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Currently got a hardtail and a canyon lux.
I'm interested in the idea of something a bit more burly. Friends are doing enduro racing and plan some big rides over stuff where a bit of skill compensation would help.
I don't really know much about trail/enduro bikes so looking for some idea on what to check out. I'm thinking 2nd hand, about £1500. 150mm front and rear, slack.
What would be some good bikes to keep an eye on. I'm reluctant to go too old as condition of frame and forks/shock is unknown. Also in the hardtail world things have moved on a lot so I assume they have in full susses as well.
What unfashionable bikes that will be cheap second hand are actually good. Vitus is an obvious one. Cube, maybe. Any others?
Depends how old you're happy going.
Things like a Bronson are good value. Specialized Enduro too. But really to get into 'slack' you want a bit newer.
MAybe a YT or Canyon
GT Force maybe.
I’d avoid older Santa Cruz’ sand Specialized - both were late to the slack / longer party.
If you can find a secondhand Bord Aeris 145LT / AM160 or AM9 they’d be good. Decent geometry.
Vitus Sommet could be cheap and in budget - as could the Calibre Sentry - although the latter might be difficult to get parts for if you break it.
Maybe you might find a Specialized Status 160 in budget - not sure if they’ve got quite that cheap yet.
Recent Commencal Meta possibly.
Older Transition alloy Sentinels (mk1) possibly - although not sure what the geometry is like on them. Can’t really run a coil on those without a cascade link if that’s something you’d want to do.
Airdrop edit v2 may come in budget too - it’s 650b but pretty decent and burly.
OnOne Hello Dave and bend your legs for suspension
Hello Dave for the win! Might need to ice your calfs and thighs after a full days riding of 'enduro' type trails. It will get you down stuff you always thought was beyond you.
If you want a full squish then consider what wheel size you want. Maybe try hiring at your local trail centre?
I'd be looking at a second hand Bird or Cotic full susser
I'd probably go 153 over 134 if you're getting a process for enduro, not crazy slack so still good as a trail bike, frame is very tough, if you can get a sale bargain, good base for upgrades
Bird also a very good shout
The new Marin Alpine Trails are seriously good bikes and often very keenly priced, worth keeping an eye out
Eh
Forgot about the Alpine Trail - when I was buying my v2 sentinel frame I was considering the alpine trail carbon frame - had pretty decent geometry. I went sentinel as it had a much shorter seat tube and has a bit cheaper.
If you can pick up an alloy one with decent kit on it that would be a good buy
I managed to grab 2021 Bird whatever it is for £1500 but with older components (results of a frame swap I think I got the old components but a new ish frame). Doesn't leave me wanting for anything.
Privateer 161
Airdrop Edit comes up cheap reasonably regularly, I’m half considering a “big” bike so have been looking at similar to you.
And also as TheBrick says plenty of Birds. Glencoe mountain are selling the hire fleet, might be worth dropping them a message.
Hard to argue against a Hello Dave when they're going for ~£800 secondhand.
A bit rarer* 2nd hand, Caliber Sentry Pro? Ticks all the boxes, but harder to find one.
*I suspect people bought them because they were cheap as a 2nd bike to be used on holidays and weekends away. And therefore don't need to sell them as the bar for justifying keeping it is pretty low. Either that or they were all bought by lower disposable income riders, students and the ilk, who only had one bike and therefore they got thrashed.
Whyte S150…. Run mine with 160 forks and it’s great. Modern geo but not daft long.
Pick them up for £1000-1500 easy
Sonder Evol?
Vitus Mythique?
I paid £1700 for a barely used Nukeproof Reactor last November. It's awesome!
Hard to argue against a Hello Dave when they’re going for ~£800 secondhand.
Except that’s a hardtail and the op wants 150mm front and rear. And it’s right at the far end of extreme really as geometry goes. Long reach / long chainstays / very slack head angle. I suspect the reason they’re going reach is because they’re actually fairly niche in terms of who they’d actually suit.
If you do loads of very steep tech gnar and for some reason you don’t want rear suspension they’re probably ideal. On most other stuff a little shorter and steeper is probably a better all round riding bike for 90% of people.
Don't dis the Dave! 😉
Agree they're a bit niche but they're incredibly capable at descending steep techy trails and pretty good at climbing them too.
It's amazing how quickly that the way they ride becomes pretty normal.
Heard those Calibres had a habit of cracking so I’d give them a swerve. As above at that price point and LLS I’d probably be looking at a Bird.