[Closed] Production Privee Shan 27.vs. Canfield Yelli/Nimble 9, Kona Honzo, Cotic Solaris

I made my boss buy a Honzo. He had an awful Gary Fisher from lord knows when and wanted to up date it. He is 6'4" so I told him to go buy an XL Honzo.
He thinks its the best thing ever.

Got a medium Honzo frame for sale, so any comments would be biased. 😉

I've a 26" Shan, and its bloody amazing. No experience of the 27.5 version, but I can't believe its worse. Like a lot of slack ish HT it can feel a touch wooden if you're just pootling along, but push on a bit and its a great bike

No mention of 2Souls Quarterhorse, should be worth a look against the rest of those listed

2Souls QH is on my list. I only posed the question for the aforementioned bikes because the probably of people who have ridden/experience with more than one is likely higher.

I'd throw the Stanton Switchback (650b), or even Sherpa (29), in there as well with that lot.

I wouldn't put the Solaris down as the same type of bike as the others? However, I would 2nd comments on the QH.

I have a Solaris & can't fault it.

The only thing I'd change it for would be a 2Souls Quarterhorse......

Solaris isn't really an AM bike though? Another one for the list Niner ROS 9.

As above 26 Shan is epic to ride by far the best hard tail frame I've ridden and I've risen a fair few now in 20plus years of riding.
Regards the 27.5 Shan there not released till later this month, so your going to have to wait a couple of weeks for a review of one of them. Which cross fingers I might be able to do if it arrives on time.
Bats.

Check out the thread on here about 2souls QH, them that have ridden them always want for one, it just goes anywhere, taken mine over and down some Lakeland passes this year, fantastic fun and oh so capable, more so than myself.

The Honzo is a beast - I love mine to bits!

Another Shan owner here .... easily the best hardtail I've ever ridden. Ride a fair amount of DH on mine over Stile Cop and on the easier tails it's just as fast as my DH bike according to Strava.

Thanks guys for all the input. Good stuff. I just can't quite decide between 27.5 and 29er hardtail AM bike. I'm 184cm and about 95kg -- muscular, of course. 🙂

Though, I don't think my height/weight matters much regarding 27.5 vs 29er. It's a matter of handling, which usually tips the hat to 27.5; however, the "newer" 29ers such as Yelli/N9/Honzo will have something to say about that. I realize this is quite a personal preference and I don't want to start the 27.5 vs 29er argument.

If anyone has ridden hardtail AM bikes in both 27.5 & 29er, please share your experience. In the end, I don't think I can go wrong with most of the bikes mentioned in this thread.

Cheers.

batman11...keep us posted about your Shan 27.5 test-ride.

I like the shan but that switchback looks solo much fun.
[img] [/img]
mmmmm

Oh, one more thing, I intend to run a couple of enduro races next year. I may have to pay a visit to my dentist after the races.

Texas Zombie Goat Enduro

Lonestar Granite Enduro

I'd throw the Stanton Switchback (650b), or even Sherpa (29), in there as well with that lot.

What he said...

Canfield Yelli here with 140 Forks and it always makes me smile, got a couple of mates who have Cotic Solaris and whilst hey are good they do like my Yelli... 🙂

No experience with the other bikes mentioned though...

Just bought a solaris and its long and low even with 120mm forks , it's a great bike 🙂

Stanton Switchback? Interesting...talk about sack HTA @ 64 deg. I wonder how it climbs.

Irrespecitve of whether I end up with a 27.5 or 29er, I will go with a minimum of 140mm fork.

As a Solaris rider, it's not like the others in your list - 140mm fork would compromise the advantage it would have - climbing.

I don't think the Solaris is particularly low with a 120mm fork and I doubt I'd like it at 140mm.

ahhh...thanks for the input on Solaris. Didn't know that.

as above, Cy's had a bad enough week without someone comparing his Solaris with a Honzo.

