Perfect mtb

[Slabeye]

It's hard shopping for a soft tail mtb. There are lots of options, and lots of terrible advice from inexperienced sales people that try take advantage of an inexperienced mtb buyer. I'm a good salesman, so I recognise a chancer /idiot

 

Regarding the components, I believe that riding pleasure relies on reliable, smooth components. I like a great derailleur.

I am looking for a fork with 120mm travel as I am heavy on my hands, and a shock with 120mm travel because I am a little bit heavy still (120kg). I also realise that the racing snakes are probably harder on their bikes than I will ever be, but I don't know where that line is and the balance point.

 

My perfect bike :

 

SRAM Eagle 1x12

XT brakes

120mm travel fork

120mm travel shock

 

Handlebar same height as the seat (unless I am educated differently?)

????

That's the important stuff to me

 

I am not a racing snake, I have an important family and career that doesn't allow me more than a few hours a week riding, I just want to regain some strength and fitness

 

Thoughts /advice?

 

Ps:I do love riding

[Grease_Monkey]

You are looking for a short travel trail bike, there are a couple of options in that range, but only one that suits all your requirements (including the dual lock-out)...

 

The Scott Spark (non RC) range. Not sure exactly which model fits component bill but I think it is the 940 (alu) or 930 (carbon).

[MphatiPyga]

Camber should tick a lot of those boxes for you, I am sure there will be some specials on old stock as it is basically discontinued in name and resurrected as a Stumpjumper ST

[Eugene]

You are going to get 100 different responses from 100 different people, so I'm not going to recommend anything but just tell you that it is not a soft tail you are after. You probably want a full suspension.

 

There is a difference between a soft tail and a full suspension. A soft tail is actually a hard tail with a flexible chain stay. There are no pivots. There is very little travel. Soft tails are rare now days. I think BMC are the only people making something similar.

[porqui]

I think you need to figure out what type of riding you are most like to do most. Single track - lazy farm roads - tech all mountain etc.

Then go and organize some demo bike and ride them to see which you prefer.

Type of riding determines frame geometry and wheel size.

[splat]

Scott Spark or Spez Camber would be my first two suggestions.

Then maybe have a look at a Trek Fuel EX 9.8

And if you have a bit of time, maybe wait for the new Spez Stumpjumper ST

[ChrisF]

It's hard shopping for a soft tail mtb. There are lots of options, and lots of terrible advice from inexperienced sales people that try take advantage of an inexperienced mtb buyer. I'm a good salesman, so I recognise a chancer /idiot

 

Regarding the components, I believe that riding pleasure relies on reliable, smooth components. I like a great derailleur.

I am looking for a fork with 120mm travel as I am heavy on my hands, and a shock with 120mm travel because I am a little bit heavy still (120kg). I also realise that the racing snakes are probably harder on their bikes than I will ever be, but I don't know where that line is and the balance point.

 

My perfect bike :

 

SRAM Eagle 1x12

XT brakes

120mm travel fork

120mm travel shock

Both shocks lockout together

Handlebar same height as the seat (unless I am educated differently?)

 

That's the important stuff to me

 

I am not a racing snake, I have an important family and career that doesn't allow me more than a few hours a week riding, I just want to regain some strength and fitness

 

Thoughts /advice?

 

Ps:I do love riding

 

Your post does not speak to the bike geometry ..... the head angle makes a massive difference in how the bike handles .... aggresive/twitchy vs a nice stable feel when you ride.

 

The geometry of the TREK Fuel EX5 suits my riding style ... nice and stable feel.  (okay, I know it does not have the component list you want)

 

 

As for the components

- I enjoy my XT brakes on my Merida.  The Trek has the Deore brake set (I think), and it is okay for my riding style.  That said, the serious racers want better brakes ....

- Gears ... I have upgraded my Trek to the Eagle GX gears.  I LOVE the simplicity of it !!  BUT, and this really is a very serious but - if you are out of shape you may well NEED the granny gear .... so either a 28 or 30 up front, which means you have no top-speed.  Okay on the trails, but you really will be looking for that extra gear you pick up a bit of speed on good surfaces !!!  I would recommend you test ride a 1x and a 2x setup .... do a few miles, check your top speed, then tackle a steep hill ...

