[Closed] The 'do it all' conundrum

Giant Trance, 140mm platform, 650b, lightweight as a frame only buy, will take 160mm forks for bigger stuff, lovely DW/Maestro link suspension, good tyre clearance, can take a longer stroke shock to become a 158mm frame for the odd Alps trip....I have one as you may have guessed!

Also had the 140mm Saracen Ariel a few years back which was great but I don't think they make them any more?

I'm loving my transition bandit 26 , take a look at this years transitions for 650b . Very nice bikes.

Deviant - I have been looking at the trance. Do you know what the e2e is on the shock?

hambl90 - I have a bandit...but has always felt just a tad too compact.

200 x 51 as standard....people on Pinkbike have been fitting 200 x 57 for more rear travel, have to be careful with the longer stroke as reservoirs on some shocks then foul the frame.
I think a coil shock fits in standard 200 x 51 guise if that's your thing.

Mine is built up with Pikes, SS Tactic/Tesla wheels, Shimano 2 x 10 running gear and brakes,....Charge, Spank, Renthal, RaceFace cockpit and sitting arrangement....I need to get some scales as it's beautifully light, I don't normally get excited by that kind of nonsense (it's a MTB after all) and everybody seems to carry rucksacks these days so a pound here or there is irrelevant...but I was surprised once built up, it's lighter than my hardtail for sure.

Did you get the silver frame only? I'm really tempted as the c2c would make it about £750.

Would just need to sell my other bikes first

Yes, frame only. Giant threw in their own brand dropper post too.

I think silver is the only colour as frame only, it looks great contrasted against all the black of the forks, shock, wheels, sestpost etc on mine.

From a cost vs performance perspective, I don't think you'll do much better than a trance personally. Brilliant bikes (no, I don't own one...)

Where exactly where you be riding?

My interpretation of trail with a dash of big mountain would translate to a 120mmish 29er.

Camber evo, that new evil, orange segment etc etc.

I really do think in terms of capability a 120ish 29er does translate to 140mm capability in a 650b/26" format. But that little less travel makes it cover flatter boring stuff quicker, and more engaging making it a lot more fun, makes climbing better too. All that and my experience says they're better on the way down on the fun stuff too (my interpretation of fun is turning natural terrain into a BMX/pump track).

Generally midlands and Wales, but visiting family in France this year so hopefully the Alps at some point.

29ers are a definite no. Tried a few and just don't get on with them. Great speed, but just feel less nimble on the twisty stuff.

PYGA do a rather sexy 140mm frame. The Pascoe IIRC.

Nice colour too 8)

Canyon Spectral if looking at complete bikes.

Pascoe frame's nice...but not £1800 nice!!!

In the tradition of recommend what you ride, I am enjoying my canyon spectral. Rides really composed and is a properly rapid bike. 140mm rear, 140/150mm front.

I have an older26 anthem that has been "trailed up" longer fork, wider bars and dropper. Great for my do anything bike as I do more longer xc stuff to bigger gnar.
Wish I had bought a trance though.....

Go grab a ride of a Pivot Mach 6. Had mine for about 9 months now and of course I'll say it's the best bike I've had, expected of course. But it is! Weighs in at 27-28lbs, 650b, 160mm up front, stiff frame and my fav DW link. Raced it at King and Queen of the hill, rattled it round the Alps last September, climbs brillantly and is such a hoot at bouncing back down again. Superb bike and can't reccomend it enough. I've not had a loads of bikes, but it's the first one I've had where I just don't want to stop riding it, never sems to tire me out. Which is good.

I've yet to get my bandit 650b to feel out of shape, it's proper quick downhill and pedals uphill great. If anything the new scout looks even better!

As I never stand it, you can rent a pretty decent "gnar" bike in the alps fairly easily these days so maybe buy for what you ride most?

Spectral looks good tho

"What 140mm FS 650B bike?" Too late to edit title?

I've got a stumpjumper evo which does pretty much everything. Ideally it would be bigger/longer but apart from that it is amazing.

