[Closed] Help first MB, ORANGE CLOCKWORK 120 S 2017 or ALPKIT SONDER TRANSMITTER NX1 YARI

I demo'ed the Transmitter and loved it. Would make a great bike for the winter. Tyres might need to be changed as they were a bit slippy and be aware that there's not as much choice in plus tyres at this time compared to 650b. I've no experience of the Orange, but if you are riding more tarmac I image that would be faster. Both are good bikes.

I'd be looking at one of these personally;
http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/mountain-bikes-c1/hardtail-c17/kona-honzo-al-dl-mountain-bike-2016-p17189/s50927?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=kona-honzo-al-dl-mountain-bike-2016-size-medium-colour-purple-size-medium-colour-purple-b16hzad03&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CjwKEAiAu6DBBRDDr6-e_6698E0SJACvuxnykdosIXNwb-uR3NQ7C0tEv23gwQ7JjuG9pNvDQumT-RoCxH7w_wcB

I bought an Orange Clocker 120 S recently. One ride so far. Real fun bike, but after 15 years of FSR riding, I got severe lower back pain.

Just installed a Cane Creek Thudbuster to solve this problem and I'll be giving it another go A.S.A.P but so far, I'd recommend this bike...

I hired one of the Oranges at Kirroughtree last year, and it was great - my first taste of bigger wheels and it rode very nicely.

I liked the look of the Transmitter when I was in Alpkit the other week, but got distracted when they let me take the Vir Fortis round the car park.....

You might fare better in the bike section. Let me move that for you.

Also, your caps lock appears to be faulty.

Thanks for moving it to bike area
Great help thanks, given views is the Orange Clockwork (650) better as a all round bike, and the transmitter geared toward proper trails/drops and hitting the mountains?
Just given lack of exp, don't want to buy and then go doh, should of got X 🙂

Whyte 901?

Just go to your local shop and get something decent from the likes of Spesh, Trek, Giant etc.

Oh and get 29" wheels as they are far better for general all around riding IME, plus closer to what you'd have on a road bike.

I've got a Sonder Transmitter and it puts a grin on my face every time I ride it. I've ridden MTB for 20+ years and had numerous bikes but this one was the first I've properly gelled with. Plus bikes aren't just for newbies and I've gone faster on this bike than my 26" full sus - says Strava. Get one you won't regret it.

Thanks!! - leaning towards the Sonder transmitter! Would the 650+ tyres & slacker riding geo mean it would be much slower on flat paths/roads, compared to a more xc orientated?!

Standard tyres on the sonder seem pretty rolly, so Iam not sure you'll have a problem. I got one, and instantly became faster (3x PB and climbing stuff I haven't in years). I love it.

Depends what you want to do, have fun on technical terrain or go as fast as humanely possible?

As a first mtb I'd avoid 650+ as the jury is still out on it's performance, instead get a 29er with the compatibility for 650+ at a later date. Hence, something like the Trek Superfly 6 would be a better bet than than the Alpkit Sonder IMO.

So to answer some questions
- have fun, and enjoy going fast over technical sections (get better handling, said i was a roadie first off)
- All good on the Transmitter, but not sure on 650+ wheels/tyres, for those that know whats the score?

How about a Bird?

http://www.bird.bike/product-category/complete-bikes/zero-tr-hardtail/

would you believe that there is a magazine attached to this website? it does a grouptest in this months issue 🙂

I went to Northern grip and tried a Sonder (the ti version) and my wallet got very hot in my pocket, I was very tempted

also the boardman pro and the pinnacle ramin are worth a look

Thanks!! - leaning towards the Sonder transmitter! Would the 650+ tyres & slacker riding geo mean it would be much slower on flat paths/roads, compared to a more xc orientated?!

I really don't think this is an issue. Brant and I rode from Hebden to Sale along the canal tow path and he was on his Ti Transmitter B++ and he wasn't hanging about. Didn't seem to be slowed by the pack horse trails either

Most transmitters listed as out of stock until the end of the month, so immediate button-pushing prob not possible, just FYI.
I have one on order as I want a capable winter bike that will handle everything on wet, muddy night rides. Not expecting it to be fast, nor slow, just good.

