Which bike shall I get: Scott, Felt or Cannondale ???!

mud_lover

Hi MTB'ers,

I've had by Specialized nicked AGAIN! However, I have 3 options for the equivalent bike from the insurance company and need peoples advice.

Either:

Scott Aspect 20
(Frame Alloy 6061, Shimano Deore SL-M590, Rock Shox DART with Lockout / reb. Adj. 100mm travel, Shimano BR-M486 Hydr. Disc.)

Or:

Felt Q720
(Felt 6061 Double Butted Aluminum frame, RockShox Dart 2 with Turnkey lockout Aluminum Lowers, 27 Speed Shimano Deore Shimano BR-M486 Hydr. Disc.)

Or:

Cannondale Trail SL 3 2010
(Trail SL S.A.V.E. w/ 1.5 inch head tube frame, RST Deuce Air 100mm forks, 27 Speed new Shimano Deore, Shimano BR-M486 Hydr. Disc.)

Any pointers or help would be gratelly appreciated,
Thanks,
Mark

ilovedirt

I think i would be tempted by the cannondale there

mud_lover

cheers dude.

scotto

+1 love the cannondales

roadracedave

I'd go with either the Felt or the Cannondale, what you going to be using it for?

mud_lover

I'm looking for a purely off road bike, where I will be riding up and down trails. Not any big downhills or big jumps, so like the idea of a hardtail, but I do like to ride down the trail fast. So an all rounder that I can take up and down hills and it can take everything confidently.

.blitz

The 'dale has a great frame with a sucky fork but there are no bargains at any price point. Better fork and a frame made out of recycled saucepans or a decent upgradeable frame and a fork that gets it out of the shop? Swings and roundabouts.

mud_lover

Thanks for that - that makes a lot of sense and with the Cannondale frame being the best, then sounds like a good idea to spend the next few years upgrading the rest, but you are putting it on the better frame. I've not seen great reviews about any of these forks, with mentioning of the Dart leaking oil.

.blitz

RST have pulled out of aftermarket sales in the USA and are strictly an OE manufacturer. If you see an RST fork on a new bike (esp a Cannondale) it will be there for one reason - price. Darts are better than say a Suntour XCM/R but still a world away from the kind of fork that should grace an SL3.

Merlin are selling RS Toras this week for £98 which is a bargain. The Tora is a heavy fork but functionally very good. Recons are basically the same but with aluminium stanchions (lighter). Rebas, Revs, Fox 32s are expensive but still wouldn't be out of place on an SL3.

mud_lover

Thanks agian for that - all makes very sound reading. If I get the Cannondale and replace the forks, is it only Marzocchi that makes for 1.5" sizes?

rgarner

+1 for the Scott from me. I'm riding a 2008 model that came with a Dart 2. The Dart was fine for about 18-24 months, perfectly reliable but heavy and not confidence-inspiring on red/black stuff.

Swapped it out for a Reba Race. *Love* the Scott now, I feel much faster on it and it's a comfortable bike to boot. Most of the parts on the 2010 are identical to the 2008 (though the shifters and rear der have gone from Deore and LX to SLX/SLX respectively). If I had to describe the frame as anything it would be "aggressive XC/trail". I'm more comfortable doing lairy stuff on the Scott than I am on my much more expensive Marin Indian Fire Trail. That said, I only ride it on quite dusty/loose rocky Greek trails around Parnitha.

I haven't felt the need to upgrade much other than the fork (might consider a new front der and maybe lighter bars/stem/seatpost/saddle later).

I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

supersonic

The RST F1rst is a good fork, and has good reviews.

.blitz

mud_lover wrote:

If I get the Cannondale and replace the forks, is it only Marzocchi that makes for 1.5" sizes?

The SL3 has a removable insert in the head tube so that it can be used with standard 1 1/8" steerers.

mud_lover

Fantastic - you have been v helpful! The Cannondale it is then!

mud_lover

Hi - rgarner
thanks for the Scott info, that has been v useful too.

.blitz

Thank you I'm here til Thursday *rest of forum breathes a sigh of relief*