[Closed] Too many options - Which trail bike?

quick and responsive as well as a good climber.

you need a Turner Flux 😉

If money is an issue (seems not as you have a zesty quoted) you could try a trance. Essentially a flux/5spot but half the price.

Commencal AM, would have one in a heartbeat.

I've no idea if this bike is any good, the reviews say it is. . .

lot of bike for the money and fit for purpose, . and looks gorgeous
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=65165 ]Hei Hei, shamowww[/url]

Mate o mine has the Camber and loves it, sounds like it would suit you spot on to.

I'd consider an AM, but it's

a) a glorified single pivot, though with the weight nice and low this means it's a low single pivot, so I don't know how well it would take square edged hits

b) ludicrous shock placement - I saw one at Llandegla last Aunday and the shock was literally caked in grit, oil and mud and on every compression this was being forced into it. You'd need to rebuild it once every like three rides.

I ride mainly trails (not a downhiller) and love a bike to be quick and responsive as well as a good climber

hardtail.

If i was forced to have only one mtb, i would aim for a lightish full susser - but i would be aware that it was always compromised, right up till i built a hardtail for riding and a proper susser for fun.

Might be worth adding the Trek Fuel EX to your list.

+1 for the Trek Fuel EX. I recently bought a 2nd hand 2008 EX9 and am loving it as an all rounder.

I currently ride a Specialized Rockhopper which I love but it's time to move to a full sus bike. I ride mainly trails (not a downhiller) and love a bike to be quick and responsive as well as a good climber.

The options in my head are:

Specialized Camber Expert
lapierre Zesty 314
Mondraker Tracker RR
Ghost AMR 5900

I know bike choice is subjective but does anyone know if any of these have obvious flaws or can anyone make a recomendation?

Thanks,

TC

I've ridden all of those bar the mondraker, which I can't comment own and I own a ghost amr. The zesty is a bit more than a trail bike imo. The camber and the amr are very similar but without knowing what model your looking at, and what damper it has it's still hard to make a real comparison. The damping on the amr is better than some bikes at more than twice the price.

The Meta AM is very far away from what the op has described. It's incredibly long, low and slack. No trail bike.

+1 for Fuel EX8. I had one for 2 years and loved it

Budget?

As an alternative. I also had a rockhopper which i built light to 22lb and it was more responsive than my stock Stumpy on trails. I then switched to a Soul. Even more responsive but could cope with more rough stuff.

another +1 for Trek Fuel

Sure you need a full sus, wh not a more capable hardtail?

Geometry/bike layout>>>>>>>a bit of suspension.

jimjam - Member
The Meta AM is very far away from what the op has described. It's incredibly long, low and slack. No trail bike.

Meta SL 8)

If you mainly ride trails and not any downhill you really don't need one. If i had the spare cash to have 2 bikes I would get a slacker hard tail for riding trails, something like a ragley piglet and if I had more spare cash I would buy a Ti version. If your getting one because you [i]want[/i] one then buy which ever one you like the look of and can afford because none of them will benifit you for riding on trails.

Orange 5? Does everything.

Really? Explain the bullshit then and give us your exerience on riding a hardtail and a full sus and why you would need more than a trail HT for riding trails?

Define "trails".

It depends where you ride really. Up here in the lakes you can get away with a hardtail, but if you're riding round Swinley forest then I believe a mid/long travel AM bike is what you need. I imagine its fairly rough there.

the full suss is heavier than a hardtail, there is much more to go wrong/wear out. Common misconception is that its 'better' and as its more expensive, its an 'upgrade' - that is (marketing) BS.

I love riding my full susser, really wouldnt want to be without it, but its not for all day everyday and if i was sticking with one mtb it would be a hardtail as its just as versatile as a light/mid full suss trail bike, but its cheaper and more reliable.

The OP wants to upgrade from an oldish Rockhopper - my suggestion is to splash out on a very good HT rather than an average FS, which i think he will come to regret.

OP wants advice, thats mine. Ignore it, what does it matter to me.

Hi somebody give xiphon a shout for me i want to buy the rear shock. Regards John

Don't know (or didn't look properly)about size required, but I have a size L 2011 Specialized Camber Expert for sale c/w Command post.
Excellent (immaculate?) condition, brought it for the F/S itch that didn't need scratching after all. Am in suffolk if any help.
Apologies for being cheeky and butting in.
J.

Jesus wept. Some guy starts a thread seeking advice on what full sus to buy and people start telling him he doesn't need one.

+1, but hardly unexpected on here.

The OP might possibly know what he wants/needs better than a load of internet bossyboots, eh?

All options should be considered, hardtail or full sus, whatever.

The Op may have assumed a FS is the "right" thing to do without considering that all hardtaila aren't equal.

uhh, no!

