[Closed] Can't get used to bike?

Horrible conditions, and a new bike that feels completely different (HT->FS), maybe give it a little more time?

Done about 400 miles on it. Made lots of changed to parts I know I get on with too.

I’m around the same height as you and don’t get on with 29ers.

I know people will point out that there are pros who are shorter than us who love 29ers, but I really think they work better for taller riders.

JP

I’d stick with it a bit longer - was the Soul a recent one with long shot geometry or an older one?

Quite a few modern bikes (particularly long travel ones) need to be ridden fairly aggressively with weight over the front wheel and a more obviously weight shift into corners.

You also have the added complication of the suspension and whether it’s setup correctly.

I’ve had a go on a couple of 29ers and they didn’t float my boat, but that’s not to say I couldn’t get used to one if I got one. I’m 5’9 so similar height to you.

It might be worth you getting some 121 coaching on the new bike to check your technique and see if there are any changes you can make to get more out of it.

I'm 5ft 8in and will be 29in for life, recently sold my SolarisMax to get a short travel 29er instead actually.

it’s just a bit of a big lug to throw about.

Suggests it's the bike weight, or LLS geometry that you're struggling with? Has your Soul gone now? Are you trying to do the same rides on an inappropriate bike?

If you don't like it sell it. No point in throwing further money and time at a bike when you just aren't feeling it.
Been there, done that, lost a stack of cash in the process. Much happier on a different bike.

Have you tried varying the shock pressure? A shock with 25% sag rides very differently to one at 30% for example. Its fairly defining for a full suss bike.

The soul is the longshot and same year as the jeffsy. Until recently they were the same weight at around 28lbs but I've changed the soul into more of an xc bike as I thought they were a little similar.
I'd be gutted to have to get rid of it as it's such a well specced bike. Maybe I'll try some different set ups as suggested

Have you tried varying the shock pressure? A shock with 25% sag rides very differently to one at 30% for example. Its fairly defining for a full suss bike.

I was gonna mention the shock setup as well. In addition to air pressure, adding tokens can really pep up how a bike rides and "fix" a frame that was feeling dull and soggy.

Just a thought, but what is it you don’t like / get about it that the Soul has?

Feels a lot less agile and draggy, actually feels slow even though Strava times are actually better on black runs and downhill sections on it oddly. Just doesn't feel fun or fast.

In fact what chakaping said 'dull and soggy'

I sort of feel the same when I get on my FS (Ripmo) compared to a HT. That is until the trail points down or I get a wriggle on, when the FS comes into its own and supplies a huge grin.

If it feels draggy and is a similar weight to your Cotic, what are the tyres and how much air is in them? If there isn't much in the spec, maybe try the rear (suspension) of your Jeffsy too hard and see how it feels.

Could then back it off until you hit a sweet spot between getting the feel right for you and the travel for the bike to perform optimally.

I wouldn't change any more components -except perhaps tyres if you want consistency - instead concentrate on the suspension and dial it into how you want the bike to feel.

May be the opposite problem, the Jeffsy is pretty conservative geometry-wise compared to the long shot Soul. Is it a bit too short for you?

I've recently put mud xc tyres on the soul but before that had minions on and got butcher/purg on the yt so almost same tyres grip wise.
I think geometry set up looks the way to go. Barring that I think I'm struggling.
I feel the same as you twonks, but I've got to a point now that if I was going somewhere with black runs or peaks rides I'd be heading towards the cotic I'm that confident on that over the YT.

When I got my first longish, low, slack bike my other bikes stopped feeling right. I've bought three Geometron frames since.

What shock does it have? Do you know if it has any tokens fitted already?

This could be a very cheap and fairly easy fix.

Frankly, you just sound overbiked for the rides you’re taking it on.
Slow, dull and soggy all sum up too much travel on normal trails. The fact your quicker on more difficult stuff show you’re riding it well, it just feels slower because the suspension is doing what it’s supposed to.

It’s the reason lots of us have a ht and a fs. Just pick the right bike for what you’ll be doing that ride.

Thinking about it -
Riding my hardtail (Vitus Sentier) back to back with the Aeris 145LT I had until recently the fs did feel comparatively sluggish in comparison. That’s both running 27.5” wheels and on easy ish terrain. However, on rocky / steep / fast runs the Aeris was brilliant fun and the Sentier would have been miserable.

I think it’s just having 2 very different bikes - pick the one for the relevant terrain you’re riding at the time.

Plus do some playing about with suspension settings - you might be able to get the Jeffsy running a bit poppier with a bit more air pressure / perhaps tokens in the shock.

What shock is on it - does it have a Rockshox Delux metric shock?

It's a fox float factory shock.

The things people are saying are making sense.

I think a suspension set up and maybe slightly racier tyres might be the way to go.

https://m.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/YT/Jeffsy-CF-Pro-Race-29,19562

This is the basic spec. I've changed a lot but nothing that affects the issues I'm having. Unless tyres is one.

A mate won one, he had about six weeks before swapping for a Nomad. He just couldn’t get on with the Jeffsy 29.

I’d run less sag front and back and maybe speed the rebound up too.

I'm not surprised you're struggling, the wheelbase is tiny on the 17 Jeffsy. Take that with 29" wheels and your height and it'll never work

A 2020 medium is as long than a 17 XL

So with me riding a long wheel base cotic which I ride a lot more, the jeffsy is feeling odd?

I think this is a clear example of how important geo is on a bike compared to parts and components.

Get someone to take a side on photo with you in attack position on both bikes and see the difference.