Mountain Biking - Claud Butler - a decent budget bike??

Anyone had any experience of the Claud Butler Alpina?? I'm looking for a budget bike an my local shop has one in pretty cheap. The spec is as follows: Suntour XCR-D magnesium fork, Front and rear disc brakes (cable), WTB Rocket V race saddle, Kore alloy Ahead, Tioga riser handle bars and shimano alivio 24 speed gears. Anyone got any thoughts on any of those components??

Never heard of it.

Did a google search on "claude butler" and got about 2 actually relevant hits. Did a bikeforums search and got about 10, so try that to get some info on the brand in general.

As for the bike, it's relatively low level. The site I found listed it at 350 pounds (about $500 US???). The frame is 7005, which is a plus, but the specs aren't too great. I don't know specifics about the fork, but Suntour's reputation in that department isn't too great. Alivio components are on par for that price range. I don't know anything about the rims. Since they are unspecified brand and on a low price bike, the disc brakes probably suck. The general consensus is that most v-brakes have better power, modulation, and reliability than low end discs.

My recommendation:
The Claude Butler Rock is similar, except the brakes, but 50 pounds less. Probably worth looking at.
The Butler Cape Wrath has everything raised one notch in quality (Deore, Rockshox, etc.), but 50 pounds more. Also probably worth looking at.
Giant, Trek, Specialized, and whatever other brands are available in your area also offer similar deals that you should definitely consider, as well. Not being familiar with Claude Butler, few of us here can say anything against them, but we do know some of the other brands, and generally like them.

Cherry ho :D

See, now that's a good response! Clear concise and non-abrasive. Kudos iamlucky13!

Never heard of them, so I said what I knew about them.

No offense meant, but we've gotta remember to answer the question if we can.

L8R

Never heard of Claude Butler !! http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British/claud_butler_main.htm

CB was one of the great British frame-builders of custom lightweight racing bikes, but the label was taken over and degraded over the years. Currenty stuck onto good-enough Tainwanese frames and built up into good-enough bikes at the price.

*iamlucky13 hijacks thread for duration of one post*

Wow, interesting page Michael. If you like to see unique things, check the link out. The Tour D'Angleterre at the bottom really caught my eye. The chain tensioner hangs down from the bottom bracket shell. I hadn't seen that setup before.

*returns thread to it's rightful topic*

The latest issue of either MTBUK or one of those other European mountain bike mags had a review of a Claude Butler. I saw the mag in my local Barnes and Noble. Would that be my LBN?.... haha. I kill myself sometimes.


-Moab

Claud Butler bikes are generally heavier build road bikes and make good tourers or commuters. I don't think they make serious mtbs yet. Their name is respected but they have a generally limited appeal.

I don't know about the Alpina but the Cape Wrath has had some very good reviews in the UK press - What Mountain Bike was very impressed and one of the Claud Butlers did well in an issue of MBR a month or two ago. They only build budget bikes but they are getting better reviews this year than they used to. The same company also make Dawes bikes whose budget MTB's are getting very good reviews as well. Certainly worth looking at along with Giant, Specialized etc.

Richard

Anyone had any experience of the Claud Butler Alpina?? I'm looking for a budget bike an my local shop has one in pretty cheap. The spec is as follows: Suntour XCR-D magnesium fork, Front and rear disc brakes (cable), WTB Rocket V race saddle, Kore alloy Ahead, Tioga riser handle bars and shimano alivio 24 speed gears. Anyone got any thoughts on any of those components??

I own a alpina its a great bike i go mountain biking quite a lot but watch the back mech disc its dodegy the fork is a good start off fork but ive changed to a rock shox psylo race otherwise is a great bike for the money you pay for it . it might be a good idea to consider a cape rath as it is only 50 pounds more and has better components but the alpina has got good components

I own a Claud Butler Olympus and its a really good sturdy bike. It has a lot of decent components on it and I use it for road and when I get the chance some cross country... Everything responds really well, really nice bike, smooth and quiet and what made it better than the rest is the fact that it was £400 instead of £800 :P

The latest issue of either MTBUK or one of those other European mountain bike mags had a review of a Claude Butler. I saw the mag in my local Barnes and Noble. Would that be my LBN?.... haha. I kill myself sometimes.


-Moab

Claud Butler is a company that sells their bikes in the UK. From what Ive heard, they offer a decent price for the stuff your getting.