No wonder there are so many lurkers on here, when a simple request for some advice turns into this kind of slanging match.

Perhaps the chap doesn't "need" a full sus, but maybe he just "wants one".

I don't have any experience of the bikes listed, but the Camber always seems to get glowing reports and if it rides anything like my Stumpjumper you wouldn't go far wrong with one of those. As mentioned I would also consider a Giant Trance & a Trek Fuel EX.
Have you ridden many full sus bikes? Perhaps try and demo a couple and see what floats your boat.

Wow people, I think I have started something here, thanks for all your comments. The main reason for me wanting a full sus bike is that the last time I rode one it gave me more confidence as a rider to push myself/the bike. Yes i know, this is in my head but that is usually what makes the difference from being able to achieve something or not.

My local riding spot is the South Downs and Queen Elizabeth country park but I also like to make it to Wales every now and again. My last trip I did a reasonable job of keeping up with all the full sus riders I went with but was a lot more beaten up by the end of the run (yeah i know could be my riding style 🙂 )

To the guys who say i don't need a full sus, I understand where you are coming from, I have ridden a hardtail for over 20 years and raced for 10 of those and really love the agility, speed and lightness of them.

As I have got a bit older I need a bit of comfort 😉

There is quite a bit of support for the Trek and am off to a bike shop this afternoon so will have a look at one, Cheers everyone.

+1 Giant trance! Its the best all rounder for the price.

HE STARTED IT DAD! 😛 (thats a joke for those that don't recognise a smiley face that's laughing)

Hey tobster, didn't mean to offend just offering some advise and your wording [i]seemed[/i] to imply a HT could not be compared to a FS just suggesting you might consider a more trail orintated HT instead of opting for a full sus as I personally feel up grading to a better hard tail [i]could be[/i] a better option. In my opinion neither of those bikes offer anything over the others in their intended use.

Going back to the question, i can recommend the speshi camber expert, got mine a month ago in the sales awesome bike! only have 2 snags with mine, one is the brake bleed it was awful, saying that its been back twice to the lbs and is still no better, keep being told thats avids for you! and the second thing is the brakes again. The one lever is mis-shaped and still arguing with the LBS over a replacement they claim its functional but its clearly bent.

Other than that its an awsome bike, climbs really well and downhill its just amazing but thats compared to my previous bike.

Other bikes worth looking at is the Canyon Nerve XC range, almost about to order a female specific for my OH they seem great value, if a little too good to be true, if the OH one comes through ok, will be going for 29er before christmas!

Except the 'bit of comfort' part perhaps? Opinions eh? Like ars*h*les....

gmandavison, no offense taken ha ha, suspension helps to keep my false teeth in over the rough stuff.

LMT, got myself a test ride on the Camber this weekend 🙂 Will question the shop about the brakes, no doubt they will say they are fine, thanks for sharing your experience.

Ive done the old, rubber band around the brake levers, and left them overnight, actually i forgot about them until 10 mins ago and all is good!! Although i still have a bent brake lever, but can live with that.

I couldn't test ride the expert, they only had a comp in my size, tbh i almost brought the comp over the expert but i weighed up the upgrades etc and the expert for me is the way to go.

I ride cannock alot, which is fairly flat but due to my age and braking bumps always end up with back ache towards the end of the ride, with the speshi nothing no aches or anything, was a complete first for me in a long time.

Hi Torbster,

I've got a Trek Fuel EX and can say it's the best trail bike I've ever ridden. It helps with comfort and control whenever I'm on it and my confidence has grown massively through this bike. Yes I've tried others too including a Spec stumpy, a Turner 5 spot but I wouldn't swap my Trek for either to be fair.

I hope you make an informed choice and please post a picture one you've purchased, just make sure your fence/garden is in check first...

I ride a Trance, used to have a Remedy and a long travel hardtail. Have ridden NomadC, FuelEX, Stumpy EVO, Camber, Scratch and assorted shorter travel hardtails. A bit of everything.

I used to live in the South Downs (nearer brighton) and now live in wales. I would be uncomfortably hindered on anything longer travel than the trance or fuel ex, that's all my advice.

If you plan to take it on big mountain days in europe, to the alps or italy or whatever, then get a bigger bike.

And if the confidence a fs gives you makes you have more fun, tell everyone else to go suck it.

And if the confidence a fs gives you makes you have more fun, tell everyone else to go suck it.

+1 for this attitude 😉

I test rode a few bikes & settled on the Camber, had it over a year, it's a great bike.

I think with the bikes you've picked you'll be happy with whatever you pick..

[i]My last trip I did a reasonable job of keeping up with all the full sus riders I went with but was a lot more beaten up by the end of the run (yeah i know could be my riding style )[/i]

tbh An alloy HT is probably the worse case scenario, but a short-travel FS should do the job, or a more 'exotic' HT (carbon/Ti/fancy steel).

