Simon123 Posted January 16, 2018 Posted January 16, 2018 https://www.specialized.com/za/en/mens-camber-comp-29/p/129000?color=239839-129000R36k. With the rest of your budget throw in a dropper post and go tubeless I'd rather go with the new 2018 Giant Anthem 29er for this money, and I'm sure they would even discount it a bit if you asked nicely. At least it has all the "new" stuff like the boost wheelset, modern geometry and the new maestro update is incredible, feels super plush and still climbs like a demon. The red alu one at this price point is fantastic. Considering one myself to add to the stable.
keithbe Posted January 16, 2018 Posted January 16, 2018 But the Stumpy had 135/150mm of travel. Why on earth would one go for a Stumpy when the Camber is designed specifically for what the OP wants to do? Like I said, the Stumpy is an awesome bike, and I have done long rides with it (even finished Berg and Bush with it), but having gotten myself a Camber recently as well I realise just how bad the Stumpy actually is at long rides - sure you can do it, but it's made for trail rides and shines when the trails point down. It's seat angle is too slack for climbing well, and it does not pedal nearly as effectively as an XC bike. If your primary goal is going to be XC the Camber is amazing... Get the right tool for the job. Camber also has a SWAT box, and can handle quite a bit of trail use.I forgot...only your opinion counts.
Grease_Monkey Posted January 16, 2018 Posted January 16, 2018 I forgot...only your opinion counts.Sho, but sensitivity levels are high. Not at all what I said. It just doesn't fit with what the OP has said he will ride and is not at all in the same class as the other two bikes mentioned, a Camber or Epic is. That's fact, not opinion.
Piston ZA Posted January 16, 2018 Posted January 16, 2018 I forgot...only your opinion counts.No, but he is right
Bitsy Posted January 16, 2018 Author Posted January 16, 2018 Hey guys, thanks for the feedback...seems like i caused quite a stir with the addition of the stumpy So I did a little more research today after viewing some of the comments...seems like you'll have put me off the KTM. tried to do some online comparisons and I must say they were very scarce- and the fact that the official website didn't have a category for bicycles was also concerning. Looked at the Scott RC 900 comp and the Spaz Epic Comp. Both seem like very competent bikes for what Im looking for. I am leaning towards the Epic Comp at this stage- seems like a great bike with good heritage. That said Im sure Nino will be commented about soon can anyone confirm the following two abt the Spaz Epic:1. Weight of the alu version (struggled to find it online)2. It comes with a SRAM 1x11...if I want to go eagle at some stage, would I need to replace the free-body as well. thanks for the great and entertaining feedback thus far....I really appreciate it.
Grease_Monkey Posted January 16, 2018 Posted January 16, 2018 Epic is an awesome bike, you won't go wrong! I can't confirm the weight of the alu version. Someone that has one will have to weigh or you could just go in store and ask them to throw it on the scale. Don't let the weight bother you too much here - what gives the Epic (and Scott) it's ability to climb and cover large distances is the geometry of the bike. But with the freebldy, yes you will have to replace it if you want to go Eagle. Sram NX is an 11-42 cassette that uses a Shimano freehub (I am assuming it comes with a Sram NX cassette, if it comes with a GX cassette it already has an XD driver). GX Eagle and above use a 10-50t cassette on a Sram XD driver so you will have to get one. Quickest way to check this is on Spez website - if it is an 11-42t cassette it is NX, if 10-42t it is GX. Alternatively you could get a SunRace 11-50t 12 speed cassette that will work on your Shimano freebody - so I guess then I am contradicting myself - you do not HAVE to replace the freebody if you are willing to use the 11-50t cassette. EvoBikes and BikeAddict sell the Eagle upgrage kits with the SunRace cassette as a bundle.
