[Closed] Long travel 29ers (again)

I like the look of this

[url= http://www.ninerbikes.com/rip9 ]Niner[/url]

I already have a WFO though which is very similar, so cannot justify buying one......yet

Ghost SLAM R, BMC Trailfox, Cotic RocketMax, Yeti SB5.5, plenty to be looking at.

Orange have something in the pipeline too

Evil Wreckoning, 160mm travel 29er.. Absolutely annihilates the downhill rocky descents and is damn good on the ups too!

A 2017 Enduro, you will struggle to find a better 29er long travel bike than the Enduro, especially now that they have made a raft of small improvements to an already very capable bike.

Evil Wreckoning, 160mm travel 29er.. Absolutely annihilates the downhill rocky descents and is damn good on the ups too!

Until it falls to bits and you need a warranty...

On a serious note, the trek remedy 29er is supposed to quick. T Mo and the lads a BPW did a video and everything.

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Feel your pain, we had two S Works taken from our garage just after our return from the Alps in August. Katies Enduro and Kevins Stumpjumper. Had a good look round, lift, probe and thrown a leg over, at the last two EWS events at most of the bikes available but couldn't see past another Enduro or Stumpjumper. The new Stumpjumper has been stood in the corner whilst he got his head round the burglary. Think the riding in Finale got his karma back. We have had to wait for the 2017 Enduro coming into stock but that is now imminent. Only thing we don't like about it are the brakes.

Mojo Nicolai G13?

Orange are on it. I was in Verbier recently and our guide was raving about a new LT 29er he was using. It looked amazing (for a 29er) and the guide was flying. Said it was way better than the 29er he'd come from, which I think he said was a Specialized (not 100% sure about that though) and which up until then he'd really rated. I'd be looking at Oranges, and waiting a bit if necessary.

The old Five 29 was ace, Oranges get better the bigger they are. There's a new one coming isn't there? BMC Trailfox definitely worth a look, they used to be too expensive but prices have crashed now.

Slash is probably awesome, I want it. Remedy 29 is also awesome (what I have) though the sizing is pretty conservative, I had to go up a size and I'd still like it to be longer. IMO pretty much as capable as the Enduro and Trailfox for big jobs, but it has great "easy stuff" manners too.

Nukeproof Mega 290 hasn't been mentioned yet but is very very good, if I had to get a new bike tomorrow it'd be this or another Remedy.

Evil Wreckoning, 160mm travel 29er.. Absolutely annihilates the downhill rocky descents and is damn good on the ups too!
Until it falls to bits and you need a warranty...

Internet babble about the last gen of frames. And whoever their distro was/is being useless getting replacements.

Looking forward to seeing the Orange 29er offerings, is there any mention of a hardtail with more than 100mm?

Hardtail-wise, new P7 makes a mint trail bike, though it's not a 29er.

If you get a carbon trek slash be careful of the bb as its press fit bearing straight into the frame and they can be a right pain (long suffering superfly owner) as they are as well sealed as a crank brothers product.

Love my Banshee Prime!!

Nukeproof Mega 290....almost made me buy another fs again.

The 2017 Enduro 29 looks amazing.
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The 2017 Slash 29 looks amazing.
[img] [/img]

The Trek has a plastic bottom bracket and is therefore disqualified.
The Enduro has a threaded BB and I think my Specialised boycott is coming to an end.

Am I being blind or are none of the UK shops listing the Enduro Pro Carbon 29?

The spec and price are good and the black is stunning whereas the livery on the rest of the range looks like someone has thrown up!!

We were told the 29 Pro is not available in the UK and the black wasn't a UK listing. Saw the black in Finale last week and it doesn't look as good as the other colours in the flesh. The Jawbreaker was available in black frame only but finding a medium 29r proved impossible for me.

I am really enjoying my Nukeproof Mega 290.

The black looks a bit dull, but the red/yellow looks wrong. My 2015 enduro was red/yellow and I though it looked miles better than the current paint job.

The slash looks like it has a bit more standover than the enduro, which I wouldn't mind for those moments when I find myself stopping in the wrong place.

Poor choice of colours and spec... I am amazed that a brand the size of Spesh offer such limited options.

I'm oout.

I have the Trailfox TF01 and I have to admit it's very, very good. However it has some particular suspension characteristics that some may not appreciate.

I demoed the Mega 290 that's also awesome really confidence inspiring.

I really wish to try the new slash because I suspect it is the best of the long travel 29ers.

I can only back up the Orange thoughts. My 5 29 was ace and a real weapon. Only reason I changed to the Segment was that I went a size up and the 5 29 was discontinued. Had the longer travel bike been available I'd have got one.

The bike the haters love to hate...

[img] ?oh=241c0f142fec1405a81056f5b9221908&oe=58A55FB3[/img]

Couldn't get out on mine this weekend just gone, sadly it broke... Well, I say "it" broke... The frame didn't break, nor the E13 wheels, the Raceface cranks or BB, the Reverb seatpost is still going strong (for now) and the SRAM Eagle groupset is still functioning perfectly!

