peachy
Ripe 'n ready!
Hello Farkiners of the old and Rotorburners of the new
I'm in the market for a new enduro bike and was seeking to gain some real world feedback from riders who have either ridden one or more of these bikes.
What I want in a bike: One that is relatively lightweight to account for my lack of fitness, one that pedals decently (again to account for my lack of fitness), and one that will allow me to push my boundaries. I want modern geo, slack, long, low. One that will let me wear goggles and my pyjamas whilst riding and which will allow me to use words such as "shred, loam, yeeeeow, yea boi, scrub, whip" etc
What I don't want: Not interested in a Reign. Not interested in used as I want warranty and to support a LBS and have them support me too. Not interested in online bikes either. I'm not interested in a 140/150mm bike like a Trek Remedy or Norco Sight; I currently have a Fuel Ex9 which is my trail bike and I feel as though they would be too similar.
What bikes I'm looking at: The three bikes I'm toying with are the 2016 Trek Slash 9.8, 2015 Devinci Spartan and 2016 Norco Range C7.2 - all of these can be had for under $7k which is where I want to keep my budget. I don't care if X bike is X cheaper, my only monetary criteria is that its under $7k - I would rather a $7k bike that I want than a $1k bike that is ok, ya feels?
To provide a really high level summary of what I've read about these bikes is:
Trek Slash - Really great all around enduro bike that doesn't mind less tame trails. Adjustable geo, lightweight at 12.7kg (without pedals) and lifetime warranty. Ugly as dogs balls, probably 2nd highest spec. In my mind this bike is a Camry of the enduro world, just gets it done without too much hassle and a great warranty.
Devinci Spartan Carbon - Really confused by some reviews, some say its a ploughmans bike, some say its poppy and playful, all say that it has pretty average pedaling ability and is quite weighty. Sizing is weird apparently with shorter top tubes than modern geo. No water bottle holder (yes that's important) and adjustable geo. Visually the bike gives me a very strange boner, I like it, but I don't. Canadian made, it's a Devinci (that apparently means something to some people) and has the lowest spec of the three. In my mind this is like buying a used sports saloon, probably a hell of a lot of fun but will have its quirks that'll piss me off.
Norco Range c.72 - All reviews are quite consistent in that its a rad descender and pedals quite well. It comes with the new 170mm lyrik fork (boner) and has the best Spec. The Cane Creek scares me though, too many fucking knobs - I have one knob I already play with too much I don't need a bazillion, wtf is low speed rebound, stfu. All reviewers said that the chain kept falling off, easy fix with guide though. I liken this car to a Golf GTI, well spec'd, good fun, but I'll look like a tosser.
I'm in the market for a new enduro bike and was seeking to gain some real world feedback from riders who have either ridden one or more of these bikes.
What I want in a bike: One that is relatively lightweight to account for my lack of fitness, one that pedals decently (again to account for my lack of fitness), and one that will allow me to push my boundaries. I want modern geo, slack, long, low. One that will let me wear goggles and my pyjamas whilst riding and which will allow me to use words such as "shred, loam, yeeeeow, yea boi, scrub, whip" etc
What I don't want: Not interested in a Reign. Not interested in used as I want warranty and to support a LBS and have them support me too. Not interested in online bikes either. I'm not interested in a 140/150mm bike like a Trek Remedy or Norco Sight; I currently have a Fuel Ex9 which is my trail bike and I feel as though they would be too similar.
What bikes I'm looking at: The three bikes I'm toying with are the 2016 Trek Slash 9.8, 2015 Devinci Spartan and 2016 Norco Range C7.2 - all of these can be had for under $7k which is where I want to keep my budget. I don't care if X bike is X cheaper, my only monetary criteria is that its under $7k - I would rather a $7k bike that I want than a $1k bike that is ok, ya feels?
To provide a really high level summary of what I've read about these bikes is:
Trek Slash - Really great all around enduro bike that doesn't mind less tame trails. Adjustable geo, lightweight at 12.7kg (without pedals) and lifetime warranty. Ugly as dogs balls, probably 2nd highest spec. In my mind this bike is a Camry of the enduro world, just gets it done without too much hassle and a great warranty.
Devinci Spartan Carbon - Really confused by some reviews, some say its a ploughmans bike, some say its poppy and playful, all say that it has pretty average pedaling ability and is quite weighty. Sizing is weird apparently with shorter top tubes than modern geo. No water bottle holder (yes that's important) and adjustable geo. Visually the bike gives me a very strange boner, I like it, but I don't. Canadian made, it's a Devinci (that apparently means something to some people) and has the lowest spec of the three. In my mind this is like buying a used sports saloon, probably a hell of a lot of fun but will have its quirks that'll piss me off.
Norco Range c.72 - All reviews are quite consistent in that its a rad descender and pedals quite well. It comes with the new 170mm lyrik fork (boner) and has the best Spec. The Cane Creek scares me though, too many fucking knobs - I have one knob I already play with too much I don't need a bazillion, wtf is low speed rebound, stfu. All reviewers said that the chain kept falling off, easy fix with guide though. I liken this car to a Golf GTI, well spec'd, good fun, but I'll look like a tosser.
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