The 650b one looks like it's pretty poor though, so I'd recommend something else as I don't rate 29'ers for do-it-all and the 26" one (mine) is only available 2nd hand.

Trance is a good shout as is the canyon. My money would probably be on one of the new Konas or a Banshee Spitfire.

Isn't the Five supposed to be your quintessential do it all British trail bike?

It could be I opt for 150 or even 160 rear if they pedal well enough...just wanted 140 minimum. Norco range looks good for example.

Heard the konas are good...albeit heavy.

It depends. Erg much on the riding that you expect to do in 'everything'!

XC race to DH will mean compromise somewhere.

I love the interpretation of 'do it all bike' on STW. It's quite a narrow section of the sport of cycling!

Heard the konas are good...albeit heavy.

Yes they are a bit weighty. Annoying they don't do it as a frame only, as the full bike would need some bits swapped to get it to a decent weight.

Isn't the Five supposed to be your quintessential do it all British trail bike?

Maybe 7 years ago.

It's quite a narrow section of the sport of cycling!

29ers are a definite no. Tried a few and just don't get on with them. Great speed, but just feel less nimble on the twisty stuff.

Seriously? I bought my 29er precisely because it was better in the twisty stuff than the 150mm 650b bikes I demoed (no stupid slack head angles and is actually has a shorter wheelbase than equivalent 650b bikes). In fact better all round. I have a banshee phantom and it feels like a big wheeled bmx. Might be worth having a read of reviews of the banshee phantom, kona process 111, transition smuggler, Orange segment, pyga110, etc. There are some video reviews of them in the bible of bike tests on YouTube. You really have to ride one to understand what they are about and what they are capable of, you can't interpolate from riding old style 29ers (which were horrible).

I don't know what your definition of "all" is but I seriously think a new interpretation 120mm 29er is a better UK do it all bike than a 140mm 650b. 29ers do require a more aggressive riding style but one you have it they ride like bikes. The only exception would be if you are under 5ft 7th as you would probably have trouble fitting everything into the frame and may lack the size to get over the front as is needed.

If you are anywhere near Dundee you are welcome to throw a leg over mine. Although it could be expensive for you. The last 3 people who have done so now ride short travel 29ers.

I can't stand 29ers either. It's a personal choice.

I can't stand 29ers either. It's a personal choice.

Well, yes, but it is a bit of an irrational one from my perspective. You can more or less make a bike ride in any style with any wheel size so why limit your choice based on one aspect of a single arbitrary component of the entire mix?

I think most XC 29er are awful to ride. But then I think the same about 26 and 650b XC bikes. Largely because they are XC bikes with XC geometry and XC components which by and large don't suit me or my riding. Wheel size isn't the issue. The fact my current bike has 29" wheels was irrelevant to the selection process, the bike did what I wanted it to do best. If the bike that won my demo test had 650b wheels then guess what? My current bike would have 650b wheels. Saying no to a wheel size because you didn't like the last one or two you rode seems a bit limiting.

Why not decide on the style of riding you want you bike to deal with and then see how bikes in that category ride regardless of what size or shape bits they have hanging off them?

I'm 5'7"...which maybe why I find them a bit unwieldy!

I shall be selling a whole host of good kit in the classifieds over the next wee while so keep an eye out for those that are interested.

Truth be told I'd love a kona process DL or transition patrol...but don't have £4k

For everything from riding the 100mile South Downs Way in a day to getting rad in the Alps and hunting KOMs on the local singletrack, I feel my 140mm rear, 160mm front Blur LTc has looked after me well.

I think you're limiting your bikes capabilities unnecessary by sticking to 140 on the front. I think the 140mm and 650b hits the nail on the head though.

Sounds fair :D.

I think the front end height becomes an issue making it hard to get over the bars enough.

In terms of 650b bikes I demoed the Banshee Spitfire was the next best for the riding style I like (lots of grip and feedback, easy to move about and pick up, less bothered by the need for a magic carpet ride).

