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OK... I don't [i]need [/i]a new bike, I have a perfectly good S-works Enduro SL that has served me well for the past year or so, and I'm nowhere near reaching it's limits in any way! However... need and want are two different things right? 😆 Some background...
I came to the Enduro from a Yeti ASR-sl, my first full suspension bike. I loved the speed of the ASR, however I always found myself blowing through it's travel and bottoming out; I'm not the lightest rider at 95kg or so fully loaded, and after all it's really an XC racer right? I would've been better with a 575 if I'd thought about it at the time...
With the Enduro I found a bike that was what I thought a full-suspension ride should be... quite quick + a good climber and very capable when pointed down hill; it really is a superb bike and I've been very happy with it and it's E150 fork. I ride mainly around Dorking/Leith Hill etc, with occasional forays to Wales, however I bought the Enduro with the intention of doing trips to the Alps and also to learn 'bigger' riding on (jumps, drops, gaps etc) In the end this hasn't eventuated, so I've been ragging a 6" travel bike round the woods of Leith Hill etc (a tad overbiked perhaps!)
Now though, I have a couple more bikes in my stable: an Orange Sub Zero hardtail, an alfined Ti IF rigid 69'er and my old ASR-sl (which is generally setup for my wife, but I can change this back as needed!). I also have my lovely Ibis Bow-ti, but this will be a 'special' occasion bike 🙂 So I have more options to ride depending on where I'm going or what I'm doing
If I replace my Enduro, the new bike needs to be able to be ridden as a general trail bike, but I want it to have the ability to handle big stuff as well (as my skills develop). Both the Canfield and the Mojo HD seem to fit this bill, almost 2 bikes in one really, but I just can't decide between them...
On the one hand, I've always loved the Mojo and I almost bought one instead of the Enduro, but the deal on the Spesh was just too good to beat: now the Mojo HD has arrived and it looks to be a very nice evolution of the Mojo lineage (plus I now have a vintage Ibis, so 'keeping it in the family' might be nice 😆 )
The Canfield also looks to be an excellent bike, not as 'pretty' as the Ibis, but an advantage is that I can run a hammerschmidt setup on it, which can't be done with the Mojo... there's also around a £1000 difference in the price of the two bikes, which is substantial of course 😆
What does STW reckon... what bike would you recommend as a 'big day epic' trail bike that can also be used for 'light' downhill/hucking etc?
I await the replies that state I should simply stick with the Enduro and invest in skills training... I have considered this and I will do some, but my heart is set on a new bike now 😳
That Transition Covert looks good and its a transition so it'll be built & will ride properly
nice... just watched the vid on their website and it looks good 🙂
Budget for this new frame is up to £2000... so most brands are in the ballpark I'd think? Ideally I like things that are a little bit 'different', I like to be a little unique if I can...
Out of those 2, the Canfield every time!
Sorry to confuse the issue though, but how about the new Intense Uzzi VP?
confusing is good 🙂 the Uzzi VP looks lovely as well... also now considering the Chumba VF2...
any other thoughts from the morning crew?
yea, lend me £5?
could do... though I'm not as cashed up as I may seem, I've just managed to pick up a few bargains over time (apart from the Bow-ti, that cost me!). I like nice bikes, can't afford a Ferrari but I [i]can [/i]afford an equivalent bike (kind of 😆 )
Uzzi vp. Burly enough to take almost aby drop, but can still be ridden uphill (slowly). Swap the stock rear shock for a CCDB and it will be formidable!!
Could do a tracer with CCDB if you wanted to go a bit lighter but still pretty hard
I ride mainly around Dorking/Leith Hill etc,
I think Halfords ahve some Apollos for sale?
Just kidding. Get the Ibis.
Uzzi vp. Burly enough to take almost aby drop, but can still be ridden uphill (slowly)
I want something that is a little less of a chore to get up hills I think? So maybe the Tracer would be better... I'm basically after a long travel full-sus bike that can ride (almost) like an XC'er and then switch to a mini-DH'er when the time comes (all in the same ride!)... not asking much am I? 😆
Head for the Hills in Dorking expect to have the demo Ibis HD passing through their shop some time in April. Have asked Roger to let me know so I can have a go. Used to have an Ibis Mojo but was a bit too small and I cracked 2 rear triangles! Rode brilliantly though.
Despite the Canfield looking great and having some good reviews, it's never taken off in the UK and consequently there is no brand recognition as such and therefore no second hand market. A guy has been trying to sell a downhill Canfield recently with no luck at all.
For me would be the Ibis, although worth noting the old-style Intense Slopestyle can be built up into an XC-able bike (just) and can be had cheap from CRC.
when are evil releasing their trail fs?
mondrakers look nice too
another new contender is the Chumba VF2 with a CCDB setup... a tad cheaper than the Ibis, but a bit more expensive than the Canfield...
Ibis - no contest, If you went for anything else, no matter how good it rode you'd always be thinking about the Ibis and how god damn sexy it is 😉
They're all quite sexy bikes really, though the Canfield maybe a little less so... quite like the idea of the VF2 in anodized black with the CCDB and my black/gold Formula The One brakes 8)
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You'll still be thinking about the Ibis, and you know it! Can't see the attraction with the Chumba to be honest, nowt special...
You'll still be thinking about the Ibis, and you know it!
It's true, I'd almost certainly be having plenty of fun riding another bike, but always thinking of the Ibis! TBH, that's what's been lacking with the Enduro in a way, I just keep thinking of the Mojo 😆
I [i]should [/i]just go with the Ibis... it's the only bike I actually dream of (literally, it's made an appearance in a few bike related nocturnal adventures... all good clean fun I swear!)
what about one of these
http://www.nicolai.net/products/e-frames/e-helius-ac.html
What does STW reckon... what bike would you recommend as a 'big day epic' trail bike that can also be used for 'light' downhill/hucking etc?
Can't beleive no ones mentioned the 5 Spot, might not be a beauty but possibly 'the' best bike to fit your above needs. Can handle 140 or 150mm forks built up light or hefty. Amazing thing to ride...
chumba design/silhouette (not its execution/quality) looks like a hundred other ghetto full sussers from the last 20 years.
Canfield is just hideous.
Ibis Mojo is art, that just happens to be able to be ridden down mountains.
As an aesthete (you bought a bow ti right) how can you not get the Ibis?
alpine 160? with ccdb and custom paint...mmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........