Momsen Vipa Alloy vs. Silverback Stratos vs. Merida 96...

[gerriemtb]

Horn, i bought my wide the stratos al5. I think it is a dam looking 'different' bike. She loves it. Her times around our normal 20km forest, trail run is way faster than what it was on her older, lighter giant h/tail.

The stratos is a tad slacker, head angle, but very comfy. But if you are a person who likes to push on straights, like max output, where you want something lighter on the uphills, then perhaps a trail focused bike is not your answer. Not sure what kind of riding you going to do. 

 

I think woman chose, and need different types of bikes, set ups, compared to men. I personally have the silverback superspeed 2 carbon with allot of upgrades and i flippen dig this bike as i like to do short bursts at full intensity. For me weight is everything. Yes, it has a steep angle, you in race mode almost all the time, but i prefer this, especially on the uphills. 

So you call your wife your "wide" and get away with your life? Big ups!

[Jaden Straw]

 

 

Hello fellow two wheel lovers,

 

Im looking at upgrading from my hardtail (SLX with 100mm Rock Shox coil fork) to a full sus bike and want to try out my options for an entry level bike.. I usually do an XC or a trail ride around once a week (at an easy non competitive pace).

 

I've identified the following and would appreciate any advice from the more seasoned hubbers who may have had experiences with one or more of these. They all seem to have similar shocks and travel.

 

Momsen Vipa Trail One (Alloy) - Link

It has an NX Groupset and seems nice but cant find any reviews of this model online.

 

Silverback Stratos AL3 - Link

SX Groupset. I wasnt a big fan of the frame / shape but apparently it rides well and even has a dropper post

 

Merida Ninety Six 400 - Link

SX Groupset and seems lighter than the other two.

 

My LBS has the merida and the momsen in store so I can test them out but the silverback would need to be ordered.

Im currently leaning towards the momsen... based on specs, price and looks but am open to suggestions. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[Jaden Straw]

Samoosahorn, I bought myslef a silverback stratos al5. I absolutely love it. Although it's more trail focused, it still climbs like a beast and descends like a downhill bike. It's extremely capable and responsive, and the al5 is still a much lower spec than the al3, so i can just imagine what a good bike that one must be. In my opinion, i would say go for it! It's approximately 1.5-2kg heavier than my old hardtail, but the aggressive geometry definitely makes up for it, because i added in a dropper post when i bought it. Haven't regretted my bike one bit! It's a brilliant bike.