Trek Topfuel vs Rocky Element vs Transition Spur

[toast2266]

Buy and build up (if the sizing works) Toast's Hugene frame?

My Hugene's sold, but I would definitely recommend that bike as a nice compliment to a SS + 180mm quiver.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Following very closely. Have EE love it. Want maybe something a touch longer and slacker, more trail feeling less XC without having to give up the weight to which I’m addicted. Might just buy one of these close out stumpys and build a light 130/130 right using parts off ee.
Fitting between steel HT and 170/160 status

[jdadour]

Following very closely. Have EE love it. Want maybe something a touch longer and slacker, more trail feeling less XC without having to give up the weight to which I’m addicted. Might just buy one of these close out stumpys and build a light 130/130 right using parts off ee.
Fitting between steel HT and 170/160 status

Same. I'm in a similar situation, and have come to the same conclusion with the price of those stumpjumper frames right now. Until recently I only had a burly built Sentinel for bike park use, but just built a 130 steel hardtail (Esker Japhy) for trail riding. I like the hardtail for our riding here in Socal, and was willing compromise not have a rear shock, but recently have decided I would rather just get a full suspension bike that may climb "almost as well".

Seemed like a downcountry bike would be a good fit, like an epic evo or a spur. But when I saw the price of those SJ (non evo) frames and compared it the Spur geometry on Bike Insights, Im convinced to just get a SJ setup 130/130 and build it really light. Will probably climb just as good as a downcountry bike, but from most accounts I'm seeing it will descend better. My Japhy is 28.5 lbs right now, with that SJ frame im probably going to be close to 25-26 Lbs. Sounds money

[Abies]

I think the stumpy is a good call. My buddy just got a non evo expert on closeout for a little over 4k. It’s really impressively light.

It’s funny how incremental changes in travel wildly alter perceptions about use cases. At 120mm vs 130mm it seems like the stumpjumper and element are very cross-shopable. Something like an Epic Evo would be a little more differentiated though.

[mntlion]

and rocky element C70 on the way!

why?
cheaper then all the others
2 bottle cages (and maybe tool roll too?)
slackest angles (and ajustable with ride 4 chip)
bigger travel 130/120

if I hate it, flip it and NOT loose money

[homemadesalsa]

and rocky element C70 on the way!

why?
cheaper then all the others
2 bottle cages (and maybe tool roll too?)
slackest angles (and ajustable with ride 4 chip)
bigger travel 130/120

if I hate it, flip it and NOT loose money

Now you can ride with the wifey...

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[dcpnz]

and rocky element C70 on the way!

why?
cheaper then all the others
2 bottle cages (and maybe tool roll too?)
slackest angles (and ajustable with ride 4 chip)
bigger travel 130/120

if I hate it, flip it and NOT loose money

Congrats - And a wee bit jealous

US pricing on C70 and C90 is damn compelling too if you can find one.

Killer bike for the purposes you laid out in first post - please report back once you get some saddle time

[justcuz]

Dave keep us posted! I have a Ripley and would love some feedback on the element. Thinking about switching.


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[mntlion]

Dave keep us posted! I have a Ripley and would love some feedback on the element. Thinking about switching.


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Shold arrive this week. And my new bling light wheels to match

[bennymac]

Jealous!

[bamboocoreONLY]

Well if anyone does want a Large or XL C70 Element in Green, my shop has one of each discounted at $4799

Also my vote on bikes is element granted I'm a little biased since we carry them. After doing the whole Colorado Trail, the breck epic, and other adventure riding I'm pretty sold it's one of my favorite bikes ever. I did pre-order the new 2024 altitude for next year for bike park but otherwise I'll always use the element.

[bennymac]

What shop/where r u located

[bamboocoreONLY]

What shop/where r u located

Slope Style in Breckenridge

[comish]

Shold arrive this week. And my new bling light wheels to match

Which blingy wheels you get?

Got a C50 recently. Need my achilles/ankle to heal enough to ride it...

[mntlion]

Which blingy wheels you get?

