at all. I got an XL and I'm 190cm tall. I haven't found heel clipping to be an issue.
Thanks
Good to know as I am considering this bike but the comment about the chain stays really have me doubting.
Tragic just takes one little comment…
whats the name of your speedometer/odometer?
Did you swap brakes out in the Merida. As you said it had tektro brakes when b roll footage showed shimanos front and rear and leavers on all the footage.
I think it depends on supply. I have this one on order and they can be either the MT201 or the T 275s - either way, I'm upgrading them to a the MT501 or equiv anyway. I can't wait to get it
@@marcstolk6682 there is no big difference with the tektro and the Mt 200. I had the Mt 400 and its the same braking power like the Mt 200 or tektro. An upgrade would be a 4 pot Mt 420 or 520 or slx or higher 2 pot brake because u can run better braking pads and better rotors. Dont buy Mt 500 or deore 2 pot. There is no difference in braking power. Same braking power like Mt 200 the only difference is the lever.
I have a Merida big trail, bought it back in February and it came with Shimano brakes
@@dvxShoeN Good points, thank you and yes I was leaning to the 520 but i'll wait and see how these go first.. its the best bike I've bought thus far..
At last some real vids on affordable bicycles, not the overpriced out of reach bikes these channels tend to push, all of them sponsored of course. Well done BR
The way to break aluminum is to flex it. Before bikes, or any other goods, one has to understand how market works. There is a video somewhere on YT about vine experts who couldn't differ red from white vine on blind test. Same about bikes. Those lower welded seatstays are matter of fashion, and from the point of strength of the frame, quite ridiculous. Just wait couple of years and you will see that no bike has them like that anymore. It took the industry 10-15 years to remove front derailleur, chainrings and cables. That shows how clever they are. And now they sell single chainring at higher price than triple ring that consists of more material, and is more complex to produce. Fashion, fairytales and again fashion.
Disagree with the negative review of the Vitus, hence owning it myself. The price range of the bikes tested was huge and had no true comparison considering that the vitus is half the price of the Merida and Specialized. Yes the Vitus might not have the greatest frame(only $900 bike btw), but it’s geometry makes it far more capable in my opinion than its rival the Cannondale. And the other two bikes are just not something to compare this bike to. Vitus has many other bikes in between the price range of these bikes that have far better specs than the ones tested. I just think that this comparison was not fair and think the Vitus is still the best bang for the buck brand for budget hardtails.
+I also ride it downhill(although not meant for that, only bike I can afford) and have taken it on 4 foot drops and much more beating with not a single problem over the last 5 months I’ve owned it. Also the frame vibrations I haven’t really noticed or had a problem with.
The nucleus frame seems excellent to me. Not my bike but a family member has one, I've got a different vitus bike personally. I paid basically the same amount as the nucleus in 2017 for a Marin hardtail and the nucleus is better in every way. Haven't ridden it much but I've done lots of work on it and it seems solid. I will say though, the Xcr air fork is not the greatest. Maybe it's just this one, but I swear the rebound adjustment does hardly anything. But for $650 you legit can't beat that.
Frame vibration seems like an odd thing to knock it on, it's a hardtail lol. You pay for a FS if you want less vibration coming through.
Edit: talking about the VR version here.
@@dylan-5287 my forks rebound adjustment does work pretty well in making it either faster or slower so it might just be yours, but it’s max rebound is not the fastest if that’s what your talking about. However I still think it’s a luxury to even have a air fork at this price so I don’t mind it since it works very well when it’s at max rebound...
@@skieyz3265 I've honestly been wondering a ton about that. Not my bike but I basically set it up for them and they seem to enjoy it as is. Wondering if it is maxed out, it's definitely pretty slow compared to the fork on my bike. It almost seemed like it was just endlessly spinning, does yours have a hard stop like most forks? I'll have to take a look at it this weekend. And it's definitely a luxury. The hardtail I started on had a coil fork that was utter crap, pretty much no others hardtails have an air fork for the price of the nucleus. I'm on a mythique and have been loving it, vitus really has been doing an amazing job.
This is the price point where more money makes the most difference.. the comparison should have been bikes at the same price point.. that would have made the video most useful
Wow, the specs for a sub 1k hard tail are getting stingy... When did 1k become "budget" level 😟
Lmao I remember getting back into mtb in 2017. Had around $600 and I'd always ridden Walmart mongoose bikes as a kid. Thought I was about to get a super premium bike. Nothing like finding out that barely bought a bike in the first place haha. Just wait as prices sky rocket even more in the next few years.
These are ‘great value’ not budget. The budget entry mtb are Speicalized Rockhopper, Trek Marlin, Giant Talon and so on. The spec and price are pretty good despite the bike shortage.
Can we have some professional reviews on Kona bikes please?
I'm 5'11. Is a Large big trail fine? What is your height sir?
I have the same specs. I would like to know as well.
Whats a good bike under 600 in stock i was thinking vitus nucleus but not in stock znd i also want to pay monthly sd i dont have 600 cash size s
i have a cannondale trail 7, would it be worth upgrading to the SE4?
