Ask the experts

[Eluder]

I missed the boat on getting anything for my 19/V1 Megatower. So I've started putting money into it.
New bars
New brakes
Better pedals
new drivetrain (11-12 speed xt)

I'm using this bike as my long travel trail bike.. it's my only MTB right now. If anything I may add a down country-ish bike or cut my losses and replace with a 130/140 ish travel trail bike.... but that's like a year out.
I have a gravel bike I like riding from the house here, so it scratches that itch for now.

This year I was thinking of upgrading suspension.
Ideas -
Front end has a Fox 36 with a FIT 4 damper and it's set up 160mm travel.
Options:
Upgrade FIT 4 to Grip 2 Damper: $360
Change out Airspring to 170mm - this will update geo a bit, but make it more enduro-ish vs. trail ish. - $50
question 1 - Would I get away with a MRP Ramp Control Pro Cartridge instead of the Grip 2 Damper? - $180
If I can, I'd likely start looking at the back of the bike. Unlike many, I like the Super Deluxe Ultimate I have. many call it harsh, I like it as I ride enough flowy stuff I can pump and feel supported.

The MRP ramp control wont fix your damper.

You should sell your fork and buy a new one. I'd get Lyrik if staying 160, or a 38/Zeb if going 170. People around here seem to like the Mezzer Pro, but I can never get myself to buy one. Like it or not a Mezzer won't help your resale, so kind of a lost investment.

[SchralphMacchio]

Right now I’m at status 160 with 170 fork and a coil
Epic EVO
And steel hard tail , so perhaps would condense that til I can get back to PNW.

Hey that might be a fine quiver. Not sure the hardtail would get much use since the Epic EVO can cover so much ground. I feel like if you bump that fork to 130mm you can probably have a lot of fun at Skeggs, Nisene, Toro, and it could swallow some miles in Coe or up in wine country if you ever explore Napa/Sonoma riding.

Status probably great for some of the stuff in Santa Cruz, especially off the books stuff. Don’t forget Tahoe too … not sure I would take that Status to Nstar but I’m sure some would (didn’t the old Status bikes used to be heavier beefier?).
Andeh can comment on Pacifica but it seems like that’s a fine bike for some of the trails there?

Bay Area traffic can be soul crushing if you can’t choose which times to go in specific directions. But really, so can Denver.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Thanks to all who have been helping and been experts in this slightly less mechanical realm.

In any event, my third option is SLC, and while that’s obviously the best of all the worlds in terms of access - I have serious misgivings about being a 420 friendly single late 30s guy in SLC- which I guess is to say culture as a summative world. Not sure if that is overblown maybe based on a false perception or a legit reason. Obviously my free time would be all outside, but I just wonder about finding a ladyfriend / partner, and my general political leanings how it would all work in SLC

[Supermoon]

In SLC would be fine, but twenty minutes out of town and it gets weird

[tgapp]

Thanks to all who have been helping and been experts in this slightly less mechanical realm.

In any event, my third option is SLC, and while that’s obviously the best of all the worlds in terms of access - I have serious misgivings about being a 420 friendly single late 30s guy in SLC- which I guess is to say culture as a summative world. Not sure if that is overblown maybe based on a false perception or a legit reason. Obviously my free time would be all outside, but I just wonder about finding a ladyfriend / partner, and my general political leanings how it would all work in SLC

Salt Lake is a liberal town with an educated and well paid workforce. You'd be fine being single there.

20 minutes south of Salt Lake is Silicon Slopes . Think like the worst part of Bay area culture mixed up with the prosperity gospel and a dash of the stepford wives thrown in. 20 minutes north of Salt Lake is Bountiful, or Silicone Slopes. It's like the Mormon version of Silicone Slopes. With more plastic surgery ads.

