14 Yr Old - Carrera Vengeance Mountain Bike

[portals]

My son's MTB has literally fallen to pieces so Santa is getting him a new one

We saw this instore today, actually looks quite decent, any thoughts on whether or not this is solid buy for £300?

Carrera Vengeance Mens Mountain Bike - Black - XS, S, M, L, XL Frames | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Carrea Vengeance Mens Mountain Bike - Black at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

 

[saneagle]

My son's MTB has literally fallen to pieces so Santa is getting him a new one

We saw this instore today, actually looks quite decent, any thoughts on whether or not this is solid buy for £300?

Carrera Vengeance Mens Mountain Bike - Black - XS, S, M, L, XL Frames | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Carrea Vengeance Mens Mountain Bike - Black at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

Shame it has combined shifters/brakes. Everything else looks pretty good. The brakes would be sort of OK. It just makes it more tricky to upgrade to hydraulic ones, and if you want brake switches, it's a lot of extra messing about. You'd have to use "hidden wire" ones or the magnet type for hydraulic ones, or make your own.

 

[Waspy]

You don't say if you intend to electrify the bike. You don't say what the bike will be used for.

But, if you wanted to spend £18 more the Carrera Vulcan comes with 120mm front forks (as opposed to 100mm) Halfords don't specify but the Vulcan looks to have 180mm rotors (as opposed to 160mm). The Vulcan has a 9 speed cassette (as opposed to an 8 speed) but most importantly the Vulcan comes with hydraulic brakes which not only perform much better but as a dad you would spend less time adjusting and generally fiddling about with the mechanical disk brakes.

£18 well spent, I'd say.

 

[Saracen]

Whilst I would steer clear of any Halfords E bikes I see NO problems here have you googled reviews ?

Carrera Vengeance? - Cycling UK Forum

 

[portals]

Thanks for the replies

Shame it has combined shifters/brakes. Everything else looks pretty good.

Funny you mention that, my first thoughts were that the combined brake/gears shifters look cheap. Also the bike in the pic above has the right shifter down button 'missing', it was OK on the bike next to it so it's snapped on the bike I photographed...not instilling a lot of confidence in the combo...

You don't say if you intend to electrify the bike. You don't say what the bike will be used for.

But, if you wanted to spend £18 more the Carrera Vulcan comes with 120mm front forks (as opposed to 100mm) Halfords don't specify but the Vulcan looks to have 180mm rotors (as opposed to 160mm). The Vulcan has a 9 speed cassette (as opposed to an 8 speed) but most importantly the Vulcan comes with hydraulic brakes which not only perform much better but as a dad you would spend less time adjusting and generally fiddling about with the mechanical disk brakes.

£18 well spent, I'd say.

Initially it will be just a normal bike however it might get a rear 250W hub in next cpl of yrs when he's a bit older.

Thanks for heads up re Vulcan, will take a look at it.

Whilst I would steer clear of any Halfords E bikes I see NO problems here have you googled reviews ?

I did google yes but not many reviews where I trusted the reviewer actually knows much about bikes. ;-)

 

[portals]

Had a look at the Vulcan, you are right for just £18 more it looks like a better bike as you said, 120mm forks, hydraulic disc brakes and from the pics looks like a separate brake and shifter!

Looks decent in white too!