You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I was sitting at home last night and thought "is the NS actually the right bike" and I ummed and ahhh'd with myself about what I want from a bike currently.
1. More bounce
2. More confident downhill geometry
I then changed the deal I had in place to this instead
https://flic.kr/p/2nQ5VGY
Whyte G180rs.
Why, well xc lightness isn't important as most of my rides are with DH kiddo. If they're not with him they're with [mention]crust[/mention] .
I thought "if we're going bouncy, let's go bouncy"
With 190mm front end and 180mm out back, it's sure bouncy.
Lastly was 27.5 wheels. Why, well I'm still not 100% on the 29 thing, I think the 27.5 is a bit more responsive
So Monday I'm picking the new bike up.
Taking “go big or go home” to the logical conclusion! Look forwards to the ride reports.
In before the "do I need a smaller travel bike thread" in a months time
Give it 3 months and you'll be swapping this for a Slash.
WTF.
I thought you really liked the Trek?
God I'm confused..
God I’m confused..
You’re not the only one. Ignoring the other bikes, he’s now had a G160, G170 and G180 in the last 2 years or so (EDIT: and a T130 iirc?)
Lol it's just a bike, not a wife.
Plan is to race it at FoD in semi DH stuff etc
I loved the Trek but feel more bounce will help
Keeping the Fuel?
Lovely bike or is it really a monster truck?? Now, as your, you-didn't-even-know-about-me-adopted-son/brother/cousin-etc, can I have the Trek please??? 😂
Keeping the Fuel?
Nah, don't need 2 bikes really. I'll accept it's less of a pedally thing and go with the bigger/slacker thing as my day to day.
I just prefer the 27.5 wheels i think and I'm hoping the confidence I've gained in recent years and the bigger bounce will mean I can get down more things.
I'm happy at BPW red, anything at FoD but I'd like to hit things instead of whimper over them.
Longer term goal is to do some racing and even if last, be at least not embarrassing for a 50 year old fat IT geek.
First test is Rogate next Fri, then Stile Cop on Sunday.
Although I'm may drag it to the local woods Tues or weds with the boy.
Anybody know about the lower headset cup change on these ? Apparently you change the lower headset cup and run a 29er front and 27.5 rear. The frame is apparently optimised for it. However, i'm struggling to find anything other than that on it. I've pinged Whyte a contact message to see what they come back with..
I'll likely run it as 27.5 anyway.. but would certainly consider the option of the mullet for some days.
Monster. 👍
I can see in the pics that there seems to be thick lower cup external. So guessing you swap that for any lower headset assembly with minimal stack height. The radius difference between 29er and 27.5 is 19mm. Is the existing lower cup 19mm or thereabouts?
Not collecting it until this afternoon i'm afraid so don't know... You think that cup will be a press fit into the frame ? can't see it being threaded.... but i don't really know. Can't find the answer to it yet.
It's not a massive hurry to answer as i'll run it in 27.5 for now anyway. But would be nice to experiement.
Yeah, it will be pressed in. You will have to knock it out and press in a new cup. ZS56/40 probably.
From Whyte website -
We have designed the geometry of the G-180 to use a 29er fork on both wheel sizes so if you want to mullet the bike, change the lower headset cup and swap in a 29er front wheel.
https://whytebikes.com/products/g180s
I know, but it doesn't specifiy anywhere what to change it to or where to buy it.
I didn't even know 190mm single crown forks were a thing. That's a monster of a bike.
Re headset, the image in @Rickos's link above shows an external lower cup (you can clearly see the FSA logo on it). I imagine - if it's similar to other bikes - it'll be a swap to a zero-stack, i.e. no external cup, lower headset if running a 19mm front wheel. Probably ZS56/40 like @Yak says above.
Edit: check out image of the 'MX' version of the bike - definitely no external cup visible. Linky.
he’s now had a G160, G170 and G180 in the last 2 years or so
[aside from singlehandely propping up the bike industry] what differences are there between these 3 bikes? You may well be the only non employee or journalist to have had the full set?
Although the 170 has gone from the website, superceded model?
I'll get some more pics this afternoon once i get home..
It is indeed a monster 😀
FSA No. 57 Orbit ZS Plus - that's the listed headset for the mullet version. I *think* wiggle/CRC have them but not confident enough in knowing that's the exact version, to post a direct link!
The G160 and G170 were in honesty very very different, both in terms of sizing and also in terms of geometry and how they rode. But TBH i don't really think as a rider I'm in a position to give much on the what, why, how and the differences, i'm honestly not good enough.
