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So, I'm saving for a new bike and I thought I'd ask for opinions in the usual STW way. Currently on an old 26" wheeled 150mm travel full susser. I know the standard response is "test and see which one you like", and I will do so but thought some opinions would be helpful while I'm saving and thinking.
Live in North Wales so ride a lot of steeper, rougher stuff. Love the techier side of things. So hills and plenty of climbs too, but descending is the priority.. Budget £3k, £3.5k at a stretch if it's something special. I've almost discounted 29ers as I'm a very short arse (5ft), but will try to test one or two just in case. Not desperate for carbon, unrealistic anyway within my budget unless Canyon.
Geo wise looking at the slacker end of things (65deg seems like the sweet spot) and comparatively longer for my dimensions.
So, current hit list with some musings:-
- New Stumpy - 2.5k for the alloy (rs revs, slx). Like the look of the geo, "safe" purchse. Standover a bit high though.
- New Bronson - 3.5k for the base model (yari, nx eagle). Again, like the look of the geo. nice low standover. Great warranty (bearings). Bloody expensive though, a grand more then the stumpy with no better spec.
- Canyon spectral - 2.3k (pike, gx eagle), 2.8k for the carbon. Amazing value. A little shorter and steeper than I'd prefer. Can't test ride, don't like press fit bb.
- Orange five - 3k (revs, slx). Uk made a plus for me, but not great value, and have had single pivot (heckler) since 2008 so fancy a change from simple single pivot design.
- Transition scout - 3k (revs, nx 11sp). Really like the look of the geo. Not good value though. A bit porky?
- Vitus Escarpe - vrx is 2.7k (pikes, gx eagle). Cracking value. Can't test ride though. Heard quality isn't amazing (e.g. paint).
Have discounted lots of others for seat tubes too long (e.g jeffsy, 380mm max for me) or other reasons.
So, any ones I've missed out? Sort of slack and burly trail bike in the 130 to 150mm travel range but not a 160-170mm enduro beast. Needs to be durable, I don't change bikes very often (current one 10 yrs old).
Yes I know "test them" is the response, which I will where possible. But I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Is the Santa Cruz worth 1k more than the Spesh? (Brand tax?). Should I discount the five just because its the same suspension design as i've currently got? What are the Vitus's like in real life quality wise? Current fave is the spesh, dependent on a test ride.
Flame away.
Thanks if you've got this far.
Whyte t130 rs
Bird aeris in either 120 or 145 guise
Cotic?
Pretty much everyone suggests either a Bird Aeris, Cotic Flare, Canyon Spectral or a Whyte for this kind of thread. Or they don't read the part about budget and suggest something daft that costs far more.
I think I would wait to see what the new longshot Cotic Flare is like once that is released, I imagine the current one will have a longer seat tube but their latest frames tend to be getting shorter ones.
The new Stumpy does look nice though, if thatsbyour current favourite then I'd say go for that (unless you hate it after a test ride).
Would defo try the Cotic - Flare or Rocket - and you cab demo them. Mate has the Rocket and he loves it. I have a Solaris so no personal experience of what you are looking for.
I bought myself a transition scout at the beginning of the year, I went down the frame only route as I don’t like sram gears or brakes and wanted some wheels that weren’t e13 and overall I’m really happy with it.
Yeah it’s a bit of a porker but you don’t notice it when you’re riding it. I’m not the tallest either and the short seat tube and low top tube are great.
Love my T130C RS it’s an incredibly versatile machine, happy to blast around at a decent pace and did the welsh enduro at Llandegla last year and it never felt out of its depth, even on the steep, hand cut stage. You can pick up this years T130C R for £2599 from Rutland at the minute as well. Transition Scout/Patrol also worth a look, some good deals around on those too. Being in north wales you should be able to try either bike as both brands have dealers in the area.
£3.5k gets you the new carbon comp stumpy (rear end is carbon now too), so not unrealistic.
Thanks for your suggestions all. Very helpful. It helps hearing other's thoughts.
Whyte - a bit short and steep (67 deg ha) in the size xs (same wheelbase as my current bike pretty much) the size S is too long in the seat tube (406mm - my max is 380mm).
Bird Aeris - would be looking at the 145, but feedback seems to suggest its a bit porky on the ups, more enduro than trail. Will demo though if I can.
Cotic - like them a lot, but again too long in the seat tube (rocket is 390mm - my max is 380 to get even a 100mm dropper in which is a minimum. The joy of having very short legs).
carbon stumpy - good call, but I'm not sure I'm bothered enough to spend another 1k for the privilege of carbon.
Will definitely try and demo the stumpy, bronson, aeris and scout and take it from there. May have trouble demo'ing size small / xs bikes but we'll see.
Thanks again.
