born-again-biker
Is looking for a 16" bar
So, I was gonna wait another month or two before doing this, but a couple of things have just happened that might force my hand.
If you don't like 29ers then move along, nothing to see here.
If you don't like analysing the fine details of each bike, move along NTSH.
For everyone else, I need your usual well considered, mature, polite, intelligent opinions for next bike purchase
There are no bad bikes here and I know any of 'em would be great....but I enjoy the shopping process a little too much! I cannot demo any of these bikes because a) I live in Tas. b) I need an XL.
@Zaf and @Oddjob - I value your experience & bike knowledge....but if you turn this into yet another argument over who's nuts are fuzzier, so-help-me, I'm gonna drive to Alice Springs & cut your fuggen' gearbox in half with a cordless angle grinder and piss on your keyboard.
The brief:
I live in Tas. I ride a diverse range of terrain.
Launceston XC trails/The Juggernaut/Blue Derby/Maydena/Blackwood Creek/Kelcey Tiers...plus a few more. I dipped my toe in the local Enduro racing this year & I loved it. I wanna do more Enduro-Bro!
The right bike needs to be a reasonable climber too. Seriously. We all love descending the most....but sometimes I go riding all day & there's always a couple of long climbs somewhere in the mix.
(Before you reply with the whole n+1 thing....There will be a semi-burly hard-tail in my future (hopefully next year)....but right now (or for this Summer) I need one bike that's good at lots of things.
I'm 6'3" (190.5 cms) and about 100 kgs kitted up. Long arms, long legs.
(My old ride was a 140mm, 27.5 XL Trance with upgraded wheels, fork, brakes and 185mm dropper. I loved it for it's sheer versatility and reliability....but it's time to step it up a notch)
Budget?
$5k loaded in the chamber ready to go. (could scratch up a bit more over the next few months...but $6k would be a hard-limit).
The Rules (non-negotiable):
- Must have wagon wheels (it's just an itch I need to scratch, not a lifetime commitment).
- Must have more than 490mm of frame reach.
- Must have 66 degree HA or less.
- Cannot be Giant or Specialized.....but ALL other bikes considered without any brand prejudice. i.e. - I'm trying to look at this purely on geo numbers, VFM, ride reviews and whatever RB tells me to do.
The Rules (flexible):
- Prefer Aluminium (but have resigned myself to carbon if all the boxes are ticked...)
- Prolly needs at least 140mm of frame travel...120mm wouldn't be 'nuff.....but 165 is getting silly.
- More stack height is better, but I can fiddle with bar/stem combos.
Shortlist:
#1
2019 Scott Genius 920 or 930.
Pros:
- Swiss Army Knife.
- Twin-lock + light frame makes good climbing.
- 65 HA & long reach makes good descending.
- 150mm travel is the 'goldilocks' IMO.
- Can run fat 27.5's if I wanna switch back & forth.
- If I can stretch the $$, the upper models have a new adjustable volume spacer on the rear shock which adds even more versatility (admittedly it could be a gimmick).
Cons:
- Complexity. It's covered in fancy, push-button shit. That's more shit to break.
- Proprietary suspension tune & spare parts.
- Bushes in the rear triangle might be fragile?
- VFM is only OK. Some of the spec is a bit 'wtf'?
- The lycra gang love them.
#2
2019 Kona Process 153 29
Pros:
- Big, burly, good descender, stiffness. Built to last the apocalypse.
- Would likely push me to go harder, bigger, faster.
- Loooong XL frame.
- Really short CS's should make the ride a little more playful (for a boat)??
- Seems like good VFM....but I haven't seen the 2019 pricing yet.
- Lifetime warranty on aluminium frames.
- Local dealer is running a promo where pre-ordered Kona's get free Chromag bars, stem, grips and pedals & a Maydena shuttle day thrown in.
Cons:
- The internet says it's heavier than an Egyptian Pyramid. (but there is a slightly lighter carbon option)
- I'm worried it would be a slow, dead, pig on less demanding stuff and would only come alive when you're absolutely pinning it.
- Internet says 51mm offset fork is, like, sooo last season.
#3
@beeb's Ibis Ripmo is for sale
https://www.rotorburn.com/forums/index.php?threads/ibis-ripmo.312825/
Pros:
- Super capable. Prolly has similar versatility to the Genius?
