Mountain Biking - Don't Buy

well this is the bike that i first started off with while i was gettin into MTB and i have realised that full sus is soooo anoying especially with that swing arm that gets in the way of the front mech so i cant change it!! its an Apollo Abyss so dont buy it!! i have changed nearly all of it..
all my upgrades/repalcements:
1 front wheel
1 back wheel
1 front tyre
2 back tyres
1 front disc mech
new grips
all new cables and cable housing
new pedals
3 rear mechs...now got shimano acera..alot better!!..want sram
new shimano deore rear v-brakes
4 new inner tubes
1 slime tube for both wheels

yes that is all..i think i have spent loads on this bought it for about £250-£300 and i rekon i have spent about £200 on it + services..cant belive it!!
good frame + crap components = apollo bikes + nighmare + fourtune

i keep my bike clean and im always out on it weather its too college or to my m8s or to work or jus for a ride .. im more into XC so next i think im going to buy the new 2006 hardrock pro in black and white..looks sweet

some pics below of the apollo..well wots left of the original!!

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1848/hpim05240mf.th.jpg (http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim05240mf.jpg)
http://img302.imageshack.us/img302/4779/hpim05358le.th.jpg (http://img302.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim05358le.jpg)
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4190/2hpim05205hj.th.jpg (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2hpim05205hj.jpg)
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/259/2hpim05385sr.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2hpim05385sr.jpg)
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3773/2hpim05235in.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2hpim05235in.jpg)
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6084/hpim05330hw.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim05330hw.jpg)
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7076/hpim05323ff.th.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim05323ff.jpg)
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9575/hpim05260zc.th.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim05260zc.jpg)
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4964/hpim05251qx.th.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim05251qx.jpg)

stop spending money on this bike. its not worth it. save your money and buy a bike worth spending money on.

i know but i need a bike to get around so i jus spent abit at a time and it all monted up so now its all sorted im saving properly ... by xmas ill have my new bike

Honestly, I think I have replaced all that stuff on most bikes I've owned for more than a year, except on my Stumpjumper, which was $1630. Point is, in mountain biking and especially aggressive riding you have to expect you will break parts and bang up your bike a bit. I mean, grips? I probably go through 2 sets a year or more on just about all my bikes. It sucks, but its kind of part of the game. Know that I do feel your pain though, but any broken part is a good excuse to upgrade! ;)

Just about everything on that bike, drivetrain (crank and casette), looks like the wheels, shifters, v-brakes, stem, handlebar, probably some more little bits are the same as my off the shelf Diamonback sorento. Even the fork looks close. I rode that bike on road for about two years, mostly pulling my son in his trailer. When I decided to take it offroad I had to change everything I mentioned above (all hand-me-downs from my rockhopper) and put a surly 1x1 fork. I like it a lot better now.

What kind of bike is that? the front shocks dont even look adjustable lol.

looks like an x-mart ****ter.

looks like an x-mart ****ter.
Thats what I was thinking lmao, shlt dude just buy a good bike dont fix a kmart bike up.

well guys u see i dont ave a job..no money at all and im only 16 so when i get a job ill b saving to get a new bike..any ideas on a decent bike..preferable hardtail mayb under £700??

well you see... over the summer i saved up enough to buy a hardrock and i'm 16 and have no job either.

for 700 lbs. you can get a LOT of a bike.

for 700 lbs. you can get a LOT of a bike.

:lol: 700lbs would get you about 20+ bikes!

cheers guys any suggestions. mayb a specialized or kona?? what you think??

cheers guys any suggestions. mayb a specialized or kona?? what you think??

well heres a good solid Kona that can take a beating:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=ProductDetail.aspx&W=0&Manufacturer=&UberCatName=&Cat=cycle&CategoryName=Bikes%20-%20MTB%20HT&ProdID=5360015770&UberCat=0


This is a popular Specialized:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5385

Both are within your budget, it all depends what type of riding you want to do. Both the ones highlighted are cross country bikes that can handle some more extreme abuse than plain XC bikes - but not as much as dirt jumping bikes.

Just saw your after a 2006 Hardrock. Good choice.

have looked at them both.. massive fan of the specialized hardrock range there awsome i love the new 2006 model the kona hoss is good but its more for dirt jumping really.. i want a XC bike with really good forks and preferable hydraulic disk brakes. maybe mechanical

Oooh my mate had an Apollo Abyss before and the left crank refused to stay on despite returning to Halfords about 3 times. They offered him a Raleigh as replacement eventually, can't remember the model but it was a heavy bastard full sus. First proper ride and the crank on that came off too! We decided it must be his riding style. He took it to some local dealer though who fitted new pedals (left the same cranks as far as I could see) and the problem was fixed!