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I'm king of going for a Mk5 Soul. Have currently got a MK2 on 120mm Reba and old school 3x9. However I notice trails are being built burlier and burlier. I love my current bike I just want something that is a bit "More" for the bigger stuff.
So thinking about the MK5 with 140mm fork and 2.5 tyres. I figure that should still do well on XC, trails etc and handle some trail centre stuff a bit better as well.
So show me your build for inspiration. What forks/wheels etc you using or would recommend?
Cheers
I don’t have a Soul, but I’ve seen a couple of long shot new Souls and they look pretty long and slack. A big change from them older ones certainly.
If I were building one I’d want to keep it pretty light, but still
Built to take some abuse:
Pike ultimate - 150mm travel
Sram X01 11 speed - 10-42 cassette / 32t chainring on an X01 carbon dub crank (I don’t think on a light hardtail you need the range of 12 speed)
DT Swiss XM1501 wheelset / 25mm internal diameter rims (if you can get that width). I’ve got both 25mm and 30mm internal rims and I’m not convinced you need the extra weight that comes with 30mm unless you’re going to run huge tyres
Sram Code RSC brakes
Tyres: I’d not go too mental with burly / huge tyres as it’ll just ruin your flow. I’d go Maxxis 2.5wt 3c Exo DHF at the front and 2.3 3c Exo Aggressor at the rear for summer riding. Or pick your favourite tyre brand’s equivalent tyres (I’m curious to try some of the new Michelin’s at some point).
Dropper - as long as you can fit in - I’d be tempted to try a OneUp one as they seem to get good reviews.
Saddle - the blingest/lightest version of whatever fits your bottom best (I’ve got an sdg bel air)
Stem - a short version of your favourite bike jewellery brand - 35mm length - Raceface Turbine / Thomson / Hope etc
Handlebar - is go for 780mm wide in whatever sleep / rise works for you without being too heavy. Personally I’d say aluminium and would be tempted to try a Renthal bar or maybe a Spank Vibrocore one.
Grips - whatever fits your hands. I initially thought the Raceface half nelson ones were too thin for me, but having tried some Nukeproof Sam Hill’s I’ve gone back to Raceface as the NP ones were massively thick and I didn’t like the feel.
Should mean you get a nice light and responsive bike that trucks through as much as pretty much any steel hardtail will get through whilst being quite playful. Not cheap, but not outrageously expensive either.
I've had a mk2 Soul for years. That bike became part of me, it did everything I asked of it. Then I bought a rocket. The difference is unbelievable, it is so fast I can't keep up and I'll ride things I would never even attempt on the Soul plus it can jump! Well as much as I let it. Keep the mk2 and Get a full sus as well.
Thanks for the comments - I'm looking for a "1 bike to do it all" for me - the old Soul did that pretty well but it is struggling a bit now on the bigger stuff. I'm not looking for FS
I love XC, Marathons and playing in the woods, the usual trail stuff, but I also have ridden it on the Trans Rockies a few years ago - its been a versatile bike - I'm looking for the same versatility with athe more beef stuff covered as well. I figured the new Soul may do that?
I'm 5'8" and considered the Sodamax but think the bigger wheels may be a handful for me
Had one for nigh on 18 months now. Brilliant bit of kit. I came off an original Soda and whilst it’s not as light and instantly reactive (aka skittish/twitchy) it makes a brilliant job of being an all round mountain bike. To the point it’s almost made my Rocket redundant. I’ve ridden plenty of proper steep enduro trails on it (Golfy included), last weekend I did 85 miles of the Jennride with bikepacking gear in a single hit in the Lakes - would have done the full thing if I’d had lights. Genuinely versatile. Best technical climbing bike I’ve owned and despite the length of it, still seems very nimble and easy to move about.
https://instagram.com/p/BvhJXXClhqz/
Had mine for nearly a year now and it is ace. It is staggeringly agile given how bloody long it is, I'm riding a large with a 30mm Chromag stem and 780mm bar. It climbs very well with the 120mm Revelation I'm running, I wouldn't want to go for a 140mm fork though, think it would kick the seat angle back too much, so 120/130mm would suit better imo. Mines bang on 27.5lbs as pictured below (with expection of the cranks which I changed to carbon Descendants but the difference is next to nothing, done for aesthetics more than anything!)
The paint finish ok. It's not the best and does scuff up easily. I also struggled with the shifter hitting the top tube until I added another 5mm spacer under the stem, but these small niggles aside it is an amazing bike. Genuinely considered having this as my only MTB and flogging my T130C. It is that good. The frame is shockingly comfortable for a hardtail, far more comfortable than the BFe I owned a few years back and other hardtails I've owned (Kinesis XC120, On One 456C). Basically, its comfortable, fast and ruddy good fun.