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So after a big spread sheet and a load of research I've been whittling my list of new frames down. I put up a post the other day and been looking into it since.
Basically I'm after a frame with similar geo to my Capra that climbs a bit better and maybe has a little less travel. Budget up to £1600ish.
I'm 5 9"/5 10" ish and I was riding a Large Capra 29 with a 465 reach and that felt good. I'd like to demo some stuff but god knows when we'll be able to do that properly yet.
My initial list was:
Meta AM 29 - Mate has just ordered one don't fancy having matching bikes again.
Sentinal V1 - Heavy and doesn't climb well. Although £1299 for frame and shock is appealing.
Ripmo AF - Great reviews but a bit ugly? With a coil its near enough £2k and I'm not really sure I wanna spend that much.
Pace Rc295 Medium - Looks right on paper but not many reviews and shady past with warranty. £1900 isn't bad for carbon and all the bits it comes with but I'm not too fussed about carbon
Bird AM9 ML - 10mm longer reach, too big? or would it be find with a shorter stem?
Now before I just buy an AM9 is there anything else I should consider that's not on that list?
Cheers
As an update on my earlier post, V3 now available and take up to 170 on the front.
Same height on the ML V1 here, two years old and still great. The change in reach won't be a negative, likely steeper seatube etc will help absorb 10mm
Are you 100% set on a 29er?
I've just bought a Bird Aether and it's amazing. I'm sold on the short travel/big grins aggro nature
Are you 100% set on a 29er?
I’ve just bought a Bird Aether and it’s amazing. I’m sold on the short travel/big grins aggro nature
Yeah I think so, I find 29" wheels and modern geo make up for my lack of talent quite a bit!
I do have a nice practically new set of xm481/hope wheels in 27.5 I'm trying to shift in the classifieds as well and even that's not tempting me.
See I think the AM9 or the Ripmo make the most sense and seems to get the best reviews but neither have that wow, like, they are not the best looking bikes in the world. I feel it's a bit like buying a people carrier, its got everything I needs, yeah, but am I gonna go in my spare room a drool over it? I think that might be why I've not hit order on anything yet.
Who'd have though choosing a bike would be this hard!
Nukeproof reactor?
Maybe not enough travel at 130mm but fantastic bike.
Nukeproof reactor?
> https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-reactor-290-alloy-mountain-bike-frame-2020/rp-prod182100 < Maybe not enough travel at 130mm but fantastic bike.
I do like the look of them but you know they'll be a grand once everyone has stopped going crazy.
Yeah, plus the carbon version is a little spendy.
If YT did frame only I reckon the Jeffsy would be perfect.
Buy a Jeffsy carbon comp for £2700 and sell the bits you don't want, would be WELL under 2k for frame & shock. Or the alloy version is £2k for the whole bike, you'd be at £1200 after selling bits you don't want.
Although nice, that Nukeproof makes the AM9 look like a steal. From your list, just buy the AM9 in a different colour and be done with it.
Think how annoyed you will be if you spend more than you need to get something different to your mate and his bike ends up being better.
Although nice, that Nukeproof makes the AM9 look like a steal. From your list, just buy the AM9 in a different colour and be done with it.
Think how annoyed you will be if you spend more than you need to get something different to your mate and his bike ends up being better.
We both ordered Capra's in 29 when they came out so I really don't want to have the same bike again haha. He said he was gonna get that Meta pretty much straight away but the more I look at it the more the numbers look spot on for what I want, well, apart from the less travel. Shame the TR version is a bit steeper.
The V3 AM9 has some nice changes, and the catflap grey looks nice.
Get it bought.
£1900 for that Reactor frame 😲 and £2400 for the new rocket max. sorry to be a Abe Simpson about this but I remember when the going rate was £1500ish for frame n shock and full build was £2000ish
Fair play to Bird bikes for their current prices 👍
(And sorry for the nudge, I have no vested interest or commission)
When I bought my Capra 2 years ago It was between The Capra, AM9 and Orbea Rallon. Now 2 years later I'm still looking at the exact same bikes, has nothing really come along in that time?
I'd even push the boat out if I really liked something up to £1900 but even there I'm not seeing much.
Feel like the princess and they pea 😂
Trying to find definitive info on the AM 9 vs... what travel front and rear, and is it available as frame only?
I have ruled out the privateer 161 rude to the silly short top tube ... and their rather off hand customer service
Anyone run a Meta TR with an Angle Headset to slacken it out a bit?
