Do we really need long travel bikes in SA?

[Odinson]

So, I missed out on that Black Friday CRC hard tail... but does this class as a good substitute?

 

$_86.jpg

 

Very nice! The raw alu finish is very fashionable right now.

 

Once she's all built-up, you've got to post a video: for the video, deflate the shock, grab a fistful of rear brake and cycle the suspension.

[Headshot]

Very nice! The raw alu finish is very fashionable right now.

 

Once she's all built-up, you've got to post a video: for the video, deflate the shock, grab a fistful of rear brake and cycle the suspension.

What suspension?

[Odinson]

What suspension?

 

That suspension.

[T-Bob]

just to revive an old thread...  friend of mine (like a real friend, not one of those 'I have a friend who's got this weird rash' friend), is looking for a new bike and has been tossing up the Jeffsy vs Capra dilemma after looking at some other brands. 

 

Not really a short vs long Q as they are both pretty good in the travel department but more of a question asking if the Capra is just too much bike for SA on a day-to-day basis? 

[Hairy]

just to revive an old thread...  friend of mine (like a real friend, not one of those 'I have a friend who's got this weird rash' friend), is looking for a new bike and has been tossing up the Jeffsy vs Capra dilemma after looking at some other brands. 

 

Not really a short vs long Q as they are both pretty good in the travel department but more of a question asking if the Capra is just too much bike for SA on a day-to-day basis? 

I have a friend on a Capra and she L . O . V . E . S the bike .... but she is a trail rider and appreciates what she can achieve with the bike ... her climbing has not really suffered with the Capra either, but her descents have certainly Rocked.

 

Best for your "friend" to organise a ride on each of the bikes.

[Odinson]

just to revive an old thread...  friend of mine (like a real friend, not one of those 'I have a friend who's got this weird rash' friend), is looking for a new bike and has been tossing up the Jeffsy vs Capra dilemma after looking at some other brands. 

 

Not really a short vs long Q as they are both pretty good in the travel department but more of a question asking if the Capra is just too much bike for SA on a day-to-day basis? 

 

27.5 or 29 Jeffsy?

 

Honestly, you can't go wrong with either of the Jeffsies or the Capra. Buddy of mine has done big rides (+40km) on his Capra and it was fine.

 

If you live for the downhills, then I'd go for the Capra. It is an absolute hoot! 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

just to revive an old thread...  friend of mine (like a real friend, not one of those 'I have a friend who's got this weird rash' friend), is looking for a new bike and has been tossing up the Jeffsy vs Capra dilemma after looking at some other brands. 

 

Not really a short vs long Q as they are both pretty good in the travel department but more of a question asking if the Capra is just too much bike for SA on a day-to-day basis?

Absolutely not. 

 

Guy I ride with sometimes - Craig McClosh - has a Capra, and he rides that thing all over the place. FWIW as well - I would not have wanted less travel than I have in yesterday's enduro. Capra all the way. And no, it's not too much travel. That's a line that people use to justify their own purchases, and to try and motivate their reasoning as somehow superior to those who buy something different to what they did. 

 

Exactly the same as the "you spent WHAT!?" brigade. 

 

Or the "you don't need a GTI" brigade

 

or "That Merc is just a Navara in drag, why didn't you just buy that"

 

etc etc

[T-Bob]

27.5 or 29 Jeffsy?

 

Honestly, you can't go wrong with either of the Jeffsies or the Capra. Buddy of mine has done big rides (+40km) on his Capra and it was fine.

 

If you live for the downhills, then I'd go for the Capra. It is an absolute hoot! 

 

27.5 Jeffsy as he has blind aversion to clown wheels. 

[Odinson]

27.5 Jeffsy as he has blind aversion to clown wheels. 

 

Yeah. I'd rather take a leisurely approach to the climbs and be pinned going down, rather than having to nurse some twitchy bike on the downhills, but be fast(ish) heading up. 

 

Jeffsy or Capra. Whatever tickles his fancy. I'd be tempted by the Jeffsy, as it has a more accommodating reach than the Capra and almost identical wheelbase (size for size), but has a slightly steeper HA. 

