Official mountain biking thread

matt.rad

New bike day is the best day.

matt.rad

New bike day is the best day.

.nastyNiners always have been synonymous with poor design choices for people who actually like downhill haha

.lenconYo guys I need some help.

Basically I need a bike for work this summer, stoked on that, but I am kinda broke right now. lol

I have an older Giant Reign that I like, but it is getting too small for me.. and it is kinda falling apart.


I am looking for a size Medium enduro style bike. I am looking into newer Giant Reigns, YT Capra, Knolly Endorphin, Scott Genius, and Santa Cruz Nomad.

I demoed the Devinci Spartan and liked it, except it felt pretty sluggish on the uphill, even compared to my heavier and older Giant Reign.

Any advice? Anyone have a bike like this for sale for cheap?

freewillieThe nomad is the "original enduro" but considering that a hightower is burly enough for josh lewis and brycland, I think it can probably take just about anything. I have a bronson and loooove it, have not ridden a nomad, but if you plan on needing to climb I think that the bronson or ht would provide a better range of capability. Fucking sick that your job requires a bike!

freewillieThe nomad is the "original enduro" but considering that a hightower is burly enough for josh lewis and brycland, I think it can probably take just about anything. I have a bronson and loooove it, have not ridden a nomad, but if you plan on needing to climb I think that the bronson or ht would provide a better range of capability. Fucking sick that your job requires a bike!

.lenconThanks for the reply. And yeah I am pretty stoked that some days I'll essentially be getting paid to ride my bike:)

I'm going to keep my eyes or for anything enduro and I'll give the Bronson a look. I've also been looking into some Knollys if anyone has input on those.

ThaLoraxUpdate: Cut down my handlebars and holy shit, I felt so much more comfortable. Just ordered a new Holy Roller II for the rear tire and new XT Brakes to replace my Deore brakes. Almost got her dialed for my Europe trip in two weeks.

About to experiment with applying 3m Scotchgard to my bike in key areas to protect the carbon from rocks/chips/cable rub. Has anyone else done this before? Found some at a local car retailer for cheaper than the internet, so I figured it's worth a shot since it's clear and will only help protect the frame.

ThaLoraxI leave for my mtn bike trip through the Alps of Europe tomorrow. I can't explain how excited I am!

cydwhitWent from rocking my 26" Reign for everything to now just riding the On One 45650B with a 150 mm Pike for everything. It's a huge change, but I'm loving it, I've got a dropper on it, and it's been a blast to learn to ride technical trails on a HT. Going tubeless this week and then I should be good to go!

It pedals so much better than the Reign (even though it's actually heavier) so I'm stoked to start pushing the limits of how far I ride!

dropimgWhats my next upgrade? Ive got a kona precept and have put on new bars, front wheel, brakes, pedals, drive train and rear shock. But am.wondering if I keep upgrading or just saveup and get a new bike.

TingaStart saving for a new platform. There are better platforms to invest in.

.lenconI'm going to keep my eyes or for anything enduro and I'll give the Bronson a look. I've also been looking into some Knollys if anyone has input on those.

division.bellBeen a while fellas...

Spent my morning in the garage putting together my latest build and can't wait to get the new bike dirty for the first time. A short travel 29er/27.5+ to complement my Bronson.



Anything enduro? That doesn't narrow it down much now does it?

Do yourself a favor and quit jerking it to bikes on the computer, drag your ass to some local demo days/rent bikes from local shops and or mountains and figure out which bike works best for you. You've referenced some very different bikes during your social daydreaming sessions, and it's obvious you're not quite sure which bike will best suit your needs. Do yourself the favor and ride some shit before thinking of dropping some cash, you'll thank yourself in the end.

I love my V2 Bronson. I also have time on the Nomad (N3) and Hightower as I saw those bikes mentioned above. If you have any questions, just ask.

I've also owned the last gen Endorphin, 140mm 26" frame and I loved it. I was definitely looking at the Warden Carbon during my last bike hunt as I really enjoyed how the Knolly's ride. Ended up on a Bronson and haven't looked back.

.lenconLooks like NS still isn't short of dicks who think they know everything... lol.

