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Looking to spend roughly 3k. Currently looking at yt capra and specialised enduro. Is there any other good recommendation you guys think. Wanting a bike that can really handle anything from black mountain to revo. Thanks
From what I've seen over the last few weeks it would be a Nukeproof mega, they are getting very popular
In before the torrent of 'recommend-what-you-bought' comes in, but for £3k you'd pick up one kick-ass specced Bird Aeris.
Noone seems to have a bad word to say about the bike, and EVERYONE has only great things to say about the company and back-up (myself included on both counts).
Seriously well worth considering - they're a brilliant outfit.
I'd back the Mega 290, the specs are a wee bit wonky but it's a beast (I don't own one, but I testrode it when a mate was looking to buy, very impressed) Just good numbers, decent suspension, good enough components- apart from the ****ing nobby nic, I mean [i]really?[/i].
I have a thing for big 29ers and it's definitely one of the best. Craps on the Enduro imo.
Really??? Surprised me there dude. Don't think they carbon though are they? Dunno if I'm thinking yt because they are best value rather than best bike
+1 for the Bird Aeris
Never even crossed my mind the bird aeris but I am
Now going to look at them!!!
Look at the Radon Swoop 170 if you're riding places like Revo.
It rides great, can be slacked out to under 65deg HA with a flip chip and is superb value.
Yeah I own one, but I really do think it's the best value enduro bike on the market.
Thought the Swoop was sold out...
Saweet https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-slide-carbon-160-9.0-583078/wg_id-7251
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Sorry to be the voice of reason but there's no such thing as 'the best Enduro bike'.....Dan Atherton could beat me on a £150 Halfords HT....a decent level Enduro was won in NZ recently on a Trance FFS....as always it's whatever works for you, course layout etc.
.a decent level Enduro was won in NZ recently on a Trance FFS
Subtle brag... Well done mate 😉
Enduro is so varied that find a bike you like for what you do,that and one that fits you.
Bird Aeris 145 with X01 EAGLE, I would always go for spec over extra 1k for carbon frame.
In the theme of recommending what you own...
Save your self £500+ and get one of these pre-ordered
https://www.airdropbikes.com/collections/bikes/products/edit-coil
Or if you save £700, sell the Hopes and spend it on some posh carbon wheels if you're worried about weight
https://www.airdropbikes.com/collections/bikes/products/airdrop-edit-pro
Where will actually be riding this Enduro bike, as no point buying 170mm of travel if it's the Surrey Hills for example.
I would always go for spec over extra 1k for carbon frame.
Other way round for me the running gear upgrades the frame does 4 years
mikewsmith - MemberI would always go for spec over extra 1k for carbon frame.
Other way round for me the running gear upgrades the frame does 4 years
Agreed, the parts will wear out and you can upgrade them. A good frame isnt something you can just upgrade.
<cough> Was about to re-post with a lower price [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-santa-cruz-bronson-cc ]Bronson[/url]
I want it to do a bit of everything really from xc just to keep my fitness up to riding places like black mountain, revolutionbike park Arthur stiniog. I've also never been bikepark wales but been told it's much better with a enduro and I currently have a xc bike and dh bike. My idea was to sell them both to have a bike that does it all
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s183p6535/CANNONDALE-JEKYLL-CARBON-2-2016
And a grand for beer and chinese. Seems like plenty of bike for the cash and they win races and all sorts on them.
I've been test riding a lot of bikes just recently. I'm about 2/3rds of the way through my test list so far and the Airdrop Edit is out in front knocking some well known and well regarded bikes off the list completely.
So, not recommending what I own but very likely to be backing this recommendation up with my own money.
I love my YT Capra AL. Couple of changes to make to get it running how I like, but apart from that, it's bloody brilliant.
Edit.
Giant Reign, Whyte G160 and Trek Remedy are all great bikes.
But you can get an alloy Capra with Lyriks for £1900 and invest the change in a bike holiday
And a grand for beer and chinese. Seems like plenty of bike for the cash and they win races and all sorts on them.
All good if you can get past the fact that it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down... 😉
Bird Aeris 145 with X01 EAGLE, I would always go for spec over extra 1k for carbon frame.
If the wear rate is as good as I've heard then getting Eagle on a build may not be such a scarily expensive idea!
I'd prioritise geometry and suspension behaviour first (Aeris 145 good on both counts), then decent forks and shock, then wheels and brakes and dropper. And then gears (hence why I'm still on 1x10!)
I think going on the shorter end of enduro bike travel (140-150mm rather than 160-170mm) but with slightly more fork is a good bet for most UK enduro racing.
mikewsmith & Larry_Lamb
When I say spec over carbon I mean, the perform gain from Ali to Carbon is minimal at best but the performance of entry level shocks and fork vs top end is massive.
When I say spec over carbon I mean, the perform gain from Ali to Carbon is minimal at best but the performance of entry level shocks and fork vs top end is massive.
