Made a mistake and test road new bikes

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tnkayaker

tnkayaker

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Mar 30, 2008
Threads
22
Messages
498
Location
Asheville, NC
So, I went to a mtb festival yesterday and road a couple of bikes, about 3 miles each. Some climbing and some technical descending. The new bikes are amazing. The last bike I bought was in 08, Fisher Hifi. I was very impressed with the climbing ability of the 150mm enduro bikes. Now I want a new ride and need some perspective.

I'm looking for thoughts on moving from 26 to 29 or 27.5? For perspective I'm 6'4" and 195. I would also like a little more "over the mountain" or Enduro geometry. I live in Asheville, NC and don't shuttle rides. I prefer aluminum so I can get higher end components.

I like the Pivot mach 6 but wonder if I would like a 29er better. I'm not married to the Pivot but like the specs on the switch blade and the mach 429 but don't know if either is too much of a compromise because of the dual wheel size compatibility.

Help me spend some money.
 
I lean the other way. I was doing a charity ride two years ago, broke a derailleur hanger and got to ride a very similar newer 29er version of my 26" bike for a full day. It may roll over more things, but I prefer how much more nimble the 26 is. I'm only 5'10" though. However, since 26" parts are becoming next to impossible to find, I'd feel like the 27.5/650B is the safer option for support down the road.

I tried out two different downhill bikes this year that were both 27.5, they rode fine, but downhill is a different beast entirely.
 
There's not much true downhill near me so I'm not going to be looking at those. I also don't want a purely XC bike. I would like to ride some of the more technical descents that are on the trails in my area.

The reviews of the Yeti SB5.5 are very compelling. I'll be taking one of those for a demo in the days to come.
 
You really need to spend sometime demoing a few bikes. I went from 26 to 27.5 to a 29er, then back to 27.5 for my main bike. Still have a 29er rigid for bikepacking and commuting.

I really enjoyed the rollover of the 29er, it made choosing lines super easy. But, I always felt really tall on the bike and kinda tippy.

After going back to 27.5, that feeling went away and I don't really miss the bigger wheels. But, like most things it's all relative to the riders own opinion.
 
Tell Wes and Sam hello.............. both great shops

Maybe look at a 27.5+. Gobs of traction, almost the same circumference as a 29'r.
I have a Rocky Mountain Pipeline on order. Riding an EVIL Following right now, for over a year, which I'll probably keep.

If you're interested in trying the Pipeline, you're welcome to take mine out.
 
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The world of bikes is changing so much right now that it is not even funny. TRAIL bikes are the new do-it-all genre that most of the companies are focusing on as they are slightly longer travel than their XC brethren verging on AM lengths but still have the climbing ability of the XC bikes but also can descend like demons.

With that said, I think that @dukmon is right.... Go for something that is considered a 27.5+ bike as you can also run standard 29er tires/rims in the arches. From there you should start really thinking about what you want to do with the bike, budget and specific kits you want as many of the bikes are all coming with high-end 1x drivetrains. And the only real way to figure out what you like is to get out there and ride!!!!!
 
There are just so many options out there. I'm not a pure XC or DH. Guess that would put me in the trial/enduro category. I would like to ride technical descents but be able to climb. @dukmon With my family situation I don't get to Pisgah proper on a regular basis. So most of my rides are at Bent Creek because it's close to home.

Budget depends. I have my BMW GS up for sale to fund this so it could be in the 5-6K range.
 
So basically, you want a bike that can cover miles and handle most anything to include going up and down with a super hero demeanor. And not be beat up at the end of the day. Right?

That's easy. I swear, most every company has their suspension so dialed in right now it's crazy. Bikes with 160mm ride better than those with 100mm from just 5 years ago. These days, the biggest factor influencing climbing is the head tube angle, for a lot of bikes.

You would be really safe shooting for a 140/150mm bike or even less, and at that dollar range you can buy one with great components that's weigh about 28#s or less.

That Pipeline I mentioned is a great bike. A NORCO Sight (carbon for 2017) is a great one. Transitions Smuggler, Scout or Patrol are nice options. All of these come with 1X drivetrains. EVIL, YETI, KONA and others are great too. Those really big brands have it dialed in too, I'm just not a big brand type of guy.

