[Closed] Stooge or jones, opinions please

Have you seen the 30 odd page Stooge thread yet?

yes, I am really after some direct comparison with the Jones.

Jones space frame truss and truss forks I tried both that and a stooge back to back the stooge had ritchey carbon forks on which made it feel nice but the Jones won the day for comfort and handling

One thing that thread showed me is that unbiased comparisons are highly unlikely unless people have no interest or money invested in either of them...

This also might be worth considering
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/thoughts-on-science-and-perception

I've ridden both, but only briefly so can't do any back to back comparison.
I would say though, a higher front end on a rigid bike is much better all round for comfort, control and fun.

If you don't want a 'proper' suspension fork, a Lauf is well worth considering. I love mine on the front of my fatbke. Not enough travel to upset the HA on tech stuff and no maintenance but it really takes the sting out of bigger hits ans smooths out the chattery stuff. Feels a bit like riding with an enormous soft tyre rather than a divey sus fork.

I've owned a stooge and jones diamond and a space frame. the stooge is ace if you are on a budget and its certainly not a cheap compromise(only sold mine due to divorce costs), however, if you want something really special the answer is a jones space frame with a fat front and a 29 x 50mm rim and 2.4 in the rear.

more than happy for you to have a play on my space frame to see what you think.

having said that I'm really looking forward to testing the new Ti Stooge 29+ (yes a proper 29+ with 3.25 x 29 front and rear) that could be something really special!

Being a Jones lover I had to try a Stooge, never judge anything without giving it a chance.

I think your budget will push the decision for you but if one thing stands out from the two bikes it's the truss fork

The Stooge did a good job, I rode it for over 6 months on all sorts of trails but always found myself going back to the Jones. Mainly down to a comfort and handling point of view, I found the Stooge unicrown fork harsh and clearances a little tight on the back end, filled with Yorkshire mud too easily, it was a Mk1 frame, somehow never really jelled with it

The Stooge was sold and the Jones lives on 🙂

I've owned both, currently have a stooge. I never 100% gelled with the jones but have loved riding the stooge for last 18 months.

I briefly riode a Jones plus a few months ago and was pretty blown away by that tbh. Very nimble despite it's length and easy to get the front up.

I haven't tried a stooge so i can't comment on that bike, i do own a Jones Spaceframe though and its the only bike I've had that i would not sell and if anything ever happens to it i will replace it immediately, take that for what its worth.

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I spent time on both (Jones diamond frame / unicorn fork in 2.4 29er format v Mk1 Stooge with Stooge steel forks running a 29+ front end) and was able to carry out same day comparisons. I was looking to buy one as a 'fill in' bike whilst my custom fat frame was being built.

Funds eventually influenced my decision so I now own a Stooge Mk2. I've also ridden a Stooge Mk1 and a Stooge Ti.

I found the Stooge unicrown fork harsh

I'd agree with this. It's a full rigid bike so no surprises but I'm now running with LB carbon 50mm rims & an On One carbon fatty fork. It's a very different bike now and the front end just skips over things effortlessly. I'm about to press the button on some carbon loop bars to replace the aluminium ones which should smooth things out a little more.

I was also a little surprised that the rear end felt a little harsher than my previous Solaris. It's a HT so no complaints but I was hoping for a little more vertical compliance. Incidentally the Ti Stooge has this vertical compliance.

clearances a little tight on the back end

I'd agree with this, hence why I went for the Mk2.

The Ti Stooge was simply lovely and I seriously thought about getting one. On fast rough trails the Ti compliance has to be ridden to be believed.

a fat front and a 29 x 50mm rim and 2.4 in the rear.

This is my next plan. I've just bought a SH front fat wheel so just need to get some 4.8's Bud's sorted.

My Jones flight time is short by comparison but here's my 2 pennies worth. It was very nice & nimble without being twitchy. It 'fitted' me of the peg very well (probably better than the Stooge) and was very comfy. I'd say the font end on the Jones was possibly easier to loft but that may be down to the 'normal' 29 front end as opposed to the 50mm 29+ on the Stooge. I'd say that my current carbon front end combo on my Stooge is now as easy if not easier to loft.

I've had to play about with stem length on the Stooge as I initially found it a bit too twitchy on slow techy trails but have settled on 70mm. By comparison the Jones also ran a 70mm but never gave me twitchy issues.

As bedmaker says, a high front end is the way to go if you're sticking with rigid. They are both very confidence inspiring, not forgetting that they are both rigid bikes so have their limitations. Coming from a 120mm Cotic Solaris, it took me a wee while to get used to a high front end as my head kept saying that the front end would be too light and wash out in corners. In reality, there's more front end grip than I'll ever need.

If you can try both and your budget allows you to choose, then a test ride is obviously a good way forward.

nemesis - Member

This also might be worth considering
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/thoughts-on-science-and-perception
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Good article...just ignore what I said above and go ride both!

