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I am after a Goldilocks bikes recommendations - not to beefy, not too racey, not too heavy, not too light, not too much travel, not too little travel - I want one that is just right!
Following the theft of all my bikes and the upgraded garage security and addition of some insurance cover (after 20 years with out any) I'm gonna buy a mountain bike to do it all on.
I want a full susser to ride (and carry) up mountains and back down again. I ride mostly in the Lakes and enjoy steep rocky tech and nadgery singletrack, but I also like technical climbs and big vistas.
Bikes I've liked and owned - my stolen Stumpjumper with Marzocchi forks, my old Pitch with Lyriks for smashing through stuff.
Bikes I've not liked and sold quite quickly - Giant Anthem was to steep and twangy. Ragley mmmBop too stiff and unyeilding.
Its probably going to be secondhand and some where around a grand or so. I'm thinking somewhere around 130-160mm of travel and anything from big hitting Nukeproof Megas/Spesh Enduros to a Vitus Escarpe 29er and anything in between.
I mentioned before that I got cleared out last year. Well I rushed into getting replacements a little too quickly tbh.
In hindsight I would've got a 140mm or 150mm bike - probably a Zesty - which could take a 150mm or 160mm fork.
Then I'd have got two forks so that I had lighter and more burly options.
Hindsight is something I'm learning to deal with this week as I sort beefy garage security and insurance 
However, I've never been very good at being patient when new toys are involved and want them yesterday!
Zesty looks decent enough, and I need to try not to satisfy my desire for some macho willy waving bike that says in a deep voice "I really need the Spicy" but I probably don't 99% of the time.
you need exactly what I have (the STW response)
Carbon 140mm bike with 160mm forks builds from 12-13.5kg dependent on mood, pedals like a HT descends like a dream, 66 and a bit up front
FWIW, my take on the quiver killer bike is an Enduro.
Light enough for all day epics, burly enough to shred the gnat. Adjustable travel forks are a big plus for me, as it helps greatly with longer climbs. Saddle up, fork down, and grind on up the hill. Add a dropper post to the longer travel setting of the fork and the bike transforms itself.
I have an illogical fear of carbon and like aluminium.
CaptainFlash - which year Enduro have you got?
Pivot Mach 5.7 - available in carbon and aluminium flavours..?
Zesty looks decent enough, and I need to try not to satisfy my desire for some macho willy waving bike that says in a deep voice "I really need the Spicy" but I probably don't 99% of the time.
Yeah, there's loads of good 140mm options out there.
Norco Sight looks good, I love the Mondraker Foxy but they're not to everyones taste - very long and low.
I found a 140mm bike with a good 160mm fork could handle rugged Lakes riding just as well as a 160mm/160mm - and be so much quicker on more XC-biased rides too.
[quote=tomaso ]I have an illogical fear of carbon and like aluminium.
The carbon feels much better and mine comes with a 5 year warranty.
Zesty looks decent enough, and I need to try not to satisfy my desire for some macho willy waving bike that says in a deep voice "I really need the Spicy" but I probably don't 99% of the time.
2014 Zesty AM frame (the 27.5 one) is the same as the spicy, just a less burly build and 150mm forks, rather than 160. 🙂
Budget wise I think I'm gonna have to go secondhand so the latest 2014 models are probably unatainable.
For a real no-compromise quiver killer you'll have to spend a lot to get the weight down and the adjustability up (not to mention the performance!).
Ho much have you saved by no parying insurance premiums for the last 20 years (in essence, self-insuring)? 20 x GBP 200 P/A? Spend that much
Get a fatbike! I'm not kidding, either! 😀
Its probably going to be secondhand and some where around a grand or so.
Cue a thread full of £4000+ superbike recommendations.
OP - you liked your old Pitch. Get a new second hand Pitch and be done with it.
my ebay link has gone (must have broken the rules) but a quick scan showed a Blur LTc up to £500 which is bargain prices for one of those. Perfect starting point (the LT Alu is only a little heavier too)
Pitch is a good bike. I have a covert, it was billed as a quiver killer, as long as you need a DH bike in your quiver....