The G180 is quite simply for me what other call a skills compensator. That may be a bit sad, but that's why it's being purchased. A bike to get me down the harder stuff either easier, or better, or hopefully faster. By increasing my confidence in it. I'm well aware someone else could get my Trek down anything and everything... but i'm not them, so i'm using the G180 as a crutch to help my lack of skill.
A lot of their range now is swappable between 29er and 27.5s, at first they used the S in the front of their names, S120, S150, which stood for 'switch' .... Now though this G180 obviously can be switched between the 2... but i wasn't aware at the time of pressing the button.
Hopefully Whyte will come back to advise. Probably just a ‘normal’ headset for whatever standard that headtube is
FSA No. 57 Orbit ZS Plus – that’s the listed headset for the mullet version. I *think* wiggle/CRC have them but not confident enough in knowing that’s the exact version, to post a direct link!
That's great info mate... I'll see if Whyte come back to me initially too.... then potentially order something.
I do have a bucket load of 27.5 tyres i need to work through though, so no great hurry 😀
I don't think having a bigger bike than you 'need' is a bad thing. I took my 130mm travel Santa Cruz 5010 to Morzine the first time, and the following year I had my Cotic Rocket at 160/150 and I progressed massively faster as the bike took care of the chunky bits and left me to concentrate on line choice/not being a wimp.
Well that turned into a farce.
Found the place and walked in with the Trek to swap for the Whyte.
One of the mechanics takes it to one side and starts checking it over. Points out a couple of marks but gives it the mechanical mod of approval, checking cranks, brakes, bouncy bits, chain etc..
So the owner points out a stone chip, some marks on the cranks and says "it's not as nice as the pictures, it'll cost me a couple of hundred to sort the chips, how about we change the price to £100 difference"
He then looks at the saddle with derision "it's not a bontrager saddle"
"No mate, if it's an issue, put the saddle in the G180" so we swap the saddle.
I wasn't inspired as the G180 had a few marks too. Which I didn't comment on at the time. Just accepted the £100 as ok.
He then looks more and gets the chain checker out, which his mechanic had previously done. "Oh it's going to need a chain too" he says.
So I picked up my Trek and said "clearly you're not happy, I'll put it back on the car and take it away"
He then got a bit blustery and huffy "well I never said I was going to charge for the chain"
To which my reply was "sorry, I'm not listening any more"
Of course my saddle was still on the G180 "wait wait, what about your saddle he says"
"Throw it in the bin mate, I don't care "
So the Trek is still on my car and I've wasted an afternoon.
Argh - Sounds like you did the right thing, if you like the fuel and don't need to rush to swap it out then better to walk away.
i had teh same when i went to trade a VW van. The classic - 'its not as nice a s teh pics' no shit - and neither is your heap. selling and buying is definately easier but you probably dont get as good a deal.
And now the M40 is closed.
Sadly I'm sitting on it.
Happily, I'm not the reason it's closed
Isn't the RRP on your Trek >£1K more than the Whyte? Sounds like the deal was better for him than it was for you (appreciating that they're a business and need to make some money). Personally I think you dodged a bullet as I can't get past the looks of the Whyte bikes, the right bike is out there somewhere, I still reckon you need to try and ride a few if possible to find what you really want.
On the flip side for a positive experience I traded my last bike with Pedal & Spoke (though they only do Santa Cruz, and I think that's all they do for trade-in too) and I got a trade in that was much better than I expected and absolutely no issues with handover (Ok I do still get my pants down paying SC prices).
Isn’t the RRP on your Trek >£1K more than the Whyte?
Closer to £2k I think mate
Closer to £2k I think mate
Wow, bet he's kicking himself for being picky, probably cost him a grand in additional resale value, Trek will have been a lot easier to shift than the Whyte and for more £.
I'm generally of the opinion that I won't do swaps. Someone will lose out because it is very unlikely you both have exactly what the other wants. Especially if you are trying to do a similar value swap with a business, as above, they need to make money.
I can see the attraction of the Pedal&spoke operation but that is generally people trading in a few years old used models as part-ex for a new bike.
Exchange bike for cash, spend cash on new bike.
I can see the attraction of the Pedal&spoke operation but that is generally people trading in a few years old used models as part-ex for a new bike.
Yep. Old for new, so like trading a car and both parties get what they want.