Canyon Nerve? There's a new carbon framed version that looks very nice, good price too.

EDIT: Under £2400 for a full carbon frame, full XT and a Reverb with hidden hose

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2753

I'm going to do what most do and recommend the bike I've (well, the OH) got - Camber. Had a Trance myself but sold it to get a Pitch as I just [i]need[/i] all six inches of travel for the gnarr that is Surrey. Missus has a Camber though, which I've <cough> borrowed on a fair few occasions and it's just a fun, playful bike that always seemed to be capable of taking on far more than I thought.

As others have said, if FS gives you the confidence to ride more stuff and as a consequence you have more fun then screw the naysayers - tis why I have one!

Had a Trance myself but sold it to get a Pitch as I just need all [b]six inches[/b] of travel [b]for[/b] the gnarr that is [b]Surrey[/b]

[img] [/img]

😉

There was a smidge of tongue-in-cheek there, in case anyone missed it...

Zesty

Transition Bandit 😀

+1 for a Canyon Nerve.

I bought one over an EX8. Both are good bikes, but I went with the canyon as it seemed much better value (ie spec) for similar money. Down side obviously is not being able to try before you buy, but they do have a returns policy.

+1 for giant trance here too,fantastic bike that soaks up all the bumps and still climbs very well. However mine is currently awaiting replacement after the frame developed a hairline crack on a weld,(after only 9 months) so id only buy a new one as to get the warranty.

2nd shout for Transition Bandit.

Transition Bandit

and I thought this was a personal dig at me 🙂 These are new to me, will check them out. Cheers.

It appears that popular consensus is the Fuel, I have just also been strongly recommended the Norco Sight 2 and see this won trail bike of the year. Any experience of these out there?

These will be my next test rides.

Cheers.

torbster - Member

It appears that popular consensus is the Fuel, I have just also been strongly recommended the Norco Sight 2 and see this won trail bike of the year. Any experience of these out there?

The Norco is a great bike, just be mindful of the fact that it's 140mm with a relatively slack head angle. The previous models were 120mm and felt very much like the old 120mm spesh stumpjumper/camber/ghost amr, unsurprisingly.

Speaking in huge, sweeping generalities, a 120mm bike will be a bit more sprightly and engaging on single track than a 140mm counterpart. You may find that a typical 140mm bike, out of the box will feel a bit slower, possibly a bit heavier than a simialarly priced 120mm bike, but these can usually be overcome with set up or component choice.

All round trail bike with the minimum of foibles = Trek EX
More efficiency = Giant Trance
You like to feel you suspension moving = Specialized
Live in the North - Orange 5
Smug factor of owning something slightly niche but generally avaialble = Turner Flux

Combo of all = Yeti ASR5. 😀

Thanks Jimjam, I was concerned about the 140mm travel but the reviews say this is not too much of an issue on this bike (Norco), apparently very capable and quick through single track, only a test ride will tell I guess.

Kryton57, a Yeti, I wish, years ago I owned a Yeti ARC, loved that bike.

b) ludicrous shock placement - I saw one at Llandegla last [u]A[/u]unday and the shock was literally caked in grit, oil and mud and on every compression this was being forced into it.

Classic STW thread, would tell anyone new to this site everything they need to know. Never post a thread asking for an opinion on A, B & C , the answer will always be that fixie steel rigid bike from the 90s that you didnt realise you wanted.

Have to agree that "trails" needs defining though 😉

"Over Biked & Proud"

I prefer to be under-biked, . . it's more fun, more challenging on the downs and a damn site easier on the ups. IMHO

Wrong. It's not more challenging on the downs just slower. Really.
Edit; underbiked is only better if the trails aren't particularly good.

Wrong. It's not more challenging on the downs just slower. Really.

wooooh with the big tar brush . . .

i don't think you realise quite how good a bike handler I really am . . . 😆

Erm...this [i]is[/i] STW. That's the way things are done here. 😉

I'd go try a fuel Ex. They really are great bikes, up and down.
I don't own one but a few friends do and they're really great little bikes. I wasn't so keen on the spesh camber at all.

I've recently gone from a santa cruz heckler to a rockhopper as i'd gone from biking a lot to never biking and then the dog got old enough to come with me and now I go 3/4 times a week and have gone back to a full suss and gone for my first zesty the 314 but the womens version. Absolutely love it! Climbs brilliantly for a bike of its weight and descends very well too. Dont plan on ever getting another bike but if you do get one save a bit more money because soon you'll need a new headset and bottom bracket as the supplied ones are worse than rubbish.

Kryton57 - Member
All round trail bike with the minimum of foibles = Trek EX
More efficiency = Giant Trance
You like to feel you suspension moving = Specialized
Live in the North - Orange 5
Smug factor of owning something slightly niche but generally avaialble = Turner Flux

Combo of all = Yeti ASR5.

