Should I........

[mk1fan]

....... change my 17.5-inch Stiffee for a 15.5-inch version now?

She's been (and still is) an awesome ride but since the Pikes have gone on I want to rag her harder and their higher A-C height has closed the top-tube to nuts gap to almost zero. And I haven't wound them up to the 140mm travel yet (brake hose issue which has led to ... oh just wait for the post).

Now She's due for retirement after this years Morzine trip. 5-years hard riding and too many big offs have taken their toll on both of us so I'd rather part on 'good' terms, so to speak.

Here are the choices following her retirement:

Replace her with an '08 version brand new and innocent Stiffee (but 15.5-inch).

Replace her with an '08 Commencal Meta 5.5 frameset (oh my god what sort of a mess am I going to make of myself riding one of those beauties).

Replace her with an '08 Hustler (same as above).

Replace her with an '09 Huslter (same as above).

Replace her with an '08 Lapierre Zesty (same as above).

Or....

Wait for it.....

Replace her with a Hummer or, dare I say it, a Ti On-One Inbred 456.

Though there do seem to be a glut of s/h 15.5 Stiffee's on the market at the moment and they're soooooo tempting.

Help is required or I would / will just buy all of them and hang the financial consequences.

[pastrana72]

HUMMER,

if it was me, ( and if i could afford it, still saving for it, as my stiffee replacement in a few years)

09 hustler, is that when the new design comes out. Looks Cool.

Know where there is a brand new 15.5" Stiffee FR in black, sitting at present for sale and a Foreplay MX new too. (Friends shop)

[sjg]

My money would go on a Dialled Alpine or Cotic BFe, but really any of those would do great.

Edited by sjg on Thursday 13th March 23:23

[GHW]

You're taking the Stiffee back to Morzine again? I thought after your trip last year you said you'd be on something bouncier next time?

(just asking 'cos I'm wondering if it'd be a little bit tooooo silly to take my hardtail this year )

[atom111]

No No No not on an on-one please no............

This is a good time to review needs and maybe get two bikes:-

Dialled Alpine would be good for the long travel 160mm and a Hummer for more XC work as it goes to 130mm

Or

Hustler or Meta and a used 15.5 Stiffee for those hardtail moments.

I would find it hard now not to have a hardtail and a full suss as they are different machines and the hardtail helps to hone the skills to ride the full suss to it's potential. (that's what I found anyway)

[WildCards]

My way of thinking these days is to have (at least) two bikes. A 5/6" all mountain full bouncer for the long day rides, big hits of foreign trails and 'sessioning' as you enjoy and a light XC focused short travel (<100mm) HT for when you want speed & skill.

I rate my Meta extremely highly and the 5.5 gets superb feedback. They do a Meta 6 now, I think i'd go for that if I had my money again. The Lapierre looks the biz, but I haven't heard alot about them, they don't look as solid as the Commencal though IMO.

[EDIT] I'd get a Meta 6 & a Boardman Pro/RL Tig Team or equivalent

Edited by WildCards on Friday 14th March 09:54

[mk1fan]

GHW said:

You're taking the Stiffee back to Morzine again? I thought after your trip last year you said you'd be on something bouncier next time?

(just asking 'cos I'm wondering if it'd be a little bit tooooo silly to take my hardtail this year )

I was going to get a Hustler or a Meta 5.5 for this years trip but I'm having so much fun on the Stiffee I feel I don't need to go the FS route.

I don't think it's silly to take a HT to Morzine - depends on what you want to do there. If you're wanting to challenge for the DH record then a HT isn't the right tool for the job, whereas hooning around the trails a HT is fine.

[mk1fan]

pastrana72 said:

Know where there is a brand new 15.5" Stiffee FR in black

I may get a used 15.5-inch to see if the size fits better first. And there's one going for £162 at the mo which may well find its way into my fold.

I'm liking the two trail bikes idea. Hmmmmm Stiffee and a Hustler.

[atom111]

Wildcards - think you are spot on that's pretty much what i've done with my fleet it's hard to get one bike to do it all and you do need some variety.

I do find it takes me time to adjust back to the short travel hardtail after riding the bouncer, and longer travel HT though

mk1fan - you may need to use the Five at some point either on Whites or Coed, HT is fun the FS can be more fun I reckon it could turn you. I hope it's dryish tomorrow so we can do that run again and see what the performance delta is if any, if none then stick with HT. Last time the bikes were more like for like.

