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I've generally only ridden hardtail in all the years I've been MTB'ing (pretty much since they were invented I'm afraid to say). The main reason being that every time I experimented with full suss bikes they felt slow and ponderous, heavy and just not pleasant. That's included, over the years, a good few very expensive but short lived experiments with what seemed like high end offerings, including things like Orange 5's and a Turner 5 Spot.
I recently had the opportunity to acquire two nice FS'ers, both I should add with 26" wheels and so at very good prices.
One is a Canyon Nerve 120 and the other an Ibis Mojo SL - both really highly specced bikes that would have cost a small fortune when they were new (2012 and 2010)
Wow - what a different experience? Both of them are light, taught, quick on single track and the climbs…..I think I may have only just "got it"!
If it wasn't for the fact that 26ers are just so cheap at the moment, I wouldn't have had a bash with this and I'm so pleased that I have - loving the MTB again and not touching the road bike at the moment!
Now the problem is I'm struggling to shift my carbon hardtail 26er…what goes around comes around I suppose!
I knew they were good
I didn't want to spend loads on one as I'm prone to getting lairy on a bike and breaking stuff(frames etc) And I didn't want a mediocre one having spent my days building and testing high end kit for other people and knowing that the high end tag isn't always just the bling factor. But accept that often it is-intense and your non straight frames I'm looking at you.....
I also have a mojo (but an hd) with bos forks and hope e4s -while it's not gnarduro spec it copes with 120k all day loops one day and enduro racing the next. I've wanted once since I built my first mojo for a customer back in 2009- was the thick end of 6grand. Thanks to age and luck I've got about 1k invested in mine so when it cartwheels off down the hill bouncing off rocks I don't cry too much.
Would I be faster on a modern bike- yes. Would I win races -no. Would I be poorer -- definantly
Am I happy. Yup.
I don't know those particular bikes, but it sounds like you wanted a particular feel which not everyone wants from their full sus.
Personally my ideal FS would plough through everything (but consequently ride quite differently to a HT and take more effort when ploughing through wasn't an option) whilst still pedalling well. Some people prefer bikes to be more "poppy", I guess I prefer FS bikes at least to be "planted". From test rides I've had and comparison of my feelings to mag reviews, I know now that my ideal trail bike won't have a review that complements it mostly for its climbing ability etc.
Many other people differ in their opinion, some would call the bikes I like (particularly with the suspension setup I like) fun sponges, and some don't care and just buy the shiny thing and ride it.
Of course if you could show me a bike that was poppy and could plough through things, I'd call you a wizard/witch, and take that bike.
Great that you have now bikes which you like!
Imagine how much greater they would be as 29ers?
A bit like the OP in that in my MTB life, I've only ridden HT's until recemtly (hence my username), believing that it covers 90% of my riding just fine.
But in recent months, had the opportunity to pick up a Cannondale Prophet, Fox 36 fork and Stan's/Hope wheels for a steal, and built it up for very little. It's a 26er. But is pretty awesome on the bigger, steeper, rougher stuff that I had to take a lot more care with on my (pretty capable) HT.
If I'm honest, it's a bit too tall (BB is unfashionably high) and short in length, and modern 29ers would probably significantly better it on Strava times ... But I'm properly happy, having fun, and still solvent!
"Imagine how much greater they would be as 29ers?"
indeed - then imagine your credit card statement. Would the greatness and 2 strava leaderboard places outweigh the dent in your finances ?
I've had a Full Suss since 2002 a Trek Fuel 80, I replaced the frame with a Be-One then I replaced the frame with a Boardman when that broke.
With the old tech plus poor serving from me my 29er has felt a better ride and I've been riding my 29er much much more for the last 4-5 years probably.
My shock started leaking air recently and like you I managed to get a cheap 26" Canyon Nerve (but the 140mm AM version).
The quality of the travel is unreal in comparison to my previous Full Suspension frames. Similar to you its a bit of a revelation.
Im sure I'd love a brand new 27.5" full suss even more. I'd really love a 29er short travel carbon full suss too !
I don't know what else there is too say other than Full suspension bikes are expensive very expensive ! Even though alot of us might consider ourselves enthusiasts on this website, you have to have quite alot of spare cash now adays to ride the latest tech.
indeed – then imagine your credit card statement. Would the greatness and 2 strava leaderboard places outweigh the dent in your finances ?
Strava? No.
Greatness? Yes.
Are you selling both together 😉
Stealth ad? 😉
Full suss is definitely the way to go with mtbs I think, even xc ones. I replaced my anthem with a carbon xc hardtail and regretted it immediately. It just felt so much harsher even on fireroads.
Nah no stealth ad - I've plastered the hardtail bike that's for sale all over the place!!!
Just reflecting something new (to me) in my MTB experience - full sussers I'm actually impressed with!!! ;o)
then imagine your credit card statement. Would the greatness and 2 strava leaderboard places outweigh the dent in your finances ?
Terry.
You're just so Scottish.😜
Tighter than a submarine door seal is the zip on my wallet
Hope mrsssstu is on the mend.
29ers might be marginally faster XC (wasn't that the swiss team did tests?) , but down twisty trails? rollover advantages aren't that huge. modern geo's may help depending on the terrain.
its largely BS. fast people are fast whatever they're on. wake up!.
as said in my other post.. i;m still keeping up with/ahead of people on my 2009 26er superlight. where i lose out its my fitness, not the bike most of the time.
29ers are MUCH faster on the loose rocky stuff we have here. Going uphill under those conditions is much easier with bigger wheels, which makes it faster as well.
I managed to sell the hardtail in the end (26" wheels discount was heavily applied so the buyer got a great deal!) and still loving these two machines….
One downside of all this renewed confidence and enjoyment is that I managed to smash up the rather lovely XTR rear mech on the Canyon the other day - jumping over a log & it caught on a branch - sadly the mech hanger remained perfectly straight and the mech snapped in half!!!
So now the spec on the Canyon has been reduced a little - £28 on a Deore 10 speed mech from the Wiggle sale - swapped in the Hope jockeys off the old one - and off out for more fun!
I am bored of club group rides as I still use a triple chainset and for the same effort (road sections downhill on the way home) I am doing 30mph and 1X riders disapear in my rear view!, so I have to park up and wait for everyone to catch up! call that progress!!!!! makes me mad..
I like getting older 26er full sus bikes and using XTR and crossmax SLR on them
I recently did a yeti 575 for £700 - which ended up with Stans Alpine wheels - and its a rocket bike. back in the day this would have been an obscene amount of money and do you know what, it rides like new!
@fotorat - couldn't agree more - the Canyon has Stans ZTR hubs on Alpine rims - fab wheels - the whole bike cost me less than a pair of those wheels would have cost secondhand only 3 or 4 years ago!!! Crazy
#Velo - I think mine are 3.30 hubs - the only trouble I had with the rims was the tires would burp off at 40PSI,, but so long as i keep them at 30psi - they are fine.
I have never had that problem with mavic ust rims - but I think the stans are lighter than SLR!!