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Bike Choice @ £2,500

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  • June 24, 2013 at 8:13 pm #19190
    mike.b

    I’m a new member here looking for some proper rider opinions for new bike choices. I’d appreciate feedback from a wide variety of riders on bikes within my budget because no amount of bike site reviews and manufacturer promo material can match real peoples experience.

    I ride a lot with groups at weekends (avg 40-60 miles) and a decent number of sportivs during the summer (usually 60-100 miles) over anything from flat to good climbing terrain. I also throw in the odd endurance event like the Mcr-to-London 250 in 24 a couple of weeks ago [which is a great ride if anyone fancies a challenge].

    So – i’m looking for a new bike within £2,500 budget.
    General spec is pretty obvious – Full Carbon Frame/Forks, Ultegra Groupset. I’ve looked at the obvious like Trek 4.7, Specialized Tarmac Comp and a number of similar along with a few smaller names like Planet-X N2A and Starley (very local to me).

    Any advice, recommendations, horror stories would be appreciated!

    Many thanks in advance & sorry for the long post!

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  • June 29, 2013 at 7:00 am #744293
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    Hector Ch

    Simon E wrote:I forgot to

    Simon E wrote:
    I forgot to mention Orbea!

    http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/

    Seriously lovely looking bikes made in Spain. If I had proper money to splash on a new they’d be on my (very short) shortlist.

    Thought Orbea were manufacturing in China? http://www.bicyclingnewsasia.com/en/features/38-general/1189-china-orbea-bicycle-factory-tour-kunshan

    June 28, 2013 at 2:56 pm #744291
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    bendip

    The Canyon Ultimate al 9.0
    The Canyon Ultimate al 9.0 di2 is discounted to £1727 at the moment, add £50 for the shipping and bike box, it leaves plenty in your budget for a bike fit and upgrades

    June 28, 2013 at 2:49 pm #744289
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    Ajay

    I treated myself to the Giant
    I treated myself to the Giant Defy Advanced 1 a year ago and it is the most comfortable and quickest bike I’ve ever owned (I’m 59 and have had a lot of bikes). Made for sportive and long hilly rides, not racing. Comes in just under £2500. I had it fitted with Sram Force components instead of Ultegra but that’s just my preference.

    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2013.giant.defy.advanced.1/11830/56794/#overview

    June 28, 2013 at 1:41 pm #744287
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    veseunr

    + another 1 for Canyon.
    + another 1 for Canyon. Superb and sale due any day. I’ve got a CF SLX 9.0 …. love it.

    June 28, 2013 at 8:03 am #744285
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    lc1981

    Someone mentioned the CAAD10,
    Someone mentioned the CAAD10, but the Cannondale SuperSix has got to be on the list of bikes to consider at this price point. I have one (paid less than £2000 for it with Ultegra as it was last year’s model) and it’s great.

    June 27, 2013 at 11:25 pm #744283
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    notfastenough

    Canyon offer a 30-day
    Canyon offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t like it, so long as you’ve only been for a spin round the block and it’s unmarked etc. I’ve got it confirmed in an email but can’t find it.

    June 27, 2013 at 11:01 pm #744281
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    Raleigh

    Mine was well under 2.5k
    Mine was well under 2.5k

    June 27, 2013 at 10:17 pm #744279
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    Raleigh

    Get down to Vo2!!!
    Get down to Vo2!!!

    June 27, 2013 at 9:54 pm #744277
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    mike.b

    Thanks to all of those Canyon
    Thanks to all of those Canyon owners who have recommended the bikes. The real shame is that (having been in touch with them directly) there is no way of having a test ride in the UK and one of the spec options I was after cannot be accommodated. As much as I am sure the bikes are great the lack “ride before I buy” is a bit of killer!

    June 27, 2013 at 3:48 pm #744275
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    Simon E

    I forgot to mention
    I forgot to mention Orbea!

    http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/

    Seriously lovely looking bikes made in Spain. If I had proper money to splash on a new they’d be on my (very short) shortlist.

    June 27, 2013 at 7:06 am #744273
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    Hector Ch

    Have you looked at KTM
    Have you looked at KTM Bicycles?

    Value for money they’re hard to beat. I have a KTM Strada 5000 with full Ultegra and I’m over the moon, when they say full ultegra they mean it! Crankset, derailleurs, brakes, cassette..

    http://ktm-bikes.at/road/road/index.php?lang=EN

    They are available in the UK, for example: http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/brands/KTM-2013-bikes/Road-Bikes

    Personally, I would not buy a bicycle online, not only because I’ve had quality issues in the past with big purchases (guitars), but also because if we as consumers don’t support our LBS, they won’t be around when we need them (repairs etc).

    June 26, 2013 at 8:19 pm #744271
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    mike.b

    Thanks for all the Canyon
    Thanks for all the Canyon owners out there who have praised the range. Really worth some serious investigation. My only problem is that I want to get out for a test ride and as its all shipped from Germany that doesn’t seem like a possibility unless any of you know different??

    Thanks for all the other recommendations..

    The Trek Madone 4.x and Spec Roubaix are definitely on the test ride list as are the Pinarello FP2 & ROKH. Need to find a local stockist for Dale, Focus & Giant and see if I can get out on some of them too.

    Thanks Simon for the pointer to the rider reviews on the site too!

    June 26, 2013 at 8:45 am #744269
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    Jon Burrage

    Canyon seems to be the weapon
    Canyon seems to be the weapon of choice.

    It would be certainly worth testing bikes before you buy, for £2000+ you should get on a bike and love the way it feels, rides, handles etc. This is something you cant readily do with online only. Take a day, go round your local bike shops and test as many as possible. Also, spend your money on a quality frame as opposed to groupset – the groupset can be changed over time, you don’t want to have to change the frame.

    June 25, 2013 at 10:04 pm #744267
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    Anonymous

    another vote for Canyon here
    another vote for Canyon here – super happy with my CF SLX which I’ve had for two years and which had components you would normally only find on the most expensive (£5000+) of bikes. The latest incarnation of this model is considered to be a step up still – see latest Procycling magazine for a review. Personally I’d wait for either the current Ultegra 6700 models to get seriously reduced or hang fire for the new 11 speed ultegra version which should be offered later this year. Canyon also have an Outlet on their website where you can buy previous years models at reduced prices.

    June 25, 2013 at 5:23 pm #744265
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    Al'76

    Boring (and predictable) but
    Boring (and predictable) but it’s very difficult to look beyond a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 7.0
    Ok, by the time you’ve paid for shipping etc. you’d probably need to find another £200 but, in a few months time, chances are you would end up spending more than that on a wheel upgrade for pretty much any other bike you chose.
    I don’t own one, but would had it not been for an awesome end of year deal on the bike that I do own.
    Rose (another German direct sale brand) is worth a look also; they offer similar value but a greater degree of customization. That said, I’ve not heard people rave about Rose in the way I have Canyon.
    Understandably, you might find the idea of direct sales a little off putting and, if that is the case, I would seriously consider a Cube Litening Super HPC Pro; Ultegra / 860 gram frameset and all round awesome reviews….you’d have £105 change / a shop to visit if any issues arose and you wouldn’t have to wait ’til the end of August for delivery 😀
    Seems the future is German :O

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