Bitsy Posted January 16, 2018 Author Posted January 16, 2018 I see it comes with a SRAM XG 1150, 11-speed, 10-42t cassette
Grease_Monkey Posted January 17, 2018 Posted January 17, 2018 I see it comes with a SRAM XG 1150, 11-speed, 10-42t cassette Then you are safe. You already have an XD driver and will be able to upgrade to any form of Eagle without changing the freebody
babse Posted January 17, 2018 Posted January 17, 2018 In my opinion, unless you dont have a budget, buying a brand new spez will never be your best option (unless you bias ben and want a spez). Bang for buck it will never compare to some of the smaller brands. I was recently in the market with more or less the same budget, and after walking into a few local bike shops i was left with a these; Vipa 2 (Carbon, 11spd XT) and Silverback Pro (Carbon; 12spd GX). I also found a demo Scott RC (Alu version; 12 spd GX) in same price bracket.
Grease_Monkey Posted January 17, 2018 Posted January 17, 2018 In my opinion, unless you dont have a budget, buying a brand new spez will never be your best option (unless you bias ben and want a spez). Bang for buck it will never compare to some of the smaller brands. I was recently in the market with more or less the same budget, and after walking into a few local bike shops i was left with a these; Vipa 2 (Carbon, 11spd XT) and Silverback Pro (Carbon; 12spd GX). I also found a demo Scott RC (Alu version; 12 spd GX) in same price bracket. I gotta say - what you get for your money from Silverback is impressive! OP check out Bike Addict's site - they have some awesome deals running on 2017 and 2018 Silverbacks at the moment with the option of GX Eagle from the start at an additional cost (not nearly as much as it would be retail - you are essentially trading in the 1x11 drivetrain that comes with the bike).
madbradd Posted January 17, 2018 Posted January 17, 2018 I gotta say - what you get for your money from Silverback is impressive! OP check out Bike Addict's site - they have some awesome deals running on 2017 and 2018 Silverbacks at the moment with the option of GX Eagle from the start at an additional cost (not nearly as much as it would be retail - you are essentially trading in the 1x11 drivetrain that comes with the bike). Yah this. I think best value probably goes to this:https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/silverback-29er-dual-suspension/products/silverback-sesta-pro-eagle-2017They have a lot of cool looking options around that pricing though, pushing all the way to this which probably deserves some consideration:https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/cannondale-29er-dual-suspension/products/cannondale-si-carbon-4-2017
slickjay007 Posted January 17, 2018 Posted January 17, 2018 just a question .... isn't the Epic Comp out of your 40K budget?
Bitsy Posted January 17, 2018 Author Posted January 17, 2018 thanks for the responses guys... I saw the Bike Addict Sesta deal and it is definitely the outright winner- if only they were a little closer to JHB. Whilst I do buy online in general, Im not comfortable with a bike purchase (personal preference). Decided to go with the Spez. Although aluminium it seems like a good deal (extras got thrown in) and will hold some resale later on. The eagle conversion will happen in a couple of months once the itch starts again oh and every time i see the bike, I tend to like it more and more
Bitsy Posted January 18, 2018 Author Posted January 18, 2018 Hello again, Quick question: The bike comes std with a 1x11 30t chain ring and 10-42 cassette (Sram). On my old setup I ran a 2x11 xt setup with a 26/36 chain ring and 11-42 cassette (shimano). The bike shop will upgrade the chain ring for me to something bigger if I want it. I am contemplating between the 32 or 34 upfront but am not sure which will be optimal to replicate the old xt 2x11 setup. Below is the online comparison I did. - Column one is old xt setup....i enjoyed the ratios and sat mainly on the 36 upfront.- Column two is the sram setup with a 32t chain ring and 10-42 cassette- Column three is the sram setup with a 34t chain ring and 10-42 cassette your expert recommendations will be most welcome on whether to go 32 or 34 to replicate the old xt setup in terms of ratio's and associated effort.
Patchelicious Posted January 18, 2018 Posted January 18, 2018 If you are strong a 34 42 will be more than ok, if a you are a bit heavier a 32 42 will help on the climbs. How heavy are you? How much do you ride? I once had an RC that had 1x11, 34 40/10 I never needed more climbing gears but I would sometimes spin out in the flats. Don’t try and replicate old setups, get the new one that suits your riding and take a step forward.
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