Best Santa Cruz for all day trails

Hightower I’d say. Why only Santa Cruz?

Id say the best middle ground is the Hightower
The new Bronson is not like the Old version (2019) its long very long and although every media outlet is crying that Mullit is the way forward the one Im demoed was a dog to climb on, and to be fair I wasnt to pleased with it coming down hill either. Coming from a 5010 you would notice straight away that the playfulness has gone.

The Megatower (speaking from my own experience) Is a fantastic bike, a worthy climber for 160mm front and back, not the fastest but still happy to pedal all day and trust me I have chucked some good 45 mile 5000foot days in on mine. It really gets going the faster and more imput you put into it and can mute a trail or two as it is a big bike. Running mine at 435mm chainstay (short) helps make it a little more playful. In the long 445 chainstay its just a downhill bike with single crown forks, long low slack.

The new Tallboy marketed as the XC bike for downhillers is a shorter travelled Hightower /Megatower as geo between the three is almost identical but it gets out of its depth quickly when pushed hard.
Hightower , climbs like a tallboy and almost returns like the megatower, 150 front and 145 rear (id run 160 front tbh) is a good middle ground. More than happy up and down and not to much of a compromise either way.

As for the Nomad thast just a 170mm freeride bikek that climbs way to well for its numbers. more suited at Warncliffe than in the Mountains on an all day epic.

Just my opinions after the demos and months of umming and ahhing on weather to change my V1 megatower ...

I recently did Torridon on my newish Hightower and it made me feel like a rock munching hero, and I'm a bit shit. So after extensive testing I'd say a Hightower. Before that I had a Tallboy LTC (also taken to Torridon) which was a better climber and lighter for putting on your shoulder but the new Hightower trump's it for pointing down the way.

Thanks that’s a great summary. Hightower/megatower sound like good suggestions.
I’m open to non Santa cruz’s too if anyone has any suggestions, I just know SC make great bikes and I’m not too clued up on what else is out there these days

Worth pointing out the Megatower has just been updated so is a bit of a different beast to what Stevedoc has described (now 170/165, longer, slacker, steeper seat angle, improved suspension kinematic). I have one (v2) but not had enough time to make a full judgement but so far so good having come from a Bronson v3 which was upforked to 170 at the front (which was a very good all rounder but I became 29er curious). It’s not a bike to smash flatter trails quickly on, but it doesn’t feel like a pig to pedal around, and is very good on the downs.

Hightower would probably suit some of my riding more (ie general trail riding) but I didn’t want to wait for the updated version (I’d want it longer and slacker than the current version), my group is doing more descent focused riding these days anyway, and got a good trade in on my Bronson (it’s otherwise v spendy).

Im waiting till later in the year to see what Santa Cruz do with the new Hughtower .. I really hope the keep the chainstays set at 435mm and steepen the seat tube like the V2 Mega 160mm front and 145 rear all day big mountain do everything bike.

As stevedoc has said a new version of the Hightower is due out very very soon. I wouldn't be getting one yet based on that, as I'd be annoyed if a new one came out just after I bought it. Hang on and see what they come up and you might get some owners selling the old version to get the new.

In which case I’m going to add Transition Sentinel / Ibis Ripmo AF and maybe a Stumpie Evo

I'll throw the Bird AM9 into the ring, 150mm both ends and rider feedback is that it pedals well (I've not ridden one).

No points for guessing what I ride... +1 for it though. Amazing bike, riden everything from 24 hour events to Bikeparks and she feels at home wherever you take her!

Are you thinking of moving to 29er or mullet, or sticking with 27.5?

I have a 5010 v4, with a 150mm fork, it’s a very capable allrounder. It’s plenty light (with the right build kit) for long days (and climbs) in the saddle, but now long and slack enough to handle almost anything, while still being fun and responsive.
You can always fit a Cascade Link If you wanted to increase the rear travel to 140 or even 150mm rear travel.

Hightower with Cascade link and 160mm forks.

You can also remove the spacer in the shock to increase the stroke and bump the travel up to close to 160mm

I’ve thought about selling mine a couple of times…but it’s just so pretty I can’t do it!