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[SchralphMacchio]

I don’t live in SLC but have visited enough to say that this yo ur concern is completely overblown. SLC proper has a lot going on, alcohol laws have changed quite a bit in the last 20 years, vibrant young community, pockets of counterculture, 420 is easy as hell. Hang out at the microbreweries and art studios and you will see!
Outdoors access is very nice, yes Little and Big Cottonwoods can be a shitshow on the weekends but so is Tahoe, so is I70, so is Highway 2 to Steven’s. Also one thing about SLC is that you can fly anywhere in the world, and also anywhere in the mountain west in like an hour, if the snow sucks and you have little misgivings (or want to ease your guilt with offsets) about flying to chase snow. And MTB, copious threads and resources on that … I have a special place in my heart for Southern Utah.
SLC weather sucks though. Inversions suck balls in February and it’s hot as fuck in the summer - unless you are baller enough to live around PC.

[SchralphMacchio]

FWIW, SLC was at the top of my Bay Area escape plan until I got married and moved to one of the whiter places in the West.
As tgapp said, workforce is very educated there. Don’t forget that U of U is a decent school. Strong healthcare contingent and decent engineering workforce in various industries. Probably one of the better places to be based out of for regional/technical sales and marketing work east of the Bay Area.

[Roxtar]

People around here seem to like the Mezzer Pro, but I can never get myself to buy one.

Believe the hype.
I had a Grip2 38 on my Ripmo and a bud kept talking up his Mezzer Pro until I finally tried his. I ordered one the next day and sold the 38.
Put Mezzers on both mine and my wife's new Offerings.

[Dromond]

I don’t live in SLC but have visited enough to say that this yo ur concern is completely overblown. SLC proper has a lot going on, alcohol laws have changed quite a bit in the last 20 years, vibrant young community, pockets of counterculture, 420 is easy as hell. Hang out at the microbreweries and art studios and you will see!
Outdoors access is very nice, yes Little and Big Cottonwoods can be a shitshow on the weekends but so is Tahoe, so is I70, so is Highway 2 to Steven’s. Also one thing about SLC is that you can fly anywhere in the world, and also anywhere in the mountain west in like an hour, if the snow sucks and you have little misgivings (or want to ease your guilt with offsets) about flying to chase snow. And MTB, copious threads and resources on that … I have a special place in my heart for Southern Utah.
SLC weather sucks though. Inversions suck balls in February and it’s hot as fuck in the summer - unless you are baller enough to live around PC.

Pro tip from an acquaintance of mine in SLC: have a summer escape plan to get out of the heat. He loves it in winter but ultimately wants to spend summers in VT where he is from.

[Dantheman]

Believe the hype.
I had a Grip2 38 on my Ripmo and a bud kept talking up his Mezzer Pro until I finally tried his. I ordered one the next day and sold the 38.
Put Mezzers on both mine and my wife's new Offerings.

Fistbump.

Tried a Mara Pro in the rear yet?

[Roxtar]

Fistbump.

Tried a Mara Pro in the rear yet?

The same bud who recommended the Mezzer loves the Mara pro too. I haven't tried it yet.
The new Offering uses the RS Super Delux Ultimate (winner of the how-many-adjectives-can-we-fit-in-a-model-name contest).
I've never been a fan of RS rear shocks but no complaints so far. I'm very interested in EXTs, coming soon, ARIA which will be the first rear shock with a two chamber positive air spring.

[Dantheman]

I went from a DVO Topaz T3 to the Mara and the Mara is so much better in every way. A couple other mags have gone Mara and they've all been really psyched on it. It's certainly on par with the Mezzer.

[criscam]

maybe this belongs in the kid bike thread but more traffic here so...
buying a new(er) bike for my 13 yo. he does NICA but prefers the down/bike park. i think i'm going w a mach 5.5. found a couple used and debating which one to pull the trigger on:

option one is a 2018 model, dpx2 shock, stock except for xx1 cassette/derailer/shifter and reynolds carbon wheels. sounds like not a ton of miles on the drivetrain. it does have it's fair share of dings on the frame but supposedly all cosmetic (not local so can't see in person).

option 2 is a 2020 model w dpx2 and pretty much stock components (XT) including aluminum wheels which looks really clean and supposedly only ridden 5 times (local but haven't checked out yet).

price is about the same for both. torn between the older dinged up bike w better components/wheels or the nearly newer one but stock and prob about a pound heavier. that said, he was on an og reign x that was a bit of a tank so either bike would be a couple lbs lighter. talked w some buddies and everyone has a slightly different opinion so throwin it out here.

