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Looking for a new HT 29er frame and have short listed these two. I'm ahem youth challenged and most riding will be on 3 or 4 hour natural trails in Spain with lots of rocks and soft sand with some singletrack but not very tight. All rides include long climbs and descents. My new frame will be paired with a 140 pike. Oh there's no trail centers around here. Anyone tried both, what do you recomend?
I bought a 2019 P7 29er around April/May last year, I'd looked a few things, but never managed to get a ride on a Solaris.
The P7 has been great, very nice balanced ride, happy enough to pootle along, but more than a match for my skills on the rough stuff. I moved from an aging SC Blur LT to this and haven't looked back. If I was to find a negative it's that it seems to chip very easily, the good people of the internet tell me the bright orange mine is painted is prone to that, nothing a touch up kit and eventual respray to something more subtle won't sort.
Watching this thread with interest after all my bikes were stolen last summer. I have a gravel / all road bike now but miss an MTB
I’m a total died in the wool Cotic fan and one of my bikes that was stolen was a mk1 Solaris. I would use it for a mix of longer off-road but also some hopping over roots and stuff playtime.
My heart yells Solaris but my bank balance says look for vfm like the last year P7 models.
The other bike to circle my thoughts like a vulture is the On One Big Dog. I’ve read so much negativity towards on the brand on here but it does tick most of my must have features.
All the best OP with whichever you go for and please update us👍
I just sold my Mk2 Solaris (on which I ran plus wheels) to get with the times and go for the new longshot version. I butchered the old one for parts - so has the same groupset and fork - although I was getting neck ache with the 120mm fork and a 20mm rise bar (even with a lot of spacers under the stem)...so I upped the travel to 140mm. I've put some Hunt 29 wheels on it too.
So far so good. I've done around 400 miles on it and would say that, pointing down or around singletrack....it is as fast a HT as I have ridden. I ride anything that I would ride on my full suss.
It'll definitely do well as an all day bike in mixed terrain. It's very versatile, depending on how you build it.
I am not yet convinced it's as spritely a climber as the Mk2 (despite being virtually the same weight) - but it's only just starting to dry out here....so the trails have not been in the best shape through the initial testing period.
Other than that...I like it a lot.
Well I can say that my 2018 P7 has been fantastic. Its gnar enough to cope with the steepest trails around my way, raced in Enduro's and has been used for plenty of XC rides. It really is a great allrounder. Its also pretty comfy despite only being bottom of the range Reynolds. The new ones are longer and slacker, so maybe even more fun. Its not light though, but not bad. I've changed pretty much all the components (apart from brakes).
I've not ridden a new Solaris/Solaris Max, but used to have a Soul. Really loved that bike and I'm sure the Solaris will be as good if not better to ride than the P7 due to better tubing. Its bound to be a little lighter too (thinner tubes). However, it costs a lot lot more. I got my P7 for £900 from SunsetMTB Feb last year. Absolute steal!
Probably depends on how much you will get on with the LS Geo of the Solaris? I think a test ride on both would be essential in this case. But if you can't do that the P7 might be a safer bet perhaps?
I love my Bird Zero 29. I was worried it would be too much bike for my local more gentle trails and kept my old bike built up but it's never been out the shed as the Zero is so good. Done longer xc rides and enduro and DH trails on it.