I did try a Santa Cruz Solo once I had bought my 29er and that could have tempted me. Only 125mm travel but so much fun and capable beyond the travel numbers would have you believe (I'm sure there is a Steve Peat video in Torridon that would help!).

Isn't the Five supposed to be your quintessential do it all British trail bike?
Maybe 7 years ago.

Thats the Alpine Five now. Stonking bike, best kept secret, Im glad tbe industry have pulled the wool over the public's eye, as if they hadnt been pushing 650b for economies of scale, the Alpine Five would be ridden by all and sundry.

It's got no DW link, VPP, switch, etc... just a hinge. But with a half decent shock, with good damping, that really doesnt matter.

Spot on geometry, built to last, £20 to replace the bearings, great clearance, and destroys descents.

Put away your predjuices, give a really good 29er a demo, for a do it all bike, they're ideal.

At one stage i had something like 8 bikes, ive now got one.

Well, yes, but it is a bit of an irrational one from my perspective. You can more or less make a bike ride in any style with any wheel size so why limit your choice based on one aspect of a single arbitrary component of the entire mix?

I feel my 140mm rear, 160mm front Blur LTc has looked after me well.

How about a Mojo HD? Selling secondhand for nuts in26 flavour. In 140 rear I run mine with a slant which is adjustable between 120 and 160 quite easily, and of course you can run it with 160'rear with the limbo chips and appropriate shock.

Wrecker - I think we'll just have to disagree on what constitutes arbitrary. I still think wheel size is just one minor factor amongst a whole host of other things that affect how a bike rides.

I'd be interested to know which 29ers you tried? I found the five 29er, banshee prime and remedy 29 to be sluggish in twisty stuff and flattened out the tail to the point of tedium and seemed reluctant to fly. So I can sympathise with what you are saying. Not sure what floppy means in this context though!

Enduro, camber, sultan, yeti 95, tallboy, gyro. I think that's it.
Just not my cup of tea. I have ridden a sb66, owned a 5 spot and and LTc got on well with all. It's a live and let live thing. Some people prefer 29ers, and whilst I don't it's good that they have that choice.
I have a 650 on order and I've never ridden one. I know, I'm stupid.

I'd say it might be worth trying one more 😀

None of those made the cut for me because of the reasons you listed.

So t.here may be one 29er out there I like? Not really a solid basis to invest into the wheelsize.
I get 29ers, but the comments like we'd all be better off on 29ers and 29ers are the ideal uk bike are plainly wrong. It's not about the terrain, it's about the individual.

Have you considered a bronson? I was absolutely set on a banshee and then demoed a bronson and was utterly blown away. Climbs very very well but felt really quick on the downs and really encouraged me to try jumps I wouldn't have considered before! Obviously biased as I own one though!

Have you considered a [b]bronson[/b]

Stupid name.

Wrecker - there may be more than one out there, that is kind of my point (and how many bikes that do the same thing do you want to have to "invest" in the wheel size?). Writing off every 29er because you don't like the few that you have tried is a bit like saying that you will never buy a Japanese car because you once drove a Corolla, a Jazz and a Qashqai and didn't like them. The fact that they are Japanese (or even Toyota, Honda or Nissan) is largely irrelevant.

I've ridden trail/allmtn/enduro/whatever bikes in all 3 wheel sizes and found dogs and wunderbikes in all 3. With a few caveats this says to me that the wheel size doesn't make the (trail)bike any more than what you ride makes the wheel size matter. All I'm suggesting is try each and every bike on it's own merits in the terrain it was designed for rather than prejudging based on a particular wheelsize.

But this is turning into a hijack so I'm going to shut up now.

It's a mountain biking website. If you asked a similar question on road cc, do you think they'd be recommending hybrids?

