Trail bikes

[seldon]

This might as well be an intellectual exercise, but its keeping me sane while failing to write college essays. Someday I'd like to own a trailbike. By the time I actually scrape together this much money (hopefully I'll get a job at a bike/ski shop in college), these will all be out of production. But it's entertaining to think of anyways.

Such a hypothetical bike would be an efficient pedaler, be stable and comfortable on fast decents, enjoy tight and carvable singletrack, be up to the technical, be predictable, and relatively light (epic rides - I don't want something that is only capable of pedaling ala an ASX - I want a real do-everything machine). It would not be a freeride/DH bike, nor a racing bike. I get enough competition in other things. Consequently, it seems that, based upon my requirements, something between 4 and 6 inches of travel is the "target range". I've disqualified ridiculously expensive bikes (Turner and Ellsworth apparently) and I'd say the upper hypothetical limit is $2500. The dilemna is, of course, whether to spend more on the frame or more on the build-up. What say the maggots?

Here's what I've thought about:

-Jamis Dakar XLT in one of its iterations - should I look at the '03 back when it had a real Horst-link or is the new modified single pivot just as good?
-Devinci Remix 1-5
-Yeti 5.75 - worried about the single pivot design though I test-rode one of these and it was sickter at climbing up curbs
-Titus Motolite with a crappy build kit - this bike is so sexy I can hardly stand it.
-Giant Trance or Reign? What is Maestro like?
-Used Blur - ?? Never pedaled one, but it seems to fit the criteria pretty damn well
-Specialized Stumpjumper - my dad has one of these. and i don't like being like the people where every member of a family has pocket rockets and matching helmets and goggles. still, its a damn good bike.
-Intense 5.5 - expensive. used??

Thanks for playing the hypothetical game. It's been fun. I'll go back and keep riding my hardtail. Maybe if I wreck real hard the guys at Trek will feel bad for me and hook me up with a full-squish bike. keeps dreaming...

[DerJaeger]

Possibly a touch heavy, given your specs, but you might want to check out the Transition Preston:

http://www.transitionbikes.com/PrestonFR.cfm

If weight is a priority, the Rocky Mountain ETSX is a good choice -- 4" travel front and rear, with a frame that weighs just 5.6 lbs.

[UTdave]

I have a Giant Reign 2 and love the bike. I dig the suspension. Only dislikes are the Hayes 9 brakes are fairly mediocre. I'll probably throw on som 8 in rotors for next season and I expect that will help.

[Conundrum]

I have a Yeti 575 and I dig it. I'm slow and heavy (210 lbs) so I built it accordingly, Minute 3, 8" rotors, Spynergy Fall Lines. It is sick but I still need to get the RP3 pushed and my dream ride will be complete.

[Telenater]

I guess I'll hijack this thread a bit...

For the first and probably last time in my life, I'm likely to have the budget to build a true "Dream Bike."

I'm looking for a do it all bike. I'm aware that it won't do everything perfectly, but I know that I can put one together that is passable with everything.

My requirements.
It must climb decently (triple chain ring, or double with bashguard) Sub 35# build
It must be able to survive a 220# rider who likes technical stuff and occasional moderate drops.
It must have >5 inches of travel.

So far, in my dreaming, I'm picturing one of the following frames (in order of general preference)
Turner 6pack
Intense 6.6
SC Nomad
Ventana X-5

Probably with a Fox 36 RC2 or Marzzochi Z1 ETA fork

So, What would you do in my place?

[bagtagley]

So, What would you do in my place?

Well, the obvious answer is Hookers and Blow, but that doesn't help you get a bike.

Easy choice...6 Pack, no question. If I were you (and plenty will disagree with me), I'd order it today, while you can still get a Horst Link rear suspension. Though, I'd be rapidly be transported to boner city by the newest itteration, the HL version would get me there faster. As for the fork, Marzo's never let me down, and I'm still not sold on air sprung forks. However, if you're holding out until next season, the Fox 36Van is supposed to get a travel adjust mid-year. If that were an option and I could afford it, I'd be all over it.

Seldon: it seems to me like you've done your homework. Honestly, most of the bikes that you listed would be good choices. Since you've got plenty of time, I'd recommend demo'ing as many bikes in that category as possible. That'll give you an idea of what you like as far as brand, geometry, component spec, fit and suspension design.

