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I have seen a few decent options like the YT Capra, Canyon Strive Underdog and Cube Stereo one 55 or one 77.
Are any of these good options or would you recommend something different?
Balfes have decent prices on treks and Scotts at the moment
https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/onsale?discount=5
Got a capra (uncaged) really nice bike. Takes everything in it's stride I had a 2018 specialized enduro before (ex team race bike) and the capra just feels nicer although taller. It's a proper enduro bike though. I'd suggest the jeffsey if your thinking trail/enduro. If I didn't have a trail ht in the garage I'd probably have gone jeffsey and it's reduced.
https://uk.yt-industries.com/products/bikes/jeffsy/uncaged-13/690/jeffsy-mx-uncaged-13/
Bird AM9. Decent spec to your choice and should be able to hit the budget as the frames are reduced now giving more ££ for the rest of the build to get it spot on for your idea of trail/enduro.
Define what value means to you? The highest spec for the lowest money (which doesn’t necessarily have you ending up with the ‘best’ bike for you)?
^^^
The chance to own a Rocky Mountain for less than £2500?
If I was the OP, I'd be looking very seriously at that.
You can currently buy a Cotic Jeht for £2,500 odd or a Rocket for £3,399 and more:
https://www.cotic.co.uk/bikes/special-deals/
'Value' is one of those subjective terms that's a balance of price, spec and 'thing'. Personally I'd rather buy something a bit special from a UK brand than lean into a world of comparing specs on a host of identikit cookie-cutter designs.
Strive Underdog is a beast of a bike and amazing value even without the sale. Shapeshifter is amazing.
BUT…only available in L and XL - I bought the last M in the last sale when it was even cheaper!
The Cube in the pinned PSAs thread is amazing value in terms of spec, but the frame might be a bit off the pace in terms of enduro bikes.
Still could be a good option if you wanted something more trail-y though?
Currently in the same situation and have similar money to spend.
Right now the Trek Fuel EX Gen 6 is looking like incredible value for money. The EX8 is available from trek at £2600 or the carbon 9.7 from Blazing Bikes at under £2900
Triton Cycles also have some bargain gen 5 Trek Slashes for sale like the 9.8xt reduced from £6k to £3100.
Shhhhhh. I waiting gif it to drop to £3k. Don't tell anyone....
^^^
The chance to own a Rocky Mountain for less than £2500?
If I was the OP, I’d be looking very seriously at that.
shhhh, I need one of the large Element A50's or C50's to still be available in November for me.
Some great deals around on the Stumpjumper Evo, possibly helped by the release of the new model Stumpjumper. Ubiquitous, but not without reason, and nicely straddles the trail/enduro divide.
Linked model is £2999 from Leisure Lakes.
Outrageously good and versatile (I've raced Enduro and XC on mine in 135 format)
https://www.boldcycles.com/gb/en/products/bold-bikes-trail
135mm flavour £2999 Ultimate Spec
(LINKIN Carbon HMX Frame
FOX 36 Float Perf. Elite, 140mm
FOX Nude 5T EVOL
SRAM X01 Eagle AXS / Wireless
Shimano XT M8120 4 Piston Disc
DT Swiss XM 1850 Spline
Syncros Hixon iC Carbon)
150mm flavour £2999 in Pro spec with Ohlins (limited sizes)
Local Scott dealer should match the prices as I believe they are manufacturer discounts.
Note its a relatively easy change of linkage to go frm 135 to 150m, and the Ultimate spec has a Fox 36 which could also be swapped with an air shaft change. I'm experimenting with mine this winter in the longer travel format.
I'll fight anyone on here who thinks having cables going through a headset is a reason not to buy this bike, based on actual personal experience and not joining in with the Pinkbike outrage!
Are you medium sized?
Some deals on Mondraker Foxy and Superfoxy around, for example - https://www.freeborn.co.uk/mondraker-superfoxy-2023-enduro-bike
The outgoing stumpy evo expert alloy if you can find one. Alloy frame, factory suspension GX group set for less than £3k. The trick is finding them
Maybe I’m slightly biased against orange, but 3500 quid for that compared to the above linked rocky mountain, the orange doesn’t come close for vfm Imo
It does a little bit when you don’t mention the worse spec Cotic for similar money. This is STW though so that’s okay.
Depends what you want OP I guess? The RM’s are stonking value if that’s all you are bothered about but not if the geometry is not what you want? Out of the bikes listed the Scott’s made me raise an eye.