- why do you want both shocks to lock out at the same time ?  I often use a softer front-end, while locking the rear when climbing hills .... feels good for me, but maybe I am doing it wrong ...

[Slabeye]

You are going to get 100 different responses from 100 different people, so I'm not going to recommend anything but just tell you that it is not a soft tail you are after. You probably want a full suspension.

 

There is a difference between a soft tail and a full suspension. A soft tail is actually a hard tail with a flexible chain stay. There are no pivots. There is very little travel. Soft tails are rare now days. I think BMC are the only people making something similar.

Thanks. I didn't know that, in fact some sales people probably don't know that

[Grease_Monkey]

Camber should tick a lot of those boxes for you, I am sure there will be some specials on old stock as it is basically discontinued in name and resurrected as a Stumpjumper ST

 

If you are willing to deviate a bit from your exact needs and wait a while the new Specialized Stumpjumper ST (short travel) would be my first choice. It is 130mm front and rear, full carbon, specs are awesome, but it does not have a remote lockout that can lock front and rear suspension out together (which is not necessary in my opinion unless you are buying a top level XC bike and racing for the podium).

 

I ride the old (well current version), and I love it. The short travel version sounds like the leatherman of mountain bikes to me, the perfect blend of trail capability, climbing ability, and weight. And it's a stunner of a bike too....

 

EDIT: Once again, if you want to tick every single box in your original post, the Scott Spark range is the only bike that does that. I don't think it's the best option, but it's everything you say you want.

[Slabeye]

From what I have read today, I probably need some education on suspension. I thought that lockout is for the road.

Maybe I should pay a coach to teach me

[Grease_Monkey]

From what I have read today, I probably need some education on suspension. I thought that lockout is for the road.

Maybe I should pay a coach to teach me

All trail bikes have 3 general suspension settings: "completely open" - for trail and descending, "medium" - for pedally sections where you still need the suspension to work, and "closed" - for when you need suspension locked out like on the road or hard out of saddle sprints or climbing.

 

Brands like Scott fit a lever on your handle bar (called remote lockout) so you can switch between these three settings using the lever, amd which simultaneously changes the setting on the front and rear suspension.

 

Most other brands do not fit remote lockouts to their trail bikes, BUT you can adjust this setting by twisting a knob on your fork amd rear suspension. The downside to this is that it takes a little more effort and time, BUT most people leave their trail bikes in the medium or open setting 99% of the time. It's only XC racers that really NEED to be able to switch between settings quickly - hence I do not think remote or non remote should be a factor when buying a trail bike.

 

All the bikes people here will suggest can lockout the suspension, but only Scott fit the remote lockout to do the front and rear simultaneously from the handlebar.

 

EDIT: Remote lockouts on the handlebar adds two more cables to your handlebar, and looks messy in my opinion. I won't buy a trailbike with it fitted. It's unnecessary and just one more thing that can break.

[pista]

This sound like your perfect bike.Will you be able to get up the hills on 1X11 at 120kg?

 

https://www.canyon.com/en-be/mtb/neuron/2018/neuron-al-9-0-ltd.html

 

[Slabeye]

This sound like your perfect bike.Will you be able to get up the hills on 1X11 at 120kg?

 

https://www.canyon.com/en-be/mtb/neuron/2018/neuron-al-9-0-ltd.html

 

Nice. My Merida Big 9 XT has 2x11 XT. What are the ratios? 11/42 back and 24/34 front ?

[keithbe]

From what I have read today, I probably need some education on suspension. I thought that lockout is for the road.

Maybe I should pay a coach to teach me

Google. Youtube. No need to hire anyone. Read and watch as much as you can and never stop!

 

Happy riding.

[PeterF]

In my opinion the new Scott Spark 940 should be perfect for you. It is a great all rounder with 120mm travel and dual lockout.

[Dexter-morgan]

According to ME, my bike is the perfect mtb. For ME, Scott genius 940, SLX not Xt