I have a 5010 v4, with a 150mm fork, it’s a very capable allrounder. It’s plenty light (with the right build kit) for long days (and climbs) in the saddle, but now long and slack enough to handle almost anything, while still being fun and responsive.
You can always fit a Cascade Link If you wanted to increase the rear travel to 140 or even 150mm rear travel.

Me too. Nimble and playful despite currently downhill tyres on it. (DH tyres, coil shock and oneup toolkit, I'm not going to weigh mine) Incredible climber in spite of this. Never felt the need to lock the shock.
You can save the cascade money, change the shock from 52.5 stroke to 55 and you get 140 ish rear travel.

If you are set on a SC, and want a 29er, as golfchick says, both the tallboy and hightower will be refeshed imminently.
Either wait for the upgrade, or get a discount on the outgoing model.

You can save the cascade money, change the shock from 52.5 stroke to 55 and you get 140 ish rear travel.

@ayjaydoubleyou - Interesting. Have you done this to yours? No issues with tyre rub or frame/linkage bottoming-out?

Tyre is nowhere near - I've got a coil shock so can't check with no air in it, but with no shock on the bike at all, the linkage hits the frame before the tyre gets near the seat tube.

I'd be tempted by one of these as a Scottish all-rounder, and they actually have stock of most sizes...
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-escarpe-29-amp-mountain-bike-2022

Stroke is 50mm on the 5010 V4. Potentially increasing the stroke to 55mm would give 143mm rear travel, assuming no issues with interference. At that point aren't you better off going for a Bronson, though?

I really like my 5010 but I don't consider it a sensible choice for anyone really. Like AJW I have 150mm up front and relatively heavy wheels/tyres/inserts so I don't think it's particularly light, either. The front end is definitely worse for climbing with 150mm (stock is 140mm). A lighter build would be faster for normal riding, a 29er would be faster almost everywhere, and more travel (Hightower) more versatile. Having said that, it's a great bike to rag around.

Stroke is 50mm on the 5010 V4.

you're right - not sure where I got the 52.5 from.

At that point aren’t you better off going for a Bronson, though?

The old Bronson (V3?), yes. Thats pretty much what I wanted, but its discontinued and that coincided with the covid bike boom so theres no NOS anywhere.
The new Bronson is a mullet only.

I went from 5010 v2 to Revel Rail. Probably should have gone Rascal, but having a lot of fun with this little big bike. The CBF set up is amazing for the ups as well as the downs. It was nice to step over to another brand who make expensive plastic bikes.

Am in similar position. V2 5010 great bike with 150mm fork and long shocked, but lucky enough to be able to change later in year. V3 HT is due August and will be similar changes as V2 MT, storage some geo tweeks am told.
Tried a TallboyV4, very quick, big wheel orig Solo ish. Not sure the one bike for me.
Not sure I'd pay extra for frame storage over a bum bag if I can get a good deal on a V2 frame.
Will see what happens

My buddy picked up a well specced Nomad few years ago and it surprised me with how well it pedalled and felt like it drove forward with every push of the pedals and how light it was (it had reserve wheels, RSC brakes and X01 drivetrain) I've done 30 mile 7000ft of climbing days with no issue with him.

I'd say your option is wheel size, then go Nomad or Megatower to match that decision

I'd say Hightower as well, although mine is up for sale, injury forces me on to the ebike nowadays.

Just moved from a Hightower V1 to a Cotic Jeht and couldn't be happier. Plus in nimbus blue its stunningly good looking 🙂

Back to the original Q, I think you’ll find all current SC models are fairly flexible, but the shorter travel models eventually get out of their depth downhill, and the longer travel models are not snappy speed machines on the flat. I’d be asking myself where I sit on the scale between single track speed and smashing the downs and also 27.5 or 29.  Somewhere in the middle (which is where I suspect you are), I’d be tempted to wait for the new Hightower if it’s only a couple of months away.

I'm not really sure there's much in the UK that warrants more than a Tallboy, unless you're racing - in which case the answer is obvious.