Exactly!
best but the performance of entry level shocks and fork vs top end is massive.
Fair point though I've avoided brands that put crap on decent frames. As for forks these days even the base (so long as it isn't a crap heavy coil) can be upgraded for sensible cash via tunes a d cartridges.
I want it to do a bit of everything really from xc just to keep my fitness up to riding places like black mountain, revolutionbike park Arthur stiniog. I've also never been bikepark wales but been told it's much better with a enduro and I currently have a xc bike and dh bike. My idea was to sell them both to have a bike that does it all
I'd get the Bird-120, it has a 130mm fork which is plenty for places like BPW, Antur etc while retaining a fairly pedal friendly 120mm back end....angles look good despite the 'short' travel.
If your ego gets the better of you then go the whole hog and get the 145mm one with either the 150mm or 160mm forks.....but it ain't going to XC as well as the other one.
Good luck on that 120mm bike at Revo and Antur. You'll need it.
OP needs to go full enduro IMO - Capra if he likes a short bike, Swoop if he likes a long one. I honestly don't think this can be beaten...
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-swoop-170-8.0-583118/wg_id-7251
I'm assuming by XC he just means pedaling up hills, rather than lycra and racing.
It depends what trails you're riding at the uplift venues?
You will want more than 130mm travel to do the bigger trails at Antur, Revo & BPW. I've seen people on hardtails on the blacks and ridden my hardtail at Antur on the red&blues but it's not great and wear/failure of components is going to be higher not to mention wear on yourself!
If you're sticking to the blues/reds then look at lower travel.
Good luck on that 120mm bike at Revo and Antur. You'll need it.
Why?
Just requires a different riding style....i have only recently had FS again and regularly rode BPW, Antur, FoD etc on a selection of 456-evo, Ragley Piglet, 45650b and a Dartmoor Hornet.....for a laugh I still dig out the Hornet for uplift duties, it's a little 'unconventional' running 170mm coil springs but gives the DH boys something to think about when I'm right behind them.
Christ. 120mm out back would be luxury!
(That said I am nearing 40 and fully pussified, my most recent two bikes have been a 160mm trail/enduro weapon and a 200mm DH sled....age comes to us all!)
Aren't you the guy who increased his Trance travel to 160mm?
Why was that again?
Pure curiosity....and wondering why Giant didn't do it in the first place.
So is there a reason you haven't reverted to 140mm? Or shortened it to 120mm?
Aren't you the guy who increased his Trance travel to 160mm?
Hoisted by his own petard.
Always wanted to say that and this seems like an ideal opportunity.
I have a HT for decent pedaling duties, I now have a 160mm FS for comfortable trail riding and a DH bike for uplift days.....variety is the spice of life, I may get a short travel 29er as my next bike, shame Orange stopped making that 110mm rear travel machine really.
Giant Reign, Whyte G160 and Trek Remedy are all great bikes.But you can get an alloy Capra with Lyriks for £1900 and invest the change in a bike holiday
with a £3k budget the OP could go for a Giant Reign 2 which retails at £2300...if he's a cash buyer then most shops will do a significant discount whic will leave him with at least £1k to spend on upgrades.
the freehub on the reign 2 is a steel one which might be durable but it is heavy...the wheels would be the first upgrade on that bike
[i]Good luck on that 120mm bike at Revo and Antur. You'll need it.[/I]
Managed the DH track at Fort Bill on my 29er with 'only' 120mm of travel, twice the time of Greg Minnaar, but a result in my book 🙂
Many of the faster riders where I ride are on 120-140mm FS's, don't seem to slow them down.
I'm currently riding one of these
http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/meta-am-race-brushed-edition-2016-c2x18820530
and loving it more each time I go out!
Bought it to replace my very tired YT Wicked (read Capra Al) and the difference is amazing . The Meta is a lot more fun to ride, poppy to use bike test speak, and is equally at home on XC routes round the peaks, bike park Wales or flat out down the Snowdon Ranger path! (It's going to Mont Blanc & Finale later this year too
Many of the faster riders where I ride are on 120-140mm FS's, don't seem to slow them down.
I've notched up some of my greatest Strava descent heroics on a 110mm 29er, but I wouldn't dream of taking it to Revo or Antur to ride anything but the easy tracks.
Put the hairshirts away and let the OP get an appropriate bike for his needs.
Thanks for all the info guys. When I say xc yeah it's more for keeping my fitness up really rather than full Lycra going up a hill like a mad possessed haha. I'm definitely looking at more 160/170 travel. I currently ride all the uplift places on a dh bike and especially revo find it hard work by the end of the day so people doing on sub 140mm travel must be made of different stuff (also have white finger after the ride
I have a HT for decent pedaling duties, I now have a 160mm FS for comfortable trail riding and a DH bike for uplift days.....variety is the spice of life, I may get a short travel 29er as my next bike, shame Orange stopped making that 110mm rear travel machine really.
Ummm, they still make it...it's called the segment