VT-2

I have done a bit of window shopping or more accurately online browsing myself. Anything trail bike and in L seem to be a problem overall from most brands. Like I said earlier - the seed is definitely planted and I am getting convinced to upgrade - but man the market and industry is not in a good place nevermind the economy. So there are a lot of things that might still justify an upgrade on my current bike even if it is just to see if things get better in the next year or two...

Haha - probably true...but there is the small problem of budget and money available. A new bike will probably have to wait until the end of November when I receive my extra check. Which gives me enough time to shop around for upgrades / demo new bikes and make a final decision. I am definitely getting convinced a 29er and even just the newer geometry is worth the upgrade - but I am still a bit unsure about travel and if it should be a 40k or 65k bike. With the 40k stuff buying you the frame but basically everything else almost a downgrade / sidegrade from what I have now (although a lot of bikes seem to come with dropper now and mine is an old giant from that period). Whilst the 65k bikes at least have or are close to the specs tested in shootouts and have stuff that is at the same level or better than my current bike. I mean I want at least Deore and not be stuck with another below average fork.

Another great reply - thank you! TheBob also recommended I check out the Trek's at Wolwespruit. I also thought clicking on the website that Top sound exactly like the new down-country craze and more towards the XC side on things. But, the reviews I glanced at (will go read in more detail) basically confirm what you said - very capable going down despite the short travel. It would be nice if the shop there had a Top and the more mid travel Fuel. I get the impression from the Facebook / website that is is mostly demo Tops. But, I will go check with them one day in the week after work... The riding I like is the sort of flowing stuff you find at Wolwespruit and trails that have berms, jumps, drops and other obstacles that is challenging but not straight down, table-top, gap clearing hospital stuff. I basically want to be able to just do that as confident as possible and push / progress to doing them proper justice. So, maybe I don't need an Trance X of Specialised SJ Evo...I have not heard from these guys yet? Do they pedal like say my bike / 2015 trail bikes but with all the benefits of what you get with a longer travel trail bike in 2022?

Cool - the boost forks are mostly all the new ones right? I don't know if a new fork is really worth it unless you can get it for under 10k...What is "boost" wheels? Those that allow bigger tyres? I talked to the mechanic at the LBS where I dropped the bike to fix two tyres about a potential upgrade of the rims enabling me to run fatter tyres - not sure what else that involves. (He suggested it could along with 1x12 be good upgrades).

I think something along these lines must be the next step. I will go try the Treks at Wolwe...Only way you will know for sure, but I have a feeling the immediate impressions might also override some logic.

Thanks this is really valuable and exactly what I was hoping to get. Like someone suggested maybe I should just go demo a Trek at Wolwespuit or these modern trail bikes. But good to see that upgrades also really made a difference. I am around 1.8 so not in the 1.87 camp where a 29er might be a more natural fit. I did Jonkershoek about two years ago again on the Trance and again like you said it was more than capable enough. I also just don't like the idea of a 29er and is very tempted to just not get it because they seem to be such a blunt way to compensate for skill and technical terrain - but then again I want to be more confident and like any sport why buckle at progression filtering down and making things easier... So judging by your feedback even although the 27.5 was nimble and gave lekker feedback on the trail - the 29er was just as fun and have made you more confident going down technical stuff? I can upgrade the Trance with say a Pike (5K or so for old one) and let say wheels and maybe drive train for let's say 15k. Or sell the bike - for what 10-15k? Then buy a 45k bike (SJ Alloy or Giant Trance) which will give me the better geometry and modern designs but as far as I can tell even worse compromise parts then the sort of stuff you used to get (the value for money proposition seemed to have really dropped in this regard from 7 years ago). But...all said probably a better ride? Or go up one level and get the Trance X and SJ Evo Alloy stuff at around 65K? The carbon stuff just seem like dirt bike prices (btw all three my dirt bikes where cheaper and that includes two KTMs and a Husqvarna) and for 100k you can get an e-bike.

Cool, thanks for the in depth feedback. I will go double check the setup on the current bike. Pretty sure it might be a 10 spd Deore 11-46 anyway - all I know when I did it was that the bike shop convinced me to change from the old setup and that is was possible without having to replace everything. I actually started out back in the day with a Giant VT-2 all-mountain bike when most people where still on hardtails and full-suspension just becoming more common. Didn't know any better and did marathon and half-marathon races with the bike and got some pretty damn good results considering. Then the pros were all still on hardtails and just starting to switch to full-suspension. When some friends started mountain biking it got more competitive and I wanted something more suitable for the race scene and got the Anthem X1 (all XT parts). It felt awesome and really worked for racing (always seeded group A-C at worse) but never felt very confident going downhill. Got the Trance X 2 in 2015 and have never really worried about race performance (then raced less because friends moved / stopped mtb and was happy to just do it for fun). I actually also got it because then the whole enduro thing was becoming bigger and I wanted in after doing a Hakahana event on the Anthem and realising this is not the way to go...I have never been back to Enduro racing despite getting the Anthem since it never really seemed to fit Gauteng... So, whilst I think it is fair to say I have never felt the Trance was too little bike for my bravery / riding style / technique and it was a massive improvement going downhill and I am very happy with its all round-performance - it always felt that it could be a bit more secure / stable going downhill. The fork despite not bottoming out never felt like it was really meant for this bike... I guess what I am trying to say is I am not going to do enduro racing or approach say Wolwespruit like an Enduro rider - but I want to be able to have a rig / improvement that makes me fairly confident at the sort of aggressive trail riding end of the spectrum. I mean I did all the black at Wolwespuit from the start (not that it is super technical and the current supertube runs can be done rolling to Greg Minaar balls to the wall style) on the Trance. Not sure if it means an upgrade, new bike or just some jump / drop-off / technical riding practice and classes...