Many good things have been said about both bikes but what suits you is pretty personal. Both bikes will attract irrationally good feedback (meant in the nice way!) that you might not agree with after riding them.

One thing about the Jones is that it's more different to the 'norms' than pretty much anything out there so if that's what you like, there's not much else to choose. There's a lot going on and the sum of the parts is remarkable. I'd say having had one for ~5 years that it can't be matched - ie it suits me really well and I find the unique handling and fit add a lot to much of my riding. It just comes down to whether you like it. If you're after a bike in this general area you really should try one for a proper test ride, it puts a lot of things in perspective. They're pricey but my Jones at full RRP is the best value bike I've had so far, among many trade price or even near-FOC bikes and frames. I'll stop there otherwise I tend to get irrational with my praise of it : )

jameso - have you ridden a Jones plus?

No, I'd like to out of interest but haven't got much need for it really - that could change after a test ride though. Spoke to Jeff about the long-ranger after getting back from doing the TD on the std Jones, for that I think the Plus could be exceptional. Esp the ti diamond version.

Only a short ride on a stooge and I must admit I felt it quite harsh at the back - felt like a big bmx so good fun but I think the fun may wear thin on a longer ride- was a mk 1 though so bigger rubber would help

I've owned a steel diamond and now own a ti diamond and they are great- I've ridden taz's space frame as well and the steel space frame is probably the best value of all of them comparing grins per £ spent- it's hard to justify the cost of the ti but they are very pretty!!

I've owned both. Jones sold, Stooge about to swapped for my old brown Karate Monkey frame. Try them, I like the Stooge more than the Jones Space frame, but not as much as a Karate Monkey. Horses for courses.....

You'd struggle to better a steel diamond with truss fork imho.
I'd sell all four of my bikes (inc the space frame) for a Ti diamond with truss. They really are exceptional to ride in steel guise so the Ti would be a life'r
Not tried the Stooge but then I don't need to change what I have as its so good.
Tim

Try contacting Biff on here for a demo ride. He's got a fleet of bikes inc a 29+ built for people to try and get their heads around. He's a nice bloke to boot and makes a good cups as well

If you want to try a cheap Stooge frame and forks I'm about to sell mine. Love it, but wrists and thumbs are too knackered to cope with riding a rigid bike.

Mal-ec I'd be interested in the stooge.

Hi Nimo, feel free to head over to mine in Oswestry if you'd like to try one of the bikes out. I'm an old BMXer and the Stooge was designed by me in an effort to create something that took me back to the thrill of those early days, just messing about on a simple rigid bike and learning the skills to ride it properly, ie fast. I also wanted it to be affordable so you could build a cool bike for less than a grand with a bit of careful shopping, it's a pretty insular creation and i was quite surprised to sell more than ten frames TBH. I think it gets compared to the Jones because its rigid and has twin top tubes but the numbers are very different. if anything, it was inspired by a Trek sawyer and how flawed it was as a rigid bike, that was my starting point.

I also now do a ti fork which is a lot more compliant than the steel fork, but obviously it comes with a price tag. anyway, give me a shout if you fancy having a blast. Here's a pic of the ti forks too.

[img] http://https://www.flickr.com/photos/16118734@N04/23272977301/in/dateposted-public/ [/img]

Nearly 8 years with a Ti Jones Spaceframe, 6 months with a Stooge and 6 months with a Jones Plus.

For comfort the Plus wins hands down, as it does for downhill mayhem. It's as close to an AM rigid hardtail as you can find. However even after 10 years of singlespeeding i prefer gears on the Plus.

For popping off every lip, rock or root the Stooge is good. Its a fun ride at a great price. Bar choice on a Stooge makes a big difference and I think the Mk 2 option of running a 27.5+ at the back will help smooth things out.

The Spaceframe is just a great singlespeed all rounder. I know the steel Spaceframe will be heavier than my Ti but the handling and on the bike must be similar. The truss fork is a winner too.

Now go and ride them

Ti Stooge frame and forks rider here ..and running 27.5+ I have to say it's head and shoulders above the steal in comfort ....but the agility is the same ...its like the large bmx you had years ago (if you actually did have one )...I rode a Jones space frame and truss fork years ago .....but it was sooooo long ago I couldn't remember enough to compare ....apart from the fact it was the first 29er I rode so it was a bit of a revelation.....but the other thing to consider is the jones worth double or more than the stooge ?

Anyone ridden a SIR.9 & Stooge or Jones ?
Couldn't imagine ever selling the SIR, it's such a supple ride, more so now it's running the b+ / 29+ combo.
But I watched that Jones video on the STW home page last week, & everything he said just gelled with me.

But I watched that Jones video on the STW home page last week, & everything he said just gelled with me.

Jeff's approach and his bikes are really interesting. Maybe one day I'll scratch the itch.