Been on Devincis, Giants, Treks, Specializeds, NS, Trek and will have the opportunity to get on some Scotts and Norcos before I buy. For where I am located, that is pretty darn good considering our shops.

I know I want an enduro style bike, love going downhill, but want something that does decently well on the uphill. I found the Spartan to be sluggish on the uphill, but the Reigns weren't too bad. The Treks I have been on I have liked. NS and Specialized weren't really my style.

Right now I currently have my eyes on a few Bronsons, Genius, Slash, Endorphins, Range, and Reings.

I would love to know how the Bronson handles as an all around bike, as I said, I will be doing a lot of both downhill and uphill. If anyone has any other info on the bikes I listed I would love to hear.

division.bellBeen a while fellas...

Spent my morning in the garage putting together my latest build and can't wait to get the new bike dirty for the first time. A short travel 29er/27.5+ to complement my Bronson.



Anything enduro? That doesn't narrow it down much now does it?

Do yourself a favor and quit jerking it to bikes on the computer, drag your ass to some local demo days/rent bikes from local shops and or mountains and figure out which bike works best for you. You've referenced some very different bikes during your social daydreaming sessions, and it's obvious you're not quite sure which bike will best suit your needs. Do yourself the favor and ride some shit before thinking of dropping some cash, you'll thank yourself in the end.

I love my V2 Bronson. I also have time on the Nomad (N3) and Hightower as I saw those bikes mentioned above. If you have any questions, just ask.

I've also owned the last gen Endorphin, 140mm 26" frame and I loved it. I was definitely looking at the Warden Carbon during my last bike hunt as I really enjoyed how the Knolly's ride. Ended up on a Bronson and haven't looked back.

division.bellWhat, you can't handle your nipple being twisted a bit? So sensitive...

Glad to hear you've ridden some bikes. It's just intriguing to see someone looking at bikes ranging from 130mm - 165mm of rear travel for the same kind of riding. With all of the bikes you've ridden so far, what has kept you from narrowing your scope regarding rear travel and geometry?

Head back to page 54, I typed up a little regarding Nomads and Bronsons a while back. If you need anything more specific, I'd be happy to answer.

cydwhitMan, I was so stoked about going tubeless and now it turns out my rear tire had a hole in the sidewall. Yay! New rubber, spending money!

Think I'm gonna go with a Minion SS...

.lenconHaha that kinda is my narrowed list.. a least a little bit.
I am just trying to keep my eyes and ears open, especially since I am on a budget.

My current bike is a 2005 Giant Reign with 130mm of travel.. and for downhill/jumping/climbing.. it got most of the job done. But more travel would be nice for sure. There are just very nice adjustable suspension systems these days, so I am not too worried.

Honestly, I would like something around the 150mm mark, so it will handle the uphills better than the 165mm range but also handle the downhills better than the 130mm

cydwhitMan, I was so stoked about going tubeless and now it turns out my rear tire had a hole in the sidewall. Yay! New rubber, spending money!

Think I'm gonna go with a Minion SS...

chodoI have a minion SS on as a rear currently and have a love hate with it. It is a very fast rolling tire, corners extremely well like its other minion siblings, but it has HORRIBLE braking traction. When you have the bike pointed down, any bit of rear break pretty much locks of the rear wheel. Just something to take into consideration. I currently have an Aggressor on order that I will be replacing the Minion SS with.

chodoThe biggest thing I can stress is be realistic about what you actually need! Every body wants a 6" bike that can shred downhill at warp speed, but a lot of people end up buying too much bike and sacrifice some of the fun that you could be having if you were on something more suitable!

When I bought my new bike last year I had narrowed it down to the Bronson and the Hightower. I decided to go with the hightower because living in Colorado, there arent many rides where you end up with less than 1,500-2,000' of climbing! Id much rather have a more evenly balanced bike than be absolutely miserable for half my ride during the climb. Along with the better climbing performance, the 135mm vs 150mm of travel difference is nearly negligible, its hardly more than 1/2 inch! Just be realistic of what you need out of the bike, we are not all Richie Rudes or Aaron Gwins.

