Buying Advice - Silverback vs Momsem

[CraigCCW]

i am looking at replacing my trusty old 26" GT with a 29" and it has come down to two really well priced bikes with really nice components.

 

Bike 1:

 

2014 Silverback Sola 1 at R15 999

Product Description

 

Frame

29” XC Geometry, Superlight, Butted 6061 Aluminium, Smoothweld, Tapered 1-1/8” – 1.5” headtube, 135mm QR dropouts

Fork

Rock Shox Reba, 100mm Travel, Tapered Alloy Steerer, Remote PushLoc, QR15 Dropout

Headset

FSA, Orbit, internal Alloy Cups, 1-1/8”-1.5”

Rims

Stans’s Crest, Alloy 29” , 32H, Stan’s Yelow Rimtape and Valves, White, Custom Decals

Hub Rear

Shimano SLX, Centre Lock Disc Mount, Adjustable cup and cone angular contact bearings

Hub Front

Shimano SLX, Centre Lock Disc Mount, Adjustable cup and cone angular contact bearings, 15mm axle

Spokes

Stainless Steel, Double Butted, Black w/2x White spokes at valve, Red Alloy Nipples

Tires

Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO, TL-Ready, Folding, 29”x2.1 Lightweight

Stem

SBC-SL (Superlight) XC-Forged Alloy, 6 ̊ x ø31.8mm

Handelbar

SBC XC lightweight Alloy, W: 700mm; Back Sweep: 12 ̊ x ø31.8mm; 6061 Butted Oversized

Seatpost

SBC Forged Light Alloy, ø31.6mm x 400mm; Black, Black bolts

Seatpost Clamp

SBC, Alloy, 34.9mm Bolt on, Black

Saddle

SBC Performance Series, Cr-Mo Rails, Superlight foam padding

Brakes

Shimano Deore BR-M615, Open Hydraulic System, Metal Pads – M06, Rotors Front:180mm; Rear: Shimano M615 160mm, Centre Lock

Shifters

Shimano SLX SL-M670, 3x10 Trigger, SLX Grey

Front derailleur

Shimano SLX FD-M675-B, Double, Clamp-on 34.9mm, Black

Rear derailleur

Shimano XT Shadow Plus RD-M786-SGS, Long Cage, 10-Speed, Silver

Chain

Shimano, CN-hg75, 10 Speed

Cassette

Shimano CS-HG81-10, 10-Speed, 11-36T, Silver

Crankset

Shimano SLX FC-M675-10, 38/26T, L: 175mm, SLX Grey

Bottom bracket

Shimano External Hollowtech II

Pedals

VP, with Alloy Cage, 9/16”

 

Bike 2:

2014 Momsem AL529 at R15 999 Frame 2nd Generation Race Tech 2, Alloy 6061 Butted Tubeset Fork RockShox REBA RL , Lockout, 100mm Travel Chainwheel SRAM S1000 44/32/22T Bottom Bracket SRAM GXP External F. Derailleur SRAM X7 R. Derailleur SRAM X9 TYPE 2 10 Speed Shifter SRAM X5 Trigger Brake Levers Shimano M596 Hydraulic Brakes Shimano M596 Hydraulic Cassette SRAM PG1030, 11-36T Rims No Tubes ZTR CREST, 32H Tires Kenda Slant Six, Folding Bead, 29 x 2.0 Pedals Shimano M505 Clipless Handlebar Ritchey COMP 2x , 720mm, 31.8mm Oversize Stem Ritchey 4-Axis, 31.8mm Oversize Seatpost Ritchey COMP 2 Bolt, 27.2 Seat Selle Royal Seta S1 Custom Headset Alloy Taper Integrated Colors Fast Black w/Red and Blue Details Chain KMC 10 Speed Hubset Shimano SLX, 32h Spokes Stainless Butted with Alloy Nipples Grips Kraton Race Weight 11.82kg ( Medium, Excl Pedals )

 

Both are good bikes, and the components are so similar.

 

Any advice or opinions would help.

[divernick]

I'd get the Silverback - only cos I prefer Schwalbe and Shimano.

 

Seriously though, they're almost identical. Get the one you like the look of most.

[madbradd]

You're going to replace the tyres with 'proper' tubeless ones anyway.

 

Both have shimano brakes, so really comes down to looks and slx vs x5 shifters.

 

I'd probably go silverback based on looks and (for me) shimano > SRAM

[BrandonF_]

Buy after sales service, thats THE most important componant. And from my experience, Silverback's after sales service is very very good. I cannot speak for Momsen tho, I've never owned one before.

[ScottCM]

MOMSEN!!!!

 

But like the guys say, its much over muchness.

[rock]

have you already got clipless pedals?

[rock]

are they both for sale at your LBS?

[CraigCCW]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

The Momsem comes with Shimano clipless pedals, although I do have a set on my current bike.

 

Both available from the same LBS, and other ones in the JHB area.

[CraigCCW]

What do you guys think of the two bikes in general, i.e. good buy, component, etc.

 

Should I be looking at other ones in the price range?

[Mr X]

I`ll go with the Silverback:

 

1. More Shimano comps - Shimano SLX drivetrain

2. Better fork - Silverback got the 15mm thru-axle Reba

[Mr X]

What do you guys think of the two bikes in general, i.e. good buy, component, etc.

 

Should I be looking at other ones in the price range?

 

You can also look at Titan, but the Silverback will be hard to beat.

[Mr X]

I also prefer the 2x10 crank setup on the Silverback to the 3x10 on the Momsen.

[craig82]

I think the Momsen looks better and it has a Richey finishing kit which is a really nice bonus.

[rock]

silverback by virtue of shimano groupset (at the price point its my opion that its more reliabe), 15mm thruaxle, 2x10 gearing and the tyres are tubeless ready and are great in comparison with the kenda's.......

[scotty]

Silverback, but then as i own two i'm perhaps biased.

[CraigCCW]

Thanks alot to everyone for their advice and opinions, it has really helped me make a decision.

 

I am going to go with the Silverback, based on Shimano Groupset, and the fact it is R1000 cheaper than the Momsem.