I’m not really sure there’s much in the UK that warrants more than a Tallboy, unless you’re racing – in which case the answer is obvious.

The newest Tallboy is capable but there is plenty of stuff in the UK where more travel is nicer to have - not to say the Tallboy won’t get down it - but you’d be faster / more comfortable on even the Hightower. Which would make a great all rounder too.

I was fine on my Bird Aether 7 as an allrounder and was planning to just move to the A9 as my 27.5” forks died - but they were out of stock so ended up on a transition sentinel. 160 front / 150 rear travel and it’s also a really good allrounder. Gives up a bit of weight and nimbleness on flatter pedally trails but then it gives more back as soon as it gets jankier and is easier on my poor broken body.

Hightower, currently have a 150 fork on mine but will probably up it to 160 next time it's away for a service and I find it's a great all rounder. While there will be a new model out soon it won't make the current version any less capable and I'd personally have no problem buying one now (probably be some deals about when the new version is released)
I also looked at the Transition Sentinel but got a better deal on the Hightower (frame only)

I’m open to non Santa cruz’s too if anyone has any suggestions, I just know SC make great bikes and I’m not too clued up on what else is out there these days

I’m thinking of updating and would like slightly more travel for the trails I now ride – plenty of black and red routes in Aberdeenshire.
I would also like to use the bike for all day epic trails around Scotland – e.g. Torridon, Cairngorms.

Unless you have space constraints then I'd say consider buying 2 less jack of all trades reasonably priced (and better specced) bikes instead of one over priced one.

Ultimately it's whatever gives you the most grin for your money though... but if its a SC then make sure you get/afford a decent spec one without the cost cutting components.

SC Warranty seems a bit mixed... I was with someone Wed on their 3rd set of reserve wheels in 6 months... all replaced without question (might help he's a SC dealer)... but then also see people with carbon frames damaged first ride from a rock pinging up having to use crash replacement ..

I’m not really sure there’s much in the UK that warrants more than a Tallboy,

I don't get this, the weight of the base carbon Megatower is about a kg more than the base carbon Tallboy, and in between that is the Hightower and the weight penalty's even less. More travel carries a mostly insignificant weight penalty and nearly always ends up being a more capable and better all round bike.

Have a watch of these two

'sCloset

Sizing and angles there is next to nothing between the three

Climbing the shorter travel bike will climb better (only a bit like ) Longer travel down quicker
Weight again depending on build next to nothing again even between frame only.

The second vid is the one that speaks volumes ..then pop the hightower in there too ..

Pedal and spoke have a few hightower frames in stock god knows how .... deals I guess to be done as August seems to bring a £400 premium for this yours colours with a storage tube ...

That vid pretty much sums up my experience.  Just out again this morning on my new MT2.  It climbs better than my V3 Bronson, I can definitely feel the steeper SA and the benefit of this pushing my weight forward.  It’s definitely faster / more controlled pointed down, I can feel the added roll over of the 29 wheels.  Cornering is fantastic, feels like more grip, not sure how much of this is down to the Maxxgrip Assegai vs Maxterra DHF.  I’ve been surprised that it doesn’t feel less nimble, I still feel I can move it around as I want to.  I could have got a shorter travel SC, but to be honest I feel I’d have less fun on it.

S spec so nowt special, but shock and forks feel great (had Lyrik Ultimates on the Bronson).  Wheels are ok, can always be replaced down the line.  All other kit is decent (Proper Maxxis tyres, Burgtec bars and stem, reverb). GX has always been good for me.

Really looking forward to getting it to Morzine in a couple of weeks.

The problem will be once you return from Morzine .. The MT will shine like a superstar out there but unless doing big old downhills on the return back to Blighty you may find it a little "too much "

I’d love a short travel bike (TB/Spur type thing) to compliment the MT for flatter days, but I don’t have the room, money or wish to risk my marriage. For me for a single bike I don’t want short travel and I don’t see much compromise of the MT vs a ‘trail’ bike based on current experience, I did debate the new Bronson but wanted to try full 29 (I took a bit of a risk but it seems to be working out well).  Do I ‘need’ so much bike? No, do I enjoy it? Yes.

