Another 'What Bike' Thread... £2.5k budget for FS MTB
Discussion
I'm hoping to treat myself in the New Year to another bike and I would like a Full-Sus bike next.
Now, I've never ridden a FS bike, nor have I ridden a 29'er (or 650b...or whatever they are).
I have been used to 26" hardtail MTBs for the past 15-or-so years so anything different is going to feel...well...different to me.
I am also a bit aprehensive about losing the 3 x 10 drivechain that I'm used to. Quite a lot of the FS bikes in this price bracket seem to be 2 x 10.
I don't want anything too extreme, with most of my riding being fairly sensible trail-centre stuff like Afan, Brecfa, Cym Carn, FOD and my commute home through Ashton Court / Leigh Woods, so a monster DH bike isn't necessary.
I've browsed around a few local shops and the Lapierre Zesty 314, Specialized Camber, Trek Fuel Ex7.0 have caught my eye.
I guess I just need to get on a few and take them for test rides to see if I get on with 29's, a 2x10 drivechain or if I need 120mm or 150mm or more of travel...
I currently ride a carbon hardtail Scott Scale 35 with 100mm travel front forks and a loads of replacement bits after breaking / wearing out old bits, so it is now XT drivechain, Hope Pro Evo II hubs, mavic rims, Crank Bros seatpost, Hope headset etc... pretty light and nimble so I'm expecting a comparatively heavy machine that'll plough through the rough stuff instead of skipping over the top like my current ride.
Any thoughts or advice gratefully received. It's a lot of cash for me to spend on something that I've only ridden around a car-park to test.
Now, I've never ridden a FS bike, nor have I ridden a 29'er (or 650b...or whatever they are).
I have been used to 26" hardtail MTBs for the past 15-or-so years so anything different is going to feel...well...different to me.
I am also a bit aprehensive about losing the 3 x 10 drivechain that I'm used to. Quite a lot of the FS bikes in this price bracket seem to be 2 x 10.
I don't want anything too extreme, with most of my riding being fairly sensible trail-centre stuff like Afan, Brecfa, Cym Carn, FOD and my commute home through Ashton Court / Leigh Woods, so a monster DH bike isn't necessary.
I've browsed around a few local shops and the Lapierre Zesty 314, Specialized Camber, Trek Fuel Ex7.0 have caught my eye.
I guess I just need to get on a few and take them for test rides to see if I get on with 29's, a 2x10 drivechain or if I need 120mm or 150mm or more of travel...
I currently ride a carbon hardtail Scott Scale 35 with 100mm travel front forks and a loads of replacement bits after breaking / wearing out old bits, so it is now XT drivechain, Hope Pro Evo II hubs, mavic rims, Crank Bros seatpost, Hope headset etc... pretty light and nimble so I'm expecting a comparatively heavy machine that'll plough through the rough stuff instead of skipping over the top like my current ride.
Any thoughts or advice gratefully received. It's a lot of cash for me to spend on something that I've only ridden around a car-park to test.
If you want a fun chuckable bike get a 26er or a 650b - I still think 650b is a pointless marketing exorcize, but the bikes themselves are no better / worse than 26"s and I wouldn't limit myself to 26" on principle as you'll miss out on some good bikes.
Personally I'd stick to the 5" FS bikes like the Zesty / Stumpjumper / Remedy and buy the best value one in the sales, they might not quite have the ride anywhere ability of the slightly bigger 6" bikes, but the climb a lot better and will lap trail centres quicker like-for-like.
In regards to gearing, with wide spaced cassettes and the like you just don't need the big ring anymore, especially at the trail centres, if you're going fast enough to use those gears you'll be heading downhill very fast and pedalling will just be a short-cut to a pedal strike and A&E.
Personally I'd stick to the 5" FS bikes like the Zesty / Stumpjumper / Remedy and buy the best value one in the sales, they might not quite have the ride anywhere ability of the slightly bigger 6" bikes, but the climb a lot better and will lap trail centres quicker like-for-like.
