Hi guys,

I need a new hardtail mountain bike. I've got 3 bikes in mind.

I'm around 175cm in height and currently ride a 26". I have taken both the Specialized Rockhopper 29er and the Pitch 650B out on test rides. The Pitch felt pretty much the same as my current bike but the 29er felt quite different; I'm not sure whether I like it. My foot would sometimes hit the wheel when I turned a sharp corner. It felt more ungainly than the smaller-wheeled counterpart.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience or opinions with the following bikes?

Diamondback Apex 29er

Diamondback Apex 29er bike - Bikes 2U Direct

CUBE ANALOG 27.5 2015

Cube Analog 27.5 2015

Norco Charger 7.3 2015

Norco Charger 7.3 2015 Mountain Bike | Evans Cycles

All seem to have similar spec. The Apex seems to have the best spec for the money.

I have quite an unusual riding position, I like to sit quite low so I can have the handlebars quite high up, so I don't have to arch my back right over and can have a fairly upright seating position whilst still having full range of leg throw. That's why I like the Norco frame.


Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!