[keystonelight]

If i were you i would look into a sinister splinter mx. 6 inches of travel in the rear, adjustable ride height. climbs like a dream, best climbing ds i have ever ridden. you can run anything from a 5-8 travel fork and get the seat/head angle you want with the ride height adjustment. You can easily build one up under 35 pounds with z1/66/van on it. I would suggest taking them all for a ride though, everyone has different likes/dislikes. Good luck

[truberski]

I went from a Turner Burner to a Titus Moto-Lite this season and couldn't be happier with the decision. I was looking at many of the same bikes you listed and they are some good options. The Titus climbs as well as my Burner but the extra travel and slightly lighter frame sold me on the bike. It is a bit "twitcher/fast turning" which I prefer but others prefer the mellower ride of a Turner. Not sure where you are located but Revolution Cycle in Sandy, UT bought the remaining 2005 Titus Moto-Lite frames and are selling them for cheap. I don't work there so no hard sell from me but they are good guys and are selling these locally and on EBay, mtbr.com, etc. Good luck!

[Arty50]

As for the fork...

*cough* Marz 66 RC2X *cough*

[lph]

Nater if I could own only one bike, of the ones you mentioned I would either do the six pack or the SC Nomad. I like the way VPP climbs better than horst, but like the way horst descends better.

overall I think turner makes a better frame than SC. FWIW.

That being said, i think those two would be two killer bikes. BTW, I agree with Arty's fork choice on either bike. Let's face it at your size you aren't going win any uphill sprints, get a big beefy bike with a killer fork, have it come in at 35lbs and you will have a great all around bike for tahoe, davis, downieville and anywhere else you travel.

Or, buy a used 5 spot and used vp free and have the ultimate two bike quiver.

[Telenater]

*cough* Marz 66 RC2X *cough*

That fork was already on my short list. The Fox is so much lighter, but that one was definitely there.

Nater if I could own only one bike, of the ones you mentioned I would either do the six pack or the SC Nomad. I like the way VPP climbs better than horst, but like the way horst descends better.

overall I think turner makes a better frame than SC. FWIW.

Yeah, I've been hearing good things about the Intense too. I'll be trying to demo all of them before I buy. The 6pack is at the top of my current (theoretical) wishlist.

I guess I like the idea of one bike to do it all (except I'll still rebuild the Tazmon into a lighter weight pure xc bike). There's no way I can store two more bikes. One more bike will fill the parking space IN my apartment to capacity, and there's no way I'd leave any of those outside.

[phatfreeheeler]

Personally, I'd always buy the frame you want over the best components. I keep frames for 5-10 years, components get rotated way more often.

My wife just bought a moto-lite as her trail bike. BTW - Revolution is selling those 2005's for $1000, not $900, and they threw in an RP3 for just $75 more. Definately an awesome deal, and they are just a cool bunch of guys to work with.

http://www.revolutionutah.com/

[jono]

For $2500 I would have to add a Prophet 1000 to your mix, Seldon. 5.5", light and precise. I have a Jekyll and I think the only weakness I've found is that climbing in the granny gear goes better with the SPV pressure up a touch. So in the granny there are probably better pedalers out there, but if they weigh several pounds more that can be a tough call when the hill's steep enough to need the low range.

[Theodore]

Blur. Frame now, upgrade parts later.

[lph]

kind of tough to consider the blur a trail bike, though. I think even the LT falls into the XC category at this point???

[seldon]

almost 6 inches is quite a bit of travel to consider straight XC.

unless you call a 575 straight xc, in which case you probably come from that land of the uber squish and dual crown forks.

[lph]

almost 6 inches is quite a bit of travel to consider straight XC.

unless you call a 575 straight xc, in which case you probably come from that land of the uber squish and dual crown forks.

I don't think it is fair to consider a 575 and a blur as similiar bikes. Blur is not a pure XC bike but leans towards that direction more than towards a full on trail bike. You gotta look at more than travel. A five spot is much more of a trail bike than a blur LT.

I even think the heckler is towards the XC end of the spectrum.

[Telenater]

I even think the heckler is towards the XC end of the spectrum.

I think that we're dealing with a spectrum here... Some bikes notably heckler and 575, can be built to suit the purpose and rider.

A heavy rider with a light build on either a heckler or 575 will consider it an XC bike (like LPH or myself), where as a light rider could build either frame to be about as beefy as they could need.