Yo-Yo Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 I am looking for a new frame after a few years on a Kona Process 111. Primarily looking for a fun bike to ride Tokai / Jonkers tracks, local enduros & something that is capable to take on Ezel' & potential a Reunion trip or a Lesotho trip. Level of riding is good, I enjoy Cobra, All Mountain & the DH tracks at Tokai most along with The Glen & Pats Track. Not great at jumps and larger drops but working on it. I am mainly looking at 29'r frames but might look at a 27.5 but not really that keen. Happy with alloy or plastic. I'd like to move my current equipment across to my new frame and my budget is +/- R28,000 for a frame. I have found all the options below within that price range easily enough. So choices are: - 2018 Norco Sight C 29 (have had Norco previously and liked it)- 2017 Santa Cruz High Tower C (never touched SC & no idea what their all round / fun bikes are!)- 2017 Santa Cruz Bronson C (only 27.5 I am really considering as it seems a excellent bike)- 2017 Evil Following V1- 2017 Evil Wreckoning V1- 2017 Transition Sentinel Alloy- Nukeproof Mega 29- What other suggestions? Have tested Spez Stumpjumer 29 & I didn't like it very much. Not a fan of Treks Remedy / Fuel) but would love a Slash 29 - not that budget & I heard Chris Nixon had the only one in the country. Tested Banshee & found the Prime a bit boaty / Phantom a bit lacking in the fun department but a great bike for 110mm but a bit too much like my Process. Rode a Specialized Enduro 29 & that was a very big bike but too monster truck. Tested a Transition Smuggler & that was a fun bike but maybe a bit limited in the rougher stuff. I have considered a Banshee spitfire but it's 27.5 & have not had a chance to test it.My main aim is it has to still have fun, pop off, switch lines & be a tjop on the trails but get serious when it comes to hammer time. I like to grin from ear to ear. Not worried about kms & kms of riding but I would like to get to the top of a hill happy so I can come down. Thank you for any help and advice with my decision.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 For what it's worth - seriously, seriously consider the spitty. It's one HELLUVA fun bike. Fits your description perfectly.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 Having said that, the Sight is one helluva bike, from the looks of things.
ALLMTB Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 Great list of possible choices you have there. I'd say the Sentinel but that coz I'm biased. Also, I believe most of those frames are boost specific, will your hubs from your Kona fit?
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 From reports I've read, the Hightower seems to be Santa's steamroller. Not as rowdy as a Nomad, but ploughs through chunder faster than a fat kid through cupcakes.
Yo-Yo Posted February 8, 2018 Author Posted February 8, 2018 Great list of possible choices you have there. I'd say the Sentinel but that coz I'm biased. Also, I believe most of those frames are boost specific, will your hubs from your Kona fit? Unfortunately not. I am non boost so I have to factor in the cost of a new set of wheels or back wheel / spacers and with the Transition a new fork with the correct offset for SBG. Do you ride a Sentiel? Could you please give some feed back to how it rides in local conditions.
Yo-Yo Posted February 8, 2018 Author Posted February 8, 2018 From reports I've read, the Hightower seems to be Santa's steamroller. Not as rowdy as a Nomad, but ploughs through chunder faster than a fat kid through cupcakes. The nomad is 27.5?
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 The nomad is 27.5? yes, and the HT is 29. Nomad seems to be a better jack of all trades, not as steamrollery and more playful. But gosh, does it suck up the gnar thanks to the larger travel. IE: HT = long travel niner. Nomad = Long travel 6 fiddy.
ALLMTB Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 Unfortunately not. I am non boost so I have to factor in the cost of a new set of wheels or back wheel / spacers and with the Transition a new fork with the correct offset for SBG. Do you ride a Sentiel? Could you please give some feed back to how it rides in local conditions. Nope, I've got a Patrol. You don't need a new fork with the correct offset for SBG, I know of two people who bought frame only and ride them with normal offset forks. You just wont get full effect of SBG.
