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I have recently come into a bit of money from the passing of a distant relative, so in the fortunate position of being able to consider a new bike.
My current FS is a Swarf Contour (115mm travel, running with a slackset and 150mm Pike). I love the bike, and may still keep it ... depends partly on what type of new bike I end up getting.
My riding is mostly local XC tech (my SS HT is actually the most fun/responsive/most used bike locally), with a couple of enduro-y spots within reach. Plus, more occasionally, bigger Lakes trips, days out in the Peak. A couple of Enduros each year (Boltby Bash/Ard Rock) that I can get down, albeit slowly (bottom 10%)
So, trying to decide whether I need a 'trail' bike (130-150 travel), or an AM bike (150/160) travel.
Trail bike pros & cons:
- probably enough bike for me to cover all the riding I do.
- would probably be fine as just 1 FS bike. I'd probably sell the Swarf, and perhaps invest in a nicer HT (which is another whole potential thread!)
- but, in reality, is it any lighter, perkier etc than a good AM bike?
AM bike pros & cons:
- more capable for the bigger/steeper/techier stuff I ride (albeit more rarely)
- would likely keep the Swarf, but invest a bit in making it a bit lighter/faster-rolling, 'down-country +'type of bike
- but? Too much bike for most of my riding? Too capable/wallowy/hard work for 'just riding along?
Not sure about budget, but probably £4/£5k.
Top of the 'want' list for the trail bike would be the new Transition Smuggler, but their current prices/spec don't represent very good value.
Top of the 'want' list for an AM bike is the new Bird Aeris AM. On paper, it looks like it could be a sub-14kg capable bike that doesn't rob the fun out of ordinary riding. But, no reviews or demos available yet.
So, help me decide what kind of bike I want. And let me have some suggestions in each category for me to ponder, research and maybe demo further.
Modern trail bikes are incredibly capable and perfect for what you describe IMO
My pal bought a Trek Slash recently and is raving about it. It is a good looking bike. He uses for local trails and enduro type trails. There are incredible discounts about for them as the new version is coming out.
I'd be very tempted by the discounted Santa Cruz 5010's atm, especially the CC XO1 with Fox Factory with your budget.
https://www.stifmtb.com/collections/santa-cruz-5010
I wouldn't usually look at SC but they're hard to ignore at that price IMO.
OP - I’m in a similar situation to you. I’ve gone from a YT Jeffsy (140/140) to a Stumpjumper Evo (160/150). I also have a gravel/commuter bike as well.
My Stumpjumper Evo is set up quite burly at the moment with a heavy wheelset and Cushcore pro in both tyres. I’ve just done 50km around Dalby. Yes I’d have been less tired on a lighter bike or a hardtail, but I still had fun.
I’m going to get rid of my Jeffsy, which is currently sitting in my garage as a spare bike, and replace it with something else, and at the moment I’m vacillating between a FS downcountry (Epic Evo) and buying a rowdy hardtail frame and transferring the parts from the Jeffsy across.
The reason I say that I think we’re in a similar situation is that we’re both considering how much of an overlap there is between an all-mountain/mini enduro bike and a short travel trail/downcountry bike?
You’ve already mentioned that for most of your local riding, you use your hardtail. I think that if you got either a trail or an all mountain bike, that would not change. Hardtails are cheaper, less faff, and easier to maintain. They’re also good for Peaks and a lot of the Lake District riding.
So whichever type of bike you decide to get, you’re very likely to keep the hardtail. So to reduce the amount of overlap/duplication in your garage, you’re likely to get rid of the Swarf. To me, unless you have a very specific use case for one, or you’re n+1ing, there’s too much crossover between a short travel trail bike and either a FS trail bike, or an all-mountain/mini enduro bike?
So the question then becomes, which of those types of bikes (trail or AM) best compliments your hardtail? Or in my case, which type of bike best compliments my AM/mini-enduro bike?
The point I’m getting to is that IMV a hardtail and an AM/mini-enduro compliment each other very well and are most likely to get the most use. That means for me, the best solution is to get a hardtail frame suitable for a 140mm fork and transfer the parts across.
So for you buy the AM bike, sell the Swarf and upgrade your hardtail.
Or if you’re dead set on keeping the Swarf, then put shorter forks on it, sell the hardtail, and buy a full on Enduro (170mm +) bike.
@Kramer ... lots of good points there!
Re. The Swarf, its a lovely looking and riding bike, and pretty rare/unique. Also, now is not a great time to be selling. But, I also agree, not sure I need 2 FS bikes.
My HT is a Ragley BigWig, currently set up SS. It's a bit tired & battered, the fork in particular ideally needs replacing. I do have a Ti HT itch to scratch ... 🤔.
Still leaves the question of whether AM-enduro-lite ... or Trail.
If you’re dead set on keeping the Swarf, and the reasons you give are good, then if you’re also dead set on buying another full suspension, then I’d say the bigger the better to compliment the Swarf.
BTW, the Swarf, to me, looks like it would hold its value, better than most mass produced bikes.
Cotic currently have £500 off their FS bikes. A Jeht would be my choice for a do it all trail bike.
I have an Aeris AM frame+shock on order to potentially replace or augment my current 'one bike' an Aether 9c.
I love the 9c, especially descending, but sometimes I think I want more travel, and other times such as climbing or South Downs rambling a I think I'd like something a bit sprightlier.