In regards to gearing, with wide spaced cassettes and the like you just don't need the big ring anymore, especially at the trail centres, if you're going fast enough to use those gears you'll be heading downhill very fast and pedalling will just be a short-cut to a pedal strike and A&E.
Edited by P-Jay on Thursday 14th November 13:51
http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/cannondale-scalp...
Not that i'm a Cannondale fanboy or anything. I've always liked the look of the Zesties too.
Interestingly i'm in an opposite situation to you. I have a full suspension Scott at the moment but want to replace it with a hard tail 29er. It's come about due to me starting to road cycle. The apparent loss through the suspension seems huge. And the bike will largely be used as a winter commuter. Sounds like the amount of riding you do will be better suited to an FS.
Have you thought about renting a full suspension bike from one the trail centres? It might not be the exact model your after but it might give you an idea of how much you like it.
Not that i'm a Cannondale fanboy or anything. I've always liked the look of the Zesties too.
Interestingly i'm in an opposite situation to you. I have a full suspension Scott at the moment but want to replace it with a hard tail 29er. It's come about due to me starting to road cycle. The apparent loss through the suspension seems huge. And the bike will largely be used as a winter commuter. Sounds like the amount of riding you do will be better suited to an FS.
Have you thought about renting a full suspension bike from one the trail centres? It might not be the exact model your after but it might give you an idea of how much you like it.
I would definitely go for a 29er - it's going to be faster for the type of riding you're doing.
You can't go wrong with Specialized, their bikes are always pretty sorted and backup/warranty is superb. Treks don't really do it for me, the new EX 29er could be a good bike but not seen any reviews or know anyone that's tried one yet.
Also worth a look:
Canyon Spectral 29
Whyte T-129
Transition Bandit
Scott Genius
I doubt you'll miss 3x10, I've not found myself lacking gears at either end yet.
You can't go wrong with Specialized, their bikes are always pretty sorted and backup/warranty is superb. Treks don't really do it for me, the new EX 29er could be a good bike but not seen any reviews or know anyone that's tried one yet.
Also worth a look:
Canyon Spectral 29
Whyte T-129
Transition Bandit
Scott Genius
I doubt you'll miss 3x10, I've not found myself lacking gears at either end yet.
Thanks for the quick replies all.
Most shop-people who I have spoken to all seem to recommend 29ers. This is the way the world are going and if they weren't any good, they wouldn't sell I suppose?
Not thought about renting a bike at a trail centre. Migh be a good plan just to see how I get on with a FS bike.
Also, true comment about losing a chainring. I guess I don't very often use the 'road-gears' for anything other than on roads, so won't miss out on the top gears, and with a 38 on the rear cassett, I guess the low will be low enough for trail-centre stuff.
It'll also force me to stop choosing the lazy option of my current granny to have a breather on some of the climbs!
I think with my budget, I'll end up with lower sepc components on a new FS bike, but I can always swap them over with the better stuff on my HT, downgrading the HT a bit, but that's fine.
Most shop-people who I have spoken to all seem to recommend 29ers. This is the way the world are going and if they weren't any good, they wouldn't sell I suppose?
Not thought about renting a bike at a trail centre. Migh be a good plan just to see how I get on with a FS bike.
Also, true comment about losing a chainring. I guess I don't very often use the 'road-gears' for anything other than on roads, so won't miss out on the top gears, and with a 38 on the rear cassett, I guess the low will be low enough for trail-centre stuff.
It'll also force me to stop choosing the lazy option of my current granny to have a breather on some of the climbs!
I think with my budget, I'll end up with lower sepc components on a new FS bike, but I can always swap them over with the better stuff on my HT, downgrading the HT a bit, but that's fine.
Smartboy said:
and with a 38 on the rear cassette,
Mis-type I assume?FWIW, being a bit of a Giant fan, I was interested to see them go 26 - 29 - 27.5 all within 3 years which says to me that it's all a load of BS.
