New Trail Bike 2010 or 2011?

equinefunk

Hi...
Wonder if I can have some advice? Going to replace my Rocky Mountain ETS X70 with a new trail bike have my eyes on the Orange 5 Pro or the LaPierre Zesty...As we're in May I had a feeling that last year the 2010 bikes came out in July or August & the 2009 Bikes prices fell through the floor. With that in mind does anyone know when the 2011 bikes will launch? As I'm spending the thick end of £3k I'd hate a bike to be discounted heavily after only owning it for 8 weeks or so.


Any advice would be appreciated....

Anonymous

If you're spending nearly 3K, then you'll nearly always get better value by waiting for the new model to be released, and then buying the model from the previous year or two.

So, wait for the 2011 bikes to be launched, and then buy a 2010 or even 2009 bike is my recommendation.

lawman

if you want a 5 or a zesty, dont expect a discount, in fact if you can still find a 2010 zesty 514 now you have done very well, its very popular so id wait for the 2011 model to be released, pre ordering is a good idea i reckon, and be one of the first to have it. the 5 is a little less popular, but no one body i know off will reduce the price because they sell so well anyway. the 2011 5 will get a tapered headtube, iscg mounts and maxle as standard, with the zesty probably getting a similar treatment althought that will probably use the new fox/shimano 142 rear end and both will have 10 speed drivetrains. either way these bikes will probably be even better in 2011, so id wait till they are released.

Anonymous

"even better in 2011" but at what cost? see, I'd prefer to get a completely top spec machine from a year or two previous for the same money. Providing the new model didn't have anything I immediately needed.

equinefunk

Thanks for the advice....I guess if demand is high then the prices will stay high.
I suppose that a 2010 bike would be better than a 2010 bike of a different brand, I was looking at the Commencal 5.5 Meta & thought that might be one to drop down a lot when the 2011 bikes come out.

How much of an advantage is a Tapered Head Tube?

lawman

it makes the frame much stiffer and stronger due to bigger tubes and welding area. commencal are said to be dropping prices by as much as 15% for 2011, so they could be worth considering

lawman

yeehaamcgee wrote:

"even better in 2011" but at what cost? see, I'd prefer to get a completely top spec machine from a year or two previous for the same money. Providing the new model didn't have anything I immediately needed.

what i was trying to say is for such popular bikes that you wont find any cheaper than the rrp, like the zesty and the 5, wait for the next model, as it will be updated and possibly better specced. if the OP was looking at bikes that could be found with a sizable discount then id tell him to get the higher specced discounted one, but some bikes are just so popular shops dont need to lower the prices to sell their allocation of bikes, besides the amount off a bike tells you just how well it hasnt sold in some cases

equinefunk

Thanks....
considering that I'm over 6' and weigh 16 stone. I've never flexed the frame on my bike. I might not be pushing to hard. I have never bottomed my forks or rear suspension. But I don't do massive drop offs. So how important is stiffness?

Rob-Is-On-Fire

One of my LBS tell me that no more zesty's are coming into the uk until 2011 so if you can find one at rrp you're probably doing very well

lawman

equinefunk wrote:

Thanks....
considering that I'm over 6' and weigh 16 stone. I've never flexed the frame on my bike. I might not be pushing to hard. I have never bottomed my forks or rear suspension. But I don't do massive drop offs. So how important is stiffness?

stiffness is pretty important, a stiffer bike will handle better and hold its line better, so while you may not feel the flex in your current bike, you will notice that is easier to keep the stiffer bike on the track if its bumpy, rutty etc. the forks on both bike mentioned have through axles too, so combined with the stiffer frames, the bikes will be much more precise and better to ride, suspension technology has improved hugely in the last few years, and if you dont bottom out either end of your current bike then it may be an idea to tinker with the settings, as you may not be getting the best out of the bike in its current set up. the lapierre has a sag indicator so set up on this bike is super easy. overall id go for the zesty, on the principles that it looks better than the orange, imo has the better spec, is about a pond and half lighter and having ridden both and being in a similar position to yourself, much prefer the ride of the zesty

Father Faff

A few things to consider....

The pound is strengthening against the Euro and I think it may be a bit better against the dollar so prices probably won't rise much next year or might even fall as Fox Forks have done.

The Commencal Meta 5 is definitely a bike worth considering.

Stiffer bikes are easier to guide on the rough stuff. I've just fitted a Maxle Lite to the rear of my Metas 5 and a new front fork Fox RLC QR15 and slightly stiffer wheels and she tracks much better now and makes high speed rocky riding more controllable.

It is true that you rarely see much of a discount on Lapierre Zestys and Orange 5s as they are "flavour of the month" for the last couple of years. But the Commie 5 is still an excellent machine and worth a test ride.

And of course make sure you get a few test rides in. I tried a few full-sussers before being absolutely hooked by the Meta.

equinefunk

Thanks guys....I think I'll start test riding at the weekend. I've noticed discounts already on the Meta. I was looking at the Carbon & hoping that might dip below £3k.

No-one seems to talk about Trek, any reason for that?