I have the trail 8 for my Girlfriend and the trail 2se. With the se u have better shifting brakes and rims and the frame is a Bit better. But i think u shouldnt buy the trail 4se. The trail 3se is much better with better fork and a dropper Post. The cheaper Option for you should be an upgrade from the suntour too a manitou markhor. Its a really good air fork and u safe more than 1,2 kilogram weight. And buy a bigger 180mm rotor and brake Adapter.
@@dvxShoeN the se3 is 300 pound more expensive though
@@exponent2226 the dropper weighs 350 Gramm more but its a big Game changer and the fork is much better
@@dvxShoeN so is it worth saving and spending an extra £300
@@exponent2226 yes it is cheaper than buying the sl4 and upgrade the dropper, brakes, fork and all this stuff. The sl3 is definetly worth it. I only bought the sl2 because of the colors and upgraded it with a marzochi z2 130mm, dt swiss m 1900 and full xt brakes and shifting. So i spent more than i should 😅 but i sold all other stuff and now is 12,7 Kg with enduro tyres and 12,3 Kg with 2,35 trail tyres.
If Evans MTB Saga hadn't featured a Vitus Nucleus, we wouldn't have even known about them. I don't know if we will ever get any of these, but thanks for showing some good value options for biking on a budget.
I agree, however I’m kind of disappointed with the review of it. I own it my self and ride it downhill weekly and it’s a beast for the money. Have done 4 foot drops and much more beating with no problem. I think he gave it too much hate without considering that it’s half the price of the other two more expensive bikes. I myself don’t find the vibrations present(although haven’t ridden lots of other hardtails) and still think it’s the best for the money. Plus it’s far more capable in my opinion than the Cannodale which is very limited with its geometry.
+if comparing to these more expensive bikes, he could have done something like the Vitus Sentier VRS which compares to the price of the Merida Big trail, but with MUCH better specs like the fox 34, slx drive train, and more...
@@skieyz3265 You have some good points, but it is hard to review something accurately while trying to keep cost in mind without comparing it to others in a similar price range. Hopefully we will get to ride one someday.👍
Rode my friends Nucleus even running tubeless the frame was stiff like an anvil and caused major fatigue. The xcr fork barely worked and had zero small bump sensitivity. When set the proper sag we couldn't it to use more than 70% travel. I love hardtails and I currently have two. But you guys are the first people to really bring up the stiff frame. I pointed out how the trek Roscoe and nukeproof scout have way more compliant frames compared to the nucleus on my trek Roscoe review
@@s14tat Sooooo you didn't tell us that you started making videos because why?😂 Man we will check out your videos hopefully today sometime.👍
No Giant XTC SLR 2021
What would be your top value mountain bike for around 1000 dollars or pounds? Which bike would you choose from the four bikes we tested? And more importantly has anyone been able to find a bike around this price in stock? As always, comment below!
Trek X Caliber 7 after Increasing budget by a bit.
@@ronitdebnath that's a good suggestion, certainly for those wanting a more XC oriented bike 👍
The Radon Cragger would be my choice
@@vinz7327 thanks for your suggestion! It's a bit pricier but Alex did award the Radon Cragger 8.0 4 stars in his review:
👉 www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/mountain-bikes/radon-cragger-8-review/
cannondale CUJO
It’s 2021, rear QR bike frames should be illegal
I like how you slaggged the Suntour Air fork on the Vitus, but then glossed over the fact that the more expensive Cannondale has a far worse (coil) version of that fork. Very biassed.
Been eating fried lice and ramen, but still not enough!
Oh my word, I wish I had bought this bigtrail 500 instead.😢
the specialized actually has 130mm of front suspension
ALERT! Do not buy the Specialized Fuse! There are so many problems with the bike that are dealbreakers! Cable rattle, soft wheels, weak brakes, not replaceable chainring, tall seat tube, and a super short dropper post!
But the best frame..
@@andypaul999 cable rattle is horrible, hoses are all either way long or to short, derailer hanger is soft, seat tube is way to tall even for a 6 foot 4 rider!
Do any Merida owners out there have any issues with the chain stays?
Nah not at all, I got a medium and i'm 177cm tall so i'm almost out of the medium range and i've had no issues with the chain stays. Also the reach on paper seems relatively short for a medium but surprisingly i've had no issues with it
@@taconinja903 I’m 178, a bike shop said get a M but I was thinking large. The reviewer suggest going up a size with these bikes I’m confused. How do u find the M thanks
@@SKYHILLMIKE I also was confused by the sizing, I had a look at some other similar bikes in medium and they have longer reach which is the measurement they mention. From what I can tell the longer reach in the large size of the merida will make the bike more stable and i'd think more comfortable on decents/climbs. The medium I have might be a little more agile and easier to throw around than the large. Hope this helps
Beans and tortilla here...
absolutely
these bikes nowadays selling like pancakes specially the vitus
You guys are giving Sh*t to 750 pound bike comparing it to almost double the price bikes. Wile all other editors putting it on 1st spot comparing budget bikes by far. Not very fair
This put me to sleep.