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As part of my acceptance of middle age, I'm starting to ride the MTB less as I don't bounce as well as a few years ago. I live in South Germany and have km after km of forest roads, singletrack, cycle paths (plus some mountains). I've narrowed my search down to Santa Cruz Stigmata, Salsa Warbird and Norco Search XR. Any experiences of these, or alternatives that I have missed?
Genesis Datum? I imagine they're pretty rare out there but to me that'd be part of the appeal.
Of the three bikes you mention, the Santa Cruz is more of a x-bike, would be worth checking on the maximum tyre width it will take. The Norco is very competent and receiving some great reviews in the States...but the Warbird, yes please, especially the new V4.
Buy something with a good dealer network in Germany.
As above, the Stigmata is great, but more of a 'proper' CX bike. It sounds like you want something for long days of miles and smiles, rather than an hour round a muddy field.
The Salsa looks lovely. So does this Giant Revolt Advanced 0...
Stigmata won't take much bigger than 35mm, warbird has racy angles, Norco will take a big tyre and has off road friendly geometry & will take a dropper. If you are just riding forest paths either of the former will be good and not slow on tarmac. If you want to do some singletrack too I'd go Norco.
Also see trek checkpoint SL
https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/search/grandurance
Great if leaning toward road, and the Team CX if not.
I’m loving the space chicken(I love the name) 🙂
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I have had 40mm maxxis ramblers and also 40mm panaracer gravel kings in my Stigmata. Stan's Grail rims so the tyres fill out. No issues aside from when properly clogged with thick mud on one occasion, I lost some paint in the inner CSs.
I don't agree that it's a very specialist CX bike (Im not a CXer). It has two pairs bottle cage mounts, it has a slackish HA, and a roady amount of BB drop. With slick tyres it's even a great road bike for long days.
I can recommend.
Tripster ATR or the alu one. Bit slacker and more clearance than your options I reckon.
I'd love a Stigmata for 'racing' but I'd rather ride the Tripster all day on any terrain - if it was a 'blind' ride, that'd be the bike I'd take.
In the true STW style of recommending what you have:
Reilly Gradient, titanium loveliness for the same price of many of the above
or Mason Bokeh.
Both designed a bit more for UK slop.
+1 Friston.
Had mine 10 months and it's bloody epic. Have eulogised about it on previous posts. It's also made me a better MTBer (hard to explain how, it just has).
Open U.P.
Bombtrack...
Votec VRX, looks like a bargain if you are in Germany and some really good reviews online, check out Gran Fondo review https://granfondo-cycling.com/votec-vrx-elite-review/
Salsa vaya, takes up to 50mm tyres. Blown away with mine, great on the road but comes into its own when on the rough stuff
+1 for the Vaya, I think bike24 in Germany have them, I’m running 650b tyres on mine, the bike itself is fantastic, I got a frame and built mine up to suit me and where I ride. Pic shows running WTB byways but I’m now running Soma Cazadero 650x42.
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I've been working on a utility website which allows you to do side-by-side comparisons of gravel bikes from different manufacturers:
http://www.gravel-bikes.co.uk/
I don't currently have any of the bikes you have listed on the site. The site is a hobby project of mine and I can only add bikes as and when I find time. But there might be others there you may wish to consider.
another what I have....
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhwg28hhrE0/?taken-by=smithmichaelw
Down side is some fashion victim seems to have specced the new one with skinwalls
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/grail/grail-cf-sl-7-0.html
40mm good quality rubber, plenty of clearance and genuine go anywhere feel to it
mikewsmith - your second picture reminded me of The Last Train.
OP, not sure about availability where you are, but lots of love for Sonder and Cotic in these parts.
Thanks everybody for the advice, went for the Norco in the end. 30% discount on the Rival mode in metallic green/black fade. Will post picture on pickup.
👍 Nice bike enjoy