[Closed] Recommendations for a replacement for a Bronson - Choice seems overwhelming

What did you like about it? What didn't you like about it?

i love my pivot mach6 . handles beautifully

bloody hell, what a great position to be in, there's so much choice at the moment!!

My list:

Bird Aeris
Airdrop Edit
The New Plastic Kona Process 153 looks cool
The Yeti SB5
Saw loads of Rock Mountain Altitudes in Whistler, they look massively capable.

These are just the bikes that I look at and want to sling a leg over, not for any other reason mostly that they look cool ( and I have a Aidrop and you've got to recommend the bike you have, right?) 😆

I've only had a brief squirt on a V2 Bronson and it was mind bendingly good (IMHO). What don't you like? Geometron suggestions makes me think you find the front steep, shirley not?

Respectfully, I'm not making any assumptions about your ability as a rider, but why not treat yourself to a coaching day instead?
Getting qualified advice from a competent coach on things as basic as body position can transform the feel of a bike. They might also suggest setup changes too.
I'm a Bronson V1 owner, its a very capable bike, but to get the best from it I need to be better. Coaching is working for me, and a step closer to find the bike limitations.

Size? Amount of travel? Suspension set up? You need to be careful with suspension settings on the VPP, especially sag otherwise it can feel a bit dead.

Need to know what you don't like otherwise you'll just be buying something else you may not get on with.

Check out the Airdrops, they're only in Sheffield too.

Tony Marshall has a geomotron and reckons it's the best bike he's ridden.That puts it over most bikes I know including santa claus .Have a look at his post on facebook

What's the issue with the Bronson? They seem like decent middle-of-the-road bikes.

Is it a sizing issue? Just guessing as two of the bikes you mentioned are notably longer.

orange alpine 160.

Cheers Ton. I take it you speak from extensive experience of filing cabinets ? 😆

Re the Bronson... I'm not clever enough to fully understand the subtleties of it, but it just never felt "right" if you know what I mean. The V1 I had felt absolutly spot on, almost made to measure and was teh best bike I ever had. The V2 just doesnt click. I've messed around with shorter stems, raised bars, shock settings etc etc and it still never clicks. Its a good bike, it just doesn't feel anywhere near as good as the old one. The amount of pedal strikes I get with it is just ridiculous.

So, I've just given up. Going to have a demo on the bike I have my eyes on, but just wanted some feedback from folks who have tried them.

chakaping - Member
What's the issue with the Bronson? They seem like decent middle-of-the-road bikes.

I demo'd a bronson at Aston hill the other weekend. It was mind bendingly good compared to my airdrop. Its without doubt my next frame, unless I get a nomad.

Mind bendingly twice in fourteen posts! A little more detail please.

If you're getting loads of pedal strikes I'd suggest rear suspension set up is all wrong or worse the shock tune is rubbish. As annoying as it may seem VPP bikes are super sensitive to set up.

Spend some time getting the sag correct, then move onto the rebound - do a search in youtube for the curb test. If you can adjust the low speed compression with your shock, try adding a little more than normal and then hit the trails and see where you are. Don't neglect your fork settings either.

It'd be worth spending some time before getting rid and shelling out again!?!

Dan

Lowey just give it to me.

Easy....

I like the look of the whyte 150 to be fair

Get a Liteville 301: Designed for tanking down rocky trails rather than fast bermed TC stuff (hence the higher than average BB height). Aluminium frame weighs the same as carbon equivalents. ten year warranty on the frame too. Lovely bike!

If you're getting loads of pedal strikes I'd suggest rear suspension set up is all wrong or worse the shock tune is rubbish. As annoying as it may seem VPP bikes are super sensitive to set up.

Dan, its a CCDB air that was tuned by TF. Sag is spot on for both fork and shock.

Cheers all.

stop pedalling in areas that you get pedal strikes in.

lowey - Member
Cheers Ton. I take it you speak from extensive experience of filing cabinets ?

Re the Bronson... I'm not clever enough to fully understand the subtleties of it, but it just never felt "right" if you know what I mean. The V1 I had felt absolutly spot on, almost made to measure and was teh best bike I ever had. The V2 just doesnt click. I've messed around with shorter stems, raised bars, shock settings etc etc and it still never clicks. Its a good bike, it just doesn't feel anywhere near as good as the old one. The amount of pedal strikes I get with it is just ridiculous.

So, I've just given up. Going to have a demo on the bike I have my eyes on, but just wanted some feedback from folks who have tried them.

Mate of mine who (total SC fanboi mind you) has had a couple - when he went V1 to V2 he went up a size, I'm not sure if it was a fashion thing as everyone seems to want to ride in roughly the same body position as Superman flies this days, but there might have been some logic behind it.

As for something else, personally rather than trying to find the same thing but slightly different - like an Intense Recluse, maybe look at something like an Intense Primer (yes I like my Intense bikes) up a wheelsize, down a bit of travel, but still VPP so it will seem familiar

2014 Bronson - replacement will be another, a V2 I guess. Its at its best flat out where VPP makes a lot of sense. Seems to pull me down onto the trail. Id be surprised if a V2 was radically different? Not tried one yet. Bronson already has the highest BB in the range some I'm surprised at pedal strikes.

You have to love your bike, if you've lost the love I understand.

I'd love a lightville

what about a DMR sled? VPP highish bottom bracket.

Lowey,

Add more low speed compression. One or two clicks at a time and pedal over the sections of trail where you are getting the most strikes. I wouldn't dial them all out as you will make the ride too harsh.

I had a Nomad 3 (fantastic bike) which has a very low bb. I was running 175mm cranks and rarely had pedal strikes. I was running an ohlins coil though which is a very well behaved shock. I ran various air shocks on the bike for a while because that is what I had and also it saved a bit of weight. Never again. They are, imho, just not worth it. If you can borrow a coil shock do. But in the meantime re-vist your set up. Cheaper than a new frame.

Just trying to help and save you some cash!

Dan

PS - very few pedal strikes with the air shocks either.

Cheers Dan. Will give it a go.