Which Bike?

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Hi all,

I am looking to buy myself a new bike for some light trail riding, and have narrowed it down to the following hardtails. Any opinions on which is best?

Specialised Hardrock XC
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60150

Diamond Back M30
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=4757

Carrera Kraken
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=213207&langId=-1

Any alternative suggestions I should be aware of? Would rather not go over the £270 these bikes cost (considering I originally planned on no more than £200!)

Thanks in advance :)

I own a Specialized Hardrock and I am very impressed with it. I only do light off-road, nothing to terribly hard. The frame looks and feel bullet-proof. The gearing is low enough to get up hills, and though it isn't the lightest bike in the world, it handles like a lighter bike (probably due to some geometry tweaking). Not sure about the other two though. You should test ride them and pick the one that feels best. Good luck!!

I own a Specialized Hardrock and I am very impressed with it. I only do light off-road, nothing to terribly hard. The frame looks and feel bullet-proof. The gearing is low enough to get up hills, and though it isn't the lightest bike in the world, it handles like a lighter bike (probably due to some geometry tweaking). Not sure about the other two though. You should test ride them and pick the one that feels best. Good luck!!
Thanks, after checking through other forums and What Mountain Bike magazine, this seemed to be the best choice, so I went for it! Now £380 lighter and 1 bike + accessories heavier ;)

Hi all,

I am looking to buy myself a new bike for some light trail riding, and have narrowed it down to the following hardtails. Any opinions on which is best?

Specialised Hardrock XC
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60150

Diamond Back M30
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=4757

Carrera Kraken
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=213207&langId=-1

Any alternative suggestions I should be aware of? Would rather not go over the £270 these bikes cost (considering I originally planned on no more than £200!)

Thanks in advance :)
we're not familiar with Carrera in Canada, but I have looked at both Specialized and Diamondback (Raleigh)...but ended up with a Marin Bobcat Trail...a few $ more but there are less expensive models available as well

http://marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/html/bikes/bike_series/bikes_ser_alloyht.html

I'm not sure how the UK price points compare, but in Canada Marin offers an exceptional value for the price

Happy Trails