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My brother is shopping around for a new trail bike. He’s a pretty keen rider but not really savvy on all the tech / specs etc - just likes a nice bike to ride and keeps it a long time. He’s asked for my advice because I’m more geeky about that stuff than he is, and obviously I’ve done some research on all the usual sites, but it’s always good to ask for some real world experience and comparisons on here too.
His requirements are for a capable all rounder. Mainly used for natural riding around Hebden way and trail centres, but capable for the odd trip to bigger stuff re BPW and maybe even abroad. Budget between 3-5k but preferably nearer the lower end.
When I was looking for the same requirements a few years ago I settled on the Stumpjumper 14, but he is not keen on the new one.
These are his favourites based on what I’ve suggested he look at so far:
Ibis Ripley (possibly too pricey, not loads of reviews)
Santa Cruz Tallboy (current favourite but waiting on money so probably missed the good deals at Stif)
Santa Cruz Hightower (interested but maybe too much bike for 90% of his riding)
Trek Top Fuel
Cotic Flaremax or Jeht (probably not as he wants a lifetime warranty on the frame)
has anyone ridden and / or compared any of the above for some real world feedback? Any other strong contenders? He’d prefer carbon but would consider all materials with good warranty.
cheers!
I don't have one/haven't ridden one - but if I was buying now, it'd nearly definitely be a Epic 8 Evo.
i've got the previous top fuel, great for most stuff.... the new one is even more capable being able to run 140/130 officially..although i would suggest looking at the actual spec on the models to make sure it suits, for example the stock xr4s on mine are great for most trail riding, but i lose confidence in them when it gets wet and natural/ steep steep. But at 140/130 and the next tyre up (if you like) i feel it would be 100% my all rounder. That being said, i do prefer my bigger bike as im a distinctly average rider when it comes to stuff on the limit of my skill set
But, my Top Fuel is very much a favorite
If I'm allowed a stealth ad of sorts, I'm selling an Evil Following MB. 140mm front, 125mm rear, I've used it for everything from adventure races and XC to some steeper enduro stuff at Glentress.
With the budget he's got, he'd be able to pick something like that up new, or something like a Transition Smuggler, or the upper end of the Canyon Spectral ranges.
I was looking for a similar bike at the end of last summer and narrowed it down to Transition Spur, Specialized Epic Evo, Mondraker Raze and a Tallboy
I ended up going for the raze as it seemed like the best all rounder. The Spur was a close second but I could get the Mondraker locally and for a few hundred quid less with a better spec. The Tallboy's spec put me off though and I felt that the epic evo was a bit too xc focussed for what I wanted.
It depends what you mean by capable (this is definitely at the Hightower end) but Bird's 160/160 Aeris AM has a light frame and would be South of £4k with Deore.
used for natural riding around Hebden way
The steep/gnarly stuff? Or more XCish?
Thanks for the ideas so far.
To clarify a few things, probably thinking more a light trail bike than a beefed up xc bike if that makes sense. He’s got an xc hardtail for easier rides, so doesn’t need an Epic sort of bike - more a Ripley / tallboy class of bike. I am aware there is some crossover and it’s a bit blurry. To narrow it down a bit, I guess 130-140mm rear and 130-150mm front travel.
@cha****ng - not 100% as don’t usually ride with him there (it’s his local stuff) but from pictures he’s sent me it’s mixture of both.
@pyro - thanks but he’s keen to get a long warranty and buy new.
I ride Hebden most weeks - the steep stuff. Couldn't recommend an Orbea Occam LT highly enough - 160/150 mm carbon bike easy to pedal but nice and lively on the descents. Handles trips to BPW and Dyfi just fine so long as you aren't hitting the huge stuff.
5010 is very fun and capable. Pedals super well if you switch out the stock tyres, which most reviews don't. Quite a few more deals on the 5010 than Tallboy.
I'd caveat the warranty though. The frame may have a lifetime warranty, but the parts certainly don't. I'm very unimpressed by the Reverb dropper and DT 370 self-dissasembling hubs. A Cotic specced out with Hope parts will probably last a lot longer.
Atherton A130 - have seen builds down at 27 lbs or less. I've a Ripley v3 LS with 140 air shaft and a -1 angleset so HA of a smidge under 66 degrees. Very capable and light enough for long rides taking in everything form bridleways to enduro/dh descents
I reckon he wants a long-travel trail (all mountain) bike that pedals well then.
Canyon Spectral is well reviewed and nicely priced.
YT Jeffsy similar, and discounted at the mo, but that 65deg head angle makes it virtually unrideable 😉
If I was looking for a trail bike at the moment it'd be very hard to look beyond a GT sensor at £2k. It's a bit ugly but has a carbon frame and excellent kit, with room in the budget for a very high spec wheelset.
https://www.rmcycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/gt-sensor-carbon-pro-le-sea-green-2024__23304
In terms of bang for your buck it's hard to look past the Scott Spark MY2024 offers that are available, I recently bought one of these: https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/scott-spark-st-910-mountain-bike-2024-in-black__43775
I've only ridden it once so far so can't really give my own opinion of it but reviews are generally positive (although most are for MY22/23 versions with different specs., I think the 140mm fork on the MY24 version is a decent improvement on those if you want more towards the trail side than XC side of things).
Balfe's also have what looks to be identical spec. one but it's £350 more, that version actually has the newer T-type mech and was a mid-year refresh (for me it wasn't worth paying the extra for but might be for your brother for more future-proofing /shrug).
I am changing out the front tire on mine (from a Dissector to a Minion DHF) as even just on the one ride I've done I wasn't a fan (and reading about it after it seem like it works well if you're riding aggressively and leaning the bike a lot, I wasn't/don't so found it a bit vague and wanderery)
Edit: Just noticed your update about longer travel - I still think the Spark fits well but they also have bargains on the Genius though if longer travel really is wanted. Personally I wanted to stick with shorter travel for trail centre blue/red and natural trails for now and get an eMTB with longer travel later...
Easy one from me. V5 Tallboy.
From the initial post I was going to suggest (in true STW recommend what you have style) a Tallboy, but later post clarifying:
probably thinking more a light trail bike than a beefed up xc bike if that makes sense. He’s got an xc hardtail for easier rides, so doesn’t need an Epic sort of bike - more a Ripley / tallboy class of bike. I am aware there is some crossover and it’s a bit blurry. To narrow it down a bit, I guess 130-140mm rear and 130-150mm front travel.
suggests a 5010 might be a better choice for a teensy bit more travel. Mullet but not necessarily an issue.
Saying that, I've got a robust build on my Tallboy 5 and it's immense fun and belies the 140 / 120 travel. Factory DPX2 shock and Mezzer Pro might be overkill but the bike works well with them. 15.1kg XXL CC frame, inc pedals, mudhugger, etc but can clearly be built lighter with a more typical build and in a non-gargantuan size.
Thanks all, I’ll pass on the suggestions.
I have just built a high spec sub 13kg Revel Rascal which may fit the brief. Total cost under £2k. Frame was a couple of years old but almost as new.
Another vote for the tallboy. Had mine a year now and ride it 90% of the time in the peaks. It’s ask the bike I need even on the steeper win hill trails. Works well with either a 130 or 140 fork