[Jewbacca]

Absolutely not. 

 

Guy I ride with sometimes - Craig McClosh - has a Capra, and he rides that thing all over the place. FWIW as well - I would not have wanted less travel than I have in yesterday's enduro. Capra all the way. And no, it's not too much travel. That's a line that people use to justify their own purchases, and to try and motivate their reasoning as somehow superior to those who buy something different to what they did. 

 

Exactly the same as the "you spent WHAT!?" brigade. 

 

Or the "you don't need a GTI" brigade

 

or "That Merc is just a Navara in drag, why didn't you just buy that"

 

etc etc

There is a comment I can agree with wholeheartedly... If the bike still pedals there is no such thing as too much travel.

 

In saying that, it does not mean I am in the market for a long travel bike.

 

I tend to like to ride sketchy trails and feel sketchy doing it. I purchased a Pyga 120 a couple of years ago with a 120/160mm Talas fork on it. I was so proud of my buy until I took it to a few of my 'secret' spots... Needless to say it turned steep rocky gnar hiking trails into mainline highways and although i was faster, it took the joy and challenge out of it for me.

 

Too much travel? Nah.... but also looking at how/why and what you enjoy riding plays a big part in what you buy.

 

I sold the Pyga and went back to my steel hardtail.... the same trails became saucer eyed fun and bliss the very next day! 

 

I'm currently getting soft and lame though, so I do sense a squidgy bike with all the forgiveness of the good lord himself in the near future....

[T-Bob]

Absolutely not. 

 

Guy I ride with sometimes - Craig McClosh - has a Capra, and he rides that thing all over the place. FWIW as well - I would not have wanted less travel than I have in yesterday's enduro. Capra all the way. And no, it's not too much travel. That's a line that people use to justify their own purchases, and to try and motivate their reasoning as somehow superior to those who buy something different to what they did. 

 

Exactly the same as the "you spent WHAT!?" brigade. 

 

Or the "you don't need a GTI" brigade

 

or "That Merc is just a Navara in drag, why didn't you just buy that"

 

etc etc

 

I got over taken by a guy on his Capra last weekend going up to Cobra in Tokai... at pace so  didn't have any reservations about that side of things and for me a climb is just your dues to get to the fun part if you get there slow or fast doesn't matter. 

 

Gee on the other hand has been reading reviews of each endlessly and from the Hub review through to Flow, Bike Radar, pink bike etc all seem to end off their reviews with the same kind of sentiment that it's a wicked bike but do your trails actually need such bike. 

 

"The YT Capra CF Comp exceeds expectations. It is an outstanding enduro bike that does its best to make riding downhill as fast and fun as ever. The Capra has a special ability to make the rider feel like a mountain biking god. Throw in all-day pedalling comfort and you have a great bike.

 

My only doubt is that the Capra may be too much bike for most South African trails. We simply do not have the steepness or big bike park features that our friends in Europe and the Americas enjoy. If you are considering the Capra as your only bike, this is a bike best suited for big hitters, be honest with your riding habits. That being said, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of excess in life? And, if it has to be a YT, there is always a Jeffsy."

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

We don't "need" extra travel, just like I don't "need" to own an a4 or a Makita circular saw, and you don't "need" to own a Smeg stove or a 51" Plasma or a 29" IPS monitor for the office. But damn, if those don't make doing what you want to do that much more enjoyable. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

There is a comment I can agree with wholeheartedly... If the bike still pedals there is no such thing as too much travel.

 

In saying that, it does not mean I am in the market for a long travel bike.

 

I tend to like to ride sketchy trails and feel sketchy doing it. I purchased a Pyga 120 a couple of years ago with a 120/160mm Talas fork on it. I was so proud of my buy until I took it to a few of my 'secret' spots... Needless to say it turned steep rocky gnar hiking trails into mainline highways and although i was faster, it took the joy and challenge out of it for me.