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Even with a 120mm fork and gears,the Solaris was outclassed.

26 Shan is an incredible bike. Really composed, very forgiving and not a bad price for a steel hardtail. Also quite versatile if you want to change axle lengths or run it SS.

Commencal Meta ht is worth a look - long front, short back, low bb, 150mm fork and slack HA.

Lots of fun and cheap. You just need to like bright colours.

Will do all bits are here and waiting to put on, cross fingers I'll be riding by Xmas 😀

Scienceofficer...nice QH.

batman11...yeah, don't be selfish and keep us waiting for too long. haha

I bought a Yelli 2nd hand last year, liked it enough that I bought a Nimble 9 recently. Great do it all bike, much more capable than I am, pretty too.

Switching from 120mm Rebas to 140mm Pikes was a brilliant upgrade. Get good forks.

Can't really comment on the other bikes as haven't ridden them but the slack front short back formula works for me.

See also Singular Buzzard, if they're still available. And Niner ROS9.

mattjg...how would you compare the Yelli and N9?

The Yelli's a tad lighter, noticeably harsher in the back end, and a bit more poppy when seated as the seat tube is slacker.

The N9's sliders are an advantage too if you care about SS (or adjusting chain stay length when running geared - tho it turns out I run mine at about the same length as the Yelli). & IMO the N9's a bit prettier.

In a nutshell - the Yelli's a bit more of a thug, the N9's a bit easier going if your rides have any kind of XC/ride out to the trails element. But both are a lot tougher than I am.

I'm a medium and in Surrey if you want to try the N9. The Yelli's not built at the mo.

If you're OK with aluminium and the chain stays a little longer (I'm not but some don't care), then don't ignore the On One Parkwood either.

I have just put a Stanton Switchback together.Early days,however so far it is the most confidence inspiring bike I have ridden,both on single track & down hill.OK not very steep so far.Bike weight 28.8lbs. , with Fox 34/140,Flows on Hope,XT c/s Hansdamph & Nobby nics.No dropper post.

mattjg...thanks for the offer, mate. Unfortunately, I'm in the US. Your input is helpful, though. Did you ever ride any 27.5 AM bikes before going with Yelli/N9?

jfb01...sounds like a sweet setup.

Ah, US. Financially, that has to make Canfield or Niner a no-brainer over a European import I'd have thought. We have the opposite problem and really get gouged on US product.

No I never rode a 650b, they're not that common here yet. I was sold on 29 before I bought the Yelli.

If I do decide go pick a European Stallion, depending on which one I get, it might not be bad. For example, 2Souls will ship to the US for a decent price and I don't have to pay VAT.

Normally I don't get into the 27.5/650b & 29er debate. I have always ridden 29er bikes (after 26, anyway). Just not sure whether as a hardtail AM rig, with aggressive trail riding, there would be any meaningful difference between the two. If I were to buy a full-sussy AM rig, I'd go 650b for sure.

Normally I don't get into the 27.5/650b & 29er debate. I have always ridden 29er bikes (after 26, anyway). Just not sure whether as a hardtail AM rig, with aggressive trail riding, there would be any meaningful difference between the two. If I were to buy a full-sussy AM rig, I'd go 650b for sure.

I'd say the more riding along and up that you do to get to the trails, the more a 29er makes sense on a HT.

If it's all about the downs, likely a smaller wheel is more fun, especially in skilful hands (mine aren't).

The Stanton Switchback looks great to me. Also the Kona Explosive or similar.

But that's all from conjecture not experience.

If you're looking at 650b, I think these look nice, bit I don't know much about them: http://www.kingdombike.com

[b]Scienceofficer:[/b]

I'm currently a Solaris owner, maybe not for long.....

Seriously considering a 2Souls QH.

How does it compare?

Much weight difference?

Any idea how much your build weighs?

Are they 140mm Pikes?

Many thanks in advance.

Sorry for the slight hijack