Scott vs. Giant vs. Spez vs. Yeti vs....

[Sighnide]

 

i heard a rumour that bicycling will be having 4 more test ride days this year' date=' with the first one coming up in the middle of Feb, so if you can hold on for a while, you can test most of them...

[/quote']Delaying gratification.... not my strong point, but may be worth it

 

[TitusTi]

What about a Scalpel?

I have ridden the Specialized 29er that was far (and I mean far) to big for me and it still rode beatifully (incuding rockey singletracks' date=' etc). For 29ers you might have issues finding components and stuff in ZA (think tires here).

Ride the different bikes and make your choice. You will know when it is the right fit for you

 

[/quote']

 

Correction, at the moment you can get tyres from: WTB, Hutchinson, Specialized, Bontrager, Schwalbe, Continental and probably a few others I've forgotten.

The parts availabilty issues you used to have 2 or 3 years ago have been cleared up.

Forgot, Kenda also have 29'ers, even tubes (not that you need 29'er tubes though).

TitusTi2009-01-09 07:07:42

[Sighnide]

 

What about a Scalpel?

I have ridden the Specialized 29er that was far (and I mean far) to big for me and it still rode beatifully (incuding rockey singletracks' date=' etc). For 29ers you might have issues finding components and stuff in ZA (think tires here).

Ride the different bikes and make your choice. You will know when it is the right fit for you

 

[/quote']

 

Correction, at the moment you can get tyres from: WTB, Hutchinson, Specialized, Bontrager, Schwalbe, Continental and probably a few others I've forgotten.

The parts availabilty issues you used to have 2 or 3 years ago have been cleared up.

Forgot, Kenda also have 29'ers, even tubes (not that you need 29'er tubes though).

TituTi - you seem to know a bit about 29er's  - Read good things about a Gary Fisher HiFi, your thoughts?

 

 

[LazyTrailRider]

 

Correction' date=' at the moment you can get tyres from: WTB, Hutchinson, Specialized, Bontrager, Schwalbe, Continental and probably a few others I've forgotten.

The parts availabilty issues you used to have 2 or 3 years ago have been cleared up.

Forgot, Kenda also have 29'ers, even tubes (not that you need 29'er tubes though).

[/quote']

 

Quite correct. When I was shopping for my Kenda SB8s, I ran into tons of 29er tyres, at times to my frustration!

[bustthesickness]

 

Go to Bridge cycle.

They will tell you how many time a SpecialK has been in for blown seals in the rear shock' date=' they will tell you how many times a rear shock has completly failed.

That company cannot even build a relaiable non cracking road frame. Do you really want to put your ass on there stuff.

 

Anthem or Spark....

in months from now to come back to this very page, and read on what people have told you.

[/quote']

couldn't agree less. Specialized make great bikes. Awesome design and engineering. Possibly these cases you refer to are from misuse/bad setups. You can't compare an Epic to an Anthem. Thats like comparing a Porsche to an Astra.

 

...and then we have the Enduro. A class of its own.

 

To the asker of the initial question...check out Commencal bikes. The Meta 5.5 has won best all round bike for a while now.

 

[Sighnide]

 

What about a Scalpel?

I have ridden the Specialized 29er that was far (and I mean far) to big for me and it still rode beatifully (incuding rockey singletracks' date=' etc). For 29ers you might have issues finding components and stuff in ZA (think tires here).

Ride the different bikes and make your choice. You will know when it is the right fit for you

 

[/quote']Hmm, Scalpel.... I will most likely crash 'cos I'll be looking down at where the other stanchion should be....Lefty good tech, but odd looking...

 

[TitusTi]

TitusTi - you seem to know a bit about 29er's  - Read good things about a Gary Fisher HiFi' date=' your thoughts?

[/quote']

 

I currently have 2 29'ers, a Titanium Titus 29'er Full sus and a Gary Fisher HiFi 29'er, I've also ridden a few others.

