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I'm looking for a new bike, wanting a trail bike around 150mm travel, max budget £3k. Preferably something that's got UDH for future upgrades.
I'm after something that pedals and climbs reasonably well, I don't want to feel like I'm riding an e-bike with a flat battery.
Any suggestions welcomed.
Trek Fuel EX8, because i've got 2 😀
Stif Cycles and others had some SC Hightower builds for around £3k (around 30-40% off RRP), unsure on availability now though.
Surely the question should be "is there actually a curent 150mm-ish trail bike that is shit?"
They're basically all pretty good nowadays aren't they? Whats your favourite colour?
Santa Cruz Bronson. tons of fun, can lean on that big 29er front wheel HARD. most fun boke I have had so far. Great deal at tweed valley bikes (wish I spent a bit more and got this one) https://tweedvalleybikes.co.uk/collections/santa-cruz-bikes/products/santa-cruz-bronson-c-gx-axs-build-kit-mx-2024
Propain Hugene 2? Released in 2021 and currently discounted 20%-30% as I expect a new one is coming. As a 2021 frame, it's not super aggressive geometry and that suits me fine. 65ish head angle with a 150mm fork. 140mm rear. It's a brilliant climber - even compared to my last 2 trail bikes, Ibis RipMo and Yeti SB130LR - and seems to cope with all types of trails coming the other way.
It definitely doesn't feel as "big" as my RipMo but on 90%+ of trails I rode it on, I preferred it. Even when it put me in hospital 😉 (not really a bike issue). It's also super quiet, really well put together, super low standover (and even with the extended seat tube I can get a 210mm dropper in there and I've got short legs!), decent reach etc.
UDH of course, builds up pretty light even tho I've some chunk Shwalbe's on there and Cushcore. I really rate the Float X upgrade over the RS and I've recently become a 36 fanboi over a Lyrik. It does feel fast once you're off the brakes and the suspension seems very balanced. I'm not sure it's a step change over other really nice trail bikes I have, but I've definitely bonded with it (well until I had that crash!)
500km over 6 weeks convinced me to put my Yeti and RipMo up for sale. If I'm honest I just think a trail bike suits what I ride nearly all the time (FoD/Staunton/etc) and when it gets mega steep and nasty, it's unlikely to be the bike that's holding me back anyway. And I have a Nukeproof Giga for that.
Anyway looking forward to getting back on in once bones have healed.
Not looked recently but 3k and a bit I think for the base build which is still pretty nice spec.
Canyon Spectral if you can live with 140mm?
YT Jeffsy looks a good all-rounder with an amazing spec here: All Mountain Bike | JEFFSY Core 3 CF
Calibre Bossnut and some fancy upgrades?
Fuel EX looks like a good shout. There's some good deals on the 9.8 at the moment.
A Scott Genius has to be a good shout? Plenty about with 50% off.
Or Mondraker Foxy?
Plenty of 50% off GT's about too.
The Scott Genius looks to be a pretty good spec and the reviews sound positive.
There’s also some good deals around on the GT Sensor and from what I’ve read the warranty will be upheld by Cannondale dealers now GT has gone under.
After starting to look in to it, there’s far more choice than I’d expected!
The Scotts have got next level cable based stupidity with lockouts & through headset routing.
Ive been riding with someone recently who has one & it is endlessly creaking & sawing through cables in the headset.
There are far better options out there without the idiocy of that to deal with.
The Scott Genius looks to be a pretty good spec and the reviews sound positive.
There’s also some good deals around on the GT Sensor and from what I’ve read the warranty will be upheld by Cannondale dealers now GT has gone under.
After starting to look in to it, there’s far more choice than I’d expected!
Yeah, GT warranty should be fine as they have not gone under, just the parent company isn't going to make anymore for a while so the liability will remain.
That Scott is next level ugly. I’m sure it’s well designed but looks like an ebike (in the worst possible way) and is just..well..ugly really.
Hard to look past the Jeffsy or Spectral. Jeffsy looks more of an all rounder of the two.
"I don't want to feel like I'm riding an e-bike with a flat battery"
Bike is arguably not mega imporant. Get a shock with low speed compression adjustment, soend time setting it up and run a nippy rear tyre.
Sounds like my next job is figuring out how to set up suspension properly then..
Marin Rift Zone? That's what I'm looking at for whenever I get round to going FS again, probably in 27.5 format for extra fun 🙂 they look like great value and seem to be based around a fun ride, rather than a lot of the trail bikes that have long and slack enduro bike geo just with shorter travel.
crossed - what's your current bike that you're replacing?
Marin Rift Zone? That's what I'm looking at for whenever I get round to going FS again, probably in 27.5 format for extra fun 🙂 they look like great value and seem to be based around a fun ride, rather than a lot of the trail bikes that have long and slack enduro bike geo just with shorter travel.
Ohhh, something I can have an opinion on! I rode one a few weeks ago and out of the various trail bikes I've ridden recently, it was the one I liked the most. Definitely good value and it felt spot on for me.
crossed - what's your current bike that you're replacing?
It’s not a replacement, it’s an addition.
I’ve currently got a 120mm Epic and a 130mm hardtail.