Focus Fat Boy 2010 - About to purchase

Lawdie

Well I'm about to jump in and purchase and was hoping for any last minute advice.

The requirement is for mainly a road bike that can also function as full MTB. I have another hybrid, so was looking at

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Focus_Fat_Boy_2010/3337_p.aspx

Its €800 and I can use the tax incentive. I'm 6'1" so need the 21" frame.

or http://www.eurocycles.ie/Focus_SUPER_BUD/3465_p.aspx

Am I mad or is there anything else I should consider!!

Also is the pricing good for this model. They offered accessories when I asked for the discount! Cheers

DualFrontDiscs

Hi,

I assume you mean a fully functional mtb that will be mainly used on the road? Not a road bike per se.

Wiggle has a RRP of c.€800 and positive reviews here.

This is what BikeRadar have to say about the previous year's model.

If you're going to use the bike mainly on the road, buy some slick road tyres, or negotiate these at purchase.

DFD.

blorg

a road bike that can also function as full MTB.

bzzt. Won't happen. Make your mind up one way or the other.

If you really want something mainly to go on road for the love of god don't buy a full sus MTB (never mind a hardtail.) I have a nice MTB which is great- for off road. Not on.

If you want a MTB buy one and "roadify" your hybrid with narrow slicks.

Otherwise just buy a road bike. Duh.

Lawdie

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

Hi,

I assume you mean a fully functional mtb that will be mainly used on the road? Not a road bike per se.

If you're going to use the bike mainly on the road, buy some slick road tyres, or negotiate these at purchase.

DFD.

Hi that's correct. But I doubt that switching tyres is going to happen. I was just planning at changing the pressure for on and off road.
I should also mention that its not for long distant sprints on the road. The most I would do is average 4 miles per day and 12 miles per day at the weekend. So its more convenience of having the right type of bike on the mountain.

Lawdie

Now this caught my eye!

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=31673

sgriffin

Just got my focus mtb from eurocycles. The bike is beautiful and performs unbelievably well, can't say a bad word about the focus. The spec on that focus for the money looks great too !! I'd say go for the focus, plus I couldn't say a bad thing about the eurocycles staff ! Couldn't of been more helpful

Lawdie

What Focus did you go with?

Gavin

canyon.de is another option.

sgriffin

raven expert

Lawdie

Ok, the Fat Boy is on order.

But, I'm having second thoughts about the forks, RST Omega-T RL 100 mm.

The RST brand name has no positive reviews online.

Anyone using these forks?

Should just go with the next model up which has RockShox and lose the Shimano XT gears for SRAM.

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Focus_Killer_Bee/3461_p.aspx

blorg

What are you using this bike for again?

I have a Focus Raven myself, the carbon one, nice bike it is too. XT is very smooth shifting, frankly better than any road bike I've had.

Lawdie

This is the funny part.

Its for 4 miles per day and 12 miles weekend average road usage.

The every second weekend mountain biking.

And no I have no aspiration or hope of turning professional!

I want to keep this within the 1k bracket. How much is the Raven?

Bluefoam

For road use I'd suggest a fork with some sort of lock out - different manufacturers have differnt names for them. I would agree that a Rockshox would have a far better reputation than RST & would be easier to get serviced.

Lawdie

Yep the Fat Boy has lockout feature on the bar.
I found a positive review on the RST Omega fork.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/rc/cycle/7/review/Hard_Tail_MTB_Bikes

Lawdie

Gavin wrote: »

canyon.de is another option.

Can this be got on the bike to work scheme?

Lumen

Lawdie wrote: »

Can this be got on the bike to work scheme?

The bike to work scheme has no supplier restrictions. Your bike to work scheme may have.

It is not uncommon for employers to restrict purchases to a shortlist of suppliers or a single intermediary.