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Looking for a 853 29er frame in Small and the Skookum came up. Cant find any ride reviews - can someone here give me their opinion?
The other choice is the Solaris but the hA on the small frame is a slacker 70deg and I want something steep for fast xc riding.
(The Skookum is 71 btw)
Ta
I've got a Skookum (large) made up as full rigid 2x10. I don't do these forums but have read so much rubbish about 29'ers, in particular heavy steel frames with long chainstays. The Skookum is great about 4.8lbs (frame) so pretty light for steel but the ride quality of the 853 is wonderfully smooth. Frame is very well made and Stuart at Pipedream is really helpful. Anyone who has ridden a 29er knows the rolling quality and even with a 450mm chainstay the Skookum carves up the trials and responds very well at speed descending. Climbs like a goat. I've just come back from 3 days in the Peaks and rode Jacobs Ladder on mine with a rigid 'Exotic' carbon fork no problem....beat others down who were riding full suspension bikes so can't be too bad. The Skookum will make you think more about where you are going but this only improves your line choice making you a better rider....something full suspension bikes overly compensate for. I'm not a hard tail freak, I also have a Santa Cruz Superlight with 120mm Reba upfront that I love so don't pigeon hole me a some old freak. My only suggestion would be that you get some ESI chunky grips....very comfy and grippy in all weather conditions (and great colours too). Have also tried the Singular Swift...bit heavy, and Cotic Solaris very good but slightly more aggressive setup and only available as geared bike (Skookum is geared/single speed/belt drive....and £100 less). Great bike so go for it.
Sorry, totally forgot to actually answer your question. Head angle is fine and setup for a more xc feel. As I said the Solaris is setup for a more aggressive ride...or at least that is how it felt for me. Swift is also great, particularly for xc....well worth a look.....to be honest you should ride before you buy, its nuts to go off forum advise. Go to Eighteen in the Peaks and hire a Soalris for £40 for the day and then contact Stuart at Pipdream and see if there any test bikes around...you know it makes sense.
I have a Skookum in L.
Its run SS with a Lefty up front running 90mm travel.
I also have a Solaris.
Its run 2x10 and with a Reba up front running 100mm.
The bikes are worlds apart not least because of their set ups.
The Skookim is perfect for XC and even in SS mode I find it fast.
The Solaris is a very good all rounder but is less XC more ...... trail?
If I had to choose just the one ...... it would probably be the Skookum.
I had previously owned a Soul & Sirius 853.
All were bought on the back of reviews but if you can test do so.
So what makes the Solaris more "trail"?
The geometery or the position on the rider?
Not sure I understand what you are asking...geometry has a fundamental bearing on the position of the rider and I would agree that the Solaris has a geometry for a more aggressive riding style, although setup can change this to a degree. The Skookum is softer at the back end mopping up the lumps and bumps to make all day xc riding a breeze. Try them and you will see.