I have traded-up (with cash on top) a road frameset for another user used frameset at Cycle Exchange too which worked well. I got more than I'd have got trying to eBay my old one and probably paid a bit more than I could have for the 'new' one, but it eliminated a lot of hassle for me and Cycle Exchange were very good through the process. I did look at how much I'd have got trade for my mtb but it's not really their bag and I'd have been better selling it (if I hadn't have traded at P&S).
Someone will lose out
I was happy with the deal, but not once he started telling me the bike was a 7/10 and changing the goalposts
I wouldn’t worry about it. You didn’t like the previous Whytes you had and an extra 10-20mm would probably not make a lot of difference.
Although it’s more faff. You’re probably better off selling yours and then buying something with the money.
Buy something like a NP Giga instead or the long travel Status?
I'd happily do a deal on a Status 160 in an S4, but needs someone who has one to want to trade.
Weirdly my Trek should be worth £2.5-3k but this one never seems to get near that.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134254048338
Hence me thinking a swap is more likely.
NS define 170
The Define was in the same place. I did look at it, but I'd set my mind on the Whyte and the 27.5 wheels.
For now I'll move on and fit the 0.5 Deg headset spacer in the Trek and see how it goes Friday at Rogate.
If you still fancy the whyte 180 surrreyhills cycle works have a 2021 large in stock with about £500 off
Thanks! But would need to sell the Trek. Don't fancy that complexity at the moment
I thought you had a Status?
I thought you had a Status?
The Status was traded for a 2nd GT Fury. It was also 1 size too small really.
Saw that and looks sweet, but can't see my Trek fitting his criteria for a swap.
I do t know why the trek won’t sell for ok money. It’s the current wheel size, it’s a decent carbon frame, it’s in a popular mid-travel band and it’s not a daft small or huge frame. Got a decent spec with a 36 fork on there etc
I sometimes think people balk a bit at thousands of pounds for a secondhand bike perhaps. Might be easier to do a frame swap out - get something longer travel in the same wheelsize and put a longer air spring in the fork. If you really want a mullet you could just rebuilt the hub on a 650b rim.
Trek carbon frame sets normally sell ok secondhand as far as I can tell - just bang it on eBay and see what happens.
You could then go off and get something like a Saracen Ariel 60x (can be run full 29er or mullet and frame only price looks decent) / Transition Patrol or Spire alloy / Bird Aeris 9/ Nukeproof Mega or Giga etc
Buy something like a NP Giga instead or the long travel Status?
I went from a RipMo V1 (160/146) to a Giga (180/170) and assumed I would only ride it on big trips away. And on the Basque back country tour and similar types of trails in Molini it was brilliant. But, I've ridden it 1000km locally as well since Jan. Even tho it's a weighty beast (mostly tyres/inserts/coil stuff) it pedals fine and is a lot of fun on milder trails.
Great value as well. I think I paid 75% of the RipMo frame price nearly 4 years on. The paint is rubbish but otherwise fantastic bikes. I'll often pick this over my other 140/130 FS because it's such a laugh to ride.
As a serial bike buyer, I know what it's like. But there's nothing I'd swap the Giga for. It really is that good.
I do t know why the trek won’t sell for ok money. It’s the current wheel size, it’s a decent carbon frame, it’s in a popular mid-travel band and it’s not a daft small or huge frame. Got a decent spec with a 36 fork on there etc
It's a bit of a mystery to me too. It's currently at £1689 or so and his is arguably less used than mine. The main reason i know that is because me and a mate bought another Fuel of him, an EX8 in Alu. Which was an ML and he really looks after bikes well and does nothing more than a bit of Swinley on them. In any other world though his asking price of £2895 should be pretty much right. That's what made me think that the Whyte at £2350 in a swap was a feasible deal. But there we are, that's where we find ourselves.
Today i need to finish re-fitting the bits i took off the Trek, only little things like grips, saddle etc, just the chainguide left to do and i'll get it back out in the mud later 🙂 Let the love affair be rekindled.
What i may do is borrow a 650b wheel off a mate and run the Trek with mullet and the 0.5 deg headset adjuster... See if that makes it a bit more rowdy on the downhills... would be an interesting experiment at the very least.
One thing I have noticed though, how few bikes are selling... Looking on Pinkbike it's the same bikes i saw 2-3, maybe 4 months ago.. still there, still listed.. Nice ones too.
They’re probably not selling because everyone is still trying to price gouge and people are waiting for them all to come down.
Once again, the Trek on Ebay made £2000, well £2002 techincally lol.
It shows that that's about the market value on it. Despite me thinking/hoping it's more.