Of course not. I understand the thinking. It just tickles me that for many folks on here 'one bike for everything' means a 140mm travel full suspension mountainbike. Don't get me wrong, I have such a machine and it's a hoot but in the big scheme of things that's a really specialised and deeply unversatile piece of kit. It's indicative of how many niches the sport has split into that such a bike is considered versatile.

Between finances,space and not racing any more the 'fleet' is getting culled from.
29 carbon race xc bike
29 rigid steel ss
29 140mm fs (anyone want a Codeine cheep?)
26 4x bike
26 dh bike
To (I reckon... although I'll probably change my mind whilst waiting till May)
A Solaris with 120mm forks and a -1 angleset.
Should be fast enough to semi race (forks at 100mm and skinny wheels) on and tough enough to huck (forks at 120mm and fatter wheels).
That's the theory 😯

Another innocent "which bike" thread turning into a "which wheel" thread....

Your do-it-all bike is the one you enjoy riding the most, or at least enough to ignore its shortcomings and compromises.

for me it's a relative behemoth of an Alpine 160 (26).

YMMV.

deeply unversatile piece of kit

Today's 140mm - 160mm full sus bikes are so capable that they'll handle pretty much everything from full on DH, to big mountain rides to trail centre bimbles. Sure they probably won't be winning any races at either end of the mtb spectrum but to class them as unversatile is a bit silly imo. Go back, say, 5 years and you'd struggle to find bikes that were as affordable, as light, that pedal up and descend as well as the ones we have now.

Don't mess about get a Capra. It's amazing at everything and it is great value for money. Better performance than bikes at twice the price.

amazing at everything

Been riding a Mach6 for the last year and very happy with it as my one and only (wife doesn't understand n+1) but I would say based on riding a friends, the Giant Trance, its a great value bike that in SX form should cover you for most riding.

Orange Five 650b.
Nice and long and with a CCDB Air it is fantastic. It makes up for the single pivot platform.

Very individual this one bike thing.
Trying to work this out at the moment.
Certainly anything 140 to 160 mm travel is to much for me.
Mainly a xc rider.
I have a light alloy hardtail 29 for racing.
A quick swap to rigid forks turns it into my winter rider.
I also have a 29 fs for endurance riding and summer evening group rides.
A 100mm travel bike but with 120mm fork and dropper makes it quite capable.
Currently think of going to a Kinesis Sync to do both jobs (with a rigid fork fork for winter)
Think I would miss the fs though!
At the moment I reckon a hardtail and fs suits me well!
Then there's the road bike and cross bike I also have!
Thanks,
Max

Yes everything that I have tried on it. Xc to DH, Up, down, along, round corners, over stuff and jumps. Fast and fun on everything.it's amazing.

170mm travel bike, fast, fun & amazing on everything, including XC in owner claiming new bike is "best bike evar" shocker!

Great.

I tried to go down the do it all do it all bike with a new Bronson carbon late 2013, XTR spec, I prefer the lakes & found I was pushing the front end hard & the standard ctd shock had it's limits, answer for me, new build Bronson CCDB Air Cs shock & Fox 36 RC2's and 1x11, the VPP climbs well no bobbing & overall a harder hitting bike, it seems the market is going longer & slacker however I choose to build ride what suits me, I tired a Capra & very good but maybe a bit too far for a every day do it all, also rode a Spesh Enduro Carbon 29er, very fast & eats anything but at very high speed I couldn't get it to flick / change direction & it had a nice set of Crossmax's fitted to reduce the rolling inertia of the wheels, it's all down to personal choice & feel and importantly where you ride and ultimately what works for you.

Cheers

Your do-it-all bike is the one you enjoy riding the most, or at least [u]enough to ignore its shortcomings and compromises.[/u]

170mm travel bike, fast, fun & amazing on everything, including XC in owner claiming new bike is "best bike evar" shocker!

