First proper Mountain Bike

PJC933

Hi, Happy New Year. I have narrowed my choice to Orange Crush 2010 vs Rockhopper Pro. Same price. Similar specs. Spec'd seems very good all rounder and baased on 09 specs would be the choice. But 2010 Orange is now only 1lb and a bit heavier. Will I benefit from 140 fork in long run? Or is just personal choice on 2 good bikes Thoughts welcome

nonnac85

You need to test both out and see which is the best 'fit'.

PJC933

Absolutely need to try them ! but interested in others views and experience

Buckled_Rims

I'm not sure on the Orange Crush 2010, but the old Orange Crush as built to cope with Nuclear war and Armageddon and still attack, attack and attack

IMO the Crush is a different beast to the Rocky. The Rocky is a XC bike, while the Crush can also XC but also All Mountain.

If you're going extreme the Crush will handle it with no problems. But Both are great bikes. I had an old Rockhopper (pre M4 Alu) and miss it dearly.

Northwind

The rims on the Crush are randomly s**t, not really acceptable for a £1000 bike IMO, especially not a hard hitting one like this. Especially considering a 317 would have cost £5 more at each end. It's an obvious brand manager's decision rather than bike builder's decision- "Lets fit the cheapest thing that has Mavic logos on so we can say it has Mavics" and "Lets fit an X9 rear mech because it's the first thing people see", when they could have gone with an X7 mech and better wheels for the same money, it just wouldn't look as good on a review speclist.

But still a nice bike, that stuff just narks me a bit. Orange are very guilty of it these days.

supersonic

The Crush this year is a long travel XC bike with a toough frame. As above, I wouldn't hammer those rims.