You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Long time itch.. My current Bird Aeris 1.5 is good fun but its just not that involving on the easier/smoother trails. I've been eyeing up Giant Anthems and Specialized Cambers but realistically don't want to spend the new prices, so £1k-1.5k second hand I guess. The Anthem might also be a bit fragile but I am keen for something lighter than what I have now. Happy with 27.5 or 29
The Bird will stay, and may even get replaced with a newer one at some stage.
Any recommendations? I'm 5'10
Seen the new Trek Fuel Ex in the classifieds for 1.5k? Great bikes but might be a bit burly for what you're after, doubt it would be much lighter than your Aeris
Just buy a Whyte T-130 mate, without spending stupid money they’re probably the most fun/capable mid travel trail bike on the market. £1500 should get you a good year old S model, maybe an RS if you’re lucky.
Maybe check:
Whyte T-130
YT Jeffsy had a winter sale for 1.5 k - think they are all gone
Commencal Meta Tr: might still have trail bikes in winter sale 1.6 k? 2016 models maybe even lower? But possible sold out as well.
Boardman FS Pro with PIKE in January sale for 1.35 k. That's an absolutely crazy price.
Radon bikes has a winter sale going right now. Trail bikes with PIKE for 1.6 k I believe. Extreme rebates, good spec.
Calibre Bossnut V2 for around 1 k
Your Bird was more Enduro/downhill?
I have (beside others) the Bossnut. Not very low weight. But cheap and really, really fun on the trail. Don't feel the weight and are easily able to keep up with 3 k wonder sleds.
If you like to be "under-biked" and like to chase 3 k wonder sleds with a 1 k budget bike: the Bossnut! Great fun.
bang for the buck: The Pike Bordman or the Pike Radon?
or a T129 - have a look at whyte riders on facebook - both whytes more likely to be for sale there. Though reckon if you went T130 the bird would be redundant
The T130 sounds great, but probably too heavy and hardcore compared to what I think I want. Definetly sounds like one to test as it sounds fun!
T129 on the radar, need to read up on it more.. tyre clearance is poor though, certainly on the older ones
Bird is 160f/150r and probably 31lb. Thats a guess though!
Would it make more sense to get a hardtail rather than another full-sus with only a few mm less travel?
I ran a hardtail the last two winters (Voodoo Bizango) custom build but the lack rear give just annoys me after a while. I tried a Genesis with 3.0 tyres last year and it was just a novelty rather than a serious option in my opinion. The Anthem or similar would take the edge off things.
A secondhand Transition Scout would most likely fall within your budget. Very playful bike, has 125mm frame and a 140 fork, climbs fairly well and is a right laugh coming down, very fast at direction changes.
You could buy an Anthem 2, they're on sale at the moment.
its just not that involving on the easier/smoother trails.
Hardtail.
Bird zero?
The Boardman Pro FS new for the budget stated.
Secondhand probably loads of lightweight options - maybe look at something retro ish for lighter weight / less composed suspension if you're after more of a challenge without going as far as a hardtail? A lot of the older bikes went for lighter weight rather than such burly builds - something single pivot perhaps.
Slight thread drift. Is the Boardman that good? Considering nabbing one as I can get it just under 1k using discounts. At that price wondering if it would be worth it to strip for the pikes alone.
Boardman Pro FS
with Pike in January sales: best ever...
Radon bikes, winter sale, example:
http://www.radon-bikes.de/en/mountainbike/fullsuspension/skeen-trail/skeen-275-80/
1.6 k
They had Pike full suspension bikes for this price in winter sale as well. Sold out?
@nixie-bloke:
Is the Boardman FS Pro that good?
With Pike, 1.35 k winter sale, fantastic deal
Geo not as modern as Calibre Bossnut V2.
But many threads, this forum: the Boardman FS Pro owners love their bikes.
I had the previous Pro FS for 2 years and really enjoyed it. Got a Bird Aeris now which is better on decent tails for sure - but it does flatten out more mundane trails like your mk1.
The Boardman was marginally quicker on the very twisty / very pedally flat trails I'd say. That was the one wih Revelations though. The newer one is slightly slacker (but nothing like the Bird) with a better fork and 1x GX 11 speed. Should imagine it's pretty good.
other, very neat trail bike:
https://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=3044335
https://www.commencal-store.co.uk/meta-trail-v3-650b-black-2017-c2x19265774
Commencal knows how to design playful bikes for the trail.
1.6 k sound like a good deal. All sizes still available...
getting a bit older now but bandit29. or smuggler if you can get a good SH deal.
Secondhand Smuggler, Segment or (long shot) FlareMax?
None are likely to save much weight but all should feel very different & more perky.
Not a Process 111, they don't pedal so well & weigh a ton.
possible as well:
https://www.canyon.com/mtb/neuron/neuron-al-5-0.html
Canyon Neuron, starting from 1.5 k
No idea if all sizes still available.
Others, YT:
appears like the whole shop is sold out. They had great bargains.
Canyon, Radon, Commencal, Boardman Pro, Calibre-Bikes...
Still very many good options!
I almost hesitate to say this, but a second hand Anthem 29er of interest? Im planning on letting mine go this year. Its a 2014, large modified 1x11 XT, reba 120mm, offset bush, Alex Volar / Chosen (Halo) hubs. Itd be far less than your budge albiet comes with a few scratches, but is a great bike.
Only selling as im upgrading to a full Race FS.
If you're set on a FS bike, then, without any experience of it directly, I'd be looking at a SH Transition Scout. I have a Patrol, and that's an absolute hoot - the Scout, from what everyone has told me, is a bit more poppy and fun, and even better for most trails in the UK. I kinda wish I'd got one instead.
If you're open to other options, I'd seriously consider a hardtail. I have the aforementioned Patrol in quite a burly build, and I found that it just made a lot of the local and less gnarly stuff pretty boring. So I sought out a hardtail to run alongside. Ended up with a Whyte 901, and it's fantastic. Added a dropper, and need to replace the wheels as the Whyte hubs seem to be rubbish, but it's so much fun, and makes trails a lot more interesting. TBH I hardly ride the big big now, I save it for bigger stuff (where it's still a lot more of a giggle).
TL:DR - If it's to replace a bigger bike, Something like a Scout. If it's to run alongside, consider a low, slacker 130mmish hardtail.
As an aside, a mate has a Jeffsy 29 - it's brilliant, and astounding value for money, however, it definitely feels a lot more like my 'bigger' bike. I'd rule it out.
Large on an Anthem is too big I reckon.
Whats good hardtail wise? Decent tyre clearance would be good, tough but not BFE/Alpine stiffness would be good..
Bird Zero TR?
The new bird zero AM should be high on your list, as well as the Commencal meta HT AM, Nukeproof scout, sonder transmitter, Vitus sentier. All plus/semi-plus size 27.5 bikes, from 2.6-3" tyres.