Which £1400 Full Suspension ???????

Heelan_Ladd

I'd appreciate a bit of experience and/or advice....

I'm looking for my first full suspension bike and it has come down to either the Specialised or the Scott. For that matter I'd appreciate any alternative suggestions at around £1,400 (I'm hoping to get the bikes already mentioned as 07 models at sale price)... Why £1400? I dunno it seems to have ended up around that mark in order to get something half-light (important for me) with 100mm+ travel and decent front shocks. I'm not after the latest and greatest parts - just a well sorted package that will take some abuse downhill and still climb well.

If anyone could share their experiences of either bike or own suggested alternative that would be welcome. I've read all the mags etc but it's good to hear other's opinions. A colleague has already noted that the Scott, for example, which was my original favourite has the rear shock positioned where it will get covered in crud - and there's plenty of crud around this part of the world!!!

Also, there's not a huge choice in bikes where I am so it's difficult to test ride and get size right. I'm 6' with 33.5" inside leg. I'm swithering between a largish 19/20 size frame or a mediumish 18" frame which will be more chuckable but will likely have a very long seat post. It'd just be interesting to hear what frame size other 6' riders are riding in way of full suspension bikes since my last MTB was an old Ridgeback hardtail (going way back!!!)

Cheers and thanks

Ciaran500

What type of riding? I'm guessing a trail bike with that much travel.

You could get this years Pitch pro in that price range. Loads of travel and still climbs well. Although I'd go for a Stumpy or Scott Genius if you want to focus more on climbing.

Heelan_Ladd

Yep, basically trail with lots of fast rough and rocky descents.

Ciaran500

Woops, edited my post before I saw your reply.

If rough and rocky stuff is what you ride I'd definitely go for the Pitch. 140mm of travel will help there.

Heelan_Ladd

I did wonder abot the post!!! Thought I was going mad...

Ta, will look at the Pitch in detail. Just noticing it weighs a hefty 2kgs more than what I was thinking of but it's a trade off I guess between uphill agility and downhill strength (in my set of criteria at any rate).

Andy B

Have a look at the Spesh Pitch Pro, although with 140mm front & 150mm rear travel it might be a little too much, depending on what you intend to ride.

It's 30.6lbs without pedals, so 31lbs+ depending on what pedals you use.

I've had a little go on my mates one, it will descend very well & should climb ok with the U-Turn Pike forks & the ProPedal Fox RP2 shock.

Good spec for the money, if it's the right bike for what you want to ride.

Steve_b77

I bought the PIcth Comp as the Pro was way otta my budget (the comp was a little over )

It's a great bike, so I can only imagine how good the pro is

stevebrock

I got a Pitch RPO, it will take a good hammering and it loves descending gnarly, rocky trails.
Its not too bad climbing as you can turn down the fork to 95mm and lock it out and turn the rear shock to pro pedal.
Its a great spec bike for the money but i have upgraded mine to Juicy 7's with 203mm rotors front & back, X9 shifters, SRAM PG990 cassette, PG991 Chain, Lizard Skin lock-on grips.

JumperSimon14

I'm not good to sugest but I've heard good things from the Giant Trance 1 and 2 or the Trance X with 120mm traveled Fox forks

stevebrock

JumperSimon14 wrote:

I'm not good to sugest but I've heard good things from the Giant Trance 1 and 2 or the Trance X with 120mm traveled Fox forks

Yep great bikes, but they wont handle as much as the Pitch, ok if you gonna just do trails!

schmako

stevebrock wrote:

JumperSimon14 wrote:

I'm not good to sugest but I've heard good things from the Giant Trance 1 and 2 or the Trance X with 120mm traveled Fox forks

Yep great bikes, but they wont handle as much as the Pitch, ok if you gonna just do trails!

Some guys were on trance's at the top of the fort bill downhill, needless to say they let us go ahead

Heelan_Ladd

Thanks all for the advice.

I think the Stumpy is more likely to suit my style of riding although the Pitch is a nice bike. Going into LBS today to see what's on offer in general.

rob cole

if you are looking for a killer deal on a Stumpy check these guys out:

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/shop/bikes/fu ... r-fsr-comp

eddyesi

Trek fuel EX and Giant Trance X both work a look at that price, both do a <30lb well kitted 5" bike

Personally think the Pitch is a little too much bike for 90% of uk (especiallyu english) trails, just a cheaper heavier enduro really. but depends how and where you ride, 5" is enough for most.

stevebrock

eddyesi wrote:

Trek fuel EX and Giant Trance X both work a look at that price, both do a <30lb well kitted 5" bike

Personally think the Pitch is a little too much bike for 90% of uk (especiallyu english) trails, just a cheaper heavier enduro really. but depends how and where you ride, 5" is enough for most.

You not been to Dalby Forest then!

eddyesi

stevebrock wrote:

eddyesi wrote:

Trek fuel EX and Giant Trance X both work a look at that price, both do a <30lb well kitted 5" bike

Personally think the Pitch is a little too much bike for 90% of uk (especiallyu english) trails, just a cheaper heavier enduro really. but depends how and where you ride, 5" is enough for most.

You not been to Dalby Forest then!

No, not yet, but since its nearly 4hrs drive from me, and Mid Wales is only 2.5 i head that way. But thats why i said 90% of uk, there are certain trails around that you can use more, especially specific DH courses, but they are rare, most are still fine ona HT, let alone a 6"+ rig :idea:

easyg

Hold the phone - Dalby ain't anyhting more than XC, maybe a harsher XC than the average trail. You can do dalby on a hardtail in 3.5 hours! albeit on the edge! but you can - it aint hardcore stuff.

It sounds to me like you do (or want to do) similar riding to us (myself and friends) which is Agressive XC (AXC) - fast, furious, up, down, over and through if needs be. The downs can be rocky, harsh and quite dangerous (notably cos you're not on a DH rig) and ups are light and nippy (or should be). I think AXC is the kind of riding you intimated in your earlier post - correct?

stevebrock

easyg wrote:

Hold the phone - Dalby ain't anyhting more than XC, maybe a harsher XC than the average trail. You can do dalby on a hardtail in 3.5 hours! albeit on the edge! but you can - it aint hardcore stuff.

I must be a pussy then, been doing Dalby for the last year on a HT and its hard work especially towards the end! To be honest by the end i didnt enjoy it on a HT as all my energy was going on trying to stay on the bike which meant i was not really in the control of the bike!

GT Destroyer

Depends where you start as to where the "end" is. Dalby for me is hard, purely because its long. If you took each section theres nothing too technical,, it tends to flow from section to section.

There are the really tricky bits, especially if you start to follow your wild side down the black runs.

I think the hard work you mention is down to how long the red route is.

For hard work in terms of technical skill Stainburn is the place, its stop-start, get off and have a look at the line first kind of riding, very different to Dalby.