Great, I'm going to swap to an Orange Five then. Nah, actually I think I can pick one up for not much.

Glad that Trek Fuel got the vote so far, my favorite in 20 years of riding : 🙂

Tbh the Trek was second on my list only by virtue I got the ASR for the same price as the Trek (ex demo). Otherwise I'd be riding the Trek now!

Has anybody mentioned a Lappierre X Flow? May just be the ticket.

giant anthem / trance, mint

giant anthem / trance, mint

My answer to every thread like this, get a Blur TRc, best trail bike ever*

* in my opinion, opinion my vary

Actually I have to disagree with all of the suggestions for a Fuel EX. The dual chamber design makes tuning the rear shock a ****ing NIGHTMARE (I had a remedy with the DCRV). Either too little air and it's nice on chatter, but as soon as chamber 2 opens BOOM bottom out, or enough to get midstroke support once the second chamber opens and it feels like a hardtail.

The dual chamber design makes tuning the rear shock a **** NIGHTMARE

Cheers Continuity, I have read that this can be a bit fiddly.

All, I have set my sights on the Norco, the trouble is the Sight 2 is no longer available and if it is Evans are not going to drop the price as with their other models as the bike is in demand. Contemplating the Sight 3, same frame just without XT but hey group sets can be upgraded..

I wouldn't be put off by the DRCV shock myself, it's really easy to get working great on the 2012 Fuel EX. Probably the best air suspension I've ridden actually.

I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the Fuel EX when I test rode one. Nor were the two mate who were riding with me that day. I booked a Fuel EX9 & a Stumpjumper FSR to test. The FSR widdled all over the Fuel EX IMO.
It went up stuff better, down stuff better, gripped better, gave me loads more confidence & we spent ages trying to get the suspension to work how we thought it should on the EX, but it just felt really harsh all the time. We didn't do anything to the suspension on the Stumpjumper, but it just seemed to get on with it.

Also wanted to try a Zesty but nearest demo bike was ~300 miles away!

Zesty is fsr, so.

I have to agree to an extent that a "knowable" suspension design with a good shock and tune will easily outperform a ludicrous gimmick on the shock or suspension. It's part of the reason Orange bikes are so popular, is that it's very easy to tune suspension for them.

Feel your pain
I Recently replaced my 06-07 stumpy fsr comp
Demo'd loads of different bikes and in the end the whyte t120s and stumpy were the clear
Favourites, also had a trance x2 on loan whilst my neighbour was offshore

Decided on a stump evo comp in the end as I wanted a bigger bike
For light dh / and harder riding

I'd have been happy with any of the 3 bikes above
Good luck

I think a lot of the bikes mentioned are in fact pretty similar- the important thing IMHO is getting the suspension set up right for you. Some bikes this seems dead easy, others its a little harder. Buy one that fits and take the time to properly set up both fork and shock and it'll be brill 🙂

I'll say simply this; I was in the exact same position as you last year and settled for the Lapierre Zesty 314 (2011 model) on a recomendation.

650 off-road miles later in the Scottish Highlands, and I can honestly say it has been superb! It climbs, drops, and has taken everything I have thrown at it on the chin.

It's a year old next month, and only now starting to show any signs of wear (about to replace rear casette, chain, front ring, and service the shock and forks).

I use a Saracen Ariel 140mm for everything, by some standards on here its fairly crude....bit heavy, single pivot design etc....but its bombproof, it soaks up my ham fisted attempts as DH and Gravity Enduro but also allows me to pootle about for several hours cross county on a relaxing sunday afernnon....i love it, its a keeper.

If you can still find the original 2011 batch bikes they are also gobsmackingly cheap, you wont find a bad review on them either:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/38720/Saracen_Ariel_2_Bike_2011

£1300 quid for this bike!.....i paid £1500 at the start of this year, i can see them going for close to a grand by the years end....superb and highly recommended.

OP, haven't read he whole thread but two comments (sorry that they are a bit cliched)

1. There are very few BAD bikes out there, at least among well known brands
2. Horses-for-courses - I have demo-ed bikes that have great followings but feel like wheelbarrows to me and vice versa. There really is no substitute for trying.

The last demo day I did highlighted the incredible range of opinions on the same bikes on the same runs! The only one that achieved a consensus was the Spesh camber which everyone liked. Otherwise there were two very distinct camps - those who suited a more XC style set up and those who suited a more trail/AM version.

I was surprised to find that where I fitted in, was the opposite of what I thought! So the message about demoing is clear for me.

Good luck with the purchase!

Scott Genius does everything well, no need to look at any other bike.

The normal thing to do is to just buy one based on a kneejerk uninformed preference, then convince yourself it's definately the best bike in the world, and way better than all those bikes you've never ridden.