Ogden, would you consider a Pole? Evolink 14o would be in budget, and should fit with criteria?
If the other thread is the one I think it was, and you are a horst link fan, then just get the Bird.
They don't really do it for me, but it would seem to be the obvious choice here.
The Mega 290 is another four-bar option, but I owned one and thought the quality wasn't really there for what they want at RRP.
Or this is a leftfield option if you could do a pick & mix with the bits it comes with and your existing parts...
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-sommet-29-vrs-bike-xt-slx-1x12-2020/rp-prod182714
I demo'd an AM9 and based on reviews concluded I'd prefer a Jeffsy. Then figured I was about to be made redundant so the question become moot.
climbs a bit better and maybe has a little less travel
This does not describe how the AM9 rides, it's pedals well enough, and has less travel on paper, but it still feels like a bottomless downhill bike to me.
I think i'd rather have the alloy Hightower & just pay more money for it. Sorry to the Bird man on here, but I think the frames look awful.
Appreciate looks are subjective of course however.
“If the other thread is the one I think it was, and you are a horst link fan, then just get the Bird.”
I haven’t ridden the AM9 but it doesn’t make sense to group typical Specialized-style 4 bar designs with 4 bar designs that have a counter-rotating (hanging) top link like the Bird. These designs have their virtual pivot floating above the chainring rather than way out in front of it, which gives them brake squat more like most short link or single pivot designs.
I've posted this report on a similar thread some days ago, but won't hurt to share my experience again.
Over the last 2 years I had an AM9, then a Stumpjumper Evo for an year, now I'm back on an AM9. That alone would say something I'd say.
Over that time I had the opportunity to try some of the bikes on the OP's list:
Sentinel v1: was really excited about this one, but the bike feels dead and sluggish on climbs, like it lacks a lot of anti-squat. Downhill it blew through travel too easily and never lived up to the geometry. It's like it unites the worst traits of both long and short travel bikes. Also, the L felt a little cramped but then the XL has an unbalanced front and rear center.
Meta AM 29: these things look absolutely fantastic in person, great finish and overall build quality. They work really well downhill, even with the slightly shorter geometry they feel stable and everything works. Uphill they're comfortable but don't feel very efficient, still better than the Sentinel thought. I feel they're great bikes for someone dedicated to enduro racing or shuttles, but doesn't have to pedal a lot. But sorry Commencal, I don't pay for bikes with PF BBs
Ibis Ripmo: this was the carbon v1, not the AF. Also had light(ish) Exo tyres, so it might be biased. This was a surprise, it descends with good composure and it's an absolute killer on climbs. Really liked it, you can do anything on those. The AF/V2's XL geometry is also really close to the L AM9
AM9: rear suspension feels a lot like the Ripmo's on climbs but with more margin on the descents. I'm an hair under 6'1, 6'5 armspan and the L feels absolutely perfect. Mine has an year of abuse, zero creaks, no play, bearings still perfect. The 65° HA on a 160mm fork feels like the right balance between stability and technical climbing, the BB is at the perfect height as well. Can't wait to try it with a coil shock.
The Evo might be worth a mention: got this bike for a killer deal and I was in need of a new build kit and wanting to try a different geometry, so I thought why not? It corners like no other and the front end is amazing on very steep trails, but Vs the AM9 that's it. The rear end is very supple but goes through travel like crazy even with the 155mm rear travel, it sucks at climbing and the BB is way too low for climbing proper trails (even with a 160mm fork and high setting) while having no provisions for a bash guard. After an year of use I went through 2 bent shock bolts, half the bearings are cook and it creaked everywhere, very disappointed with the build quality.
Thanks for the replies, guys! lots to think about.
Still open to anymore suggestions people have.
I was in the market for a new frame last year, the AM9 was in the mix for awhile, I could see past the looks but being based on a 150mm fork when I already had 160mm and not being able to fit a bottle very well put me off in the end. Seeing mentions of a V3 that takes a 160mm fork does make me wanna look at it again, hopefully they sorted the water bottle issue. May not seem like a big issue to most but I despise pack riding so will always want to run a bottle on the bike.
I've got an am9, it's a great bike. I've ridden a Capra, sentinel v1, and a mega, and tbh, they all fealt horrible in comparison. The only bikes I really felt were as good or better were a geometron, a pole and I also loved the long travel 29er Marin, but I forget the name.
I think the am9 is a very good all-round long travel bike.
Sentinel v2!:D
Sitting in the same boat as you know dude. Tempted to wait until the alloy v2 is released.
