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Looking at an all day 29er for use in the lakes.
Had a 2014 Stumpjumper Expert carbon 29 that I should never have got rid of. This was an all day machine, light , efficient, could handle just about anything I could throw at it but wasn't trying to be an enduro (longer, lower, slacker)
I'm doing the Leisure Lakes demo day in a few weeks where a SC Hightower (non-LT), Stumpy, Trek Fuel EX and Whyte S150 are on my list to try.
But - I keep coming back to the YT Jeffsy - looks to be a lot like my old stumpy - angles and reach aren't massively different from each other - and the spec...I'd be saving best part of £2k comparing like for like across the range against the others.
Reading reviews and forums - it sounds very capable, but I keep seeing post where people have talked about its outdated geometry - short reach etc.
I'm 5ft8.5" with 30" inside leg if that makes any difference?
Any thoughts?
Bike geometry has gone longer, slacker, which makes them handle very differently, also more stable in the riding, easier to get down techy trails. Basically think of what you'd class as 'Enduro' and that's the sort of thing that bikes have gone to. Whether you're needing a bike like that may influence if your choice would be good or bad.
If you're riding it in day to day XC riding, would it matter in the slightest... i doubt it.
Without getting into whether the Jeffsy is "outdated" or not, there's a simple way for you to see whether you want to consider it...
1. Find the reach figure for the size Jeffsy you would buy.
2. Look for a bike on the demo day with a similar reach, even if you have to "size down" to get it.
3. Ride that and see if it feels too short and twitchy compared to the longer geometry bikes such as the Whyte.
In my experience the difference is most immediately noticeable on slithery, sloppy descents where you're surfing to stay upright.
The Jeffsy is a 3 or 4-year old design, but it was ahead of its time. At 5"7, just under 30" leg, I find my medium 2016 CF Pro to be comfortable for all day rides, climbs as well as my XC bikes, and much more confident on the descents. I don't think you'd regret it.
So I am pretty much bang on the same height as you. I purchased a Jeffsy CF 29 last year, out of the box it was absolutely fantastic. I used it for everything. Enduro racing, Uplift, all day XC epics. Just a fantastic bike. I wouldn't say the Geo is outdated, just its a little short in terms of reach. I rode a medium by the way.
I actually "upgraded" to a SC Hightower earlier this year as i was offered a blinding deal on a frameset. Initially i was massively disappointed with the hightower. Its a stunning looking bike beautifully finished. Let down completely by the standard Monarch shock. Which, in the politest way possible. Is a POS....Since upgrading the Shock to an X2 the bike is fantastic, but no way £££ better than the Jeffsy. The slightly shorter reach didn't really bother me. I upgraded my Jeffsy with coil shock, offset bushes to slacken it and raised the fork to 150. Which made it so capable.
One point for consideration is the YT comes with stupid PF92 BB and supplied with 30mm cranks. If you buy one, sell the OEM 30mm cranks straight away and fit a 24mm BB and standard axle crankset....That is if you want at least a summers worth of riding out of the BB,
I don’t think you’d go far wrong with any of the bikes you’ve mentioned - the Stumpy, Fuel, Hightower and Jeffsy are all very similar in terms of geometry and you rarely hear a bad word said about any of them from people that own them. The S150 is a very different beast, but again gets a lot of love from owners
DOI: I bought a Jeffsy and love it. Awesome bike, although I’m sure I’d have been equally happy with a Hightower or Fuel had they been available at the same price
Consider going a size up on a YT. On my Capra I ride and XL as the large would feel a little short for me by todays standards.
Apparently Hope XC hubs are considered 'antique' nowadays...
YT Jeffsy 29 – outdated (and what does that even mean)?
It means that the marketing have decided that your current bike is shit and is out of fashion, and that to ride anything remotely technical you need a looooong low slack bike.
Cheers guys, glad to hear no horror stories!
I’ll see how the demo day goes and compare the angles for the Jeffsy, but for now it’s a strong contender, just a shame I’ve never ridden one or know anyone that has one...although remind me, when do all the Specialized discounting start?
when do all the Specialized discounting start?
If you can live with a 2017 bike
outdated?
Like others mentioned already: this is "sales talk"
Trail bikes, this budget range: they all will be excellent. O.k. - and the Jeffsy might not have the "perfect BB". But that's detail stuff. Jeffsy owners love their bikes.
There are still some 35% off deals around on 2017 Stumpjumper and Enduro carbon 29ers
Outdated.... Jesus this industry has no idea what to sell us next. Either yet another new "standard" or just tell you that the bike you love is no good now as it isn't as ludicrously long as the very latest designs.
Want to make a bet we'll look back at this era and wonder why we sleep walked into the whole "longer, lower, slacker" mantra? There has to be a finite amount to the above formula right? Who's not to say that today's bikes are about right and the ones that take the L+L+S to the next degree will be looked back upon as ridiculous exaggerations of what a bike should be?
Anyway... Sorry for the moan. All the bikes you mention are great to be honest but the bang per buck of the Jeffsy is pretty damned hard to beat imo. 👍
It's ironic that "long low and slack" is arguably the most significant and useful thing to happen to MTBs in years.
More important than 1x11, 1x12, slightly bigger wheels, much bigger wheels, fat tyres, chubby tyres, direct mount whatevers... rivalled only by dropper posts for improving the MTB experience.
But hey, why not just get grumpy about it without trying it?
Conspiracy theories aside, what it means is that the next version of the bike will almost certainly be longer. If you are sure that the shorter geometry works better for you then grab one while you can. If not then you might be annoyed if you buy it then everyone starts raving about how much better the new longer model is next month/year/whenever.
Well, decision made - just picked up a brand new 2017 Stumpy Carbon Expert 29er for near enough the same price as an alloy YT. I can't see it being a million miles different from my 2014 model which can only be a good thing.
Thank you Tracey for prompting me to look again...couldn't find any Stumpy 29ers when I was looking a couple of weeks ago.
Always glad to help, if its where I think its from its a steal with 35% off
Crikey, the king of procrastination.
Nice bike Danny...
Cheers Dave - I know people can be a bit sniffy about Specialized bikes but it certainly suits my riding style - less longer, lower, slacker which I just can't seem to get on with - I think I'm right in saying that your new toy is based along the same lines i.e. not super long and slack...I'm very much looking forward to seeing it in the flesh sometime - I guess you're happy with it!?
"Want to make a bet we’ll look back at this era and wonder why we sleep walked into the whole “longer, lower, slacker” mantra?"
It'll hit a point eventually where it doesn't work any more but right now? IMO it's just making better bikes for most riders. We're possibly getting close to a new normal though, if we don't settle on something close to 460mm reach and 1200mm wheelbase for a medium trail/enduro bike I'll be a little surprised. And smaller seat tubes with more seatpost because the mid-2010s habit of fitting long seatmasts was moronic.
Thing about the jeffsy is it was really conservative when it launched- it's very close to the old Remedy 29 which was already discontinued or thereabouts when the Jeffsy came out. And that's OK but it does combine it with a damn fool massive seatmast and sizing that gets taller way faster than it gets longer, which makes sizing up more troublesome, more so now than ever with longer drop seatposts. And the integrated headset means no head angle doofers. It's a great value package, and it works well but I think they just didn't quite nail it basically.
(I own said old Remedy 29 and I can go up a size and still fit a 185mm drop seatpost, fit a slack headset... Not an option with the Jeffsy for me)