[Closed] New bike from insurance. Nukeproof Mega 290, Orange Four or Stumpjumper Carbon?

Sell the Reign - pick up an actual downhill bike for uplift days, and get the Mega 290? The 290 rips and that's coming from someone who has a Reign.

Or just get the Orange 4.

The spesh but more so you can join in the 'what's in my swat today' thread.

It was a DH bike I had nicked and I never managed to go any faster/ dafter in two years than I was on the Reign.

Just too risk adverse for DH
🙁

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The Four or the Specialized then. I'd go with the Four - continuity in wheel size so you won't have to readjust too much between bikes.

The Mega is a beast, really impressed me- but it's a Big Honkin Bike and so might not fit your actual needs too well.

Are these bikes you actually want? Are you definitely limited to Wheelies or is there a cash alternative?

I hired a bunch of different DH bikes after mine got nicked, I couldn't tell the difference between 26 or 650b. How recently the forks had been serviced made much more of a difference.

I wonderd about the swat box- but I ride with a pack any way so I doubt I'd get much use out of it.

Four

29ers are a bigger leap in terms of feel

Northwind

There is a cash alternative, but its not enough to buy a 2nd hand bike of a similar spec to these.

I've been looking at the specialized and orange already. I met one of nukeproofs sponsored riders out in Morzine who was riding the mega. If it can stand up to him for a season, it will stand up to me for a lifetime 🙂

When you say big bike- do you mean size or travel?

Thanks for the 44 forks by the way, they are ace!

Yes, when he says big bike - it's as long, almost as slack and has almost as much travel as your Reign. The massive wheels are mostly going to make up for having 10mm less travel on the front and rear.

In essence, it's another Reign - with bigger wheels. I wouldn't have both, I'd have one or the other.

In the STW tradition of ignoring the original post and recommending what you own what about an Orange Segment?

I've overlooked the segment as I thought it would have trouble with jumping- nothing massive but stuff like spooky wood and cannocks red and black dh course, minus the jump at the end of the black.

Would a segment be ok with that?

We are just going through the same process with Wheelies for two of our bikes which were stolen two weeks ago. They have been first class so far, the first bike turned up yesterday along with a list of stuff that we got a discount on that we couldn't find cheaper elsewhere. The other bike will turn up once its in the country. Both have the swat hatch. We asked about the cash alternative both with them and the insurer and its a fair wad off the bike price if taken.
As they can provide like for like with new models it was a no brainer.

Kevin has a carbon Stumpjumper Expert 29r and I have to admit it flies both uphill and downhill and gets quite a bit of air if Abigale is on it

That new segment is an epic bike, I ride with a chap who has just upgraded his mk1 seggy to a mk2! Incredibly capable bike both up an downhill. Handles beautifully! I would buy one in a heart beat

Having ridden that model Mega 290 it is very impressive but there are a few changes that pretty much need making straight out of the box. The biggest is the wheels they are too flimsy for what can be done on the bike, the second is they tyres they are going to get torn to shreds, the third is pumping that front fork up from 150 to 160 which would mean a new air shaft for the pike.

Still out of that list it's the one I would get.

In the end I've gone for the Four.

Based on my current Reign not feeling interested on large parts of rides in the Peaks I discounted the Mega, and the press fit bottom bracket plus all the pivots to maintain on the specialized.

🙂

Its through Wheelies direct (who have been dead helpful so far) which limits my choice.

Or just take the money & but what you want. I did when they said I had to use wheelies

I've overlooked the segment as I thought it would have trouble with jumping

Don't rule out 29ers for jumping. The larger wheels, longer wheelbase and gyroscopic fortitude (is that a thing) make them a bit of a handful on dirt jumps and for contorting in the air but for jump jumps (i.e just using a bit of speed and technique to clear gaps etc) they might even be easier than smaller wheels. You can still throw shapes too - it just takes a bit more effort to get the bike out of, and back in line. This is from a long time jumper and recent convert to big wheels.

Edit: Just saw you've went for the Four. Enjoy.
The above applies to anyone thinking 29ers don't jump - they do 😀

I'm shit at jumping to be fair but my Remedy 29's the best jumping bike I've owned. Not for tricks and that, I'm too cowardly but for just riding jumps and getting air and using trail features to lift and gap stuff. I haven't ridden a Segment but the first Five 29 was like that too, very unchained from the ground.

The insurance company should not give you a discount for cash. They tried it on me and said that they would only give me the cash value that the bike would cost them from wheelies. You do not have to use preferred suppliers, if they don't have the bike you want ask for the full value in cash. You are insured to be compensate you for the loss. I got the full value in cash but I did have to argue and complain.

I'd go with the Orange Four. The other two are too close to being bigger wheeled versions of your Reign - unless you want to sell the Reign and go down to just a hardtail and a big 29 full-sus.

In our case they could provide a like for like, in that the same make and model but new. Their preferred supplier for the busted garage door couldn't supply an upgraded more secure door so the insurer paid us for a like for like door and we have ordered the new one local.
First bike has been delivered and the second will come when its released in October, as said earlier. Cant ask any fairer than that.