One bike does all

Sounds like your bike shop isn't setting your gears very well! The chain shouldn't be going into the spokes if your limit screws on the derailleur are set up properly. Check out all the videos on YouTube and learn to do it yourself- gear adjustment's much easier than it seems at first. Basic tools, and it'll save you lots of trips to the bike shop (this may or may not be a good thing in your opinion!).

Orange Stage Evo.

Hmmm.

Sounds like if the gears are working OK 'for a few months', it's more of a (lack of) maintenance issue? Chain not being lubed? Gear cables getting crud & muck in? Jockey wheels wearing out bushings/bearings (or becoming stiff and nearly seized)?

Or, the mech hanger/rear mech is getting pushed / knocked in riding/storage/transport and that's then throwing the indexing out?

But, if you want a new bike ... That's cool.

Sounds like a HT would do you just fine with the riding you say you do. I've always said I'd have a HT if I had to have just one bike ... But having had a FS as well for the last 3 years or so, now I'm not so sure. 'Downcountry' or trail bikes are very good all-rounders these days, so I'd probably have one of those (possibly with 2 sets of wheels)

Honestly Gareth it’s been to two different Giant dealers and my trusty local bike shop that I have used for years. It’s a known problem with the Praxxis chain ring. It’s on various bikes from the Fathom, Stance and Trance.
I like to change my bikes every 2-3 years anyway so won’t be missed if I get rid.
So I’m thinking Hardtail, none of my riding really warrants a full suspension. My body needs an upgrade and I need to stop being lazy. Used to blast Hardtail for years no problems.

Religiously clean the chain every ride and been using the same Fenwicks lube. Never had problems with my Cube Stereo full suss before it and a 2015 Giant Stance.

The X caliber barely gets a look after a muddy ride full on lack of sympathy with it and still performs flawlessly.

The Giant has been sat on work stand since September. In the Garage. Cleaned before I stopped riding everything lubed.

definitely new bike want two to become one bike

Sounds fair enough, then! Time to get a hardtail, mate!

I recently had a Specialized Epiv Evo fs and an Epic HT and sold both to get a Yeti Arc ht and loving both one bike but also simplicity, lines, looks, less maintenance,  no fs skill filter, and have zero regrets.

Always lusted after a Yeti and never thought I'd have the budget but some cracking deals out there.

Good luck.

James

I had a similar tale. I've ended up with a SolarisMax and I think the current Solaris would cover you for what you want. Mine has 130mm fork and gets taken everywhere from canal towpath, to local bridleways, trail centres (I have Gisburn, Grizedale and Whinlatter local) and whatever else I fancy in the Lakes, Dales and Bowland.

I have just pushed the button on a Camino to cover more ground, more regularly, although I do have a couple of road bikes so drops are not an issue.

HT with electronic gears. Do away with all the cable routing, indexing, tweaking etc. if you get the full set up you can have a remote dropper post too.

Yes you can (sort of) do it 'all' on one bike but it really depends on what you really mean by 'all'

For example you aren't going to be competitive in time trail or DH racing if you pick something like a trail hardtail. That completely might not matter to you though.

I would seriously have a look at having a 2-bike 4 sets of wheels combo to really cover a lot of bases.

I think

- a full sus in the heavy duty trail/light enduro type of category (with light wheels for trail and xc, a beefy set for Enduro)

- a gravel bike with a full set of rack and guard mounts and a set of gravel wheels for, er, gravel, and road wheels for, er, road

Covers almost everything adequately other than maybe real specialisms (e.g. time trials!)

I know you said you don't like drop bars but it's worth persevering with. Or if you really.cant get on with them, then maybe a flat bar gravel bike or adventure bike instead

I used to do all of my riding, including lots of local 50/50 loops on one bike and ultimately was much happier for it, and the simplicity.

The bike? A Scandal V2 with hope wheels, some Thomson bits, fast tyres and full XT 2x10, it was lovely. So I’d recommend something like that but modern with a dropper post and a head angle around 65-67 degrees. Carbon might get you somewhere near in terms of weight, but the angles might be a bit racy?

If I could only have one bike an XC(ish) 29er with wide gear range would be it.

marcg868
Free Member

Honestly Gareth it’s been to two different Giant dealers and my trusty local bike shop that I have used for years. It’s a known problem with the Praxxis chain ring.

