MBR, why the hate?
Comments
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Down tube length can be very useful - especially if you are stood up a lot when riding at the seat angle doesn't really come into it. But it still has to combined with other measurements, as does top tube. by themselves they don't really mean much. When sat and pedalling I like to know the SA and ETT.
But standing up, going downhill seems to be all MBR is about when testing bikes.0 -
Personally I like to weigh up different opinions before I go out to make a purchase. If I had access to all the kit both mags get exposure to I'm sure I'd get a bit snotty about it too.
Who cares, we all like bikes, don't we? And yes, I would place MBR ahead of the pack but I value WMB, MBUK, STW and Dirt too.
So...........who has the best forum?0 -
Like I say, if all mags were the same it would be boring! Maybe that contradicts my view, but I still would like a more balanced opinion in some reviews.
MBR has a forum?!
;-)0 -
Just to quote them on what I was saying yesterday, the exact words are:
'As it stands, anyone wishing to ride the meta 6.2 in its current steepest setting of 68.5 degree should really be on a meta 5.5'
Well my mate has a reign with van 36's and that works out at 68-68.5 head angle, and he doesn't have much issue with that, he'd like it a fraction slacker, but is quite happy with the bike thankyou very much, some folk want different to others.
What I do like with MBR is that they remove a lot of variables from the tests by using the same tyres on all the test bikes, or if it's a frame test they use the exact same build kit and tyres on the frames, so they can discern between the actual dynamics of the bikes/frames rather than having to make allowances for differing components which can alter the ride of the bike. That is a very good approach IMO.0 -
I think you've missed their point, they're saying if you're exclusively using the 68.5 setting you may as well have bought a Meta 55. It's lighter, cheaper and virtually the same strength (the 09 one especially), all you gain is 10mm travel and 2lbs weight.
I really don't see what your mates Reign has to do with anything.Maybe that contradicts my view, but I still would like a more balanced opinion in some reviews.
Indeed, but you've got to bare in mind who the magazine is aimed at, I don't think you're part of their demographic Super, for a start the R stands for "Rider" :P0 -
Lol, says the man who comes from the midlands ;-)0
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Indeed, only yesterday I was at a Bikeradar demoday. I had last Tuesday afternoon off work to go for a ride. The weekend before we were at the Test The Best demo day! :P
I'm hidouesly envious of where you live tbh! We were tempted by moving up to Sheffield actually, not the best time to move tho atm. :? Even today I got a £940 gas + elec bill, there goes next month.0 -
No, I didn't miss their point, I knew what they were getting at, what I was saying was it isn't their place to dictate how we should have our bikes, some people may want a full 6" bike but for whatever reason require it to be sharp handling. My mates reign is relevant because it is also a 6" bike and has that particular head angle, and it is no real detriment.
You don't buy a different bike to what you actually want just because your choice of head angle breaks with convention!
One of my mates has an i-drive 5 with a 29" wheel and 100mm forks upfront, he loves it, but to us lot it feels horrid.
For bikes as with the mags, horses for courses, everyone is individual, and that is my beef with mbr in this instance in that they convey that everyone should have exactly the same as they do, sometimes with a high and mighty 'we are the authority' attitude. They do however give a good insight into how the bike rides, the attributes and pitfalls of the suspension, and so on, which is where at times mbuk and wmtb(albeit much less so) can be a bit lacking.0 -
The step down from a Reign is a Trance X (5"), it was previously a Trance (4"), this is quite a big step and the Reign is more laid back, more burly etc. The step down from a Meta 6 is a Meta 5.5, the difference in travel is 10mm, and assuming you run the Meta 6 steep there will be no geometry difference, the frame is a similar build.
They're just saying if you run it upright you may as well have got a Meta 55, given how small the difference is. They're not telling you to comb your hair before going to school, stop being so defensive :P0 -
I tend to read WMB, MBR and MBUK each month and they each have good and bad points, I also pretty much only read the reviews and the odd feature story, mostly as I can't bothered to read about someone riding somewhere exotic (yawn). MBR does go a bit overboard on the geometry/measurements side of things but I do like things like in this months AM bike test they swapped all the tyres for an even playing field. It winds me up in MBUK when they whine about ride issues caused by crappy tyres and rarely change them and provide a comparison, if I'm spending £2k on a bike I want to know the rest of the bike is great if I just get the tyres changed and not see the bike get average marks mostly as a result of the tyres dragging it down.0
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Toasty, it ain't me being defensive mate!
Thats just it nferrar.0 -
I buy MBR (via a subscription) and Single track when I can find it.
To be honest I really like the content of ST, the articles are very well written and the reviews cover actual riding for a prolonged period of time.
MBUK is a bit "Max-power ish", i used to buy it all the time but now prefer the other mags.0
