Trek suspension vs Pyga suspension

[Patensie]

Slowbee, at +-R35k the best options are Slider and Trance. Consider adding a dropper seat-post if giving your wife a confidence boost is what you're after.

 

If you're going the R50k route, you might also consider the Juliana Juno (female version of the Santa Cruz Bantam). You may be able to do a nice build for under that. http://www.julianabicycles.com/en/us/juno Single Pivot, great geometry.

 

I ride EVERYTHING with my trail bike, even XCM corporate events. Got some strange questions about how those fat tyres are on climbs...The answer is: I'm faster than on my previous XC full-suspension. The trail bike is just so much fun and confidence inspiring. Previously I was pathetic on tech stuff, now on my new mtb, I'm merely mediocre.

[Slowbee]

Slowbee, at +-R35k the best options are Slider and Trance. Consider adding a dropper seat-post if giving your wife a confidence boost is what you're after.

 

If you're going the R50k route, you might also consider the Juliana Juno (female version of the Santa Cruz Bantam). You may be able to do a nice build for under that. http://www.julianabicycles.com/en/us/juno Single Pivot, great geometry.

 

I ride EVERYTHING with my trail bike, even XCM corporate events. Got some strange questions about how those fat tyres are on climbs...The answer is: I'm faster than on my previous XC full-suspension. The trail bike is just so much fun and confidence inspiring. Previously I was pathetic on tech stuff, now on my new mtb, I'm merely mediocre.

It was at Sani2c that I spoke to a lady on a juliana. She had a dropper post as well and a few other bells and whistles and made no bones about the fact that the bike was bought to make up for her technical ability. It helped ride everything this year.

 

She got me to thinking about the upgrade.

[MTBeer]

Yeah, for sure it is. Take the new Trance for example. 26k for a fully kitted bike, and as soon as you convert it to tubeless you've got a reasonably light, but EXTREMELY capable bike within your budget. Lighten up the wheels (cos they are heavyish) and you can go down even further on the weight scale. Plus it can take on everything - multi day stage races, XC events, everything - and the frame is LIGHT - so you can upgrade the heavier parts over time, if you really want to go weight weenie. 

 

Then there's the Silverback, which comes in at the same sorta price as the trance (may be a bit more expensive) 

 

You can get a 2nd hand trance / Pyga / Silverback within your budget of 30k with ease. They are available if you're prepared to wait a bit (I know you are) 

"You can get a 2nd hand trance"

 

you can get a new Trance for R27k.

[MTBeer]

The Trance is not light (if you are a weight weenie). But yes upgrades can be done to lighten it. My Trance (standard but with dropper post) is 1.3kg heavier than my 26 Anthem (standard), but it is 100% more fun.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

"You can get a 2nd hand trance"

 

you can get a new Trance for R27k.

Notice I said you could get it for 26k fully kitted, and 2nd hand with EASE within the budget - with super trick components

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Slowbee, at +-R35k the best options are Slider and Trance. Consider adding a dropper seat-post if giving your wife a confidence boost is what you're after.

 

If you're going the R50k route, you might also consider the Juliana Juno (female version of the Santa Cruz Bantam). You may be able to do a nice build for under that. http://www.julianabicycles.com/en/us/juno Single Pivot, great geometry.

 

I ride EVERYTHING with my trail bike, even XCM corporate events. Got some strange questions about how those fat tyres are on climbs...The answer is: I'm faster than on my previous XC full-suspension. The trail bike is just so much fun and confidence inspiring. Previously I was pathetic on tech stuff, now on my new mtb, I'm merely mediocre.

RM Thunderbolt would also be a VERY good option 

[EmptyB]

Ride the Trek and ride the Pyga....make choice and happy trails. Replaced my Trek fuel with Pyga 110, was a toughie but definitely the right move for me!!

[Patensie]

RM Thunderbolt would also be a VERY good option 

Agreed!

[Slowbee]

Agreed!

there is one in the classifieds - but the bloke is not responding !

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

there is one in the classifieds - but the bloke is not responding !

 

It's at Trail n Tar in Tokai. Give them a tinkle. 

[LazyTrailRider]

Slowbee, I presume you would be looking for a medium?

 

My large OneTen29 is busy being rebuilt and polished to a gleam before the ad goes up... It would fit the budget mentioned here perfectly at R32k. Just putting it out there

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It's for his wiff...

[LazyTrailRider]

I know, that's why I'm assuming the medium.

 

Hey, some people's wives are tall...

 

(Once again  )

[Slowbee]

Eish man - looking to stick with 650b.....

 

and she is very much a medium bike fit.

[Stevief]

Spaz makes a nice Camber thats Carbon for less than 40K.  Great trail bike and brilliant climber to.  Not sure if they have a 650b in the range but i think they do.

[LazyTrailRider]

Eish man - looking to stick with 650b.....

 

and she is very much a medium bike fit.

 

Cool, I'm sure you'll find a medium something soon.

 

Don't knock bigger wheels though, just because most people here have bought into the 650b rage doesn't mean it really is better. My GF rides a medium 26" carbon Stumpy and she really likes the way the 29er handles, even though the frame is too big for her. Between myself and my two brothers we are in the fortunate position to ride a much wider variety of bike types and wheel sizes than most, and there's one thing which we agree on: Mid-size wheels aren't necessarily better.