I’m sure if I rode longer days with lots of flowing single track and climbing my attitude would be different (and I’d be waiting for the new HT), but my riding is a mix of messing about in the woods for 3-4 hours and uplifts / bike parks.

More travel carries a mostly insignificant weight penalty and nearly always ends up being a more capable and better all round bike.

Other opinions are available.

Riding around on a squidgy sofa all year because you might go to Morzine in the summer is not for me. There’s a precision of a shorter travel bike that is lovely. Plus, modern (long) geometry means you don’t need loads of travel to go fast on rough stuff. It does mean your body takes more of a bettering, though.

Other opinions are available.

Sure, but OP wants longer travel, wants an all day bike, and is looking specifically at red and black trail use. While you can do all those things on a shorter travel bike, if you've room for just one, and given the only slight differences in weight and geometry, and climbing, while slower - clearly isn't a priority for the OP. than replacing his current bike with one with less travel but bigger wheels doesn't really sound like the bike OP is after?

I'm an advocate for being under-biked and challenged.

Two parts - whilst a TB Vs MT won't be a huge difference in frame weight, once you balance 120mm sids/pikes Vs a Zeb, a lighter part spec vs one built for DH racing in all but name, exo Vs DH tyres. So the weight might be more like 24lbs Vs 34lbs and that might mean longer bigger days, all very rewarding.

The other part is that a smaller bike makes the majority of your riding more interesting and engaging. If we just wanted speed we'd get on a rollercoaster. So they can be a little more challenging and therefore a little more rewarding.

YMMV and ofc if you're racing, pick whatever is fastest.

I’m an advocate for being under-biked and challenged.

Sort of makes the assumption that those of us with longer travelled bikes aren't being challenged, trust me, I am as inept on my Enduro as I was with any other bikes I've owned that had less travel, I've just had that excuse removed 🤣

Being under-biked is fine, right up until the point that it isn’t.

Admittedly, I don't really know what 'red and black trails' actually means. Trail centres? Meaning groomed, smooth trails with the odd feature? If so, short travel. All. Day. Long. Buying a MegaTower to ride around a trail centre is akin to buying a Range Rover to drive to Waitrose IMHO 😛 But I read this from OP:

all day epic trails around Scotland – e.g. Torridon, Cairngorms.

I haven't acually ridden in those places either, but that sounded to me like the sort of long-distance XC jaunt that I would take a shorter-travel bike given the choice. I guess my stance would be something along the lines of "no more travel than you need", but other people can make different choices 🙂

It’s all personal opinion this - and you can change that with time and experience too. There’s no right answer.

I was happy on my 150f / 130r travel full suss. I’d probably be mostly happy on a Tallboy. I’d probably be happier more of the time on a Hightower but probably find a mega tower a bit too steamroller (old MT) on too much of my riding.

Hightower seems to hit that inbetween all round trail riding spot for me - won’t be too steamroller on blue pedally trails - but at the other end wouldn’t beat me up too much on uplift days.

This is why we all need multiple bikes 😀

Meaning groomed, smooth trails with the odd feature?

Glencoe has a black trail that I'd think a half-competent rider could get down on Hightower that you'd struggle to do on a Tallboy. But that's an extreme example. Lots of trails that are black now, are so because they're not groomed, and I think those style of trails and trail centres or uplifts riding is becoming less popular and used because long travel bikes are now all-day pedal-able bikes. and the folks building places like BPW revolution and so on are realizing that

 I guess my stance would be something along the lines of “no more travel than you need”, but other people can make different choices

Yeah, my choice is "as much as I can get"

The problem will be once you return from Morzine .. The MT will shine like a superstar out there but unless doing big old downhills on the return back to Blighty you may find it a little “too much"

I only have the one MTB, I decided to go big enduro rig so I had a bike that would be great for the trails I want to ride be that Alps, Welsh or Scottish Valleys but accepted it may not be the best choice for my home trails, having the bike helped my mindset to always want to visit these place whenever I had the chance.

Occasionally to overcome any dullness of the more local trails I ride, I'll add some more air into the fork and shock to give it a firmer base for pumping and jumping.