So what broke? The god damned POS unreliable Shimano XT brake caliper was seized (after only 5 months of use from new), and an attempt to gently free it off resulted in the piston cracking and leaking brake fluid all over the floor!

Back to the point... Saying all Evil's break and there's no (or poor) backup is almost as out of date as people who still call Cannondales "Crack'n'fail's"... We're several years down the line from the incidents of the past that nearly bankrupt Evil, and they've learnt their lessons!

As for the ride. Well given its marmite status, most people will never bother to find out just how well the bike they love to hate rides, but I can tell you, it really is a cut above. The geometry is pure Goldilocks, not too long, not too short, nice and slack but not so slack as to make it a handful, nice and low BB height but not so low you can't pedal it anywhere, in essence it just feels so right. The suspension feels bottomless too, owing to the DELTA link which decreases the leverage ratio throughout the travel thus making the suspension quite progressive even with a basic shock.

I love this bike, and I loved my Following I had before it too. I accept that it's not everyone's cup of tea, but don't dismiss it without riding it! You may well be very surprised...

No offence mboy and I know you sell them but people were still reporting problems pretty recently, as in the last couple of months.

What's your criteria? Are you dead set on spending a fortune on a carbon super bike? I test rode a >£5k spec Hightower a few weeks ago and back to back tested it with my mates Cotic FlareMaxx at a £3k build. The Hightower was great, BUT my greatest take home from that day was just how good the FlareMaxx was, and in some aspects rode better than the Hightower, so on balance i'd say the bikes are bang on equivalent with their strengths and weaknesses balancing each other out, not that either is weak in any department. I know a better rider than I would be able to wring out additional performance form both bikes and suss out their limitations and maybe find a bigger difference between the two bikes, so the additional £2k or so might be worth it for the top 5% of riders who are capable of hustling these bikes anywhere near their limits.

For almost all of us there is no correlation between the price of a bike or the material that they're made from and how good they are. It's all about how they ride, and certainly I could not justify the additional £2k+ for a Hightower over a FlareMaxx based upon how they rode. At that price difference i'd expect a night and day difference in how the bikes rode. I couldn't even feel the pound or so theoretical weight difference between the bikes.

A Yeti 5.5C is still my dream bike, but I can't envisage ever having enough cash burning a hole in my pocket to drop on such a bike - well not while i'm old enough to still enjoy it.

I’ve just been through this recently and finally placed an order on the Trek Slash, however, got the 9.8 ‘cheaper’ version. Mainly because I didn’t want the cost of replacing 12 speed Sram kit, and also planning some potential upgrades, so made sense on the cheaper bike. Was very close between this and the endure elite 29er, but I got offered both at a similar price, and the trek had slightly better spec, and also the slightly shorter travel on the Trek appeals. I think 160 front and back on a 29er may make it a bit too much on a lot of rides, I’m hoping the 150mm on the Trek makes it slightly more manageable.

They were the two options that had decent geometry numbers that I came across. The BMC, old Enduro etc were slightly steep on the head angle.

The only bike I have demo’d properly was the hightower, and genuinely disliked it as a bike. I found it wandered a bit on trails, and also made the wheels feel very big. Was also demoing a Bronson and the Bronson is a far better bike as far as I’m concerned.

I stuck a 2 degree angleset into my trailfox, but tbh it really didn't feel like it needed it, I just wanted to see how it worked- going to do the same to my Remedy. Always worth bearing in mind that 29er and 26er head angles don't really map across, because of the longer fork (I remember Brant saying he considers it the equivalent of a 1.5 degree difference in head angle)

But given the choice I would have the Slash anyway 🙂

chestrockwell - Member
No offence mboy and I know you sell them but people were still reporting problems pretty recently, as in the last couple of months.

Which were sorted under warranty, unless you know different? All manufacturers experience failures, have you written off everyone else too? Evil had there issues, I knew that before I bought a following (over a years use now), but if a good distributer like Silverfish was willing to take them on, I was willing to trust in them (& the SOGA 😀 )
I've been screwed by larger manufacturers warranty's, so don't suggest that, your much safer with the 'big' brands

Northwind - Always worth bearing in mind that 29er and 26er head angles don't really map across, because of the longer fork (I remember Brant saying he considers it the equivalent of a 1.5 degree difference in head angle)

Far too many variables for that especially with fork offset etc. I think Specialized only have about 0.5 between the 650 and the 29.

Aye, it's too simple for that "X degrees steeper" thing to work reliably, it's really just an illustration but the general point stands I think especialyl when you're just talking about the head angle and saying "too steep".

I'm not sure specialized are going for equivalence in geometry, which is another reason direct comparisons go out the window.

I agree - the 29er Enduro almost looks more of a rival for the Demo than the 650b Enduro. It would be top of my list, assuming you have the terrain to do it justice and it's long enough in reach for you.

It's nice that mboy pops up with his Evil on all these threads, as it helps make Spesh prices look halfway reasonable.

