Thought Project - Best previous gen XC bike to upgrade

[ajnkzn]

Morning All

 

Curious to hear from the home mechanics, racers and bike shop owners - what is the previous gen XC bike with the most “modernization” potential?

 

There are some awesome deals on 2018-2022 or so XC bikes (Trance, Epic, Spark, Ninety Six, Scalpel etc). 
 

If you were to buy and modernize / build up a bike for stage racing, gravel races and non competitive trail riding what would you choose?

 

Off the top of my head things that I’d look for would be;

 

• Clearance for 2.35 - 2.4 tyres

• 1 x drivetrain

• Boost

• Modern geometry (reach, stack, head and seat tube angles) OR the ability to buy a size larger and drop in a headset angle adjust headset

• Proven and easily available pivot bearings 

• Proprietary stuff not an issue as long as the support is there 

• Possibly a preference for aluminium - as long as the bike weight could be down close to 12kg

• Dropper compatible - min 125mm

• Kinematics that allow no / removal of lockouts. I did this on a Scalpel Si and it still pedaled beautifully. I am a simple soul and can’t be bothered with fiddling with levers all the time. 
 

 

Thanks for any thoughts / recommendations / “stay aways” 🤘

Edited Monday at 07:00 AM by ajnkzn

[Danger Dassie]

Just off the bat, there are Momsen Vipa's around at a bargain with decent specs, mostly carbon frames but now and then an alloy option pops up. Upgrade it with a 120mm for at the right offset, and you have a generally budget-friendly ripper for riding, racing etc.
One issue could be boost on the rear, however this could be remedied by a decent carbon/engineering co and even updated to UDH.  

Edited Monday at 01:46 PM by Danger Dassie

[mecheng89]

48 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Just off the bat, there's a Momsen Vipa around at a bargain with decent specs. Upgrade it with a 120mm for at the right offset, and you have a generally budget-friendly ripper for riding, racing etc.
One issue could be boost on the rear, however this could be remedied by a decent carbon/engineering co and even updated to UDH.  

Did you mean this one? Seems it's gone.

[thebob]

Gen 3 Trek Top Fuel. Ticks all the boxes you mention and will still be relevant in terms of geometry and capability many years from now

[Danger Dassie]

4 hours ago, mecheng89 said:

Did you mean this one? Seems it's gone.

That specific bike but that model yes, they pop up now and then. Some in better colour ways as well ...

 

[Danger Dassie]

Another consideration is the Specialized Epic, around 2018 on. Some bargains going around and don't have the Brain fork. In fact an Epic Comp alloy is arguably the precursor to Specialized's current Chisel FS, at a fraction of the cost. 

[Danger Dassie]

Also Pyga Stage/Stage Max, some good deals pop up. Nearly caught one last year for a shade under 50k. GX Axs, Deed wheels/components 120/130mm Rock Shox Sid Deluxe. 

[Danger Dassie]

Titan Racing Cypher gen 1.
The 2020 Elite (120mm) was/is probably one of the most speed and fun per rand. 

Merida 96 XT or Merida 120 XT (6000), super under rated and versatile, really well balanced handling bikes that should have a bigger footprint here.. 

[Jimmy 2.0]

specialized epics, pyga stage as they both can take 2 bottle cages both of those you can run 120mm up front to get that more modern travel setup

[ajnkzn]

Thanks for all the ideas - definitely some great options 

[Scott roy]

10 hours ago, Danger Dassie said:

Just off the bat, there are Momsen Vipa's around at a bargain with decent specs, mostly carbon frames but now and then an alloy option pops up. Upgrade it with a 120mm for at the right offset, and you have a generally budget-friendly ripper for riding, racing etc.
One issue could be boost on the rear, however this could be remedied by a decent carbon/engineering co and even updated to UDH.  

 

Edited Monday at 07:08 PM by Scott roy

[Scott roy]

12 hours ago, ajnkzn said:

Morning All

 

Curious to hear from the home mechanics, racers and bike shop owners - what is the previous gen XC bike with the most “modernization” potential?

 

There are some awesome deals on 2018-2022 or so XC bikes (Trance, Epic, Spark, Ninety Six, Scalpel etc). 
 

If you were to buy and modernize / build up a bike for stage racing, gravel races and non competitive trail riding what would you choose?

 

Off the top of my head things that I’d look for would be;

 

• Clearance for 2.35 - 2.4 tyres

• 1 x drivetrain

• Boost

• Modern geometry (reach, stack, head and seat tube angles) OR the ability to buy a size larger and drop in a headset angle adjust headset

• Proven and easily available pivot bearings 

• Proprietary stuff not an issue as long as the support is there 

• Possibly a preference for aluminium - as long as the bike weight could be down close to 12kg

• Dropper compatible - min 125mm

• Kinematics that allow no / removal of lockouts. I did this on a Scalpel Si and it still pedaled beautifully. I am a simple soul and can’t be bothered with fiddling with levers all the time. 
 

 

Thanks for any thoughts / recommendations / “stay aways” 🤘

From the bikes you’ve listed, Scott spark for sure. Absolutely fantastic bike

i had a 2018 spark World Cup which I replaced with a 2021 Titan cypher RS ultimate, despite the electric groupset and other fancy parts it was a major downgrade in my opinion. I’ve seen a few previous gen sparks listed and you would certainly be getting a lot of bike for the money. 

[Kuys]

I would opt for the Epic Evo. No brains front or rear, and quite slack HTA of 66.5. 120mm front and 110mm rear. No lock outs, good availability of spares, space for 2 bottles + swat box. Decent no of options available 2nd hand, from R47k upwards. 

[Shebeen]

On 1/20/2025 at 8:47 AM, ajnkzn said:

 

If you were to buy and modernize / build up a bike for stage racing, gravel races and non competitive trail riding what would you choose?

 

So you want to do ~Cape Epic, ~Around the Pot and ~Jonkers fun sessions on the same bike?

What's the budget?

What do you have in the garage currently, because this seems like an N+1

[ajnkzn]

All valid questions thanks!

 

It’s more of a hypothetical at the moment as I’ve set myself a goal of riding my races this year on a lightly upgraded Roscoe which is my only bike at the moment. 
 

Well, it started that way but now has a Pike Select Plus, Burgtec Cockpit and Zipp Moto wheels so hardly standard anymore haha. 
 

I am a shocker - have owned hardtails, dual sus, gravel bike, trail, XC and everywhere in between. 

I live in Howick so there are some epic trails at Karkloof nearby but the goal for the bike is day marathon races, stage races, possibly non stop Sani and some gravel racing as a one bike to do it all well with a focus on speed and efficiency 70% / trails 30% .

 

It will be my only bike.

 

Realistically, an Epic Evo is probably a safe bet for R 50 k but it’s more fun to breathe new life into an old dog sometimes haha

 

[Danger Dassie]

Karkloof/Howick .... ok, I'm not talking to you anymore. Too jealous! 
Probably some THE best cycling to be had anywhere!