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This:
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Or this:
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I think I know which way to go but which would you choose and why? I don't need any other recommendations, it's one or the other 😉
Do the litevilles still have that weird part 26, part 650b thing?
The Liteville, because it's prettier.
They seem very different frames - one is at the trail bike side of enduro, the other's a long travel bike knocking on the door of DH
Would have thought the 301 and Tracer 2 were closer in concept - 145-160mm travel on the Tracer, 140-160(with a shock swap) on the 301.
How did you end up with two such different options? Decision comes down to how much pedalling you'll be doing, really.
Neither both are alu
Do the litevilles still have that weird part 26, part 650b thing?
Yes, but it does make sense.
How did you end up with two such different options?
Yeah, one is a compromise on one end of my riding, the other a compromise at the other end of the scale.
I've got an Intense now which I do really like but they eat bearings a bit.
Both can run 27.5 on the back if I choose to upgrade at some point. Both are similar weights. Agreed the Intense would pedal better but the LV would go down better (which is why I pedal)..
Neither both are alu
Can see where you're coming from but I love metal. I work with the stuff all day, think about stuff I can make when I'm not at work..
Yeah I know, just think good frames have moved beyond the limits of alu. Are these both 26/650 bikes? Another worry if they are good at one not the other...
I've never heard of a broken Liteville, whereas... 🙄
Yes, but it does make sense.
Maybe but it would rule it out for me. Have you ridden it or just read about it making sense?
I've never heard of a broken Liteville, whereas.
Really? The downtubes ( on the 301 at least) seem to be made out of paper.
A mate gets on brilliantly with his Liteville. Does everything on it. All day xc, and races dh on it too, sticking a set of Boxxers on.
The Intense has different drop-outs for 27.5, the Liteville will fit both as is.
Really?
Was more a comment on the number of Intense frames that have, including those that belonged to people I know.
Test ride, then decide.
Have you ridden it or just read about it making sense?
I've ridden a 26" wheeled bike and I've ridden a 27.5" wheeled bike. The 26" was more nimble, the 27.5" rolled better. The way each wheel deals with the same bump is very different.
Test ride, but the Liteville is nicer looking. 😉
Yes but have you ridden the bikes you are looking at?
I'd be very wary of bikes designed to do both, could be good at one or the other or crap at both. There are bad bikes and good bikes that ride completely counterintuitive to the whole wheel size debate.
But you haven't ridden a bike with odd sized wheels and you are contemplating buying one because it makes sense/because pinkbike said it makes sense?
Sorry mate, I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but your decision making process seems flawed.
I would recommend that you book onto some demo days, ride lots of bikes, find out what you really want/like then start narrowing the field.
[i]The Liteville, because it's prettier.[/i]
It's a bit of an ugly sister competition either way really. I'd go Liteville, but only as I've seen and heard of too many Intense that aren't straight, or have other build quality issues, and folk that have had them report patchy support and limited supply of replacement parts and spares.
Are you sure you want a downhill bike?
I would get the Tracer out of those 2 all day. With some Fox 36 forks and V2 brakes that bike was never out of its depth on a single track in Les Arcs last week or Megavelanche last year.
It also peddled fine for an hour to get me to the top of some none lift accessed mountains.
The only problem you may have is waiting for everyone else to catch up.
Tracer every time - come to my house and have a go on it
I think the Intense is much prettier, but my friend spent a lot on a secondhand 951 and it cracked - so I'd probably go for the Liteville.
Assuming you've already established that a big enduro/FR bike is suitable for your riding.
🙂
And I try not to pick on people for saying daft things on this forum, but really...
just think good frames have moved beyond the limits of alu.
If they do the Intense in colour then I'd go for that, but if it has to be grey I'd [s]rather gouge my own eyes out than ride a grey bike[/s] go for the Liteville 🙂
They are both Bare aluminum - if you polish the intense it will look like the Liteville.
Raw is really the only logical option for mountain bikes
I'd get the Liteville for the geometry and the Intense for the travel & pedalling. Or a Banshee Rune for the best of both worlds!
Liteville.
My XL 601 werkmachine in raw has just arrived 😀
I might go and pick it up tonight and get building.
I already have a 301, running 26 rear and 650B front.
I've ridden the 601 extensively in Garda and Finale. The 301 is very capable but no match for the 601 on rough stuff at speed.
I'm planning on running the 601 as my everyday bike. It's easy to pedal uphill as the suspension action doesn't bob much at all once you set it up right. Absolutely astonishing pedalability for a 190mm travel frame.
I'll run the 301 and 601 together for a while and then consider if the 301 is surplus to requirements.
If they do the Intense in colour then I'd go for that,
Assume he's looking secondhand - as I didn't think they still made the Tracer 2?
I really love raw frames. Never had one though, funnily enough.
I think its the 275 now
It's a new Tracer 2 in Raw from the US 🙂
Actually, having done a bit more digging definitely the 601. So many better frames than the Tracer 2 nowadays...
Nice to know they are still making them then. Good deal?
Raw is really the only logical option for mountain bikes
What has logic got to do with riding a bike round in circles to get muddy 🙂 Each to their own though. Plenty of people seem to love a raw frame and they can't all be wrong.
Decision made.... 😀
....
Specialized Enduro?
^ 😆 Er, no... 😉
I didnt know we could guess alternatives...is it THAT stealth B-52 on the other thread?
You going for the 601 then?
v666ern: Oh, god, no..
Nick: Maybe 😉