So I saved about a gazillion quid and bought an old fashioned '12 26" Anthem X which nobody else bid on.
I'm about to go from 3x10 to 1x10 34T 11-36 for simplicity though.
richardxjr said:
FWIW, being a bit of a Giant fan, I was interested to see them go 26 - 29 - 27.5 all within 3 years which says to me that it's all a load of BS.
Sorry if this takes it o/t a bit but there's some interesting opinions here, as well as the usual industry BS I guess:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHDEzZ6u2ps#t=179
The guy from Giant sounds like he's been to one too many sales and marketing seminars. I prefer the approach of the Storck guy.
12-38 Cassette is a pretty standard size.
My anti-650b gland it twitching to let off another tirade, but I'm holding back for now.
Try a 29'er at least they offer a meaningful difference to 26, unlike the 27.1" personally I found them numb on rocks, slow to turn and hard to accelerate, but a mate has one and tells me my 26'er loses speed like I've deployed a parachute on rocks, jittery on fast bends and loses too much momentum.
My anti-650b gland it twitching to let off another tirade, but I'm holding back for now.
Try a 29'er at least they offer a meaningful difference to 26, unlike the 27.1" personally I found them numb on rocks, slow to turn and hard to accelerate, but a mate has one and tells me my 26'er loses speed like I've deployed a parachute on rocks, jittery on fast bends and loses too much momentum.
Try to test ride a few bikes including standard 26" and the new 29". If you genuinely prefer the 29er then you have plenty of choice now, but don't be swayed by marketing bulls
t. 29ers are certainly not "better" than 26" bikes, they're just different, but only by comparing them can YOU decide if 29 suits YOU better than 26.
Canyon bikes are stonking value for money. I have two FS bikes (both 26") - the Nerve XC (120mm travel) from 2011 and the Nerve AL+ (150mm) that I bought for rougher stuff. I'll be selling the 120mm bike and building up a hardtail Cotic Soul to replace it.
t. 29ers are certainly not "better" than 26" bikes, they're just different, but only by comparing them can YOU decide if 29 suits YOU better than 26.Canyon bikes are stonking value for money. I have two FS bikes (both 26") - the Nerve XC (120mm travel) from 2011 and the Nerve AL+ (150mm) that I bought for rougher stuff. I'll be selling the 120mm bike and building up a hardtail Cotic Soul to replace it.
richardxjr said:
Mis-type I assume?
P-Jay said:
12-38 Cassette is a pretty standard size.
Assumed it was the missing 'e' I was being picked up on, not the size of the cassette?!? 
Right, I'm off to book some test rides of different travel / different wheel sized bikes to see how they feel. Wonder if there are demo bikes available for a day / half-day so I can give them a bit more of a test than doing cirles in the car-park?
Kinda hoping to pick up a 2013 model bike with a big chunk of discount in the sales at some point in Dec or Jan.
I just bought this: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's fking ace. Not sure if it's what you are after being 170mm all round with quite downhill focussed Geo - but it pedals uphill astonishingly well, and having done a 20 odd mile ride it was very comfortable to spend a long time in the saddle.
It's quickly becoming my 'do everything bike' - because it seems to.
It's f
king ace. Not sure if it's what you are after being 170mm all round with quite downhill focussed Geo - but it pedals uphill astonishingly well, and having done a 20 odd mile ride it was very comfortable to spend a long time in the saddle.It's quickly becoming my 'do everything bike' - because it seems to.
I've just been through a very similar conundrum. FS 26", 650B or 29er for £2.5k to replace a Lapierre X Flow.
Tried all kinds of stuff in varying sizes and the only bikes that really grabbed me were the Giant Trance x1 650B, The Whyte T129S 29" and this:
The Lapierre Zesty 314.