Admittedly, I don’t really know what ‘red and black trails’ actually means. Trail centres? Meaning groomed, smooth trails with the odd feature?

Just on the above, just because it’s a trail centre doesn’t mean all the reds and blacks are ‘groomed’ with occasional features.

Yes some trail centres - the likes of Swinley - have red trails that aren’t very difficult and are quite smooth in general. I’d say ‘Degla is similar in that the reds aren’t very challenging or actually that interesting.

I don’t particularly like the red at FOD - but it’s not groomed and is covered in loads of roots.

My experience of CYB is 2 of the black trails (MBR and the bull thing) and they 100% weren’t smooth. I rode them both back to back on a 170/160mm Bird Aeris 145LT and felt really beaten up by the end of the day. Would not have wanted to ride that with a chunk less travel.

Trail centres do vary in their grading vs each other - so to blanket class them all the same is a bit disingenuous.

I rode my first trail centres in about decade last weekend so I'm not the right person to comment really. When people say trail centre, I picture high volume hard-packed singletrack trail with the odd rock 'feature' every 10-15m. Like you say, perhaps the places I rode (Whinlatter, Grizedale) were not representative, but my 5010 was overkill there. Unless there are some trail centres with loose rocks the size of melons, I don't understand why you'd want a monster-truck bike. People are free to make different decisions, of course.

In general, I think people make poor decisions about bikes, and go for longer travel that they think they might one day benefit from at the expense of the riding they do 90% of the time. But who am I to have an opinion on other people's decisions? MTB is just for fun!

@superficial

I think you would need to visit some more trail centres before making that sweeping judgement (I’ve not been to the ones you mention though). I also don’t think you need rocks the size of melons to justify a bit more travel than a Tallboy.

At the end of the day it’s different strokes for different folks.

 I don’t understand why you’d want a monster-truck bike.

Beacuse they're riding trails that you aren't riding, that need those sorts of bikes? But your point; tailor your bike choice to the riding you're mostly doing, not the other way around, is a sound decision.It sounds like the riding you're doing doesn't need long travel.

👍

Beacuse they’re riding trails that you aren’t riding, that need those sorts of bikes?

I doubt that - I ride mostly in the dark peak, so it's not like I'm riding smooth trails all day. I don't know what other people class as rough trails. Outside of some of the bigger bike park drops or big jumps that I might skip out of mechanical sympathy, there's nothing I wouldn't ride on a 5010. In fact, when it gets to the nearly-impossible-to-ride tech stuff I love, it's sometimes easier on a shorter travel bike.

Don't get me wrong, I think a HighTower is perfect for the peak. 29ers definitely make it easier to cover ground and the extra travel gives you a get-out-of-jail free card sometimes. And I understand that most people don't get off on riding silly trialsy lines so it's horses for courses.

It's the 'need' in your sentence that I disagree with because it implies that the better, more hardcore, gnar-shredders need a bigger bike. You must be THIS rad to get one etc. Yes, modern bikes can give you more travel with less of a weight penalty than ever before. BUT the longer travel (in and of itself) can make the bike less engaging.

I think you would need to visit some more trail centres before making that sweeping judgement

Sorry I wasn't trying to make any judgement on trail centres! I was just answering the OP's question as I understood it! If I'm wrong (or even if I'm not!) then feel free to ignore my opinion.

V1 hightower here - trail centre monster that climbs impeccably and is good for hammering down confidently on most downhill - though can get a bit out of its comfort zone in really rough/steep - and for that I have a megatower. V2 Hightower is designed to be a bit more aggressive with that extra travel and might better suit your purposes.

Outside of some of the bigger bike park drops or big jumps that I might skip out of mechanical sympathy, there’s nothing I wouldn’t ride on a 5010. In fact,

Doesn't this kinda hit the nail on the head though, you're pretty much saying that there's stuff in your own riding spot that you're avoiding because you current bike just isn't enough.

when it gets to the nearly-impossible-to-ride tech stuff I love, it’s sometimes easier on a shorter travel bike.

