What 29er am I looking for?

[reckless toboggan]

I think the new 76 degree seat tube angles on modern bikes hides a pound or two on the climbs. If that even makes any sense. I’m climbing much easier on my 34lb Sentinel, than my old 30lb 2010 Reign.

26" Reign vs 29" Sentinel makes a huge difference for climbs.

[stradissimo]

26" Reign vs 29" Sentinel makes a huge difference for climbs.

I’m climbing better on my aluminum Sentinel than I did on my 2015 Mach 6. It’s a bonus because I didn’t expect much from the Sentinel on the climbs.

[SchralphMacchio]

29” GG Pedalhead is also the single most fun 29er I’ve ever ridden ... if you can see yourself owning a hardtail ... that bike can handle rowdy terrain no problem and is within your budget.

[bagtagley]

It ultimately comes down to preference, budget, and bike maintenance tolerance level. For the first time, I have two "trail" bikes, and I'm digging it. I have a Megatrail and a 120mm modern geo XC/Trail bike. They have some overlap in that they both climb and descend well, but they're really pretty different bikes. They both have their purposes, and they both get ridden a lot. Keeping the Reign allows you get a more XC oriented bike without worrying about what you're going to ride on a shuttle or lift days.

An added bonus is always having a backup bike. That's been huge for me this year.

[muted]

Thanks tagleybagley. True, true.

3 out of 4 places listed around here as Devinci dealers are not Devinci dealers anymore, so no demos available. I'll have to go to Summit Cycle today and see what size I am and give it the ol' parking lot test. Beyond that, due to timing of this sale (how long will they last?) and laziness, I'm going to buy a carbon Django on Evo and presume it will be good. My friend was going to hook me up with carbon rims for my giant, now I'll ask for ones for my 29er and hope he can come through.

But there are dozens of used bikes being added every day to KSL.com, everybody is dumping great bikes. Just in the last 8 hours people put up a Norco sight 7.1c for $2k in L, Trail 429 (in M won't fit) for $2.4k, dang it is the season to buy!

[muted]

No Djangos at the one dealer, just a Troy. Pretty sure I need an XL, but I'm guessing. They had no XLs and the L Troy geo isn't identical to the Django.

Toast, any advice? Aren't you tall? I'm 6' 2" . I always, always go smaller and get a L, but I think I'm an XL in a Devinci.

Frickin XL with wagon wheels, that sounds, um, what's the opposite of flickable?

[toast2266]

I'm definitely not tall (5'9"). I'd probably ride a medium Django. But I'd call Devinci's sizing pretty average, or maybe slightly on the large side. Reach on a Large Django 29 is 460mm. While that's not super huge, it's definitely not small either. As a reference point, that's about half way between a Large and XL Spec. Camber. And it's the same for the horizontal top tube length - large Django is half way between L and XL Camber.

That said, your other bike is a Giant Reign, and the sizing on those things is massive. Those are some of the longest bikes on the market, at least from a major manufacturer. So if you're riding a large Reign, a large Django will probably feel smaller. But the Django's sizing is pretty similar to a Giant Trance (the Django is maybe slightly bigger in any given size).

But you said the local shop has a Troy - at least in terms of fit, those are pretty comparable to a Django. Sure, the angles are slacker, but in terms of reach, top tube length, and other measurements that really affect fit, they're pretty similar. In other words, if a large Troy feels right, I bet a large Django would also feel right.

[muted]

I'm definitely not tall (5'9"). I'd probably ride a medium Django. But I'd call Devinci's sizing pretty average, or maybe slightly on the large side. Reach on a Large Django 29 is 460mm. While that's not super huge, it's definitely not small either. As a reference point, that's about half way between a Large and XL Spec. Camber. And it's the same for the horizontal top tube length - large Django is half way between L and XL Camber.

That said, your other bike is a Giant Reign, and the sizing on those things is massive. Those are some of the longest bikes on the market, at least from a major manufacturer. So if you're riding a large Reign, a large Django will probably feel smaller. But the Django's sizing is pretty similar to a Giant Trance (the Django is maybe slightly bigger in any given size).

