Grease_Monkey Posted October 1, 2019 Share What is everyone's opinion on the perfect travel for a hard hitting trail bike for the Gauteng area? Our trails here in the Highveld is obviously very rocky, rooty and loose. 130/130?130/150?140/150?150/160? How do those with 130mm in the back find the terrain when things get rough? Personally I wouldn't go for anything more than 130mm front and rear for anything in Gauteng. I would however just opt for something with slightly slacker geometry and a very progressive rear end. That way you end up with a bike that can handle the bigger stuff which when it has to, but remains playful on most of the trails found in Gauteng. T-Bob, Dieter ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) and BaltazarMarques 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bob Posted October 1, 2019 Share What is everyone's opinion on the perfect travel for a hard hitting trail bike for the Gauteng area? Our trails here in the Highveld is obviously very rocky, rooty and loose. 130/130?130/150?140/150?150/160? How do those with 130mm in the back find the terrain when things get rough? All depends of the bike and the suspension. Something one the Evil Following is a beast of a bike with only 120mm out the back, 67 odd head angle and will tackle almost everything you decide throw at it. The Suspension set up in so good at what it does you'd be amazed. Same with the Smuggler that used to have 115mm travel, the Banshee Phantom with 110mm and the new 29'r trance has around the 120mm travel out the back. Then I've ridden longer travel bikes that felt like they needed more to be deal with everything. A Jeffsy runs a 150 set up but is a great trail bike while a Ripmo runs 140 and is raced by the Ibis team on the EWS. It's more about the bike and the numbers work as a whole than just travel. BaltazarMarques 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falling Over Posted October 1, 2019 Share So what you guys are saying is that I should NOT buy that Spectral for Pretoria's non-existent Enduro trails? I do have my eyes on the Transition Scout though....now THAT is pretty. The new Commencal Meta TR is just as good looking. Captain Fastbastard Mayhem, T-Bob and BaltazarMarques 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebob Posted October 1, 2019 Share Go for something with good local backup and support. Trance 29 gets my vote, but I'm biased Edited October 1, 2019 by the_bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falling Over Posted October 1, 2019 Share Go for something with good local backup and support. Trance 29 gets my vote, but I'm biased No worries, I am indeed planning on taking a Trance for a demo soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Posted October 1, 2019 Share 2015 Smuggler is my bike...Trance29 is my realistic dream bike! SB130 is my pipe dream bike <3 thebob and T-Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuys Posted October 1, 2019 Share What is everyone's opinion on the perfect travel for a hard hitting trail bike for the Gauteng area? Our trails here in the Highveld is obviously very rocky, rooty and loose. 130/130?130/150?140/150?150/160? How do those with 130mm in the back find the terrain when things get rough? If planning to ride hard on 120mm in Gauteng, I recommned Cushcore or similar on the back. I ride a 120mm Camber with Ikon 2.35 + Cushcore in rear and DHRII 2.4 without Cushcore up front. Without the Cushcore the rear tire does not last one ride at Buffelsdrift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bob Posted October 1, 2019 Share So what you guys are saying is that I should NOT buy that Spectral for Pretoria's non-existent Enduro trails? I do have my eyes on the Transition Scout though....now THAT is pretty. The new Commencal Meta TR is just as good looking. Had the Meta 650b and it was good but I didn't find any 'fun' in it at all on the trails. Got such good write ups but I was left scratching my head a bit. I've ridden a Scout and that that is a very capible bike for the amount of travel and rides like tigger after a 6 pack of Red Bull. Trannys are true to their 'party win the woods' vibe and have a sold history in the gnarly stuff. The Spectral is actually a great trail bike. It's a brilliant mix of trail fun and doesn't fall into the longer slacker, sled approach that can deaden a ride. The Strive is their enduro focused frame. I know Canyon locally has a couple of demo Spectrals on sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odinson Posted October 4, 2019 Share Vitus Mythique - cheap and cheerful trail bike. Funny story - the name sounds like an Afrikaans person with a lisp saying 'musiek'. Hairy, T-Bob, Bos and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bos Posted October 4, 2019 Share Had the Meta 650b and it was good but I didn't find any 'fun' in it at all on the trails. Got such good write ups but I was left scratching my head a bit. I've ridden a Scout and that that is a very capible bike for the amount of travel and rides like tigger after a 6 pack of Red Bull. Trannys are true to their 'party win the woods' vibe and have a sold history in the gnarly stuff. The Spectral is actually a great trail bike. It's a brilliant mix of trail fun and doesn't fall into the longer slacker, sled approach that can deaden a ride. The Strive is their enduro focused frame. I know Canyon locally has a couple of demo Spectrals on sale. Agreed.. A bit of a sweeping statement, but what can make a bike great down gnarly chutes can make it pretty boring on "normal" trails. I know shorter travel bikes are becoming more capable and bigger bikes also more versatile, but in the end there will almost always be a bit of a trade-off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falling Over Posted October 4, 2019 Share I took a look at the Commencal 2020 prices. Then I cried in the shower for a bit. Bizkit031, Hairy and Redrush 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaGearA Posted October 4, 2019 Share Go for something with good local backup and support. Trance 29 gets my vote, but I'm biasedI ride a Santa Cruz and the new trance also gets my vote Exceptional bike Hairy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meezo Posted October 4, 2019 Share ...new reign me likey! Hairy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrush Posted October 4, 2019 Share I took a look at the Commencal 2020 prices. Then I cried in the shower for a bit.I feel you, im trying to justify to myself to buy the Meta HT essential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJClegg Posted October 5, 2019 Share All these nice bikes. I have a hardtail bike; very basic. Going to also convert to SS - which I am starting to think is not ideal for trails and such. henningvr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henningvr Posted October 5, 2019 Share Nothing wrong with a hardtail! And single speed is a ton of fun on the trails. I rode a SS for 3 years. Go for it - it will make you strong and teach you a lot about momentum. Here's my do-it-all trail/XC/commuter bike: BaGearA and Dan Dob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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