 

Too much travel? Nah.... but also looking at how/why and what you enjoy riding plays a big part in what you buy.

 

I sold the Pyga and went back to my steel hardtail.... the same trails became saucer eyed fun and bliss the very next day! 

 

I'm currently getting soft and lame though, so I do sense a squidgy bike with all the forgiveness of the good lord himself in the near future....

100%

 

And I also love the arse-clenchingly ****-eating grin inducing raw emotion and speed that comes out of riding a hardtail aggressively, but I personally don't have enough skill to hit what I want to hit without the safety net of the travel I have, whilst also having a good time. 

 

Too much travel? For YOU, maybe (not you, guy, the figurative you) but don't tell me that it's too much travel for me. 

 

You don't need a 4x4 for the freeways, but on the odd occasion you go on a camping trip once every two years, you'll be bloody balling your eyes out if you take your corolla, whereas Petter Solberg will be laughing all the way to the top of the mountain if he took his corolla. 

[Nick]

I got over taken by a guy on his Capra last weekend going up to Cobra in Tokai... at pace so  didn't have any reservations about that side of things and for me a climb is just your dues to get to the fun part if you get there slow or fast doesn't matter. 

 

Gee on the other hand has been reading reviews of each endlessly and from the Hub review through to Flow, Bike Radar, pink bike etc all seem to end off their reviews with the same kind of sentiment that it's a wicked bike but do your trails actually need such bike. 

 

"The YT Capra CF Comp exceeds expectations. It is an outstanding enduro bike that does its best to make riding downhill as fast and fun as ever. The Capra has a special ability to make the rider feel like a mountain biking god. Throw in all-day pedalling comfort and you have a great bike.

 

My only doubt is that the Capra may be too much bike for most South African trails. We simply do not have the steepness or big bike park features that our friends in Europe and the Americas enjoy. If you are considering the Capra as your only bike, this is a bike best suited for big hitters, be honest with your riding habits. That being said, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of excess in life? And, if it has to be a YT, there is always a Jeffsy."

 

Yeah, I still stand by what I wrote about the Capra. Awesome bike! But it does require some serious thrashing to come alive. That's why I prefer the Jeffsy 29, it feels good on all trails, not just those with double black markings.

 

On the Jeffsy I felt like my input was meaningful while on the Capra I felt like the bike was achieving things, not me. I like the Jeffsy feel, another rider might prefer the Capra feel.

 

In my reviews, I try to show both sides and let the reader decide what they value. There can be no rule of general application on this question. Every rider is different. But there is one thing I'm certain about, both bikes will make any rider happy.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Yeah, I still stand by what I wrote about the Capra. Awesome bike! But it does require some serious thrashing to come alive. That's why I prefer the Jeffsy 29, it feels good on all trails, not just those with double black markings.

 

On the Jeffsy I felt like my input was meaningful while on the Capra I felt like the bike was achieving things, not me. I like the Jeffsy feel, another rider might prefer the Capra feel.

 

In my reviews, I try to show both sides and let the reader decide what they value. There can be no rule of general application on this question. Every rider is different. But there is one thing I'm certain about, both bikes will make any rider happy.

Like my reign, I'm only just beginning to scratch the surface of what it can do. But joh, do I like what I feel!!! 

 

That it does the other things just as well as other bikes with far less travel is also a great thing. The only thing holding it back is me. 

[lechatnoir]

You don't need a 4x4 for the freeways, but on the odd occasion you go on a camping trip once every two years, you'll be bloody balling your eyes out if you take your corolla, whereas Petter Solberg will be laughing all the way to the top of the mountain if he took his corolla. 

 

Isn't there a thread currently about S-works toys? 

 

You, not you Myles, the COLLECTIVE YOU, don't have my abilities, just as my purchasing ability/justification is not the same as yours. So who cares as long as you're having fun?

 

If a rigid enduro unicycle is your thing, then I'm not standing in your way.

 

Personally, any time on my bike is probably the most fun I've had all day, road, mtb, whatever

 

<edit: Myles, I guess we're saying the same thing>