The Whyte 29" just felt too big to me and not 'chuckable' enough but I did like the Trance - although the spec wasn't fantastic for the money, whereas I got £700 off the Zesty (this years bike of course) and it ended up a no brainer. The Lapierre is brilliant and just suits me so much better than the other two. It also looks fantastic (to my eyes anyway...)
Tried all kinds of stuff in varying sizes and the only bikes that really grabbed me were the Giant Trance x1 650B, The Whyte T129S 29" and this:
The Lapierre Zesty 314.
The Whyte 29" just felt too big to me and not 'chuckable' enough but I did like the Trance - although the spec wasn't fantastic for the money, whereas I got £700 off the Zesty (this years bike of course) and it ended up a no brainer. The Lapierre is brilliant and just suits me so much better than the other two. It also looks fantastic (to my eyes anyway...)
I recently purchased a Banshee Rune v2 with a fairly solid build (180mm Fox Floats etc etc)
I am super happy with it, running a 2x10 drivetrain.
I don't know if it would be in budget over there, however the point of my post, a word on 2x10 from my experience (I also have it on my hardtail with a near identical range)
If you commute on the road, or ride on the road it may be under geared. I run 26/39 front and an 11-36 cassette I think and I often pedal out. 32kmh is basically as fast as it will go on the flat. Well as fast as I can make it go!
I tolerate it on the Banshee but on my hardtail, it's annoying. I would really like say a 26/44 chain ring setup I think, but then due to direct mount front mechs and the limited options, and then the jump between the chain-rings it all seems to be too hard!
ps. I prefer 26" wheels still and have them on both my bikes. The Rune (along with most modern Banshees) is compatible for 26 and 650b however if you wish due to switchable dropouts
I am super happy with it, running a 2x10 drivetrain.
I don't know if it would be in budget over there, however the point of my post, a word on 2x10 from my experience (I also have it on my hardtail with a near identical range)
If you commute on the road, or ride on the road it may be under geared. I run 26/39 front and an 11-36 cassette I think and I often pedal out. 32kmh is basically as fast as it will go on the flat. Well as fast as I can make it go!
I tolerate it on the Banshee but on my hardtail, it's annoying. I would really like say a 26/44 chain ring setup I think, but then due to direct mount front mechs and the limited options, and then the jump between the chain-rings it all seems to be too hard!
ps. I prefer 26" wheels still and have them on both my bikes. The Rune (along with most modern Banshees) is compatible for 26 and 650b however if you wish due to switchable dropouts
For the riding you describe I'd buy a hard tail. That sort of riding I have been doing for the last decade on my steel Inbred with 100mm travel fork. I've just gone all out and ordered a 456ti EVO to replace it with a 130mm fork, should eat up trail centres XC type stuff perfectly. Unless you ride rocky trails all the time rear suspension just saps your energy.
P-Jay said:
12-38 Cassette is a pretty standard size.
My anti-650b gland it twitching to let off another tirade, but I'm holding back for now.
Try a 29'er at least they offer a meaningful difference to 26, unlike the 27.1" personally I found them numb on rocks, slow to turn and hard to accelerate, but a mate has one and tells me my 26'er loses speed like I've deployed a parachute on rocks, jittery on fast bends and loses too much momentum.
My anti-650b gland it twitching to let off another tirade, but I'm holding back for now.
Try a 29'er at least they offer a meaningful difference to 26, unlike the 27.1" personally I found them numb on rocks, slow to turn and hard to accelerate, but a mate has one and tells me my 26'er loses speed like I've deployed a parachute on rocks, jittery on fast bends and loses too much momentum.
Psimpson7 said:
If you commute on the road, or ride on the road it may be under geared. I run 26/39 front and an 11-36 cassette I think and I often pedal out. 32kmh is basically as fast as it will go on the flat. Well as fast as I can make it go!
Sorry, I had to check this as I'm considering gearing for 1x10. On 26"x2.25" 32kph works out at 71rpm cadence, 90rpm would be 40kmh. [Bikecalc figures]Your smallest sprocket may be a 12? (32kph = 78rpm)
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