I haven't been fully swayed by the 27.5 wheels, I'm really in the 29 camp. I am willing to try out the 27.5+ though (Pipeline.) A friend of mine is riding one and I think it's super. So I ordered one. Something about those big damn tires!
 
You nailed it. I was fat, dumb and happy with my fisher until I road something new. My world was changed.

Being 6'4 everyone is telling me 29, but the BMXer in me wants a smaller wheel. That might be the beauty of the 27.5+. I don't really want those wide tires though.
 
Yeah, @dukmon pretty much nailed it on the head. Right now seems like somewhere between 66.5 and 68.5* headtube angle is the key. Then you couple that with something like a 140 front 130 rear travel bike and you have a demon like no other. I am riding a Stumpy FSR clone that is about a generation old, running at 140/130 with a 67* head angle and a longish wheelbase and this thing freakin rocks my world every damn time I ride it. It climbs better than my 100mm XC steel hardtail did on its best days and then turns around and descents like a raped ape!

At 6' tall and 31" inseam I should really be riding something like a 27.5 or a medium 29er but the large just fits me well and I can throw the bike around without issue. Take a look at what demos you have around you and then just start writing down bikes in your $$$ range and checking them off the list.

Stuff I would recommend looking to try....
- Giant Trance 27.5
- Giant Anthem X (newest iteration)
- Trek Remedy
- Trek Slash
- Spesh Stumpy
- Kona 111
- Kona 154
- Norco Optic
- Norco Sight
- Ghost AMR
- Ghost SLAMR
- Scott Genius
- Scott Genius LT
Those are all things you should be able to easily find in your area pretty much regardless of where you are. Don't let the travel numbers scare you, bikes don't ride like they used to with the same numbers. When I switched to my current trail bike I figured that 140mm up front was going to feel like riding a damn chopper, but in reality it puts you into a more natural riding position and you can easily get into an attack mode.

Oh yeah, INVEST IN A DROPPER!!!! Some of the best money you will spend regardless of the bike. If you do much of anything other than pure, flat XC racing you will not know how you got by without one.
 
Drop is on the list. On my test ride I forgot that it had one and had to stop to put it down. This made me realize used my thighs to grip the seat and throw he bike around. The new geometry seems to want you to stand to climb.

OK, now what about flat peddles? I ride egg beaters currently. That might be a whole other thing.
 
I don't necessarily think that the new geometry requires that you stand to climb. I have been a seated climber the entire time and even with my Thumper I am able to climb some pretty steep sections in the seated position. For that though, it really depends on the angle of the seat tube.

Well coming from just breaking my leg and destroying my ankle because I was unable to unclip this summer I am looking at the following: SPANK Spike or Oozy, Chromag Contact, XPedo Spry, DMR Vault and possibly something from HT components (like the AE01) all depends on what budget and "frills" you are looking for. Spank are a well known brand and pedal and LOTS of people love them. for me I am looking for something that is going to be fairly thin but have pins that are easily interchangeable.
 
Sold the motorcycle yesterday so something new is in my future. I really like the Yeti SB5.5 and SB6, the Kona Process 153 and Pivot 429. I would like to stay below 4k so that rules out the Pivot and Yeti.
 
tnkayaker said:
Sold the motorcycle yesterday so something new is in my future. I really like the Yeti SB5.5 and SB6, the Kona Process 153 and Pivot 429. I would like to stay below 4k so that rules out the Pivot and Yeti.
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That is unless you can find a 2016MY version and get it on close out?! My area has lots of rental shops and with snow season coming quickly they are clearing out their demo fleets right now for dirt cheap. Might be something to look into.
 
That's true. I didn't think about that. I'll be hitting up some of the shops with nice rental fleets this weekend.

I haven't noticed any MY16 sales online yet and my the LBS don't typically stock these bikes in XL.
 
Yeah depending on how much you REALLY want one you may be better off doing some traveling to find your size.
Out of the ones you picked, and specifically just from reading reviews and specs, I would go with the Pivot 429 Trail. Seems like an absolutely sick bike!
 
tnkayaker said:
Actually the LBS mechanic has the 429 with I9 wheels he'll let go for 4K. I need to go check that out tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me about that.
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Ladies and Gentlemen I think we have a WINNER!! Hell with I9 wheels that is a pretty smoking deal!
 
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