Your Enduro ride

[jcmeyerSS]

black is for poor people....like me

yeah right. anodising can't be that much.

[RockCoach]

lekka sean....will look better than my current XT's and well its hope's

 

AND at that semi inducing price...it was a matter of 1-2-3 blok myself 

 

I can never ride anything else. Now that I know how it feels to have proper brake modulation.

 

Great thing is that every little part can be purchased separately and the brakes completely rebuilt. Another thing - we take care of all the Hope warranties which is really cool. But we hardly see any broken Hope stuff.

[jcmeyerSS]

today is the day. :drool: :drool:

[rouxtjie]

today is the day. :drool: :drool:

Pics...couch....

 

you know the drill

[jcmeyerSS]

Pics...couch....

 

you know the drill

as sson as i get home. i'll take pics. Can i use your couch? hahaha

[rouxtjie]

as sson as i get home. i'll take pics. Can i use your couch? hahaha

sure, if you can get past gladys

[NicoBoshoff]

So boys and girls (I think?).  Seems like, against all expectations, I am in the market for a new bike.

 

The idea is preferably to go frame only and then build up with a reasonable spec (focusing on wheels and suspension).  The new SLX 11 speed announcement has certainly shaken things up.

 

I am 90% sure I want to go 29'er.  I love the big wheels and have been on them for all my riding life (a whopping three years...).

 

However, if I can't find the right frame I'll consider a full build in either 29 or 650b.

 

If I go 650B I'm thinking Kona Process 153, BUT it's a bike I'll have to rely entirely on reviews since test fleets are non-existent and I doubt Diald do demo's.

 

I'll also consider an Enduro 650b Comp, but 'm a bit partial to the 29 Comp, which will be a full build option too.

 

My main considerations at the moment however would be the Banshee Phantom or Transition Smuggler.  Framesets and then build to desired and affordable spec.  One of the main reasons for going this route is the fact that I already have a Pike, which is a big chunk of a build's budget and it will kake the build affordable.

 

My riding is the usual - JOnkers, Welvanpas, Paarl, Contermanskloof etc.

 

I do very little long distance riding and more the 30km, focus on descent rides.

 

However, I do have ambitions of returning to Morzine again in a year or two and would like my bike to be able to handle the bikepark trails.  My Stumpy Niner managed fine, but the geometry was slightly inhibitive at times when things got particularly steep. 

 

Now the Smuggler, Phantom and Enduro all sport head angles of 67 - 68 degrees, with travel ranging from 105 - 160mm and forks of 130mm / 160mm.

 

All three bikes will be pretty much the same price with the build projects coming in at a slightly better spec when looking at wheels and brakes than the Enduro.  There's also the uniqueness factor in not going full build.

 

I'll be testing a Phantom next weekend and run it on my local trails which has everything from XC punchy climbs to sizeable road gaps and rock gardens, so it'll afford me a decent sample of what the bike can handle.

 

The Smuggler I can test end of May only, but I'm not rushing this decision.  This bike will be my one bike for at least three-four years.

 

Are there any other suggestions that meet the above criteria.  I don't want to go Trance / Reign.  Great bikes, but not quite what I'm looking for.  Also, Stumpjumper Comp's spec is nowhere near what I'm looking for.

 

Fire away.

[RockCoach]

Pics...couch....

 

you know the drill

 

No couches here but I can put it on a coffee table/chair.

[rouxtjie]

Since Evil has a local footprint...why not look at them too

[NicoBoshoff]

Since Evil has a local footprint...why not look at them too

R60k a frame. That's why not

[rouxtjie]

R60k a frame. That's why not

fml....that is steep.

[NicoBoshoff]

fml....that is steep.

Yeah, so I had a look at them, but couldn't see much when my eyes started to water.

 

Also have an option at a Carbon Fibre Rocky Mountain Instinct, but it's also a bit steep at about R10k more than the alu options I'm considering.

[Sidewinder.]

So boys and girls (I think?).  Seems like, against all expectations, I am in the market for a new bike.

 

The idea is preferably to go frame only and then build up with a reasonable spec (focusing on wheels and suspension).  The new SLX 11 speed announcement has certainly shaken things up.

 

I am 90% sure I want to go 29'er.  I love the big wheels and have been on them for all my riding life (a whopping three years...).

 

However, if I can't find the right frame I'll consider a full build in either 29 or 650b.

 

If I go 650B I'm thinking Kona Process 153, BUT it's a bike I'll have to rely entirely on reviews since test fleets are non-existent and I doubt Diald do demo's.

 

I'll also consider an Enduro 650b Comp, but 'm a bit partial to the 29 Comp, which will be a full build option too.

 

My main considerations at the moment however would be the Banshee Phantom or Transition Smuggler.  Framesets and then build to desired and affordable spec.  One of the main reasons for going this route is the fact that I already have a Pike, which is a big chunk of a build's budget and it will kake the build affordable.