- Internet seems to love it.
- 'goldilocks' geo numbers...?
Cons:
- @hifiandmtb would prolly fly down for a 'ride date' and then steal it when I wasn't looking.
- Carbon .....I crash into stuff pretty regularly.
- Very low bottom bracket.
- Prolly too boutique for an old hack like me.
- I'd blow my budget to buy an incomplete bike. That's OK I s'pose....but it would take more time & money before I was back on the trails.
Honorable mentions (or the 'B" list):
- YT Capra 29
(great value, internet loves it....but prolly too much bike for a lot of trails? Friggin' burly sled??)
- Transition Sentinel (I love it....but same as Capra, and prolly above budget)
- Transition Smuggler (Very tempting, would almost be The Unicorn....but not Maydena worthy?...and budget/VFM as above)
- Guerrilla Gravity The Smash
(budget....and sizing)
- Rocky Instinct
(very versatile, but XL reach is only a smidge over 480mm. VFM is OK, but not amazing. Local RM dealer is a champion and puts a lot of time & money back into the local scene. Every Tom, Dick & Harry rides a RM 'round here.)
- Cannondale Jekyll 29
(versatile, but geo is weird. No Aluminium option)
- Norco Range 29
(Was an early contender - great VFM but not enough reach. Internet says it's a bit 'lifeless'...?)
- Pole Evolink 140
(I dunno. Haven't looked into it much. They kind of intimidate me. Not playful on mellow trails. And I'd prolly run outta money before I got it built. (My mate @Ezkaton would slap me for writing this!)
- NukeProof Mega 290
(good value, but prolly same as Capra & Sentinel - one-trick pony. Not known for climbing ability?)
- Vitus Escarpe VRX 29
(won the UK Trail Bike of the Year 2018. Geo & VFM looks great....but even a tight-arse pleb like me finds it hard to get excited about a Vitus)
- Banshee Prime
(I wanna buy a Banshee so bad, but their reach numbers are very conservative, and HA is "only" 67. I see a Banshee in my future....but maybe when they update their geo....)
So, whaddyareckon ?
I'm leaning towards the Genius.......
(I know, I know....Too Long, Didn't read)
If you don't like 29ers then move along, nothing to see here.
If you don't like analysing the fine details of each bike, move along NTSH.
For everyone else, I need your usual well considered, mature, polite, intelligent opinions for next bike purchase
There are no bad bikes here and I know any of 'em would be great....but I enjoy the shopping process a little too much! I cannot demo any of these bikes because a) I live in Tas. b) I need an XL.
@Zaf and @Oddjob - I value your experience & bike knowledge....but if you turn this into yet another argument over who's nuts are fuzzier, so-help-me, I'm gonna drive to Alice Springs & cut your fuggen' gearbox in half with a cordless angle grinder and piss on your keyboard.
The brief:
I live in Tas. I ride a diverse range of terrain.
Launceston XC trails/The Juggernaut/Blue Derby/Maydena/Blackwood Creek/Kelcey Tiers...plus a few more. I dipped my toe in the local Enduro racing this year & I loved it. I wanna do more Enduro-Bro!
The right bike needs to be a reasonable climber too. Seriously. We all love descending the most....but sometimes I go riding all day & there's always a couple of long climbs somewhere in the mix.
(Before you reply with the whole n+1 thing....There will be a semi-burly hard-tail in my future (hopefully next year)....but right now (or for this Summer) I need one bike that's good at lots of things.
I'm 6'3" (190.5 cms) and about 100 kgs kitted up. Long arms, long legs.
(My old ride was a 140mm, 27.5 XL Trance with upgraded wheels, fork, brakes and 185mm dropper. I loved it for it's sheer versatility and reliability....but it's time to step it up a notch)
Budget?
$5k loaded in the chamber ready to go. (could scratch up a bit more over the next few months...but $6k would be a hard-limit).
The Rules (non-negotiable):
- Must have wagon wheels (it's just an itch I need to scratch, not a lifetime commitment).
- Must have more than 490mm of frame reach.
- Must have 66 degree HA or less.