Again it depends doesn't it? For picking your way down a section maybe, but for others the joy is doing it fast and for that you'll need mor travel.  But again, you're previous comment is spot on, pick the bike for the riding you do most of, If your LBS mechanic hates you because you keep bringing in your broken wheels and blown shocks to fix; then to mangle Chief Brodie "You're gonna need a bigger bike"

New Hightower https://m.pinkbike.com/news/the-2023-santa-cruz-hightower-gets-tweaked-not-transformed.html

Pretty much the old Hightower but with a glovebox from initial impressions. Shame they don't seem to have modified the shock tunnel to allow for coil.

New Hightower https://m.pinkbike.com/news/the-2023-santa-cruz-hightower-gets-tweaked-not-transformed.html/blockquote >

Or a bit closer to home: https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/details-of-new-santa-cruz-hightower-3/

 

Pretty much the old Hightower but with a glovebox from initial impressions. Shame they don’t seem to have modified the shock tunnel to allow for coil.

Seems a bit of a missed opportunity that. Coil on my Sentinel is really nice and plush on the jank vs the Float X that it came with.

Seems a bit of a missed opportunity that. Coil on my Sentinel is really nice and plush on the jank vs the Float X that it came with.

Yeah, and also strange since the 5010 is coil-compatible. Apparently it's to do with seatpost clearance issues and honestly I'd prefer a 200mm + dropper to a coil shock option (that personally I probably wouldn't ever use).

If I'd just bought a V2 HighTower I wouldn't be too upset by this latest update.

Pretty much the old Hightower but with a glovebox from initial impressions.

It would seem that the big changes we've seen to geometries over the last few years are slowing to small increments once again.
The cynic in me wonders what the 'big thing' the industry will come up with, to get us all buying new bikes.

The cynic in me wonders what the ‘big thing’ the industry will come up with, to get us all buying new bikes.

Does Santa Cruz have that much control over you then? They release a new bike and you just hand over your card?

The cynic in me wonders what the ‘big thing’ the industry will come up with, to get us all buying new bikes.

It's ebikes. It's already happening obvs, but there will be proportionally more "half fat" options coming, I predict.

These SC threads aren't the same without inbeforemike and nobeer leaping to their defence, eh?

It’s ebikes. It’s already happening obvs, but there will be proportionally more “half fat” options coming, I predict.

I agree on this.  There's plenty of money to be milked in the ebike market drip feeding updates.

These SC threads aren’t the same without inbeforemike and nobeer leaping to their defence, eh?

Says the resident Orange defender in chief 😉

Akers

The cynic in me wonders what the ‘big thing’ the industry will come up with, to get us all buying new bikes.

Still expecting eBikes to drive gearbox innovation. Motors already have gearing, and bikes have gearing, there's weight and complexity to be saved by combining the two in one sealed unit and ditching the derailleur

Says the resident Orange defender in chief 😉

I've partially moved to Starling now, but otherwise guilty as charged.

Not sure anyone can defend Orange pricing though.

Joebristol - I don’t particularly like the red at FOD – but it’s not groomed and is covered in loads of roots.

Funny, neither the blue or red are especially interesting, but ai thought the roots were its redeeming feature!

tomhoward
Full Member
Being under-biked is fine, right up until the point that it isn’t.

As I have found with my Aether 9C recently - the geometry allows a style of riding that allows you to reach the end stops of the suspension.

i had a v2 5010, great bike, loved it,
hired a bronson v2 for the day and thought it was dull

moved onto a orbea occam fox36 150 / 140 rear 29er. (covid = lack of bikes et al)
its definately quicker and longer, rolls over stuff better, not quite as playfull, corners fine.
can handle a big ride and climb, ok descender .. ride west yorks/peaks and a few enduro's.
wouldn't buy another

get the bike that you ride 90% of the time, if you can pick a good line you can tend to get away with less travel, but thats not to say riders with big travel aren't riding harder.

can you demo the new hightower,

have requested a demo on new HT so waiting to hear back.