At the grand age of 50 I find I'm turning into a bit of a princess - I don't even like locking out my shock - so I'm not interested in a HT.
What I'm getting at is that I think I want (hear me out) two FS bikes, one XC/DC and the other AM.
My plan is to swap the parts over from the 9c to the Aeris AM then see how I feel about a shorter/ligher frame to build up after that (or whether to go back to the 9c)
Looking at where you are now and thinking about where I am now, in your shoes I'd buy an AM bike and keep the Swarf but tame it a little.
Just got a reactor.
Some serious discounts on those at the moment
Cotic currently have £500 off their FS bikes. A Jeht would be my choice for a do it all trail bike.
Yeah. Not really in the market for steel I don't think. Of course, the Swarf is steel, rides very nicely. But I do notice the weight, and a bit of a lack of zip, and at my age (55), I too have a lack of zip! So if I can go lighter, and more capable, I may as well?
in your shoes I’d buy an AM bike and keep the Swarf but tame it a little.
Sure, I could tame the Swarf a bit, and take a bit of weight off, but not sure what advantage that gives me? It's about 14.7kg now, with Hunt Trail Wides, SLX, 2.5 DHF/2.4 Dissector. I could maybe get that down to 14kg and put some lighter/faster tyres on, but then, it's still the same weight/heavier than Bird are claiming for their upcoming Aeris AM.
I have actually put in a pre-order on the Bird frameset, which I'll turn into full build if I go down that route.
As I say, like the look of the Smuggler. But, price! And, if I got that, I'd probably end up upping the travel to 140mm, and would probably want a 150mm fork ... so, if I'm doing that, I may as well get the Bird?
Anyway, keep the suggestions coming ...
Sure, I could tame the Swarf a bit, and take a bit of weight off, but not sure what advantage that gives me?
Yeah, that's a good point. If you try it, I hope you have fun finding out 🙂
What I want is something that's more pedally (the 9c isn't especially so) but not rigid. Too much weight could dull the fun of that, but the Contour is so steely and gorgous that you must keep it!
i recently saw a new smuggler out on the trails, it didn’t look particularly interesting. inknow looks aren’t everything and that books shouldn’t be judged by their covers, but at that price, i’d like a bit of wow in a bike purchase.
beyond that i have no idea what to recommend. though i would say, if you keep your swarf, put it back to its original geometry, shorten the fork and fit some lighter wheels (if possible). that would be a great bike to sit between your ragley and a longer travel bike.
that said, i do like the look of the datum digit. no idea if it fits in your price range, though.
“My current FS is a Swarf Contour (115mm travel, running with a slackset and 150mm Pike). I love the bike”
Why buy a new bike? Ride the one you love! Keep/use the money for something else.
Drop the fork travel of your current Swarf down to 130mm, lighter carbon wheels, and run it as a light trail / downcountry bike.
Then complement with a burlier 150/160/170mm Lakes gnarpoon.
Why buy a new bike? Ride the one you love! Keep/use the money for something else.
Yeah. Good point.
I guess that it's a touch heavier than I'd like. And I wonder whether I might benefit from a bit more travel?
Part of the debate is whether I can do both, ie keep the Swarf, AND buy something bigger?
@benos - looks like you're going to be in a similar position to me, I love my Stumpy EVO, but want something nippier to compliment it.
My thinking behind a hard tail over a short travel trail bike is a) cheaper, b) ease of maintenance and c) makes a better bad weather bike.
@Kramer you’re right on all counts, and I really ought to spend some time on my son’s Nukeproof Scout to see if I’m as much of a princess as I think. But I find bike maintenance quite therapeutic, so I don’t mind having a wee bit more of that.
The Evo looks fab. How have you got it set up and do you change the geo options much?
Edit: sorry OP, but maybe you’re interested too.
@benos - I’ve currently got it set up high and steep for UK trail riding, because it’s nice and poppy like that. For bike parks I put it in low and slack, so it’s super stable at speed. For the Alps I have it high and middle to help me get it round technical Alpine switchbacks.
It really does feel like a different bike depending on how it’s configured, so I do end up swapping it around depending on where/what I’m using it for.
So ... moving the discussion on a little ... recommend some actual bikes in the Trail & AM categories ...
I'd like to not go too mainstream. So, probably not Trek, Specialised, Giant (definitely NOT Giant!). Carbon (or Titanium) would be cool. Needs to look good as well as ride well.
I’m convinced that apart from the pointy end of racing where milliseconds matter, weight is irrelevant to performance but changes the feel of a bike - and I’ve learnt I like how heavier bikes feel (within reason).
But in terms of what to recommend, it totally depends on what you want out of a new bike vs your Swarf. What’s it best at, what’s it worst at? What do you want the new bike to do best and what are you happy to compromise on?
I’d probably keep the swarf and get an e-bike
So … moving the discussion on a little … recommend some actual bikes in the Trail & AM categories …
Druid V2, Norco Optic, Merida 140, Rocky Altitude, Atherton?
I’d probably keep the swarf and get an e-bike
I've half entertained that idea. But not sure I'm ready for mobility-assistance, and certainly not ready for the reliability/warranty lottery. Anyway, the ebike option is a whole other debate, so let's keep that off this thread; if i change my mind, I'll start a different thread.