The Fisher is a nice toy, it's nice to stuff around on but I don't like racing it. The Titus has a much racier feel and rails big stuff just as well as the Fisher.

[Iwan Kemp]

UK Mags loving the Anthem. Get the yeti.

 

Or: Rocky Mountain Element

 

Or: Check out WMB review of Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL

They love the Giant cause it is good.

They also "love" Trek. Trek sponsors one or two articles so you always see guys riding a Trek in the photos.

 

The Yeti is a great bike. Exclusive, sexy, light, fast...but a HELL of a lot more money than the Giant. A Giant is a bit of a "common" bike, but as much as I don't like the brand I can't argue with the fact that the Anthem is one kick-ass machine.

[DeltaOscar]

If they were giving them away free? Then which one.

[Iwan Kemp]

Go to Bridge cycle.

They will tell you how many time a SpecialK has been in for blown seals in the rear shock' date=' they will tell you how many times a rear shock has completly failed.

That company cannot even build a relaiable non cracking road frame. Do you really want to put your ass on there stuff.

 

Anthem or Spark....

in months from now to come back to this very page, and read on what people have told you.

[/quote']
couldn't agree less. Specialized make great bikes. Awesome design and engineering. Possibly these cases you refer to are from misuse/bad setups. You can't compare an Epic to an Anthem. Thats like comparing a Porsche to an Astra.

...and then we have the Enduro. A class of its own.

To the asker of the initial question...check out Commencal bikes. The Meta 5.5 has won best all round bike for a while now.

You don't have to go Bridge. Ask ANY bike shop that'll give you a honest answer.

Yes, Spez vs Giant is Porsche vs Opel...but only in appeal or brand perception. There's nothing exceptional about a Spez. Nothing. Their own brand forks and shocks have been blowing seals for years and have been underdelivering for longer.

I don't like Giant. Just as I don't like Opel. But the Anthem is a great bike. You can buy an X1 for HALF the price you would pay for an Epic. Is an Epic double better, or THAT much lighter or stiffer. Nope. The Anthem will perform for miles upon countless miles while the spez is having it's third shock replaced.

Enduro is not in a class of it's own. There are many other bikes in THAT class and most outperform the Enduro. It's average.

What all round bike award has the Meta won?

 

Do you even cycle?

 

[Iwan Kemp]

If they were giving them away free? Then which one.

The Yeti. But not because it's better. Only because it's more exclusive. And a one mean looking machine

[Spaceboy]

[DeltaOscar]

If they were giving them away free? Then which one.

The Yeti. But not because it's better. Only because it's more exclusive. And a one mean looking machine

 

Dead right

[Sighnide]

 

i heard a rumour that bicycling will be having 4 more test ride days this year' date=' with the first one coming up in the middle of Feb, so if you can hold on for a while, you can test most of them...

[/quote']Middle Feb....not enough time to get to know it before Sani

 

[Yang]

http://www.focusbikesuk.com/about_us.php

 

 

Do yourself a favour.

 

Disregard all that has been written to now- nobody has even made a mention of FOCUS. They are available in RSA.

 

Had a chance to get one of their SS with XT at Argus expo last year for R17000 and I didn't, still regret it- now a lot more expensive. What a stunning machine and design. I admit to not having ridden it, and I haven't seen any reviews, but my eyes don't lie, and my gut feel when I saw this was wrenching.

 

Would dearly love to see some review from a Hubber to confirm this.

[Newboy]

Also ride a 29 er. Tried the GF, Niner and the Ellsworth Evolve. Eventually took the Ellsworth and I am extremely happy. The Niner was my definate second choice. If my LBS sold the Niner I would have taken it. They both felt a lot better than the GF. I guess it boils down to personal choice.

 

At 6,2 I will definately go with a 29 er. It changes cycling for me.

 

You get tires everywhere and it is definately not an issue. The rest of the bike except the fork  and rims are standard.

 

In Gauteng:

 

GF at Cyclelab

Niner at Morningside

Ellsworth at Fritz Pienaar.

TryBoy2009-01-09 12:17:56