Is that even possible? Can't see any way that a front chainring causes the chain to shift off the block into the wheel. That's literally just managed by the limit screw (and by the straightness and bendiness of other related parts).

I see online that there might be issues with chainring offset with the Praxis stuff but it's only 3mm, and besides even at worst offset can cause a little noise and wear but it basically can't cause the chain to jump off the bottom into the wheel- regardless of the offset the front chainring is more or less centred, it pulls the chain "into" the block.

All that aside, it does sound like a well chosen hardtail could be ideal for your use. But you didn't say why the X-Caliber can't do that as it stands?

My gravel bike (read cyclocross) never shifted well or for long when ridden off road, and on road. I changed cables, hanger, aligned, fettled, but shifting would always go off after a few rides.

I’ve moved it to eTAP Red electronic shifting 1x11 road, and it has been utterly flawless ever since. On that basis, I’d recommend your next bike has electronic shifting, and I’d go sram to avoid cables completely. You’ll never go back.

Northwind -I’m not even sure myself to be honest. Just never shifted well. Only bike I’ve ever had problems with..

Only reason I want to get rid of the X Caliber is to something with a better fork than the Judy Air and a Thru Axel rather than Ancient 9mm QR.

Cabling is long enough to adapt to the movement of the suspension? Limit screws are definitely set properly? Chain correct length? Mech hanger definitely straight?
Like North wind, I can't see how the chainring can make the chain go further off line and into the spokes unless limit screws aren't set (then it is the mech and not chainring.
Tried a different chainring?

Single Speed hard tail and never have problems again

I've got the same bike. Couldn't get rid of that chainset quick enough. Cheap sh1te.

Sounds like a hardtail would suit you best, yeah.

Great time to grab a used bargain.

Or maybe one of these with the Pike upgrade for £1,050:

https://planetx.co.uk/products/on-one-scandal-sram-gx-mountain-bike

how about replacing the crankset, £35 for a deore slx £50 with chainring on merlin, just ensure you get the one to fit the frame.

get a new mech hanger to ensure its straight

£100 will get you a new chainset, less will get you an after-market chainring (do Hope do one that fits?).

And what about the rear wheel, is it a bit 'flexy'.

Replaced the Mech hanger. That was bent from the OTB. Wheel straight. No binding on the disc.
Its just a constant battle of adjusting. Have thoughts about a new chainset but got confused by the many variations.
So no idea what fits.

What's the rear mech? Eagle NX? If the rear mech is made of cheese and plastic it'll never play well. Put something decent on and see how that works

12 speed? I personally find it requires more careful setting up than 11sp but once done it works for me perfectly well.

Replaced the Mech hanger. That was bent from the OTB.

Still worth checking the alignment on a new mech hanger using a hanger alignment tool as they can be not-straight from factory. Or, the rear mech could have some unseen damage/twisting that's causing the problem. I've experienced both and straightening a new hanger plus a new rear mech was the only solution that fixed it.

Sounds like a Specialized Epic Evo or 8 Evo is probably just the job as an allrounder? If going the ht route the usual suggestions will be given as they're just so competent. My 2p would be a Pace RC529 or 429 as they make lovely bikes atm. I have a RC627 and it gobbles up Gisburn no problem and I often take that rather than my full suss. It's just as happy pottering around the canals near Skipton too although a more XC focussed bike is better from experience.

I also really like the look of the Stif Squatch. The current magenta colour option pulls at my early late 80's, early 90's heart strings!

12 Speed Deore with Praxxis Cadet Chainset. Shimano chain original and KMC now. Both shifted poorly.
Oh and the Deore is new also that got killed along with the chain.

Its just a constant battle of adjusting. Have thoughts about a new chainset but got confused by the many variations.
So no idea what fits.

I'm not sure even Giant / Praxis knew what fitted cos there were numerous cases of those Trance frames and also Fathom frames having really poor shifting that was traced to a wrong batch of chainrings to do with the offset (0mm / 3mm) which is different for Boost and non-Boost frames and manifested itself exactly as your instance, bad shifting at the largest cog end of the cassette, chains into the wheel, skipping gears etc,

Praxis were, for a while, supplying replacement chainrings of the correct offset under warranty.