Also geometry needs to be taken in consideration. If you have short arms, a bike with a long reach isn't going ride nearly as well for you as it will some people! This goes back to just keep demoing/renting bikes untill you really find one that clicks with you

Good luck in your hunt, and make sure to post pictures of what you get!



I have a minion SS on as a rear currently and have a love hate with it. It is a very fast rolling tire, corners extremely well like its other minion siblings, but it has HORRIBLE braking traction. When you have the bike pointed down, any bit of rear break pretty much locks of the rear wheel. Just something to take into consideration. I currently have an Aggressor on order that I will be replacing the Minion SS with.

.lenconHaha that kinda is my narrowed list.. a least a little bit.
I am just trying to keep my eyes and ears open, especially since I am on a budget.

My current bike is a 2005 Giant Reign with 130mm of travel.. and for downhill/jumping/climbing.. it got most of the job done. But more travel would be nice for sure. There are just very nice adjustable suspension systems these days, so I am not too worried.

Honestly, I would like something around the 150mm mark, so it will handle the uphills better than the 165mm range but also handle the downhills better than the 130mm

cydwhitYeah, basically what I've heard. Shop didn't have it, so back to a Hans Damph for the moment, and will swap to SS when they get it in. My rear rim is super narrow, so I'm ending up with a really awkward tire profile regardless haha.

division.bellWhat kind of budget are you on? Are you only looking at used bikes at this point? And what kind of terrain are you going to be riding; singletrack/shuttle trails/bike park/everything? Lots of climbing required for descents or more up and down type terrain where climbing isn't as big of a focus?

Most anything from the last few years is going to be better than a 12 year old Reign, as you stated the suspension technology is leaps and bounds above what it was 12 years ago.

For me personally, anything more than 150mm of travel just isn't any fun to pedal uphill. Granted, I'm not a sit and spin, take it easy kind of climber.

Regardless of what modern bike you end up on, you're going to enjoy it more than your old Reign.



If you have any interest in a DHR II, let me know. I have 4 brand new ones laying around unused in my garage and I would be more than happy to hook you up. PM me for a killer deal if interested Cy.

.lenconYep, just looking at used bikes. Probably will end up spending around 2k-2.5k, I have seen some good deals, but haven't bit the bullet on anything and probably won't for another few weeks or so.

I will be doing everything on this bike. Bike parks, downhill, shuttles, climbs, single track. The whole shebang. And I will do a fair amount of each. So it would be great to have a really well rounded whip.

chodoYou should look into the Guerrilla Gravity Mega Trail, you can flip between 150 and 160 rear travel. You can also get one brand new for a little over 3k. I know thats over your budget, but a lot of times saving a little more and getting a new bike can save you a lot of headaches and money in the long run.

And GG is a kick ass company!

loopieAnyone in the SLC area have a tailgate pad they would sell me? I will love you long time

mike759Should I buy:

($56)
or

($69)

Raz.please god neither. just get a regular ass helmet.

Raz.please god neither. just get a regular ass helmet. TLD makes stuff that doesn't look like it was inspired by swat gear

mike759suggestions?

TingaAre you against the trail style helmet? or just those two? DO you mean a cross country or roadie helmet as a normal helmet?

I think the extra back of the head protection is nice. Either is a good option.

freewillieAgree with the back of the head protection 100%.

Bell super 2r is what I ride with. I wouldn't spend the extra money on the chin bar though if I were you bc I did, and now I never use it.

mike759Should I buy:

($69)

TingaAre you against the trail style helmet? or just those two? DO you mean a cross country or roadie helmet as a normal helmet?

I think the extra back of the head protection is nice. Either is a good option.

freewillieAgree with the back of the head protection 100%.

Bell super 2r is what I ride with. I wouldn't spend the extra money on the chin bar though if I were you bc I did, and now I never use it.

jblaskiI'll second both the trail style helmet as well as the Super 2R. I love mine, and I actually do wear the full face. Not on most trails, but any downhill-ish, or when I'm riding some park or jumps.

mike759I'm deciding between these two because they get good reviews and they're on sale, so which one?