A couple of people have suggested a fork upgrade. The fork never got good reviews back in the day and was first on most lists for upgrading. What do I need to know when upgrading and what is typically available in RSA? I assume 2nd hand makes most sense? Back in the day many on the interwebs preferred a RS Pike Solo 150mm if I recall... (I assume it has to be a 27.5 fork around 140mm to 160mm and probably a 34-36 - again the 32 was a criticism on the bike - and the offset doesn't matter that much but ideal if can match?)

Yeah, first things I got back in 2015 was a dropper and flat pedals. Really enjoy both especially the flat pedals. Changed the drive train pre-Covid to what the shifters and most of the exsisting components could accomodate (apart from new casette and blade upfront) but definitely 1 x 12 is first on the list for next upgrade.

Eish, good advice but hard to follow the last part Although I did not look for 7 years...

I hear you and is more or less on the same page. But, I want to hear from those that did change to the slacker, new geo and longer travel newer trail bikes if that made any difference to their riding at say a Wolwespruit. (I have done all the black lines with my bike and don't just slowly roll every jump although I by no means is Greg Minaaring down them either or have any great desire at 40+ years)

Haha - deserve it! I think I only got the header right and from there on it was "trials" all the way. Even riding "trials" in Pta Will edit it tomorrow...

I realised my Giant Trance 2 27.5 (2015) is about seven years old. I have not really looked seriously at new bikes mostly because I ride on my own the trails around Pretoria (love Wolwespruit in particular) and don't do events. If there is one thing that have kept me from the temptation is has been the prices - but that is another story. This is however the longest I have gone without a new bike. Whilst there is nothing in particular wrong with the Trance, I am looking again at the bike market. Apart from the absolute shock in terms of price and value for money (the components are average on 60k+ bikes) - I have also noticed there seem to be less choice with almost none of the brands you see in shootouts available in South Africa. Especially if you like trail bikes...But that is a whole discussion on its own... I want to rather focus on what the new trail bikes can do compared to a 2015 Trance. Mine is still standard apart from the drive train which I changed two years ago to a single 10 speed. First, it seems most of the traill bikes are now 29ers. Second that you still basically get an average trail bike (130-140mm) and a more aggressive trail bike (close to enduro / all mountain 150mm-160mm machines) - but now also the so-called "down-country" bikes. I am only interested in the trail to more aggressive trail bikes. I see you also get "chips" and all sorts of settings that enable you to change the geometry on the trails. Anything I missed? I want to know from trial riders or people that had a trail bike from say 2015-2018 and then replaced / added a more recent bike (2019-2022) like say a Giant Trance X or the Specialised SJ Evo (aggressive trail bikes). However, I would also like to hear from the people that stayed more or less in the 130-140mm range from 2019-2022 - it might be the equivalent of my bike then. (1) How much have the bikes improved in technology and does it make a difference to you riding ability and technical progression compared to you older bike? (2) Is it more fun? One criticism of all these new 29er trail bikes and especially the long travel bikes is that they are so forgiving and capable that they actually require bigger and more dangerous riding to stay fun. In other words the actual trial experience is soaked up in all the travel and tech. Also that people don't learn proper skills on them but I don't want to get into the philosophy and the pro / cons of this approach in the industry...Rather given the trails and activities in your area and what we typically find in South Africa are you having more fun? Progressing your skills? Why? (3) Personally I am not sure if it worth upgrading to a 29er between 120-140mm. I think it might be better to just upgrade my drive train (12 speed) and my wheels (bigger and better hubs for wider tyre coverage) and maybe call it a day. Ideally I would like to upgrade the fork but 2nd hand forks in RSA is a mission and often way overpriced. It is almost cheaper to just buy a 2nd hand 34 140mm-160mm bike than go shopping for such a fork. Now the Trance X type of bikes look like something that might be worth the upgrade...Opinions? *Disclaimer 1: It seems like a horrible time to buy new now given the state of the industry, South African market and our economic prospects - but lets put that aside and say there is money for a new bike. * Disclaimer 2: The obvious best way to know is to go ride a few bikes, do demo days (if you still get those) and / or make new mtb friends and borrow their bikes. But some desktop research will not hurt...

I ordered Freerider Elements from CRC yesterday lunch (R 1330 with DHL shipping option). This morning DHL phoned me to let me know shoes are at customs and need payment for clearance. Stoked! ...until I opened the DHL customs invoice - R 710 - ouch! Hmm, at the end pretty close to the local prices - I guess without DHL shipping you safe a R200-R300 more... Any way - CRC are running a special on a lot of five-ten shoes including the Impacts...size could be problem with more popular models and colours. Lol, might have jumped the gun a bit on the shoes, since I must still decide on the new bike (Trance 2 vs Reign 2, vs well not much close price wise), but hoping all comes together for nice mtb holiday end of month in Cape Town. Also thinking of going Saints...

The Reign is so tempting but for Pta/Jhb where I will have to do the majority of my riding, it is probably too much bike... (LOL, although my old Giant VT2 was probably way less efficient and heavier and that did not bother me when I had that bike and entered all sorts of 1/2 marathon and marathon races...but it did lead me to eventually get an Anthem 26er which was great for racing, but almost immediately made me enjoy downhill section less and have less confidence. I also leade quickly to being content riding my local spots - mostly xc trails in Pta - and not finding new exciting or challenging venues) http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/freeride-full-suspension/giant/vt-2/prd_363246_1543crx.aspx Guys, in you experience have the lbs swapped out the "upgraded" forks (pay in difference), given 50% discount on current but pay full for Pike or how have you negotiated the fork "upgrade" if you have gotten it from the start?