My 5010 V2 is from new (6 years or so). 3 sets of bearings, no other issues and its not like it sits in the shed all year, so well used. I'd say i've got my moneys worth and would keep my next bike same amount of time if not longer all being well

As I have found with my Aether 9C recently – the geometry allows a style of riding that allows you to reach the end stops of the suspension.

I guess that’s the danger with the newer breed of mid travel bikes with enduro ish geometry - same with the optic / reactor / Spur (although that’s less trail perhaps) etc.

I found the same with my Aether 7 - it was on Antur Stiniog type trails I found the limits of getting battered through the shorter travel. The bike was capable - my battered body not so much. However it was such a good all rounder for 90% of my riding it was the best bike for me. Now on a Sentinel which is 29er and a bit longer travel and it’s definitely more work on pedally / twisty flat stuff but it’s faster / more capable on the tech off piste I’m now doing more of.

I've also moved to something longer travel, in my case an Ibis Ripmo. There genuinely doesn't seem to be any penalty for packing the extra travel, but its there when I need it.

I can't comment on the specific SC models, but long vs medium travel probably depends on riding style.

I have a 160mm bike and a 100mm fs xc bike. I don't think there is anything I couldn't slowly get down on the XC bike that the 160 would enable, but I would be much faster in rough stuff. Recently I did jacobs ladder down from kinder scout on the 100mm bike as the other was out of action. It was fine, but I had to pick my way down as it gets sketch with speed. I find ploughing down there on the long travel bike more fun. However, my other half likes to slowly pick lines even on her long travel bike didn't find a shorter bike much worse. For her the shorter bike makes sense as the ups are faster and boring bridleways are more engaging.

I would suggest demo days. Even if you can't get SC bikes it will still give a feel for different types of bikes (with the exception of the odd lemon most bikes of a similar type will feel pretty similar).

@scienceofficer

Once I found there wasn’t a shorter travel bike in stock frame only and without being a ludicrous price for carbon (A9 / Reactor 290 / Evol Offering / Norco Optic / Vitus Escarpe / SC Tallboy etc) I started looking a bit longer travel alloy. Was thinking Sentinel / Hightower / Ripmo AF.

Couldn’t find the Hightower alloy with a decent shock included (bottom end inline shock only) so it came down to the Sentinel vs the Ripmo. I think the Sentinel is meant to be the more capable when it gets really rowdy but is still happy to play. I think the Ripmo is a bit less stable at speed but more playful more of the time and probably pedals a touch better. I decided the Sentinel looked nicer and there was one in stock in my size at Shut Up and Ride which is only a few miles down the road. Love at first sight on the frame.

I reckon the Ripmo AF frame is probably lighter than the Sentinel - you just need to be careful on shock choice if you want to go coil because of the yoke driven nature of the frame. Go DVO as they have a 14mm shaft (oooer) - avoid Fox as they have 9mm and you’ll likely break it. Not sure about all the other makes - apparently there is a compatibility list somewhere.

I’ve just bought a hightower v2 as my only Mtb. Firmly mid pack in my annual enduro, enjoy a day at BPW and natural riding round Yorkshire and the lakes. It’s perfect.

Scienceofficer

I’ve also moved to something longer travel, in my case an Ibis Ripmo. There genuinely doesn’t seem to be any penalty for packing the extra travel, but its there when I need it.

But surely that's the drawback.... ???
Assuming you ride for fun then having a bike can roll over or off anything isn't fun..
Like driving a Ferrari through town perhaps it has some short term appeal

Joe

I don’t particularly like the red at FOD – but it’s not groomed and is covered in loads of roots.

It's a 2h40 drive each way so I usualy do uplift and stick to the DH trails.. but much more fun on a HT and zero fun on a long travel....
A couple of years ago I was riding the Mega at Dyfi and we stopped off at FoD on the way home.. kids with us so it was all rushed as we were missing uplift so I rode the Mega as it was already assembled. Total waste of a day... I usually set the old MK1.5 to minimum travel if riding a FS at FoD anyway but it just felt totally non engaging on a long travel enduro machine...

I ended up selling the Mega because I only get to ride stuff enjoyable on a long travel a few times a year... it would have been nice at Glencoe and Fort Bill perhaps and a couple of the runs at Dyfi but that's a handful of days a year.

