[Closed] Which 3k 27.5 trail bike

Test ride both at Llandegla and decide from there !

Will do but it will be my first full sus so appreciate other peoples experience as well!

Llandegla have both in for demo , I'm about the same height would go medium in both see how it goes, I've owned both in 26" form and they both give a great sense of security and confidence , and helped me with my less than perfect skills. I think my Heckelr was a better alrounder, but they have changed quite a bit.

I ride a five but I'd be buying a Kona process if I was looking for a new bike now.

I have heard great things about the Process, however as stupid as it sounds, I have to 'like' a bike if I'm spending this money and for some reason I just can't seem to like it!

If I was spending 3k on a bike I would certainly try a multitude out. Don't forget the new giant trance.

YT Capra. Do it.

3k + not sure exactly what you want = lots of demo rides

I've got a medium bronson and also demoed a medium heckler. I'm 5'8" with 32" inside leg (female syndrome as the man calls it). Both fit perfectly. He rides a small five pro 650b and that also fits me perfect due to the smaller reach so reckon you'd need a medium in the orange. All three bikes are awesome.

Small Whyte G150?

Ariel 152 is a great bike. Also have a look at the alloy Devinci Troy, comes with Pikes and Reverb stealth for £2,500. Specialized have just released their StumpJumper FSR Evo's in 27.5 as well and they do one for £2,500.

trek remedy

I have heard great things about the Process, however as stupid as it sounds, I have to 'like' a bike if I'm spending this money and for some reason I just can't seem to like it!

I didn't like it until I rode one..

Spec stumpy evo Ali starts at £2500

Love a YT Capra the specs are amazing, but you can't get finance and there aren't any available at the moment, no chance of a test either.

Can you not bang a YT on a 0% credit card? Middle spec one looks good for the money and travel is reduced a bit, I have a Five and absolutely love it it's been a great bike had it 2 years now and ridden everything on it I have been thinking about a Bronson but it would have to seriously impress to trade the Five in. The Five has been trail bike of the year god knows how many times and in Dirt 100 every time but once the Heckler hasn't think that says it all! Also I am about same height as you and run 17" with 50mm stem.

Hmm Capra on the credit card, tempting! But not available for 18 weeks!! Stumpy Evo is only available in 29 until next year when it will be sky blue, (don't fancy that) tested the 29er and was good but wheels are just too big for me. Five RS is quoted at 12.7kg (28.1lb) which seems pretty light I'm guessing the lower spec ones will come in at about 13kg, I can't seem to find many bikes below that.

Norco sight carbon?

3k + not sure exactly what you want = lots of demo rides

I bought my first full-sus earlier this year and didn't test ride anything (bar a few minutes on a couple of mates' bikes). It's bloody brilliant too. If you can make one come in on budget the Banshee Spitfire is a whole load of slack, long, low, fast awesomeness that pedals freakishly well.

Stumpy 650b is out already. Ours is waiting to be delivered and there was one at a demo the other day but a lot of people have said they don't like the cokour .

Yeah my LBS has a stumpy evo comp 650b looked really nice...

I would be tempted by the canyon spectral al 9.0 ex...

Banshee spitfire

I actually got to look over a YT Capra today, only one int he country at present, but anyone who wants one is right to, seriously nice bike. Great details on examination, from the cable routing to the bearings, very. nice. bike.

Any pictures? What size did you get and what height are you?

Please, thank you.

Im going to recommend my bike a kona process 153

designed around a tiny stem so long reach is evened out, Im 5'8 and ride a medium and i love it

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Has anyone that has seen a 650b Stumpy seen any colour other than sky blue? Can anyone recommend a shop that sells Banshee?

kimbers, was that planned or is someone pulling mid-race overtake?!

Banshee are distributed by Ison so most shops can get them in - ask your LBS, I did and was pleasantly surprised.

Bikeactive sell Banshee

Brand new stumpy?

If they did the new 27.5 stumpy in the same colour as the 29er it would be right up there on the list! Does anyone know the weight of the Nukeproof Mega AM Pro? Also other than the forks and shock is there much difference in the frame compared to the Mega TR?

I'm probably up Llandegla on my Ariel 152 this Sunday if you want to have a look?

+7 demo before you buy, its a must

Cube Stereo 160 Super HPC carbon - £3099 list but you should get it for say £2800/£2900 if you can cash it. Nice and light at 12.9kg and plenty scope for more weight saving (eg 1x10)

As the above have said, you would want to at least swing a leg over what you are going to spend that amount of cash on

+7 demo before you buy, its a must

+8 I got my first full suss about this time last year. I demoed quite a few bikes and was surprised at how different they all felt. Not only was the geometry different but the way the suspension felt was different too.

There was only one bike I didn't like, the rest all felt good but for me the Transition Bandit was by far the overall winner.

The Capra is the wisest and most value-for-money choice. It should also be worth the long wait.

If it made me (hardcore evil sovereign fan) change my original Evil Uprising plans, then you can imagine...

+7 demo before you buy, its a must

I'd be demoing in your shoes. I got my first full sus about 8 months ago and had all be decided on a Yeti ASR5. Rode one, didn't like it. In fact I demoed 4 ASR5's, different places and sizes still didn't like it.

Banshee Spitfire was ace, as was the transition Bandit, but ended up with my Santa Cruz TR (thanks Jeffus). Not the sort of thing your looking for but suits me down to the ground.