But you said the local shop has a Troy - at least in terms of fit, those are pretty comparable to a Django. Sure, the angles are slacker, but in terms of reach, top tube length, and other measurements that really affect fit, they're pretty similar. In other words, if a large Troy feels right, I bet a large Django would also feel right.

Thank you so much. After a little research, I realized the shop guy today was wrong to tell me the Django has shorter reach....which put me back thinking I was a L because the troy fit nicely....and now you confirmed this thanks.

[toast2266]

Forgot to add: Devinci just re-did the Troy. The one on their website is the old one, but new ones exist, and some shops have them. Not sure which one you sat on. But the new ones are slightly larger - not dramatically larger, but it's slightly (like ~5mm) longer than the Django.

Geo chart for the new Troy is here: http://blistergearreview.com/wp-cont...titled-2-1.png

[bagtagley]

Hey toast, you spent any time on the Marshall w/ 29 wheels?

[toast2266]

Hey toast, you spent any time on the Marshall w/ 29 wheels?

I haven't. Buddy has the plus version of it and seems to like it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[WaistDeepGroomers]

I'd probably hold out for the 29er. On those shorter travel rigs, I think the bigger wheels matter more - they help roll over stuff, which sort of makes up for the lack of suspension. It's like you get the benefits of less travel (more efficient, poppier) but also get some of the plowiness of a bigger bike.

So with that category, there's kind of a spectrum of more xc-ish to more dh-ish. You'd have to figure out where you wanted to land on that spectrum, but I'd put the django roughly in the middle, maybe slightly tipped towards the dh side. Evil following and transition smuggler would be more dh-ish. Something like a specialized camber or yeti 4.5 would be more xc-ish.

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Toast you had that great layout on blister I remember that ranked bikes in the same travel range by most XC-ish to most DH-ish. Might could post here?

I ride a Following, love it to all hell. Between the flip chip and changing the travel shaft on th fork (took some learning on how to do that but way easier once you remember to put the snap ring in not upside down) I can make it way more XC or full #enduro. And while not "plush" compared to a Honker 160 mm bike, it's crazy how plush it can be for 120.

That being said, not the cheapest although the used V1 followings are going for deals. An aluminum Jeffsy or Smuggler will be a better deal.

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[the_flying_v]

Smuggler FTW

[toast2266]

Toast you had that great layout on blister I remember that ranked bikes in the same travel range by most XC-ish to most DH-ish. Might could post here?

Yeah, we put this together a year or two ago: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-re...de-comparisons

We've updated it with a few new bikes, but there's a couple noteworthy new bikes on the market that aren't on that list that I want to get time on. Too many bikes, not enough time!

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[smartyiak]

Yeah, we put this together a year or two ago: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-re...de-comparisons

We've updated it with a few new bikes, but there's a couple noteworthy new bikes on the market that aren't on that list that I want to get time on. Too many bikes, not enough time!

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I think you described the Yeti 4.5 perfectly. Any other bikes out there that you'd use similar verbs to describe ("snappy", "racey, "zippy")? (but with more reach).

Right now I'm eyeing the new SB130, but not sure I can swing it on my dental assistant salary.

[bagtagley]

It’s easy to swing. Just grab it by the huge handle jutting out from the bottom bracket.

[muted]

Forgot to add: Devinci just re-did the Troy. The one on their website is the old one, but new ones exist, and some shops have them. Not sure which one you sat on. But the new ones are slightly larger - not dramatically larger, but it's slightly (like ~5mm) longer than the Django.

Geo chart for the new Troy is here: http://blistergearreview.com/wp-cont...titled-2-1.png

Interesting the Enduro was rated as one of the worst climbers in that field of bikes. I rented one in December and it blew me away in how much better it was going up than my Reign. I think it was a 27.5, but still.

great article, I wish I saw that when I started looking.

[toast2266]

Interesting the Enduro was rated as one of the worst climbers in that field of bikes. I rented one in December and it blew me away in how much better it was going up than my Reign. I think it was a 27.5, but still.

great article, I wish I saw that when I started looking.