@oikeith
There is something to be said about the original AM9 150mm fork limitation. Not only are Bird's validation requirements supposedly more demanding than usual, but it was also based on RockShox's longer A2C lengths, I've seen references that the close call was only on the XL size and even Bird themselves said recently that it was only a close call. Also, all this was based on the upper homologation weight limit, which is something like 110 or 120kg.
I'm in no way advocating for someone to go outside manufacturers recommendations, only showing some context to it. In the end it's a personal decision. On my original AM9 build I used a 150mm Lyrik, in my new one after all things considered I decided to run a 160mm 36.
Sentinel v2!:D
Sitting in the same boat as you know dude. Tempted to wait until the alloy v2 is released.
Yeah I think I commented on your thread as well.
I wonder how long that will take and how much it will be at RRP?
Upper mid travel 29ers seems like the most crowded market currently but becomes much more difficult when you want to go frame only at below £2000.
I also loved the long travel 29er Marin, but I forget the name.
Alpine Trail?
How about a Starling Murmur Factory, OP? They've been doing deals of late, so may be worth a shout.
Yeah I think I commented on your thread as well.
I wonder how long that will take and how much it will be at RRP?
Upper mid travel 29ers seems like the most crowded market currently but becomes much more difficult when you want to go frame only at below £2000.
Historically they've been about £1800 ish. I'd hope by the end of the year, but who knows, they don't always have a pattern to their releases, and even if there was, I wouldn't rely on it at the moment. V1 sentinel and the upcoming Cascade link? Takes it to 148mm, makes it more progressive. About $300 iirc.
As you saw from my thread I'm having trouble finding a whole bike! And I thought this would be easy!
Historically they’ve been about £1800 ish. I’d hope by the end of the year, but who knows, they don’t always have a pattern to their releases, and even if there was, I wouldn’t rely on it at the moment. V1 sentinel and the upcoming link? (I think it may be from cascade)
As you saw from my thread I’m having trouble finding a whole bike! And I thought this would be easy!
I was after an ebike as well and thats just as difficult. I thought I'd get the ebike and then demo enduro bikes till I found one. Now I just have no bikes haha
I was in the market for a new frame last year, the AM9 was in the mix for awhile, I could see past the looks but being based on a 150mm fork when I already had 160mm and not being able to fit a bottle very well put me off in the end. Seeing mentions of a V3 that takes a 160mm fork does make me wanna look at it again, hopefully they sorted the water bottle issue. May not seem like a big issue to most but I despise pack riding so will always want to run a bottle on the bike.
@oikeith what did you end up going with?
I have been close to commenting a couple of times on this thread but I’m sick of my own voice when it comes to enthusing about my bike. I realise I’m becoming a bit of a bore.
I bought a Ripmo AF at the end of April and I’ve been blown away by how good it is at everything. It climbs so well that I’m now clearing climbs that I’ve never gotten up before and I’m doing it with relative ease. It also descends just as well as my 2018 Capra but unlike the Capra has the manoeuvrability of a trail bike.
It’s without doubt the best bike I’ve ridden but I’ve not ridden them all so.......
TBH I think we’re pretty spoilt right now and there are loads of great bikes to choose from. Good luck.
I have been close to commenting a couple of times on this thread but I’m sick of my own voice when it comes to enthusing about my bike. I realise I’m becoming a bit of a bore.
I bought a Ripmo AF at the end of April and I’ve been blown away by how good it is at everything. It climbs so well that I’m now clearing climbs that I’ve never gotten up before and I’m doing it with relative ease. It also descends just as well as my 2018 Capra but unlike the Capra has the manoeuvrability of a trail bike.
It’s without doubt the best bike I’ve ridden but I’ve not ridden them all so…….
TBH I think we’re pretty spoilt right now and there are loads of great bikes to choose from. Good luck.
@muggomagic did you demo it first? Coil or Air?
There's a Starling Murmur on the classifieds.
No I didn’t demo it. It was a bit of a punt based on reviews. I went for the air shock. The DVO suspension is fantastic.
MDE Damper? Custom geo available for a small charge and decent prices for a hand built frame
Ripmo or Vitus Sommet 29er hard to find either though
my money would be going here
https://www.propain-bikes.com/en/product/framesets/frameset-tyee-al-29/
https://www.propain-bikes.com/en/product/framesets/frameset-tyee-cf-29/
I was going to suggest propain tyee but beaten to it
The Tyee has relatively long chainstays. Great if that's what you are after, but a bit different to some of the bikes the op is looking at.