All Mountain Death-Match: Mongoose vs Norco vs Kona vs Marin

Alex Thirkill

So, the eternal question. Am buying my first full-suss, and am interested in the new generation of tough all-mountain bikes.

I'm a large [90kg], clumsy kind of rider, I want something which will make up for my mistakes a bit, but not so overbuilt that it will kill me.

Money is a factor. If I had dosh applenty I'd probably go for a Foes Fly as a fantasy bike, but more prosaically a Marin Attack trail.

Possible options:

Norco Six 3:
Pros - solid frame, best looking norco ever, spot on price, maxle rear bolt through, ugradeable.
Cons - 38lbs in its budget option, fox vanilla rear shock+fsr system will make peddling a bastard, powerspline cranks, appears maybe a false economy, replacing pivots all the time.

Marin Wolf Ridge:
Pros: Weight, excellent suspension system, maxle rear axle, upmarket componant spec. excellent reviews, life-time warranty on bearings, impressed with single pivot B17 my mate still gets around on.
Cons: Costliest bike, limited scope for upgrades - e.g. a roco piggy back, shortest travel, bad colour.

Mongoose Khyber Elite:
Pros: Excellent spec for money - cheapest bike with arguably better spec than the marin, hear good things about the freedrive system - teocali seems to be a popular bike, cheap. No upgrades necessary.
Cons - no rear bolt through, despite long travel, multi-pivot system, will it flex? Pivot durability[?]

Kona Coilair:
Pros: new suspension system seems to make sense, big brand, reasonable kit for price.
Cons: Rather unimpressed by 2007 Coiler I rode in the Alps - poor weight distribution made it hard to bunny-hop, flexy rear end. No rear bolt through. Very new sus system - will it be total crap for the first 2 years?

So, some dead good options there. Is a rear bolt-thru really necessary, how good is mongoose free-drive, should I take a risk on Kona?

any thoughts people, I would be very grateful for.

cheers

Alex

dirtbiker100

I've got a 06 marin alpine trail and just love the way the suspension works. that quad tara malarkey is fantastic. can't comment on the spec of the wolf ridge but the frame will be great stuff.

Andy B

Alex multi posting in different areas of the forum is not allowed.

dirtbiker100

[flame] hang on indeed. you've posted it here once and in freeride TWICE? sure you've got enough of a brain to control a bike? [/flame]

Alex Thirkill

My apologies Andy B

My bad

Thirkill

Alex Thirkill

dirtbiker...

yeah, hmmmmn...only got a Masters degree... I suppose I'm the only one to ever make mistakes then...

Significant that no votes for Six 3, or Kona Coilar. Keep it coming.

Thirkill

SDK2007

I would personally get a Specialized Enduro SL - They start from £1700; are strong, well spec'd, reasonably light, climb well and descend even better.

Alex Thirkill

hmmmn

the enduro is probably the best of the spesh lot, but I've never been that keen on them to be honest - the older enduro was a good bike, and if they were still doing them in the UK I'd go for one of them. Basically I want something between the enduo sl and the sx trail, but they don't do it any more....

How good are Mongoose, really?

alex

Andy B

Spesh Pitch?

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... &catID=674

Alex Thirkill

certainly a good spec for the money - i'd much rather have a pike on there to be honest - have had good experience with one on my hardtail.

Suppose I should go and ride one to find out.

I'm probably looking for something a bit more heavy duty though - to differentiate it from my hardtail - B17 with an air sprung pike on board.

Hmmmmn.

prophet_1000

No experience of this bike myself but really fancy a Kona, Buck the Trend and get the Coil Air!!! After riding with my mates @ several different trails in the UK it seems that there isn't a great deal in it when it comes to bike choice, I ride a Cannondale prophet_1000, my mates have- Spesh stumpy, Orange 5, Scott Genius MC50, Spesh Epic, we all get around the trail and nobody has to get off and push at a certain section because their bike cant handle that type of trail surface.

Just get what you like the best, I mean the Kona

www.27gears.com

SDK2007

It's not the surface that will cause problems – it’s the style of riding. Try riding a downhill course on an Epic and you'll be very slow or over the bars very quickly.

billysvans

Hey I was thinking of getting a Mongoose Khyber Elite as it has an awesome spec! But i'm still not sure as its butt ugly and if all the moneys in the spec, how thrashable is the frame.

If you get one post a few pictures and your thoughts on it! Cheers!

The Manninator

hey, i recently got myself an 07 coilair and I love it.

I use it for everything from dh to xc and the only fault i found is that the stock maxxis advantages hit the frame when u bottom out the shock but i just put my tinner high rollers on.

also the shock was too linear then i moved it to the rear position and now it seems fine. The spec is really good and the forks are really smooth, chainreactions are selling them with 700 quid off aswell which is pretty good.