[GHW]

mk1fan said:

I don't think it's silly to take a HT to Morzine - depends on what you want to do there. If you're wanting to challenge for the DH record then a HT isn't the right tool for the job, whereas hooning around the trails a HT is fine.

Pleney & Les Chavannes-type trails are my usual fare over in Morzine (none of the world cup scary vertical rock death runs) so nothing too incredibly taxing.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[neil_bolton]

WildCards said:

I rate my Meta extremely highly and the 5.5 gets superb feedback. They do a Meta 6 now, I think i'd go for that if I had my money again. The Lapierre looks the biz, but I haven't heard alot about them, they don't look as solid as the Commencal though IMO

Meta 6, the angles are all wrong - they made the angles steeper, and put extra sag in the shock i order to get the angles back, meaning you ended up with a heavier bike, with the same travel as the 5.5. Doesn't make sense, and got sgged in the media as a result.

The 08' 5.5 is the one to go for over the 6 - if I can get my greasy paws on a 08' 5.5 I'll upgrade my 07, however, the 07 5.5 - as backed up by MBUK - is the one to go for.

I can't comment on the other bikes having not riden them, but my Meta is simply the ruthless Porsche 997 Turbo - does it stupidly well and without fuss.

I'd recommend

ETA: My Meta is set up for tougher XC riding - I'm intending on using it at the Megavalanche, and so its built in mind for that. If that doesn't give you peace of mind in my recommendation of something tough and worth hammering - what does!!!

[mk1fan]

Well, I got the XC bike already - the S-Works FSR - which is great. Now just need to man up and get two Trail bike frames.

[mk1fan]

Two trail bikes. Possible choices:

HT's - From Cove Stiffee, Handjob, Hummer. From Dialled Prince Albert, Alpine. From On-One Inbred 456, Ti 456. From Pipedream Sirius. Running my Talas 130mm forks.

FS - Cove Hustler, Commencal Meta 5.5, Orange Five, Pipedream Torero, Lapierre Zesty. Running my Pikes.


Hmmmmmmmm I'd don't think my wallet could take it if I got a Hummer and a Hustler!!!

Edited by mk1fan on Friday 14th March 10:59

[-C-]

If you have the XC bike, I'd look for a more fun orientated FS trail bike, rather than something thats basically an XC FS thats going to scare the hell out of you as soon as it points downwards.

What sort of budget?

[mk1fan]

First you make the choice, then you find the money. That way you get what you want!!!!

[-C-]

Thats my theory too!

Based on personal experience, the Santa Cruz Blur 4X. If I was ever in a position where I could only have one bike, it would be my only choice.

Good build, now have decent sealed bearings, VPP suspension works well. They ride great with forks at 100mm, and when things get nasty pointing down, I have run mine at 140-150mm & its just as good.

I genuinely believe its not possible to have a bike thats great at everything due to the massive diversity of riding styles now, but for me, this is as close as it gets

[pastrana72]

mk1fan said:

Hmmmmmmmm I'd don't think my wallet could take it if I got a Hummer and a Hustler!!!

Edited by mk1fan on Friday 14th March 10:59

but fun trying to stretch it,

I have ridden both, and would still go for the hummer, it is stunning, feels like a FS.

[mk1fan]

It's always fun trying to make it stretch.

[Nick_F]

This isn't STW, so we don;t have to come over all weird about On-One, but why would you have a 456 on your list instead of a ScandAl?

Frame strength? Fork travel requirement? Iron fetish? Or something else?

[mk1fan]

I have a short travel (80mm) XC bike already and that isn't being retired. I am replacing my Trail / All Mountain steed with similar. So I'm looking at 5 or 6-inch travel HT's and FS's. Weight isn't really an issue either, anywhere near the 30lb mark is fine by me. They're the reasons I wouldn't consider a Scandel.

To be honest - and I already own an Inbred commuter - it isn't going to be an On-One. I've kinda already made up my mind on that.

I'm really warming to the two frames idea. Stiffee and a Meta 5.5 is what's settling in my mind.

Edited by mk1fan on Friday 14th March 22:30