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Alright you lot. A friend is looking at a new frame and had pretty much decided on an Alpine 160. But his head's been turned by the rather good deals on Titus El Guapo - which looks like a bloody lovely frame
So he's looking for opinions from owners as to what they're like to live with? Its going to be used for pretty much everything in this country, including trips to the Alps.
Annd size-wise would he be looking at a medium or large at 5'11". He like to chuck bikes around
Your opinions please oh STW wise ones.
Also: does anyone know if On One have demo bikes available, for any chance of trying before he buys?
I have an Alpine and am 5.10 and a bit. Forget the naysayers who talk about the bulk of an Alpine - it (and I) climbs absolutely fine. I would ideally have had a 17.5 frame (which doesn't exist) as on occasion the 18 feels a smidgen large for me.
5'11" here and ride an 18" alpine, which fits me perfectly. I use it mostly for DH and messing around. It's my favourite bike of the many I've had and have no intention of changing it.
I've got an 18" Alpine and love it. I've just got rid of the DH and XC bike due to space. It handle the DH side of things marvellously and seems really balanced on the ground and in the air. I've managed to pedal it up some stuff to and I don't seem any slower than on the smaller lighter bike( but then I'm not a very fast or motivated uphiller). Only prob with climbing is the front tends to lift and wander on really steep stuff while sitting. It was brilliant in France this year.
They're also not as loud as I was led to believe on here (only time it's noisy is when braking hard over really rough stuff - so I just got in the habit of braking less).
Unfortunately I've not ridden the El Guapo so can't compare.
Pay the extra and get the Reverb though - wish I had
For some balance, I've got an EG and it's great. 6'4" on a large, but it's *just* big enough.
FWIW even if price wasn't an issue, i'd rather have the titus. But then I'm not a fan of the way single pivots ride.
Oh yeah, I'm 5'11" and ride the 18" one, and it's fine for up and down with a 50mm stem
He needs a medium Guapo not a large.
It's not made in Halifax but is available in Orange.
I thought that'd be the case, size-wise Brant
Do you have any test bikes available? You've got me bloody looking at them now!! The raw looks luuuurverly
Ive almost clicked buy a good few times over the past week. I want that raw guapo desperately.
Surely it has to be the El Guapo, the Alpine is pretty much three times the price! That extra £1100 buys a lot of very nice parts to hang off it. Or alternatively, a nice hardtail to go with it!
5'10", got a small 16" Alpine as I like 22.5" TTs. Brilliant bike, best Ive had, better than the Nomad it replaced, especially at climbing.
Not ridden a Guapo but they are a hell of a lot of bike for the money, esp with the CCDBAir (Alpine with CCDB is, what, £1900 which is a massive premium over the Guapo).
What, pictures of it you say? 😀 (and yes thats a CCDB)
top station descent, Kerala, India
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lunch stop, Verbier
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hunting shade in Spain
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Not an El Guapo..but I've got a rockstar and it's very well made and rides great...and was CHEEEEAAAP!!!!
Which is nice... 😀
Not an owner, but I've demoed the Alpine and the previous version of the El Guapo. The Alpine is more of a mini DH bike, while the El Guapo leaned towards the big-XC end of trail riding. It climbed very well and I thought the suspension was a bit more involving than the Spesh version of FSR (I rode it back to back with an Enduro). With the slacker head angle and longer top tube on the new version it should be more aggressive, I'm quite tempted by it myself.
El Guapo = it's a COOL bike get one!!!