- Cannot be Giant or Specialized.....but ALL other bikes considered without any brand prejudice. i.e. - I'm trying to look at this purely on geo numbers, VFM, ride reviews and whatever RB tells me to do
.The Rules (flexible):
- Prefer Aluminium (but have resigned myself to carbon if all the boxes are ticked...)
- Prolly needs at least 140mm of frame travel...120mm wouldn't be 'nuff.....but 165 is getting silly.
- More stack height is better, but I can fiddle with bar/stem combos.
Shortlist:
#1
2019 Scott Genius 920 or 930.
Pros:
- Swiss Army Knife.
- Twin-lock + light frame makes good climbing.
- 65 HA & long reach makes good descending.
- 150mm travel is the 'goldilocks' IMO.
- Can run fat 27.5's if I wanna switch back & forth.
- If I can stretch the $$, the upper models have a new adjustable volume spacer on the rear shock which adds even more versatility (admittedly it could be a gimmick).
Cons:
- Complexity. It's covered in fancy, push-button shit. That's more shit to break.
- Proprietary suspension tune & spare parts.
- Bushes in the rear triangle might be fragile?
- VFM is only OK. Some of the spec is a bit 'wtf'?
- The lycra gang love them.
#2
2019 Kona Process 153 29
Pros:
- Big, burly, good descender, stiffness. Built to last the apocalypse.
- Would likely push me to go harder, bigger, faster.
- Loooong XL frame.
- Really short CS's should make the ride a little more playful (for a boat)??
- Seems like good VFM....but I haven't seen the 2019 pricing yet.
- Lifetime warranty on aluminium frames.
- Local dealer is running a promo where pre-ordered Kona's get free Chromag bars, stem, grips and pedals & a Maydena shuttle day thrown in.
Cons:
- The internet says it's heavier than an Egyptian Pyramid. (but there is a slightly lighter carbon option)
- I'm worried it would be a slow, dead, pig on less demanding stuff and would only come alive when you're absolutely pinning it.
- Internet says 51mm offset fork is, like, sooo last season.
#3
@beeb's Ibis Ripmo is for sale
https://www.rotorburn.com/forums/index.php?threads/ibis-ripmo.312825/
Pros:
- Super capable. Prolly has similar versatility to the Genius?
- Internet seems to love it.
- 'goldilocks' geo numbers...?
Cons:
- @hifiandmtb would prolly fly down for a 'ride date' and then steal it when I wasn't looking.
- Carbon .....I crash into stuff pretty regularly.
- Very low bottom bracket.
- Prolly too boutique for an old hack like me.
- I'd blow my budget to buy an incomplete bike. That's OK I s'pose....but it would take more time & money before I was back on the trails.
Honorable mentions (or the 'B" list):
- YT Capra 29
(great value, internet loves it....but prolly too much bike for a lot of trails? Friggin' burly sled??)
- Transition Sentinel (I love it....but same as Capra, and prolly above budget)
- Transition Smuggler (Very tempting, would almost be The Unicorn....but not Maydena worthy?...and budget/VFM as above)
- Guerrilla Gravity The Smash
(budget....and sizing)
- Rocky Instinct
(very versatile, but XL reach is only a smidge over 480mm. VFM is OK, but not amazing. Local RM dealer is a champion and puts a lot of time & money back into the local scene. Every Tom, Dick & Harry rides a RM 'round here.)
- Cannondale Jekyll 29
(versatile, but geo is weird. No Aluminium option)
- Norco Range 29
(Was an early contender - great VFM but not enough reach. Internet says it's a bit 'lifeless'...?)
- Pole Evolink 140
(I dunno. Haven't looked into it much. They kind of intimidate me. Not playful on mellow trails. And I'd prolly run outta money before I got it built. (My mate @Ezkaton would slap me for writing this!)
- NukeProof Mega 290
(good value, but prolly same as Capra & Sentinel - one-trick pony. Not known for climbing ability?)
- Vitus Escarpe VRX 29
(won the UK Trail Bike of the Year 2018. Geo & VFM looks great....but even a tight-arse pleb like me finds it hard to get excited about a Vitus)
- Banshee Prime
(I wanna buy a Banshee so bad, but their reach numbers are very conservative, and HA is "only" 67. I see a Banshee in my future....but maybe when they update their geo....)
So, whaddyareckon ?
I'm leaning towards the Genius.......
(I know, I know....Too Long, Didn't read)