[Supermoon]

which one does your kid like better? Maybe let him choose?

[criscam]

which one does your kid like better? Maybe let him choose?

they're essentially the same looking bike (i think frame is the same and so is color). i could ask if he prefers newer or slightly lighter...

[grskier]

I get he's a kid, but a 2018 anything may be getting a little long in the tooth. Are they the same bike? was their an update to the frame in that time?
Is resale any consideration?

[criscam]

I get he's a kid, but a 2018 anything may be getting a little long in the tooth. Are they the same bike? was their an update to the frame in that time?
Is resale any consideration?

from my understanding the frame hadn't changed from 2018-2020 (and maybe beyond?). they're both the "anniversary" edition so pretty sure the same bike. re-sale is a slight consideration but he's got a younger brother who could inherit and not as into riding so don't mind an older bike for him (as of right now).

[El Chupacabra]

I'd pick the newer one. Doubly so if you can't inspect the older one in person before buying.

I recall the Reynolds wheels having lots of hub problems in certain models / years, so those might be something to avoid.

[bagtagley]

Just gonna throw this out there. Guerilla Gravity is having a sale on demo and outlet bikes through Sunday. The Smash is a good do-it-all rig that's maybe not ideal for racing but would be fun at the park.

[VTskibum]

If I didn’t do a new/demo bike like Bagtagley suggested, would do local just to be able to check it out. Carbon wheels are great, but not worth the risk IMO.


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[criscam]

Just gonna throw this out there. Guerilla Gravity is having a sale on demo and outlet bikes through Sunday. The Smash is a good do-it-all rig that's maybe not ideal for racing but would be fun at the park.

thx for the heads up. looks like they're out of his size on the smash (and megatrail).

[Andeh]

thx for the heads up. looks like they're out of his size on the smash (and megatrail).

It's frame only, but I'm selling a S2 Megatrail frame. I'd lower the price a bit if I knew it was going to a kid.

[Dantheman]

I'd pick the newer one. Doubly so if you can't inspect the older one in person before buying.

I recall the Reynolds wheels having lots of hub problems in certain models / years, so those might be something to avoid.

This. For the same money you're better off getting the barely used bike that you can check out and pick up in person every time. XX1 vs. XT isn't that much of an upgrade, and 5 year old carbon wheels that have been ridden hard are a liability, not an upgrade.

[Benneke10]

Thanks to all who have been helping and been experts in this slightly less mechanical realm.

In any event, my third option is SLC, and while that’s obviously the best of all the worlds in terms of access - I have serious misgivings about being a 420 friendly single late 30s guy in SLC- which I guess is to say culture as a summative world. Not sure if that is overblown maybe based on a false perception or a legit reason. Obviously my free time would be all outside, but I just wonder about finding a ladyfriend / partner, and my general political leanings how it would all work in SLC

I've spent a lot of time on the peninsula (although its been 10 years since then) and I live in SLC now. The best riding in the Bay Area is Marin and Santa Cruz area. Most of the Santa Cruz trails are illegal but easy to get info about. I think the trails there are the best in the country, but you would have to battle traffic to get there. If I were single I would rather date in SLC than on the peninsula. There are a LOT of people here who are serious about balancing career and outdoor interests at a level beyond anywhere else in the country. I would worry people on the peninsula would be less inclined to understand your priorities. SLC has a lot of progressive people so I wouldn't worry about that. The dirt in Utah is dustier/rocker than Nor Cal but there are so many more trails in the immediate area, it is much easier to have amazing riding on a daily basis here, although you won't get much loam. If you get out and ride in the mornings and or are willing to drive ~30 mins to high elevation in summer the heat isn't too oppressive. What is worse than the heat is the wildfire smoke we tend to get in summer that blows in from nor cal.

[alfajores]

Just gonna throw this out there. Guerilla Gravity is having a sale on demo and outlet bikes through Sunday. The Smash is a good do-it-all rig that's maybe not ideal for racing but would be fun at the park.

Did they blast an email? Denver shop? I only see factory seconds on the site (35% off)