I'd like to see Sam Hill doing the EWS on the 29er Nukeproof.

That should quieten a few people.

Another vote for the Banshee Prime. "Only" 130mm rear travel but with a 150mm Pike and CCDB Air it's way better than I am, without being dull on the easy stuff. Also climbs fantastically.

Agree on the headangle. Also think with the bigger wheels, it does make a difference.

However, the old enduro genuinely did feel on the steeper slide of slack, they have sorted this on the new one it seems.

I'm also a firm believer that slack headangles are great for certain terrain, but not all. I love my cx bike, when I steer, the wheel actually turns, instead of a few minutes later like on some of the slack stuff out these days......I'm not complaining, love long low and slack, but only where it's required.

Big box just arrived from Wheelies. Got to say the medium does look big, Colour wise I like it, Red, yellow and black. Just needs setting up and the brakes changed. 😀

northerntom - Member

However, the old enduro genuinely did feel on the steeper slide of slack, they have sorted this on the new one it seems.

I don't know what it was with the enduro but it definitely didn't feel the whole of its numbers- I don't think it's especially short or tall, but it [i]felt[/i] short and tall. If I'd had to guess I'd have said it had less reach and head angle than my Remedy but I'm pretty sure it's slacker and longer, bit odd.

I don't know what it was with the enduro but it definitely didn't feel the whole of its numbers- I don't think it's especially short or tall, but it felt short and tall. If I'd had to guess I'd have said it had less reach and head angle than my Remedy but I'm pretty sure it's slacker and longer, bit odd.

It's not just you...

I took one in PX against an Evil late last year, tape measure revealed BB height 10mm taller than quoted (bike was still on stock tyres) at over 360mm, and the wheelbase was definitely shorter than quoted too. It was an XL and changing the 75mm stem to a 50mm would have made it the perfect reach (if not seat tube length) for me at 5'10", and I don't even like particularly long bikes! Certainly I've had a sit on a large before and it felt small, where my Medium Wreckoning feels bang on.

Best way I can describe the feeling of the old Enduro is that it feels very much like a plush long travel XC bike. It's got more than enough travel for anyone's needs, but the geometry is outclassed by a whole load of other 29ers, many of them with as much as 40mm less travel than the Enduro! Sounds like movements have been made in the right direction for 2017, but still doesn't exactly look radical on paper... Spesh customers are often repeat purchasers though so it'll sell well im sure...

@ cha****ng, have you seen Yeti's frame prices for 2017? You think Evil are expensive! It's all about choice though too... Life would be boring if we all desired the same things!

Haha, I don't even look at Yeti bikes any more. They've turned into a bit of a joke IMO.

I've never ridden the outgoing E29 but one of my riding pals has one and they certainly cover rough ground very rapidly.

I almost bought a large or XL with a view to sticking a 650b wheel in the rear, thus lowering the BB and seatmast and slackening it off.

Riding a RocketMAX myself. It's crap 😉 . [i]Only[/i] 140mm travel which is a short long but it's plenty. Can take 150mm forks too.

[img] ~original[/img]

I almost bought a large or XL with a view to sticking a 650b wheel in the rear, thus lowering the BB and seatmast and slackening it off.

Most of my big mountain buddies are riding Enduro's. All fast and very capable riders. One of them is in the process of getting a 650b rear triangle for his 29 to add slackness and drop the BB a touch (but still able to take a 29 wheel). Haven't seen him in a couple of weeks but curious to see what it rides like.

thepodge - Member

I'd like to see Sam Hill doing the EWS on the 29er Nukeproof.

That should quieten a few people.

Seeing him get ride the 650b and get beat in Ireland by Greg Callahan on a 29er didn't quieten anyone 😆

But Leov's had some results for Trek, Francois Unspellable Name was 8th overall this year for BMC (and Lew Buchanan was off to a flyer til he broke himself)... I don't think Callaghan rode the 29er for every race and Curtis Keene chops bikes around... But still, strong showing. And there's the small matter of womens' overall, 2013, 2014, 2015 😆

Fair point, it's just Hill has a certain following of what I'd perhaps suggest are a bit more traditional in their wheel size view

Had my outgoing-model (2014) Enduro 29 Comp for over 2 years, love it. But If I had to replace I’d look at the 2017 Enduro 29. The changes appear to address my only complaint which is it’d be nice to have more reach/bigger front centre. But then I should probably be riding a size XL at my height rather than the L I have, so my own fault.

Should add I’m running a 650b rear link (‘clevis’) on mine which drops the BB and slackens the HA slightly. Not massive difference but enough to keep me happy.

Haven’t test-ridden any but I’d also look at:
NP Mega 290 – measurements on paper look ideal for me, plus I was very impressed with my old Pulse DH bike
Trek Remedy 29 – cos it looks lovely

Bike like the SC Hightower or Yeti SB5.5 are (IMO) too close to my other bike – a Yeti SB95 – for me to consider, but perhaps should be in the mix. Prices scare me though.