One do it all bike to cover everything? Do-able?

29er HT or mid travel FS, with 4-pot brakes and some mounts, pair of burly tyres and pair of Metzcals and you're good to go.

i thought it was doable when i retired.

i bought my perfect ( i thought ) bike to cover my bases.

a ti fargo with a rohloff. but it has not proven to be that on bike for everything.

i three years, i have, sold the rohloff, bought and sold a fat bike, bought and sold a hardtail specialized rockhopper, which left me with a ti fargo running 1 x set up.

then the fargo developed a crack 2 week before going touring. so i had to buy a cheap touring bike to use.

no back to having 2 bikes, the fargo for rougher rides, and tourer for road.

1 bike would never do, i now realise.

@Matt not a ht
broken ankle still gives me a lot of grief on the hardtail, sold my stanton switchback which until then was perfect because of that 🙁

I do chuckle at posts about one bike to 'do it all' that turn out to be a bike for a fairly specific niche!

I genuinely have one bike for everything (apart from commuting) but I accept some really hefty compromises on pretty much every sort of riding.

spin, seeing as most of my riding is the same not really an issue

I’ve got a Stumpjumper Evo.

The adjustable geometry on it makes it really flexible.

Low/High BB Steep/Mid/Slack Head angle.

Low and Slack for bike parks. Great for stability and ploughing, too low for climbing, too slack for tight turns.

Low and Steep for jump lines. Nice and poppy. Too low for climbing.

High and Slack for steep tech. Too slack for tight switchbacks.

High and mid for Alpine natural trails and switch backs.

High and steep for UK trail riding.

It really does feel like a different bike in each setting.

Transition Sentinel is good for the aggro end of trail, as is the Stumpie Evo and a Santa Cruz Hightower. All 29er.

I love my Sentinel alloy 2022 - but the carbon one is a chunk lighter and might build into a better allrounder accordingly. High Tower is probably a bit livelier for the more trailsy stuff.

For what you describe I think there must be such a thing. I have no idea what it is and how you balance the books but that's a fairly narrow requirement in the "one bike to rule them all" sense.

Normally people who ask this question want something capable of everything from full blown downhill racing to a cat 2 road race and also causally raise the possibility of it being suitable for delivering a fridge to their friend in Madrid, returning via Stockholm with a kidnap victim in their saddlebag.

Any bike can be a ‘one bike do it all’ just depends on where you’re willing to compromise. For example I have a 130mm hardtail that gets used for everything. Compromises are:

It is slower on the roads, which is fine by me because I don’t like riding on roads or road bikes. They’re just a necessary evil to get to fun bits and I’m never in that much of a rush where 12 or 13mph won’t suffice.

I get wet when commuting. Because of this I’m thinking of changing my one bike to a Benno Boost or something.

All depends on where you’ll compromise.

Takes a 230 x 65 for 160 travel

Not sure about your costings, but I'd be tempted....

And local, so sure you could try one out

It won't be cash neutral in the current market, especially if you are selling 27.5 stuff!

V2 AM9

Seen a v1 am9 for £1600 and a rocket max for £1500 so I'm sure I can do cash neutral second hand

It's all about state of mind. I XC the Slayer, roadie the Slayer, Enduro the Slayer, trail the Slayer and (sort of ) DH the Slayer.
I'm not timing myself, i don't care about pedal bob, i can keep up with my mates on XC rides, so i just ride the Slayer. If i'm going full XC day i'll throw in the air-shock for it potentially, but even with the coil i'm happy.

My lad does the same but at the lower travel and rides anything and everything (unless a DH day) on his Privateer 141.. but rides everything at double my speed !!! Including wheelying up hills quicker than i can climb them the sod ! He'll ride trails that i can't even comprehend getting down on his 141, so again, it's state of mind..

One bike for everything? Pah, my wife and I each have two bikes stashed in our second home for when we go on holiday there. Unless you are desperately short of space, what's even the point of just having one? For starters, when something breaks, you're bikeless until you can get it fixed. With two, you can ride something somewhere even if it's not your first choice.