Mate of mine has just got his hands on a Haibike Heet SL 27.5 and seems like a really nice bike. Definitely worth a look.

Full carbon frame, Pikes, Monarch shock, mainly SLX kit, Hans Dampf tyres, Kind dropper post. Think it's £2.5k

Euro, you'd invest £3k on a bike without having tried it before hand? Your missing out on the possibilities. I would do my geometry homework but it makes a lot of sense to demo various bikes before laying out cash. As the guy above said having tried the bike he thought he wanted he went for another. Cautionary tale there.

I came up with a short list of two, demo'd them and chose the one I liked the most. In fact I liked the way both rode and it came down to looks and the Rune won! I know it's sad, but it was the most I've ever spent on a frame and I had to like the way it looked as well as rode.

I'd vote for the Spitfire - I've turned into a real Banshee fan boy after buying the Rune. Being able to email Keith who designs them and ask questions is great. I also love the way they ride.

If I'm honest, I should have bought the Spitfire because the Rune is a lot of bike for my mincing.

With all that said, if my bike went walkies I'd be buying the Capra; it looks fantastic, is a great spec and is getting a lot of good reviews.

It would be remiss not to add a 2014 Scott genius 720 to your test ride list!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161256681429?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

ive got this ebay at the moment. open to offers

nick

Euro, you'd invest £3k on a bike without having tried it before hand? Your missing out on the possibilities. I would do my geometry homework but it makes a lot of sense to demo various bikes before laying out cash. As the guy above said having tried the bike he thought he wanted he went for another. Cautionary tale there.

I should point out that my cycling background isn't atypical and i guess my bike buying isn't either. I don't think i'd ever spend 3k on a bike full stop. I bought my last two bikes - Stumpy Evo (second hand) and new 456 SS without seeing/trying them and i've never had a meaningful test ride on any bike i've owned. I 'tested' my first FS bike for about 20 seconds in a car park and hated it, but bought it anyway as my hardtail wasn't suitable for the type of riding i was subjecting it to. Turns out it was brilliant at DH and jumping but there wasn't much of that outside the shop.

I've never been hung up on geometry and all that magic, as long as it looks like it'll handle the type of riding i'm buying it for and fits reasonably well i'm happy.

As long as you like the short rear centre the Process is the bike in 650b.

A little heavy but best, geo, suspension, and sizing.

Norco Sight looks pretty good too but haven't ridden it.

Well this has opened a real can of worms 😯

I was in a similar position a few weeks back but rather than go for an off the peg bike I've went full self build again. Much better value for money IMO as you get every component you want without having to compromise on something like a lot of full builds do.

If you can test ride as many as you can before setting your heart on one particular bike. Look for demo days too as they're a great way to try lots of bikes.

Also ask yourself what exactly will you be riding and try to match the bike up that way as you could end up with a big fat heavy full susser you hate riding if it's got more travel than you need.

Oh and in case your wondering I've went for a Banshee Spitfire 🙂

650B Stumpy looks good & they always produce a good bike, a mate has a Spesh Enduro 29er expert & it's amazing.
you could import (there are ways..) a bronson directly from the US & save a fortune, XX1 spec up grade forks & shock carbon frame for just over 3k, i've brought two in now to replace cracking lapierres, had enough of warranty claims though the new 2014's look ok the rear end on them is as wider as a tanker seen a few with all the paint worn of chain stays.

Cheers mark

I've never been hung up on geometry and all that magic, as long as it looks like it'll handle the type of riding i'm buying it for and fits reasonably well i'm happy.

I thought the same and have never test-ridden a bike, then bought my dream bike, a SC Nomad (Mk1). Rode like a dog, hated it, sold it on quickly.

I didnt test ride its replacement (Alpine 160) either; I love the Alpine and its a keeper.

Had far more hits than misses, but full sussers behave too differently for all bikes to be liked by all people.

I don't think there are many bad bike these days. So buying blind isn't the end of the world. From my experience there was only one bike I wouldn't have wanted, I would have been more than happy with any of the others.

But I think you can really maximise your enjoyment by demoing a few bikes first to see which (if any) really stands out.

Only just saw your message mikeywxm otherwise I would of had a look at your Saracen, was up at Llandegla today testing the five. I`ve tested a stumpy fsr 29er, a mega am pro and the five so far, the mega is way out front at the moment, I loved it, liked the others as well but the Nukeproof was a lot of fun!

Tried a pyga? 120 or 140

The Pyga looks nice but like the Banshees it isn't going to be easy to test on is it?

No worries. I'm from Wrexham so if you are ever in the area and want a go give me a shout. Have you checked if you LBS can get one in? I did hear that all mediums are sold out already. Also I've never heard anything bad about the Nukeproofs. It was on my list but I just didn't feel it. If you like it then there's a fair few suppliers so just be cheeky and try your luck on a good price.

switchback spain put up this carbon bronson downtube after a rockstrike

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Imagine what wold of happend to a alloy frame then kimbers... if you've seen the Santa Cruz web site factory strength test where the Carbon Nomad frame takes nearly double the loading of a alloy one before it fails....

I personally put a old tyre cut to shape held on with a few cable ties on the down tube when i'm heading to the lakes to play on big rocks.
Rock gaurdgz as advertised on ebay look okm more form than function, but one good hit one i bought shatterd
Could of been any bike that took the rock strike not just a bronson.
God knows what would of happend if it had been a lapierre, i've cracked 3 then said enough, no more.