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Hi guys, its new bike time., but I've no idea what is out there so some suggestions please.
I ride largely coastal pinewoods with some small sections of sand. Not enough for a fat bike - I've tried one and don't like it.
Currently ride a Kona Big Honzo. Does everything I ask of it and is good enough for my purposes except for one thing...it is heavy.
Many years ago I had a Yet1 575 full susser in aluminium that weighed half of the Kona. Even rode it up Snowdon (and down) which I wouldn't dream of doing with this. So new bike time. What is out there?
Something similar although a 29er has been suggested more than once. Decent forks, decent gruppo - Deore or better. Wheels of course; OEM wheels are the first to be replaced so if I get new I'll have to consider the cost of (probably) some Hope hubs. Don't want to drop tyre width much below the 2.75 I have. Not fussed about a dropper.
Carbon I suspect for lightness. Don't mind 2nd hand if in good nick. Budget will depend on what is available. Main thing is a decent spec on a night light, but good,frame.
I get confused with all the manufacturers blurb so what do you guys ride in these areas?
Orange Stage Evo Factory 29 2024 Full Suspension Bike
Nearly half price Orange Stage Evo with good spec? If going carbon look at a Transition Spur as mine is light and ace. Specialized Epic (or the aluminium Chisel) are the lighter end of the scale too. Guess it depends on your budget?
Would definitely suggest 29er, short(ish) travel full sus and definitely get used to using a dropper post, once you've got used to it you'd never go back!
There's going to be hundreds of different answers to this I am sure, knowing a more defined budget would help though of course... Plenty of decent bikes out there right now for sure, and some decent discounts on them too!
32” at the front, on a fully rigid 29er.
custom steel?
Don't want to drop tyre width much below the 2.75 I have
Modern MTBs are almost all settled around 2.5in tyres, many will fit 2.6in but it's important to check the rear clearance.
I'm not aware of any 2.7in tyres even and 2.8in only seem to be NOS "plus tyres" from 5 or 6 years ago.
Anyway, would you say you're after a hardtail or full-sus? The latter will be heavier obvs.
And have you ever tried a dropper? It's more important than a suspension fork in terms of ride experience, IMO.
I can't think of any 29" full suspension bikes that will take a tyre of that size other than the Lauf one or the no longer made and very heavy Trek Full Stache.
For your use I would look at one of the heavily reduced Scott Sparks that are doing the rounds-
Scott Spark ST 910 Mountain Bike 2025 in Black https://share.google/HXcFdZKxpjZdxvLuf
And have you ever tried a dropper? It's more important than a suspension fork in terms of ride experience,
My Squatch came with one, its my first time riding with one. Perhaps I haven't tried the bike on gnarly enough trails yet, but I haven't used it apart from dropping the saddle to get it in the car. Should I be going up and down multiple times per ride? I tend to be a sit down and spin rider rather than a stand and gurn.
Sonder Signal Ti (available with Deore or XT) then swap the wheels for something carbon with 2.6" tyres.
https://alpkit.com/collections/sonder-signal
And have you ever tried a dropper? It's more important than a suspension fork in terms of ride experience,
My Squatch came with one, its my first time riding with one. Perhaps I haven't tried the bike on gnarly enough trails yet, but I haven't used it apart from dropping the saddle to get it in the car. Should I be going up and down multiple times per ride? I tend to be a sit down and spin rider rather than a stand and gurn.
You generally drop the seat when descending. Mine goes up and down like a Victorian chimney sweep.
And have you ever tried a dropper? It's more important than a suspension fork in terms of ride experience,
My Squatch came with one, its my first time riding with one. Perhaps I haven't tried the bike on gnarly enough trails yet, but I haven't used it apart from dropping the saddle to get it in the car. Should I be going up and down multiple times per ride? I tend to be a sit down and spin rider rather than a stand and gurn.
Thanks guys. Had a dropper on the Kona. Hardly used it then it packed up so replaced it with a Thudbuster. Going downhill I'm old fashioned and stand up, but then I'm only doing 100' drops.
Don't really see the need for a full susser. Terrain round here doesn't demand that.
I'll check out some of the suggestions in there.
Good of you to help.
Unfortunately 'Plus' (over 2.6") tyres have fallen out of favour a bit in MTB circles but they are alive and kicking in the more Bikepacking/Adventure side of things, so they do tend to be found on steel hardtails/fully rigid bikes so they probably wouldn't be any lighter. You might find some inspiration here though:
https://bikepacking.com/index/29-plus-bikes/
It's a bit US-Centric but may have some inspiration, someone like Salsa Cycles for example is probably a good bet as there are UK distributors.
Also the Sonder Broken Road they do as Steel but also Titanium if you wanted to treat yourself, up to 27.5x2.8 clearance or 29er and you can customise the builds almost completely:
I can't think of any 29" full suspension bikes that will take a tyre of that size
Trek Full Stache definitely will. I had a Banshee Prime with 2.8 tyres on and they were fine, even if the spec sheet suggests 2.5 is the widest that will work. Not ridden a Full Stache (just a Stache, and that was ace) but the Banshee was in another league. Would definitely recommend.
I can't think of any 29" full suspension bikes that will take a tyre of that size
Trek Full Stache definitely will. I had a Banshee Prime with 2.8 tyres on and they were fine, even if the spec sheet suggests 2.5 is the widest that will work. Not ridden a Full Stache (just a Stache, and that was ace) but the Banshee was in another league. Would definitely recommend.
Funny you should say that. I've just been offered one of those. Good spec with lots of upgrades. Too small for me. Shucks.
Actually the Sonder Frontier might be just the ticket (same website as above) with Aluminium frame and up to 3" tyre clearance, you can buy it rigid or with suspension fork.
Fair enough if you've tried a dropper and didn't benefit. That actually suggests you'd be fine on a more conservative hardtail. And it's a great time to buy a used bargain, if you'd consider that.
I'd urge you to try full 29 with 2.5in-ish tyres before plumping for a more exotic "plus size" bike. They just work really well for almost everyone, and that's why plus bikes died out IMO.