But it's also a cheap cost-cutting chainset anyway.

I've got Shimano SLX on my Trance and the shifting is nothing like as good as the SRAM Eagle GX with an X01 chain on my other bike. I will change to a better chain in the spring and see if that improves things. I might also fit an xt cassette

crazy Legs - Exactly what it was. initially I had the 0mm offset one. Giant dealer got sent the supposedly correct 3mm offset one and fitted it. Replaced the chain, mech, mech hanger rode beautifully for the small amount of riding I've done since the OTB incident in 2023. Obviously didn't ride much last year but was fine for a few rides, then followed the park tools video on crap shifting and got it shifting beautifully again. cleaned the bike thoroughly and its been sat on the work stand since September.

went to give the tires a spin to get the tubeless sealant a move around and put air in tires, back to crap shifting. Just the last two Rings on the cassette are unusable. the very last one sounds like its hitting the spokes, the one below it sounds like it wants to change down to the next gear and the rest shift perfectly.

So basically I have a 1x10 bike not a 1x12.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for the faff and maintenance of a Full Suspension.

Maybe I’m just not cut out for the faff and maintenance of a Full Suspension.

If it's making a noise in the workstand it's nothing to do with suspension or not.

B-tension screw adjusted properly? This is best done with the bike sitting in its sagged position if you are using SRAM gears.

marcg868
Free Member

Only reason I want to get rid of the X Caliber is to something with a better fork than the Judy Air and a Thru Axel rather than Ancient 9mm QR.

Makes sense! Honestly I think this is the most important post? Lots of people when they think about giving up full suss are making a bit of a leap but you already have a suitable bike and know it can do the job you want, so you're on safe ground I reckon regardless of everything else. It seems like even if the giant was working perfectly then the same shift could still make sense?

Pipedream Sirius? Looks like a really fun bike, people use them for bikepacking as well as the general trail stuff so should be a good all rounder. Geometry looks great and it's singlespeedable with the sliding dropouts. I really want one.

Why have we not said:  "ONE BIKE DOES not add up at ALL".

You can't have one bike. They are the Rulz

If you’re not in a hurry and don’t mind standing up a lot (and occasionally pushing), a singlespeed hardtail is a very satisfying thing. Not sure if it’s a one bike for everything though, I’m not a fan of commuting on mine!

As mentioned above, check the B-tension screw. There's a line on the derailleur to line up with the largest sprocket. I've got 12 speed Deore on a 135qr frame with a 152mm chainline and it's really smooth, can backpedal in the 51t sprocket without the chain coming off.

Northwind Exactly this. If I can get the Giant working it’s great for Summer as I keep it on fast rolling tyres and usually put it away from BST ending in October to starting in March. But obviously last year and 2023 I didn’t get out much.

I use the Hardtail for Winter slop/Full suss for Comfort.
But I would like to upgrade the X caliber to something a bit more modern and a better fork. Lack of thru axel limits choices.
Actually wish I’d bought a Roscoe instead of the X Caliber.

If you’re not in a hurry and don’t mind standing up a lot (and occasionally pushing), a singlespeed hardtail is a very satisfying thing.

My gears are a bit messed up and no amount of adjusting seems to be working (probably a worn cassette) so I've started treating my bike like a singlespeed and I'm loving it. Much more of an engaging/rewarding ride as you have to attack everything rather than sit and spin/lose momentum. Will probably just get a stinger-style tensioner and properly singlespeed it at some point.

“I’ve started treating my bike like a singlespeed and I’m loving it. Much more of an engaging/rewarding ride as you have to attack everything rather than sit and spin/lose momentum.”

Yes!

Also, I feel the singlespeed MTB was rather hijacked by the hardcore XC riders since its heyday. I’ve found that much of the pleasure comes from the downhill flow of a bike that spins out at speed and has no gears to distract you - pumping everything, hopping and popping and playing rather than chasing times, and nailing the turns because you can’t risk losing the speed you were carrying.

As a very time-squeezed person it also brings a ride to a natural end sooner when my legs stop being able to get me back up the hill without it being really unpleasant…

Singlespeed - in the wrong gear every time.

The only time one made sense was when I lived in pretty much the flattest Town in the UK, and then it was a PITA into the wind.

Have you thought of swapping the fork from the FS onto the HT?