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Looking at getting my girlfriend a new big bike for general Scotland/Alpine duties - she's on a Reactor alloy at the minute that was bought to get her in to MTB - we got a trail bike to start her off on some mellow stuff so she wouldn't be overbiked initially. She's really taken to it - She's been doing Risca off piste, Golfie, Alpine off piste and Finale blacks on it really well now. As she's now got a BfeMAX for more pedally stuff she's looking at getting something a bit more descent focused to compliment that.
She's small - 165cm and barely weighs 50kg so I think a linear spring rate would be good as she'll struggle to get the most out of anything progressive. She gets on really well with her 29er BFeMAX but does buzz her bum off the saddle on it - this is only going to be worse on a big bike she's taking down steeper stuff hence why I think mullet is the way for her.
As I said in another thread she's going to demo a mulleted RocketMAX next week. Is there anything else that people could think of to consider alongside this?
Thanks in advance as ever.
Continue the Nukeproof journey with a Mega 297? https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-mega-297-comp-alloy-bike-deore/rp-prod202604
Cheers. We considered this, I messaged them about which brakes would come with the bike as we'd want shimano (all our other brakes are shimano so it just makes it easier for swapping pads and servicing) and they couldn't tell me which brakes it would come with until I opened the box. This just doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence if she's gonna spend that much money...
What's the budget? Full bike or are you going to swap over bits from the Reactor?
What’s the budget?
Absolutely this. The NP linked is under £3K, you'll get nowhere near a Cotic for that unless second hand. If the NP fits the bill then just sell and replace the brakes, if you're going to limit yourself to shimano then it's going to be a challenge as SRAM has a bigger share of the OEM market. I'd want better than a MoCo damper in the fork though.
Shame YT and Canyon don't seem to have stock. at the moment, YT have just done a sale and had some bargains.
My daughter is about the same size,I built up a small Jeht as a mullet with the recommended reversed angleset and CC DB air shock for her.
The size is spot on and she loves it, (not a light bike though).
I appreciate that its a trail bike and she's not (yet) riding the stuff your girlfriend is but hopefully useful input as to the RocketMax's fit.
Paul at Cotic's help was great as usual.
If the budget is 'generous' then I'm going recommend a Geometron G1. Yep. 😁
The smallest size they do has an effective top tube of 600mm, 1mm more than the Cotic in its's 170mm setting, so when pedalling it'll feel the same. G1's are great for tall people but they're fine for short people too!
And with the bike/frame, you get the expertise of the guys at Geometron who I can almost guarantee will be be able to get the suspension/geometry set up perfectly for her. That's worth a lot, especially for a light rider. The best bike in the world will ride like crap if it's not set up right. You'll get that service for years after too, I've just sent back my second spring to be swapped from a 350lb to a 400lb (alongside my 375lb) all for a few quid. Got some excellent tips/things to try on set up too. It'll do mullet/29er/27.5 all with a few swaps of bits too.
You are looking at £3300 for the frame and shock though.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-sommet-297-crs-mountain-bike
Under £3k (showing as £2,815 for me with 'platinum' discount), Zeb Select with the Charger RC, full 1x12 SLX inc 4-pot SLX brakes, Exo+ and DD tyres - fully Alps-ready spec that is. Small and medium left...
We looked around a lot last week for Mrs a11y, hence knowing these deals. Both Sommet and Mega were considered but ruled out as too much bike for her use. Ended up going for a second hand Highlander 140 instead, but they're 29er only - quite a few have come up for sale cheap as folk swapping up to the Claymore.
If the budget is ‘generous’ then I’m going recommend a Geometron G1. Yep. 😁
Thread yesterday had links to well-priced Nicolai frames on bike-discount.de...
Thanks all. If we can get her reactor plus a surly road bike that needs moved on I think we could get 4.5k together which is about right for a RocketMax with upgraded suspension and wheels, with cotic fitting some 4pot deores for us (if they're happy with us sourcing ourselves). But that sommets an awful lot cheaper...
a11 https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-sommet-297-crs-mountain-bike
Under £3k (showing as £2,815 for me with ‘platinum’ discount), Zeb Select with the Charger RC, full 1×12 SLX inc 4-pot SLX brakes, Exo+ and DD tyres – fully Alps-ready spec that is. Small and medium left…
That's really good - especially the tyres, you wouldn't get that kind of tyre spec on a lot of bikes three times the price ,and end up spending 60-100 quid on new ones.
£4.5K (well a bit less and you may also get one on sale) brings in the Mega Elite if you can get one in small. Carbon Frame, Fox Elite suspension, Shimano SLX and decent NP wheels and finishing kit.
From a practical perspective make sure it doesnt have Fox suspension. Like your wife mine is very light, a similar weight, and according to both TF and the Fox Service centre is outside their operating weight range for the forks in particular to work without having them completely custom valves. Its to do with a minimum air pressure in the negative chamber. She is ok with Rockshox stuff and I dont know about other brands.
But that sommets an awful lot cheaper…
Vitus / Chain Reaction do seem to be putting out some great bikes at the moment for good money.
Only 1 small left though so you'll have to decide quick.
Just noticed CRC have the lower-specced Sommet 297 in their 'EXTRA10' sale (the CRS spec above isn't in the same promotion), meaning its available for under £1,800: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-sommet-297-cr-mountain-bike/rp-prod207430. Still 1x12 Deore and has the same EXO+/DD tyres etc, downside is unknown Shimano/SRAM brakes plus the MoCo fork damper. But c'mon, £1,799.99?!
indeed, i ordered a Summit 29er CR yesterday, got the email this morning, spoke to customer service and they are refunding me the £200 difference (rather than cancel and re-order). It was a good deal at 2k, now its basically free!! 🙂
Wow, I'd get that cheap Vitus and sell the fork new.
Could replace with a secondhand 170mm Lyrik or maybe a Z1 coil. She won't need a mega beefy fork at her weight.
Yeah that vitus at 1800 is mega cheap. Can get a new lyrik (warranty) for 550 or so with charger 2.1 as well, then would make a bit back on the domain hopefully
Tempting - we'll discuss later when she's home from work
Can get a new lyrik (warranty) for 550 or so with charger 2.1
I recently did this on my new bike, sold a Marzocchi Z2 for £315 and paid about £600 for a Lyrik Ultimate.
Lyrik for 625 is the cheapest I can find from Merlin - using some loyalty points.
Hope wheels 370 from bike wheels direct (I like to keep all our hubs as pro 4 for the time being as I can service them with my eyes closed at this point. My partner also managed to ding her sun ringles that came with her reactor comp initially in 2 rides and I imagine whatever's on this Vitus will be of similar quality)
M6120 brakes 120 for both ends off wiggle too if it comes with sram brakes.
Even before making back money on selling the original parts on that's very good value!
@gotbike sorry for the slight hijack, but is your other half demoing the Cotic from Cotic? The wife is interested in trying a mullet and has been waiting for them to get a demo sorted. Ta
Yes demoing from cotic themselves. They have a RocketMAX in C1 size built up in a mullet available to demo.
Thanks, that'll suit her. She currently has a small Jeht and Cotic are literally 15mins away.
Ha, same as me @gotbike. I know my way around Hope hubs and Shimano brakes so all of our bikes get them - lost track of where some of the hubs originated as they've been shifted bike to bike and occasionally rebuilt. I even have a set of those 6120s from Wiggle to go on Mrs a11y's new bike.