Got a C50 recently. Need my achilles/ankle to heal enough to ride it...

https://www.notubes.com/podium-srd-wheelset

1300g, 6 bolt, hoping for under 25 pounds when done

[panchosdad]

https://www.notubes.com/podium-srd-wheelset

1300g, 6 bolt, hoping for under 25 pounds when done

Sweet!

[mntlion]

So, back from 2 weeks riding in Utah. started Vernal, goodwater rim, Thunder, east Zion, and HUrricane area

Other bikes are 17 pound single speed with 100mm SID and 180/160 travel rocky altitude.

So this element is the C70 build, full XT parts. Added a stans podium wheels (1300g) as I'm a little guy and cuz I can

Overall really impressed. Its not a light / fast as my SS but VERY close. Nice to have the light wheels, but gears and way more modern angles. IE a bit slower on JEM trails or good water, but made it fun on the bits of jumps and rolls on the way down. Also just so much more relaxing to ride

Its not as big travel as my other rocky, but 10? pounds lighter. Maybe not as able to smash thru Rojo in Vernal, but was still fine on the tech stuff and any rock tech stuff. I think it would be more limited for graften DH stuff and for more of a "hulk smash" type rider. But slackn the angles and its fine on steep down stuff. Not as scarry as expected.

So overall its NOT a replacement for either, but it SURE fills in the middle ground where the other bikes are over/under gunned.

Now time to clean off a LOT of red dust on it.

[WaistDeepGroomers]

Just bought a top fuel. Been on a V3 following. I’ll be keeping the favorite. I’ll report back.

Would love your feedback. On a Top Fuel, super impressed with it, but it just doesn't have the boing off small little side hits that my V1 Following had. Seeing some V3 Following frames on sale...

[bennymac]

Bamboo core/others - does anyone know when the specs of 2024 Rocky’s might be released? I’m still hunting for an Element frame - wondering what colors the 24’s will have and will they have in frame storage Thanks!

[mntlion]

Bamboo core/others - does anyone know when the specs of 2024 Rocky’s might be released? I’m still hunting for an Element frame - wondering what colors the 24’s will have and will they have in frame storage Thanks!

no idea on colors. I hear its a full carry over, No storage (but have room for 2+ BIG water bottles and you can use the etra bottle cage bolts to hold stuff?

[bennymac]

Yeah - I’m happy with what the current one offers with regards to carrying capacity - but I do like in frame storage - and I don’t care much for the green color scheme on the used models I’m seeing in my size.

[bamboocoreONLY]

New color for next year is called "bone", it's the same style as the current one (think mostly one color and then a bit of a second color toward the head tube) in a light beige color with some light grey toward the head tube. It looks incredibly good IMO. I'm getting a new altitude for bike park n such (which is a totally new design, get stoked for that), so I'm going to build the new element super light for XC racing. Should look dope with the blue SID fork, silver/blue magura mt trail sl brakes, and light bicycle rims laced with berd spokes to silver i9 hubs.

Funny how much being able to have two easy access bottles in the front triangle is such an amazing feature to have. Also nice that you can fit two 26oz bottles vs 22oz bottles like most other xc frames, I'm able to have only the two bottles in the frame with none in my jersey pockets for xc races which feels nice on the back. For every day riding I only use to the top bottle spot and it's super easy to reach.

Also a sick frame for bikepacking, so much room to have lots of options for frame bags.

[bennymac]

Ooh man that does sound nice. I too am looking to build it up as a lightweight rocket ship. Thanks for the info!

[helldriven]

I have gone the opposite and built a BC Edition... Float X, 30mm ID WAO Wheels, EEwings, 4 Piston Brakes.

[bamboocoreONLY]

I have gone the opposite and built a BC Edition... Float X, 30mm ID WAO Wheels, EEwings, 4 Piston Brakes.

That's how my current build is. Beefier i9 trail 280c wheels, pike ultimate, g2 ult brakes.

I will be selling my large orange frame come spring when my new frame comes in if anyone ends up being interested. It'll come with a brand new front triangle and chainstay so basically 1 2/3 frame (I did a paint warranty on those two pieces since there was a couple bubbles from the factory, but never ended up switching them on)