For me it's full suss 140/150 travel,climbs ok and descends in a way that flatters my abilities. But I like a change every now-and-then so next bike will probably be hardtail. Go figure....,sorry just me. 😕

Ha ha, I knew I would get this. I bought the Capra to replace my lapierre Froggy. I thought that I would only want to ride it on steep stuff. it's a comp 1 160/165 travel.
I also have a Santa Cruz suerlight, built tough but light. 24.10lb with reverb.
Over the years I have demoed many 140/ 160mm bikes. I never understood why anyone would want to pedal more than 120mm anywhere. On the vast majority of terrain the longer travel bikes just felt lazy and unnecessary . On a Specialized demo day a few years ago I rode epic, stumpjumper and enduro. The epic made more sense to me on everything. That is the sort of bike I naturally gravitate toward, light and fast.
After riding my Capra I realized things have changed. This bike has a touch of magic about it. It is unbelievably versatile. It is a true do it all bike. To change between Xc and DH all you need to do is change the tyres and flip the levers on the fork and shock.
Even on tame or pedally climb heavy trails It feels as good or better than my Superlight.
Obviously a 29er hardtail would be better for Xc. Obviously a full on DH bike would be better for World Cup DH tracks.
But still you could do both on the capra and it would still be fun and make a better job of both extremes than any bike I have tried. I have tried quite a lot.
I'm not the sort of person to big something up just because I have bought it. I bought an intense once and I hated it and told everyone that. Sold it after two months.
I bought my Capra thinking if I don't like it I will just put the bits on a Santa Cruz frame and out it. I didn't it's great.
Best Eva!

*peoples definitions of what constitutes 'xc' and 'dh' may vary (wildly).

Going back to the start, I'm not sure I get how crashing your bike (repeatedly) it seems, means you need to just have the one. I'd have thought as a serial crasher you'd be better off with having a few...

Really!!! I would have thought that most people would know the difference between Xc and DH.
I consider places that Xc races are held to be Xc type riding and similar terrain to that should be considered Xc. Gorrick venues are what I would call good Xc. I realize that more boring Xc exists.
I consider places where DH races are held to be DH riding and simiar terrain to be DH

Rorschach is being a pedant, i know what you meant....i currently ride a Ragley Piglet with 140mm forks, 2 x 10 drivetrain and 26 inch wheels as my do-it-all bike, why?...because it does it all (for me!)...just this week i have taken it to BPW for an uplift day, i will be racing in the FoD Mini-DH in the next month or so and i potter about the woods on what i would call XC type territory all the time (QECP, Cesars Camp, Tunnel Hill, Surrey Hills, Swinley etc)...the bulk of the time it's the choice of tyres not the bike that makes it suitable for one particular type of riding or not....obviously somebody else might hate my choice of bike and deem it unrideable for their needs as a do-it-all machine.

At race level DH and XC you obviously need a dedicated bike for the job in hand (if you have any kind of ambition), nobody is going to come through the XC ranks on a 170mm Capra no matter how good they are and likewise nobody is going to be breaking through on the British DH series aboard a 29er HT....but for most of us on here who ride fairly middling terrain that is neither of these extremes there are actually a multitude of bikes out there suitable for use as a do-it-all bike....ideally i'd probably have one of those Grapil frames going cheap on the other thread, 140mm forks and a 120mm frame seems about right for most of my riding most of the year, that is about as close to perfect as i've seen for some time (price included as that's an attractive part of the draw in this instance).

I like being a pedant!!
Beats being a @%?*& (there's no rule that says I can't aspire to being both)

Looks like the Trance is a goer. £1650 for rolling chassis, including pike rct3 and a decent set of wheels...which is basically the same price as many 140+ frames tbh. Seems a no brainer.

Any one after or interested in a PYGA, there are some fantastic deals to be had at the moment!

Really!!! I would have thought that most people would know the difference between Xc and DH.
I consider places that Xc races are held to be Xc type riding and similar terrain to that should be considered Xc. Gorrick venues are what I would call good Xc. I realize that more boring Xc exists.
I consider places where DH races are held to be DH riding and simiar terrain to be DH

The Golfie trails are still XC, steep'ish XC, but XC.