A lot of roadies take an incremental step into MTBing IME - getting a XC-race 29er as their first bike, for example, as it is closest to what they know and they're fast. Something to be said for taking more of a departure and the transmitter certainly fits the bill there.

Sunset cycles have Orange Clockworks on sale at the moment.

Another thumbs up for the Transmitter. The 'issues' with b+ are that they work best in quite a narrow window of tyre pressure with not much leeway either side and that first generation b+ tyres tend to flat easily anywhere rocky if you go at the speeds that they otherwise encourage thanks to thin sidewalls.

I've fixed the latter with the TCS Tough version of the WTB Ranger, which does what it says on the box. Otherwise it's a brilliant, fun, ridiculously fast hardtail. Quicker than you'd expect on the road too with a quick rear tyre fitted.

Tends to get a little 'floaty' on mud, which is interesting, even with quite knobbly tyres like the Nobby Nic, but not an issue for me riding mostly in the Dark Peak.

I have one on order as I want a capable winter bike that will handle everything on wet, muddy night rides. Not expecting it to be fast, nor slow, just good.

It's properly fast, particularly on medium-sized chunder. Mind that mud though... 🙂

There's a carbon one in the offing btw. Much lighter and very cool looking in a stealth black sort of way. Or at least the proto I saw and had a brief ride on was.

Guys really helpful!
- Bird zero TR looks really good (heard good things)but isn't that for proper hardcore trails/jumps (slack geo) + are the RockShox Sektor Silver good enough forks, or would i need to upgrade .e yari

- Sonder transmitter, great fun bike its seems, but some negatives on 650b+

- Orange Clockwork, less comments, more XC orientated, but would do the job but not exciting...:-)

Before I buy, any further thoughts bike or options options....Really helpful!

.

Sonder seems good but not tried one. Whyte 901 would be worth a look IMHO. Bird zero TR is less "hardcore" and great value for money.

Can you get to a Whyte dealer and hop on one? I'd also look at the Ramin or Iroko from Evans if there's one near you.

You can both the sonder or the bird TR with NX & yari for £1300

Or

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-iroko-4-2016-mountain-bike-EV244135

You get a Pike fork, Xt8000 1x11 groupset for the same £1300.

In the tradition of forums i'll recommend looking at a Parkwood 🙂

Or possibly even the DeeDar which is nicely reduced in price.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODEEDARNX1/on-one-deedar-sram-nx1-mountain-bike

- Bird zero TR looks really good (heard good things)but isn't that for proper hardcore trails/jumps (slack geo) + are the RockShox Sektor Silver good enough forks, or would i need to upgrade .e yari

Sektor forks are fine. Yes, there are better available, but not generally doable on £1200 bikes. I wouldn't put a Yari on a hardtail personally. Bird may have a good X-Fusion option.

Regarding the Transmitter - B+ would require careful tyre choice once you've got used to it. Same for everyone. However, speak to Alpkit - they may offer standard 650B wheels for the same price or less if that's what you fancy.

Whatever you get, try and factor in for a dropper seatpost at some point soon - I just can't ride a bike without one now.

The one-one deerdar (Sram NX1, Sector Gold forks), steel frame for £800. Seems great, anything not good on this/should put me off? Price seems great!?

I can't see anything not to like about the Deedar personally.

Yes there is a lot not to like as the frame is steel scaffold pole and its an On-One. Oh and you can't run a front mech on it.

Why are you trying to buy online something you've no idea about? Go to a shop, get a test ride and buy a nice mtb, whether that be a Whyte, Giant, Spesh, Trek, Cannondale etc. you can't really go too wrong as long as it fits.

Tony from evolve liked the dee dar and I would trust his opinion - he knows his bikes and how to ride them!

http://factoryjackson.com/2016/06/30/on-one-deedar-first-ride/

That said, I've been nursing a hankering for a transmitter for a while.

Honestly though, at this stage whatever you buy will be perfectly fine and lots of fun. It's going to take a while until your skill level catches up with your roadie fitness and until then you wont notice a huge difference between all the bikes ( except maybe the extra grip/rollover from b+)

right going for:
WHYTE 901 2017 🙂
Last question are the Rockshox Sector Gold 130mm, good enough?
Or will a year or so in will i wish I had better (yari/pike)?
Cheers!