It’s all about state of mind.

Agree.  Within reason most bikes can do everything but they are not very good at a lot of it.  If you are insistent on one bike then you will need to compromise and buy it based on the riding you do most.  For me that would be either an XC bike or a Gravel bike but I have neither...

Seen a v1 am9 for £1600 and a rocket max for £1500

I'd expect to get an AM9 cheaper than that in the current market, unless it's real top spec.

What are the upper and lower limits of your planned use? If you're looking at doing a lot of less-gnarly, pedally rides then I'd maybe drop down to more of a trail bike. But those bikes should be spot on if it's mostly fairly rugged trails.

I used to have an Orange Stage 6 (150mm rear and 170mm front) which was amazingly versatile because it pedaled so well and was light - but pretty capable with a -2deg headset fitted. I actually considered buying it back (which is a first for me), it's been on eBay for ages now.

It’s all about state of mind. I XC the Slayer, roadie the Slayer, Enduro the Slayer, trail the Slayer

I've realised this is true. What is also true about using my Sommet on something XC ish, is that the limiting factor is not the bike and it's mainly suggested 'enduro' use, travel, or weight. The limiting factor is my woeful lack of fitness 😭

Looked for ages at changing it, but in current market, no one wanted to buy it, but I may treat myself to a 2nd set if wheels that are significantly lighter than than the lead weights on it now!!

I do chuckle at posts about one bike to ‘do it all’ that turn out to be a bike for a fairly specific niche!

Yeah it only really works if you have quite a narrow definition of "it all", which tends to be some flavour of MTBing, normally some trail centres, some time in your local woods and occasionally a 35+ mile excursion?

That itch is easily enough scratched by a 6" forked, 5" rear travel 29er. And within a year you're having the same old "gravel bike or HT" debate as every other middle-aged middle-manager 😉

Agree about lack of fitness etc. The more I ride my 160mm/150mm bike, the easier it goes up hills. I'm never going to win an XC race on it, and it's pointless getting into the Willy-waving climbs on group rides against people on hard tails, but it goes up hills just fine.

The place where I do think that long travel can be a hindrance is on undulating terrain. On a shorter travel/hardtail bike it can be a lot of fun as it's easier to accelerate and pop off things that are much harder work on a longer travel bike.

Pah, my wife and I each have two bikes stashed in our second home for when we go on holiday there. Unless you are desperately short of space, what’s even the point of just having one?

Cost of living crisis? What cost of living crisis?!

Sorry, and back to answer the question. If you're writing off hardtails, I'd be looking to a mid-travel Orange, something like the new Stage 6.

150mm/140mm should be enough to get your down most stuff and still be tolerable for bigger loops. Looks like the modern version of my old Alpine Five.

The place where I do think that long travel can be a hindrance is on undulating terrain. On a shorter travel/hardtail bike it can be a lot of fun as it’s easier to accelerate and pop off things that are much harder work on a longer travel bike.

Spot on, that's what I was alluding to with my comment before.

If you’re writing off hardtails, I’d be looking to a mid-travel Orange, something like the new Stage 6.

The new S6 Evo looks amazing, but I get the feeling it's out of the OP's budget (and mine).

But the seat tubes on the original S6 weren't too long, so it's quite possible to go up a size if you're average height.

For the new bike to be as versatile as possible, you really want something with excellent pedalling efficiency, and as light possible for it's type. Something with a DW-LINK, VPP, or similar are probably the most efficient. Weight comes down to the old adage of "Light-Strong-Cheap pick any 2".
Ideally a second set of wheels with faster rolling tyres, so you put on some easier rolling rubber if you're heading our for a more XC style spin

SC Hightower or Megatower frames seem like good options for your requirements

If I wanted one bike to ride round dark peak - it'd probably be a Cotic Jeht. The rocket was too much when I tested it.

Get yourself booked on a test ride

In the usual recommend what you have: AM9. Mines built fairly burly at the moment (Super Deluxe Coil/38s @170mm) but pedals well for what it is.