Note that the enduro we were on was from a few years ago. That bike has been revised (twice, maybe?) since then. I haven't gotten much time on the newer ones, but most people seem pretty psyched on them.

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[toast2266]

I think you described the Yeti 4.5 perfectly. Any other bikes out there that you'd use similar verbs to describe ("snappy", "racey, "zippy")? (but with more reach).

Right now I'm eyeing the new SB130, but not sure I can swing it on my dental assistant salary.

Maybe the salsa horsethief? But it's still not as snappy as the 4.5. Most of the bikes I've ridden that accelerate like the 4.5 are super sucky on the way down. Not that the 4.5 is a mind blowing descender or anything, but it does better than the more purebred xc rigs.

Eluder on here has an sb100. Sounds like it might be most of what the 4.5 is on the way down, but even zippier on the climbs.



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[XXX-er]

to answer the original question ... fuck nose

you can look at spec sheets all day long instead of actulay doing your job but sooner or later you gotta actualy ride something and bring out the cash

we do this for fun, the more relevant question might be ... what is fun ?

[grinch]

Never been on a 9er but I question is it worth it for all but the tallest rider? Idk. It certainly doesn’t really look that way watching wc dh and ews or even shredder vids. Riders still shred and get down the hill faster than me but they look cumbersome to me. I can see the struggle but maybe I’m missing the visual on benefits when they’re up to speed. Also looks to me like that added leverage of the big front tire , when it grabs something and a racer is off balance, can get thrown. You’re always on it then no probs, but get out of shape and it’s harder to get back in the pocket. Remi Thirion won’t be getting on one soon. Maybe for a <100mm travel whippet xc bike. Like I said , idk. I’m on “craftworks cycles” mailing list and I got an interesting email yesterday. They theorize that you may be better off with appropriate suspension for “roll over”. Could find this article on their site so took these screen shots

[toast2266]

Never been on a 9er but I question is it worth it for all but the tallest rider? Idk. It certainly doesn’t really look that way watching wc dh and ews or even shredder vids. Riders still shred and get down the hill faster than me but they look cumbersome to me. I can see the struggle but maybe I’m missing the visual on benefits when they’re up to speed. Also looks to me like that added leverage of the big front tire , when it grabs something and a racer is off balance, can get thrown. You’re always on it then no probs, but get out of shape and it’s harder to get back in the pocket. Remi Thirion won’t be getting on one soon. Maybe for a <100mm travel whippet xc bike. Like I said , idk. I’m on “craftworks cycles” mailing list and I got an interesting email yesterday. They theorize that you may be better off with appropriate suspension for “roll over”.

That discussion is sooo 2013.

I have nothing against 27.5. They're plenty fun, and work great for plenty of people. But as a not particularly tall person, if I want to go fast downhill, there's no question that I'm measurably faster on a 29er. And I'd wager that would hold true for a healthy majority of intermediate or better riders.

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[XXX-er]

Never been on a 9er but I question is it worth it for all but the tallest rider? ]

As a curmudgeonly old fuck you don't ask, just make up some stupid shit

[grinch]

X’r you sound like a butt hurt 9er owner. Idk or care what people use or want. I just happened to get that email yesterday. Thought and still think it’s relevant. I guess you missed the “ observation” part. It’s painfull watching talented little guy riders on 9ers. Sometimes they’re faster, sometimes not, never more playful or fun though. I’d have one just not on my enduro or dh bike

[toast2266]

X’r you sound like a butt hurt 9er owner. Idk or care what people use or want. I just happened to get that email yesterday. Thought and still think it’s relevant. I guess you missed the “ observation” part. It’s painfull watching talented little guy riders on 9ers. Sometimes they’re faster, sometimes not, never more playful or fun though. I’d have one just not on my enduro or dh bike

Less playful, mostly yes. Less fun is kinda subjective. Going fast is fun too.

And given that this is the guy that Craftworks decided to use as their front page model, they don't have a whole lot of credibility:



full face? check
no knee pads? check
bathing suit? check