The Orange geometry is perfect IMO, the frame is close to carbon weight and they are brilliant fun to ride.
The RM Altitude is indeed a better spec and has a decent enough geometry.
Both are a really good deal and will make different riders very happy.
Still some good deals about on the Ripmo AF too.
e.g. https://startfitness.co.uk/products/ibis-ripmo-af-coil-slx-mountain-bike-2021-red
And Merlin have the Deore version for cheaper in some sizes.
I have a stumpy evo carbon that's up for sale .... 😉
Still some good deals about on the Ripmo AF too.
Maybe it's just me, but that looks like something you'd buy out of Kay's catalogue
I think I'd be going for the 2024 Stumpy Evo Expert if I were buying right now. It's a bit more at £3999, but looks like the best balance of value/spec out of the range
Maybe it’s just me, but that looks like something you’d buy out of Kay’s catalogue
Not just you. The Ripmo is in theory exactly what I need... but look at it?! I'm a visual person so I need a bike that looks nice to me.
regardless of which bike the op chooses, are there any to avoid in terms of availability of replacement rear shocks?
I can imagine that there’s certain sizes that are ubiquitous and then other shocks that come on odd sizes, with prices to match.
If that makes sense…
seriousrikk
Full Member
Maybe it’s just me, but that looks like something you’d buy out of Kay’s catalogueNot just you. The Ripmo is in theory exactly what I need… but look at it?! I’m a visual person so I need a bike that looks nice to me.
Me too, awful. Can only assume it looks better up close? That, or they’re not bothered about shifting the aluminium model as the carbon version looks decent.
Ripmo is meant to be good - but when it came down to that vs an alloy Sentinel there wasn’t going to be a Ripmo AF in my life. I wonder if perhaps they look better in real life than online - don’t think I’ve ever seen one in the wild.
That Bold for £2999 is loaded with some seriously nice kit. Not sure I’d fancy all the internal routing and internal shock but it’s a looker.
I've had my ripmo af for 2 years now . Pedals well , descends well , had no real issues with it at all . It's a really good bike.
But .....it ain't a looker . It looks better in real life than it does in photos but it's obviously built to a budget. You can't see it when you're riding it though ?
In spring '23 I'd had my bike stolen and needed a new one in a hurry.
There wasn't that much on offer at reduced prices back then and I reluctantly bought a Ripmo AF SLX air for £2500, the spec for that money was really good.
It looks weird in all the promotional photos, particularly side on.
As above it looks better IRL and you can't see it when you're riding it! Plus it's rare to see another one out on the trails and nobody knows what it is.
Having said all that I really wanted a Stumpy EVO..........
The RipMo doors look a bit better ITL but it's still ****ing ugly. I love mine though. Climbs well, poppy and playful on the way back down, heaps of fun. Super versatile, but not light. Had mine 4 years and I'm not planning on changing anytime soon
Ripmo is meant to be good – but when it came down to that vs an alloy Sentinel there wasn’t going to be a Ripmo AF in my life. I wonder if perhaps they look better in real life than online – don’t think I’ve ever seen one in the wild.
I've got one, but with the X2 rear and 36 Factory 160mm up front. They are pretty ugly. I don't give a **** really as I spend my time riding it not looking at it. Performs almost as well as the top spec Jeffsy I hired recently and better than the Stumpy Carbon Expert - which was frankly dull.
Yeah but what about the instabangers (imagine there’s a laughing emoji here)
Had a Ripmo AF for about 4 1/2 years and it was a fantastic bike, definitely not going to win prizes in a beauty contest but they do indeed look better in the flesh. I did over 4000 miles with all sorts of riding from 100km xc type rides to bike parks and it was spot on. I now have a Mondraker Raze as I wanted something a bit lighter and nippier (and most definitely prettier).
Ripmo looks particularly bad in red in that photo. I can vouch for the fact that Simon's bike in silver, thankfully looks way better.
I really like that Bold but as my bikes have been a succesion of Airdops and Birds its not the bike for me. And after riding an S2 Kenevo at the weekend, if Stumpys have such limited space for longer droppers, that would be out too.
GT sensor carbon elite at Stif for 2 grand. Marzochi z2 and coil. Amazing value.
Scott Genius 910 for £3260 from Balfe's
https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/scott-genius-910-full-suspension-mountain-bike-2023-in-green__45353