Bird has/had good offers on AM9 frames.

@breadcrumb

Got an am160 so logically the 29er version am9 is what I want lol

You won't go far wrong then.

I'd like another HT, but realistically having the AM9 as my only MTB works for my current riding.

Hardtail sold so some cash ready - looking for a frame/fork/wheelset with similar geo to the aeris am160!!

My Orange Five (160/145) is surprisingly pedalable but I am wondering whether it is capable of bikepacking. It doesn't squat / bob when you pedal so reasonably efficient. The Whyte T130 get very little use now.

Instead of compromising your bike to do it all, just compromise on your definition of everything.  Problem solved! 😉

If you liked your Switchback why not a Switch9er FS. 230x65 just like the AM9 and AM160.

I went from an AM9 to Switch9er FS. The AM9 felt a bit more endro sled than the Stanton but both very good capable bikes.

I've just got an Aeris 9 frame so will be selling my Switch9er FS frame minus shock soon.

I’m going the other way, currently got a v3 AM9 which has been my only bike since 2020. Doing more uplift and big mountain riding now so getting a 170mm for big days out and 130mm for local stuff.

It’s a little out of its depth on the big stuff and a little overkill for xc type duties, but as a one bike for all it’s probably the best I’ve had.

<edit> oh and I wouldn’t expect to get more than a couple of hundred for my frame now, they’re not worth a lot secondhand but a whole lot of bike for the money..

Yeah 1 bike is doable to cover a lot of bases, but maybe not everything.

I ride my Transition sentinel anywhere from XC to Enduro. A change of wheels really helps.

I wouldn't consider it for road / touring - have other bikes for that!

At a push I suppose I could take it on a gravel ride but I don't suppose it would be very fast.

I think the minimum I'd want is a 2 bike shed.

1 Trail-enduro with 2 sets of wheels

1 gravel-road with 2 sets of wheels.

That covers a lot of riding.

Canfield Lithium would be my goto. I've got the shorter travel Tilt and it has rapidly become my favourite bike. I've got 138mm rear travel and a 130/160mm dual position Lyrik on the front. Does everything I'll ever need, from local loops to the Ard Rock. The Lithium is too much bike for me but it'll take a 230x65 shock and the CBF suspension is something else when it comes to pedaling.

Looking at (weeksy) a spesh status 160 - ❤️❤️❤️❤️

For road / gravel, if you’re training to a specific HR/Zone to me it doesn’t matter how fast you’re going. As such I know use my Bronson for pretty much everything inc road rides.

I’d always look at the road bike and talk myself out of a ride based on lack of time, having to get my cleats and spandex on. With the Bronson I just jump on and pedal.

Only thing you can’t do is leave it outside the shops which to be fair you can’t even with a BSO these days.

I’ve been on the YT Izzo Blaze with 140mm on the front and 130mm rear for the last three years and it’s been a proper little do it all type of ride. I’ve used it all over the Peaks and Sheffield and it’s great but time to move on.

When choosing something just a little bigger I was choosing between Ibis Ripmo, Cotic Jeht and the Privateer 141.

I desperately wanted a Jeht after convincing myself initially that I needed the RocketMaxx but in the end my size was as not available until November so I opted for a used Privateer 141 to tide me over.

1 Trail-enduro with 2 sets of wheels

If you're not bothered by Gravelly/Roadie type stuff then I reckon this is really all you need. and to be honest, as long as you are realistic, there's nowt stopping you from doing literally everything on a full suss; as long as you can lock the shock and forks, you're pretty much golden. Yeah you might be doing about 15mph on the flat with the 32t chainring, and it'll be heavier than ideal, but really, who cares? Whether you can do it cost neutral is the question really, and I think you might want/have to re-think that bit

I think the minimum I’d want is a 2 bike shed.

1 Trail-enduro with 2 sets of wheels

1 gravel-road with 2 sets of wheels.

This would be the bare minimum to cover my riding, and could work perfectly well.

It's nice to have a short-travel and a long-travel FS MTB though, even if a mid-travel one would be best for a lot of my riding.