If you're not in a massive hurry for something I'd keep an eye on CRC and Wiggle's Vitus prices and use BC/wiggle discount.
There have been carbon/Lyrik/Sdeluxe/X1 Vitus Sommets discounted to around half your budget.
Build quality is v good.
Paint fine.
Ride great
The carbon stumpy also has the swat door, which gives you somewhere to stash tubes of smarties. Worth £1k of anyone’s money.
Did you look at the Canyon Torque? Slightly slacker than the Spectral and looks like great value too
Ah well, if I can keep my pork pies in the frame then it's definitely worth an extra 1k! 😉
I have looked at the torque and the like but I can't help thinking it would be overkill for my trailcentre days in the winter (CyB, Marin etc). Plus I like the idea of a slightly shorter travel bike for the less gnarly stuff as I get older (early 40's now so don't bounce as well as I used to.)
Amazing how much choice there is these days.
Torque is probably a bit much considering the description of what you wanted. That’s almost a bit much for enduro from what I’ve read.
I think I’d be looking at Transition scout / Banshee Spitfire / Bird Aeris 120 / Canyon spectral / Whyte t130 etc.
For no good reason I’ve got something against Specialised as a brand (I count them in smugness alongside VW and Skoda drivers and Yeti owners).
Ducks the abuse from the aforementioned list!
The new stumpjumper is getting very good reviews from what I’ve seen though.
Vitus do seem very good value as do some of the Norco’s if you catch them in a sale.
Oh yeah, haven't looked at the Norco's. Will have a gander.
I know what you mean about Spesh, they wouldn't be my first choice as a 'brand', but by the same token that won't stop me buying one if the stumpy trumps the other options in sizing / geo, test ride grin factor, value etc. I'm not that much of brand snob (maybe a little if I'm honest, but not that bad).
How about the Marin Alpine that was recently announced? I've no idea how it rides but it looks nice. Possibly a bit too enduro though from what you've said.
Seat tube is 385mm on a small so almost right. Is 380mm the absolute max? Or does it depend on how far the seat post goes into the seat tube? Could you fit shorter cranks?
Shorter cranks could make up the 5mm I guess, along with a low stack saddle.
Haven't looked at the Marin, will do along with the Norco.
Commencal Meta Trail could be worth a look but hard to demo. If you're looking at Bird then the 120 with a 140 fork sounds like a better fit than the 145.
Cube Stereo 140. It has a 150mm fork and is the most developed bike in Cubes range!
Merida One Forty.
“Shorter cranks could make up the 5mm I guess”
You shouldn’t be on longer than 165mm cranks at your height!
Recommend having a look at the Orbea Occam AM. Had one for 18 months and love it. It’s seen me right on trips to Wales, BPW and just been to the Alps with it but it’s also great for he local woods.
Full carbon one here in small with plenty of change for a dropper which is all it needs
https://www.cyclelane.co.uk/m1b0s381p10884/ORBEA-Occam-AM-M30-2017
Thanks all.
Lots of demos to organise!
Same boat following with interest
Depending on how important pedalling is have a look at the Intense Primer and others too. Demo'd one at Dalby and very capable and super sharp response to pedalling.
Clearly capable - one of their mechanics apparently races his on easier enduro courses.
May be a bit too trail end of the spectrum though?
Biggest problem with the primer is the seat tube and standover. Waaaay too long at 432mm, and the standover is 800mm. I mean wtf? I know I'm a short arse and an outlier sizing wise but a 432mm seat tube and 800mm standover is bonkers high these days with longer droppers wanted. For reference the small stumpy is 750mm standover (380st), and the small bronson is just over 700mm standover and 380mm st. That's not even the xs bronson either.
The Nukeproof bikes are doing pretty well at the moment in the EWS (thanks to the flat pedal hero) but they look to provide decent value for money in terms of spec?
I've never ridden one, but they look ok to me?
#recommendwhatyoudontride
😉
I'm thinking (rightly or wrongly), that the mega would be too much bike for me at 165mm travel. Do like them though.
I use a Specialized Enduro 170mm both ends. Its been brilliant out in Spain, Welsh trail centres and currently out at Whistler on it. It climbs fine, no xc whippet up the hill but it goes up fine. I've got the alloy version as I couldn't justify the carbon version though I did trade a carbon Camber in for it.
If the new Stumpjumper had been out before I brought the Enduro I would had been very tempted for that.
Think the stumpy suits my needs better than an enduro... I need to reuce my list somehow!
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-stumpjumper-fsr-650b-2018-mountain-bike-EV306318
cheaper still with px
Worth bearing in mind that Specialized are only doing one carbon frame I.e. the new £3.5k stumpy comp has the same frame as the sworks 11m carbon front and rear
the new carbon layup for the lower price stumpys is one of the reasons im looking at a carbon bike.
just a shame they wernt a little slacker.