@stevextc

Yeah I ignore the blue and red at FOD entirely. The red just annoys me with loads of roots without being technically challenging or having any flow to it.

The DH trails aren’t bad - there’s enough challenge but also flow on them - but the off piste is far more varied and I find more fun there I think. The uplift means you miss out on all the other cool stuff that’s around. If I’m paying for uplift I’m going to BMCC or BPW in the South Wales sort of area. Plus I don’t find the fireroad up the middle at FOD too bad - other thrown the steep bit near the start. I reckon I could pedal up that 10 times ok - did 5 or 6 runs the other day when I only cycled for 3 hours and also did one of the official enduro trails and another off piste run the other side of the road. On a 34lb ish Sentinel that for me is long travel trail / enduro light.

Could I ride my hardtail down all that stuff - yes - would I enjoy it as much as the full suss - no. I like my hardtail at natural spots like Bourton Combe and for playing round on stuff local to the house. Also ok for long natural bridleway sort of stuff. Anything really tech or fast / rocky it’s full suss all the way.

"Assuming you ride for fun then having a bike can roll over or off anything isn’t fun.."

I for one much prefer a bike that gets stopped dead by any bumps and implodes when you take it off any drops, which is why I shall be taking my elderly Brompton on my next uplift day.

Assuming you ride for fun then having a bike can roll over or off anything isn’t fun..
Like driving a Ferrari through town perhaps it has some short term appeal

That was my thought process that resulted in the Aether 9c. Perhaps its old skool dogma to think that a bigger travel bike will be more dull, or is it that certain bikes have managed to ascend past the long travel sled feeling?

I'm certainly long in the tooth enough to have the impression that big bikes are dull unless you're on big terrain.

The Ripmo has proved me wrong though.

It manages to be fun and jibby in standard™ trails without feeling like a sled.

The Ripmo has proved me wrong though.

It manages to be fun and jibby in standard™ trails without feeling like a sled.

Aside from that bit extra travel, do you find the Ripmo similar to ride to the 9c?

No, its quite different.

Although the 9c didn't feel like a sled, despite having more travel the Ripmo feels less like one.

No, its quite different.

Although the 9c didn’t feel like a sled, despite having more travel the Ripmo feels less like one.

Thanks. That wasn’t what I expected with the longer stays and travel, but then DW Link is by all accounts a very good pedalling platform, and it’s a light frame for the travel too.

A Spur and a Ripmo were my expensive ‘either side’ options when I settled on the Bird.

I for one much prefer a bike that gets stopped dead by any bumps and implodes when you take it off any drops, which is why I shall be taking my elderly Brompton on my next uplift day.

I take you point and am currently scouring eBay for a penny farthing, it should have excellent front wheel rollover but also hook up nicely on the rear to remind me to have fun.

It's all different horses for different people I think. For all day riding on trails (what the heck is 'trails' anyway) I think the definition is too broad. Do you want to to do big drops, gaps and shred the gnar to the max or ride a lot of trails quickly through the course of the day?
In the Santa Cruz line up anything from a Blur TR, thru Tallboy, Hightower (new model available) to the Megatower could fit the bill depending on what you want to ride, how long for, how quickly and where your focus is.
I'm currently enjoying my Transition Spur I will ride most stuff but won't do gaps and this is more because of my bravery than the bike.

I’m currently enjoying my Transition Spur I will ride most stuff but won’t do gaps and this is more because of my bravery than the bike.

I like having shorter travel FS bikes but I found that I would often mince out of drops/gaps/whatever and blame the bike on the grounds that I was "protecting the bike" when of course I was just a bit scared. I had a nice Yeti ASR-5 which I built up very light and it was great fun but I found myself backing out of stuff too much for my liking.

Rightly or wrongly, I feel like the SC 5010 can handle all that stuff so it's a sweet spot for me. No excuses, but still small taught enough to be rad. Maybe I've been brainwashed by seeing Danny MacAskill/Josh Lewis et al hammering theirs. But hey, if it breaks then it's got a good warranty.