Yo-Yo Posted February 8, 2018 Author Posted February 8, 2018 Nope, I've got a Patrol. You don't need a new fork with the correct offset for SBG, I know of two people who bought frame only and ride them with normal offset forks. You just wont get full effect of SBG. Thank you, it wouldn't work with angle sets?
Hairy Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 I am looking for a new frame after a few years on a Kona Process 111. Primarily looking for a fun bike to ride Tokai / Jonkers tracks, local enduros & something that is capable to take on Ezel' & potential a Reunion trip or a Lesotho trip. Level of riding is good, I enjoy Cobra, All Mountain & the DH tracks at Tokai most along with The Glen & Pats Track. Not great at jumps and larger drops but working on it. I am mainly looking at 29'r frames but might look at a 27.5 but not really that keen. Happy with alloy or plastic. I'd like to move my current equipment across to my new frame and my budget is +/- R28,000 for a frame. I have found all the options below within that price range easily enough. So choices are: - 2018 Norco Sight C 29 (have had Norco previously and liked it)- 2017 Santa Cruz High Tower C (never touched SC & no idea what their all round / fun bikes are!)- 2017 Santa Cruz Bronson C (only 27.5 I am really considering as it seems a excellent bike)- 2017 Evil Following V1- 2017 Evil Wreckoning V1- 2017 Transition Sentinel Alloy- Nukeproof Mega 29- What other suggestions? Have tested Spez Stumpjumer 29 & I didn't like it very much. Not a fan of Treks Remedy / Fuel) but would love a Slash 29 - not that budget & I heard Chris Nixon had the only one in the country. Tested Banshee & found the Prime a bit boaty / Phantom a bit lacking in the fun department but a great bike for 110mm but a bit too much like my Process. Rode a Specialized Enduro 29 & that was a very big bike but too monster truck. Tested a Transition Smuggler & that was a fun bike but maybe a bit limited in the rougher stuff. I have considered a Banshee spitfire but it's 27.5 & have not had a chance to test it. My main aim is it has to still have fun, pop off, switch lines & be a tjop on the trails but get serious when it comes to hammer time. I like to grin from ear to ear. Not worried about kms & kms of riding but I would like to get to the top of a hill happy so I can come down. Thank you for any help and advice with my decision. Yo Yo-Yo On the Banshee front. When you tested the Phantom, did you rock it in the neutral or slack setting? Asking this as with my Spitty I slammed it into the slack setting from the outset, and the bike was fun, though more of a point and shoot kind of ride ... recently put her into the neutral setting and she is certainly more of a lively ride. What size frame are you looking for? From your list above, the Hightower would be my go to ... especially if you can the get the LT
marko35s Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 would love a Slash 29 - not that budget & I heard Chris Nixon had the only one in the country. Not any more, Clint has one as well now and is loving it.
ALLMTB Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 Thank you, it wouldn't work with angle sets? No, an angle set changes the head angle, the offset of the fork does not. So you can run either fork, its just the trail which will differ. More info here:https://www.pinkbike.com/news/transitions-new-speed-balanced-geometry-2017.html
Headshot Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 Yep, if you have that kind of frame $$ and want a 29er, then the High Tower LT would probably be my choice. Lightish and pedals really well thanks to the high anti-squat (?) built into the rear suspension, by all accounts.
Duane_Bosch Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 So choices are: - 2018 Norco Sight C 29 (have had Norco previously and liked it)- 2017 Santa Cruz High Tower C (never touched SC & no idea what their all round / fun bikes are!)- 2017 Santa Cruz Bronson C (only 27.5 I am really considering as it seems a excellent bike)- 2017 Evil Following V1- 2017 Evil Wreckoning V1- 2017 Transition Sentinel Alloy- Nukeproof Mega 29- What other suggestions? I've not ridden any of those but I have recently ridden an Intense Primer and really loved that. Rode it at the Glen & Boschendal and loved it. It was unreal how it didn't feel like a big ol bus like most 29ers i've been on feel like when it comes to the twisties. I really can't rate this bike highly enough. I'm not sure about the availability of frames.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.