Anonymous

Yeah, you didn't mention it as one of your options.

equinefunk

good point yeehaamcgee....I should have said when you look at the reviews, I mainly get a well known mountain bike magazine then Trek rarely feature. However LaPierre & Orange are always in there. So do Orange & LaPierre pay more to get there bikes reviewed or doesn't the mag consider them anymore?

baba123

orange and lapierre are in the long termers aren't they thats why you see more of them plus the orange 5 pro is there trail bike of the year for the last 3 years and the zesty was also this years bike of the year
but trek should get more of a say i think

awaits a flaming for talking about 'MBR'

equinefunk

Been looking at bikes this weekend, seen a Lapierre 514 & 714 2010 and a Trek Fuel EX9. Neither of these shops had a demo bike. The only demo I could find was an Orange 5 but didn't have the time to drive to that shop maybe next weekend.

When I spoke to the guys about not having a demo Trek. He'd explained that he'd taken nearly 6 months and had taken various bikes to Glentress before choosing the Trek Fuel EX9 as his ride. I asked him should I buy without a demo ride & he said no.....

I'm going to have to look further afield to try these bikes out.

equinefunk

Been looking at bikes this weekend, seen a Lapierre 514 & 714 2010 and a Trek Fuel EX9. Neither of these shops had a demo bike. The only demo I could find was an Orange 5 but didn't have the time to drive to that shop maybe next weekend.

When I spoke to the guys about not having a demo Trek. He'd explained that he'd taken nearly 6 months and had taken various bikes to Glentress before choosing the Trek Fuel EX9 as his ride. I asked him should I buy without a demo ride & he said no.....

I'm going to have to look further afield to try these bikes out.

toasty

Another fanboy style +1 for the Meta here Still my favourite trail bike by a fair margin, all the fretting over 2009 frames cracking has dropped the prices yet again, the new ones seem to be rock solid. My 2008 is still going strong while all my other bikes are curiously exploding.

Shaggy_Dog

You can't really go wrong with any of the bikes you have listed although the Remedy is more akin to the Five and the Zesty than the Fuel EX, besides, Trek don't have any stock until the 2011 range starts to filter through at some point in July. Gary Fisher Roscoe 2 and 3 are also worth a look, Trek have stock, but not much so you'd have to be quick. If you want a bargain, check out the Saracen Ariel, it's a rad ride and ridiculous value for money.

equinefunk

Thanks, I've riden the Trek Fuel Ex9 & can find it stock. I've also found the Ghost AMR 7500, but noticed that Hotlines have said that it's disconitnued.
I'm looking at the shorter travel bikes. I can't see me needing the full 150mm of travel on the rides that I do. I also had a spin on the Scott Genius & quite liked that.

I might hold on for the 2011 bike launch & pick up a 2011.

Shaggy_Dog

The Remedy actually climbs better than the 140mm travel Orange five or Lapierre Zesty. In fact I've ridden bikes with 120mm of travel that don't climb as well as the remedy. But, I agree, 120mm is where it's at. Fuel EX is the second best bike I've ridden in 2010, and I've ridden nearly every mainstream and boutique bike from 100mm to 150mm. I haven't spent much time riding Euro brands like Ghost because I'm a snob!

Shaggy_Dog

Bear in mind RRP's for most bikes are going up 10 to 15%. Having said that 10 speed is going to be standard on most of these bikes plus any other innovations and updates may be worth the extra moolah, I've decide to wait for the 2011 Rumblefish as much for that as the fact there's fuck-all available

equinefunk

Shaggy_Dog are you saying that the Remedy is the best bike you've ridden this year?

Shaggy_Dog

No, the best bike I have ridden this year is a Superfly 100. But that has big wheels and is a bit weird for most people and it's mega-money! It's not exactly mainstream! The Fuel EX is very, very good. Much better than last years bike, for most UK riding it is the ultimate bike. I've had long term demo's on both bikes, I already prefer big wheels and a big Gary Fisher fan so it's inevitable I would go for the Superfly, but it wasn't an easy choice!

equinefunk

Thanks for that...it's getting so close to the 2011 Bikes & the Fuel EX9 seems to be readily available might hold on. Not really bother about 10 speed, might see some better bikes drop down into my budget range.

equinefunk

Just been checking online & seen that the Commencal Meta 5.5 Carbon has come down from £3,500 to £2,800.

I need to check this out & ride it compared to the Trek EX9.

Shaggy_Dog

Another excellent bike, you obviously have good taste! Have you thought about getting something like a Cove Hustler framest and doing a custom build? I don't shop online myself but I know a lot of sites will be doing full groupsets for pretty much trade prices, that way you can have a prestige branded bike to your exact spec. I'm not a Santa Cruz fan but the new Nickel looks to be a great bike

equinefunk

hmmmm......I actually had a Cove Stiffee frame a few years ago, which I never built up. I don't think I'd be tempted to go down that route again, but thanks for the suggestion.

Shaggy_Dog

That's a fair point, I know plenty of people who get stuck into that trap. I tend to buy off the peg bikes these days although the temptation to build up a Niner AIR 9 is overwhelming at the moment.

psulli16

Hi
Im at the same point, about to chop my trek 7500 09 in but not sure when the 2011 comes in ?? Im after the trek 800. Anyone one know when trek release the 2011 bikes ?

Pudseyp

Marin Mount Vision 5.8....all you need out of the box....a very capable trail tool and won bike of the year in MBR in 2007 and 2008