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I’m having a brainstorm and looking at a full sus bike to probably be a ‘one bike’ (alongside a modern CX bike) for the Peaks, Lakes and occasional dicking around in the woods. I’ve ended up with a lot of bikes and it’s silly. I also have a decent c2w I can take advantage of.
I’m on a strict budget and also seriously limited shops due to the c2w I’m looking at.
Im not really looking for hard and fast suggestions hence not posting budget and not getting bogged down in spec nitty gritty - I’m pretty well down to a choice of two if I do this already. I think I’d like either. One is a very modern 29erer (Whyte S150S) the other is last years’ non-boost Process 153 (27.5 strict). The Whyte is intended to cope with plus 27.5 as well as its native 29. I already ride and like both sizes. The Whyte is more up to the minute, the Kona has a slightly higher spec in some areas but gives it away a bit with 1x11 vs Eagle.
Anyone want to chuck some thoughts in to help me with this? I’m leaning to the Whyte right now but started off very enamoured of the Kona. I’m planning to go and see both next week, just trying to get head in order before a love at first sight leads me in a direction I’ll regret. Is a modern big travel 29erer an insane choice for an only MTB?
As per the thread title ..how can we help you narrow your choice down any further than you already have !?
Ride both ..then decide ..😁
Agree it was badly titled and rambling 🤦♂️
Just so happens same dealer has both locally. On paper nu nu skool obviously makes more sense than old nu skool... I wouldn’t feel the need to upgrade from a non boost long low slack if I had one, but deliberately buying into old standards is a bit daft sounding.
Maybe I should have asked instead if the S150 was too much bike? 😂
I can ramble a bit myself at times ..😉
Given the facts ..the Whyte would seem to be more versatile ..especially if you can swap between wheel sizes ..
I ride a T130 ..and love the bike ..although personally I have never got on with 29'ers in the past .
My mate has the Kona Process ..and loves it !
Not much help am I ?
Iv not ridden the Kona so cant comment but have done a Whyte demo day and rode the S150S along with various others in their range. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed the S150. It never felt too much even on the tame stuff. It was really fun. So much in fact 2 of my mates ended up buying them. It seems a really good all rounder to me.
I ride an Aeris 145 lt (ok not a 29er but it is fully LLS and 170/160 travel) for most of my biking. If I didn’t have an old school hardtail I’d happily ride the Aeris for everything. Did a 50k ride on it a month or so back, but it’s wlso amazing on uplift days and for just mucking about in the local woods.
Sounding good! On paper at least I think the Whyte may be getting the nod then although I may hold on to a hardtail in a three bike compromise of HT/FS/CX. Let’s see what next week brings then...
I was happily using a 150mm 26er (non-spec Zesty) as pretty well my only bike apart from things a 700c was obvious for for years and with decent suspension it generally felt like it was a capable all rounder rather than being too much most of the time, I’m just not clear til I get on one how a 150mm 29er is going to compare. What I’m hoping is that if the suspension design is everything Whyte and various reviews claim, it’s going to be a similar all rounder.
Try the Whyte, you will love it. If you are lucky you may get a good deal on a 2018 model.
Well, there’s a 2018 S150s on order... 😂 I did consider waiting a few days for the 2019’s, but they only really seem to have changed the brakes and with the 2018’s reduced it was a lot to pay for a modest brake upgrade...
So now, we wait. And plot the replacement of that rear Crossmark...