 

My riding is the usual - JOnkers, Welvanpas, Paarl, Contermanskloof etc.

 

I do very little long distance riding and more the 30km, focus on descent rides.

 

However, I do have ambitions of returning to Morzine again in a year or two and would like my bike to be able to handle the bikepark trails.  My Stumpy Niner managed fine, but the geometry was slightly inhibitive at times when things got particularly steep. 

 

Now the Smuggler, Phantom and Enduro all sport head angles of 67 - 68 degrees, with travel ranging from 105 - 160mm and forks of 130mm / 160mm.

 

All three bikes will be pretty much the same price with the build projects coming in at a slightly better spec when looking at wheels and brakes than the Enduro.  There's also the uniqueness factor in not going full build.

 

I'll be testing a Phantom next weekend and run it on my local trails which has everything from XC punchy climbs to sizeable road gaps and rock gardens, so it'll afford me a decent sample of what the bike can handle.

 

The Smuggler I can test end of May only, but I'm not rushing this decision.  This bike will be my one bike for at least three-four years.

 

Are there any other suggestions that meet the above criteria.  I don't want to go Trance / Reign.  Great bikes, but not quite what I'm looking for.  Also, Stumpjumper Comp's spec is nowhere near what I'm looking for.

 

Fire away.

 

I would check out the Smuggler then, I was just watching a video this week on pike setup and the clip was a smuggler hitting A-line at whistler...so as far as alpine worthy 29ers go I think you're on the right track.

[NicoBoshoff]

I would check out the Smuggler then, I was just watching a video this week on pike setup and the clip was a smuggler hitting A-line at whistler...so as far as alpine worthy 29ers go I think you're on the right track.

Yeah, my mind is leaning that direction, but flip, there's something enticing about the 105mm Phantom.  The reviews rate it a serious bike despite such little travel.

[hayleyearth]

So boys and girls (I think?).  Seems like, against all expectations, I am in the market for a new bike.

 

The idea is preferably to go frame only and then build up with a reasonable spec (focusing on wheels and suspension).  The new SLX 11 speed announcement has certainly shaken things up.

 

I am 90% sure I want to go 29'er.  I love the big wheels and have been on them for all my riding life (a whopping three years...).

 

However, if I can't find the right frame I'll consider a full build in either 29 or 650b.

 

If I go 650B I'm thinking Kona Process 153, BUT it's a bike I'll have to rely entirely on reviews since test fleets are non-existent and I doubt Diald do demo's.

 

I'll also consider an Enduro 650b Comp, but 'm a bit partial to the 29 Comp, which will be a full build option too.

 

My main considerations at the moment however would be the Banshee Phantom or Transition Smuggler.  Framesets and then build to desired and affordable spec.  One of the main reasons for going this route is the fact that I already have a Pike, which is a big chunk of a build's budget and it will kake the build affordable.

 

My riding is the usual - JOnkers, Welvanpas, Paarl, Contermanskloof etc.

 

I do very little long distance riding and more the 30km, focus on descent rides.

 

However, I do have ambitions of returning to Morzine again in a year or two and would like my bike to be able to handle the bikepark trails.  My Stumpy Niner managed fine, but the geometry was slightly inhibitive at times when things got particularly steep. 

 

Now the Smuggler, Phantom and Enduro all sport head angles of 67 - 68 degrees, with travel ranging from 105 - 160mm and forks of 130mm / 160mm.

 

All three bikes will be pretty much the same price with the build projects coming in at a slightly better spec when looking at wheels and brakes than the Enduro.  There's also the uniqueness factor in not going full build.

 

I'll be testing a Phantom next weekend and run it on my local trails which has everything from XC punchy climbs to sizeable road gaps and rock gardens, so it'll afford me a decent sample of what the bike can handle.

 

The Smuggler I can test end of May only, but I'm not rushing this decision.  This bike will be my one bike for at least three-four years.

 

Are there any other suggestions that meet the above criteria.  I don't want to go Trance / Reign.  Great bikes, but not quite what I'm looking for.  Also, Stumpjumper Comp's spec is nowhere near what I'm looking for.

 

Fire away.

 

If I was in the market I will not look elsewhere than one of these... (You might be able to organise just a frame only somehow with Intense..)

 

Read good things about the Spiders..

 

http://www.intensecycles.com/bikes/spider-29c

 

http://www.intensecycles.com/bikes/spider-275-c#expert

 

 

And then of course the YT's (Jeffsy maybe ..@ your 29er comments) will be in the pack too.

 

 

Edit: this write up make me want to go ride my bike! http://www.bikemag.com/gear/first-impressions-intense-spider-27-5/#mvXPcIFe2Jpo8v31.97

[Brawler]

Jeffsy seems like a good bet.

 

 

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