456 or MmmBop

butcher of bakersfield

I know. Not again. But I can't decide.

I love the look, and the colours of the 456. Right up my street. And the MmmBop is ugly as sin but what a great trail bike it would make.

Now, in an ideal world, I'd have both. 456 set up as my all day 'adventure bike', when I want to wander up and over the hills, while the MmmBop would be for the weekend trails. But I can't have that, so it's one or the other..

Currently riding an 08 Fury. And to be fair, it's great. I've no reason to upgrade whatsoever. But where's the fun in that? Should I upgrade though, would the 456 be any more confidence inspiring than the Fury? I'd like to have something that makes me feel less of a wuss on the downs. And on the ups, when I'm lagging behind, I can always use the excuse well, it's solid steel, you know..

I'm torn. I don't know what to do.

thel33ter

MMMBop's can look good, they are lighter, and ridable all day, especially with a travel adjust fork.

cat_with_no_tail

I've had both.

Started with the 456, and then moved most of the components over to the Mmmbop.

The 456 is a good amount heavier, and it feels it too, although it was still slightly better at climbing than the Mmmbop when using travel adjust down at around the 100mm mark. The Mmmbop actually climbs at its best when the forks are out at 140-150mm. That's why I got rid of my Pikes and went for the fixed travel 150mm floats.

The Mmmbop is FAR better at descending than the 456.

The paint on the 456 is the worst paint job I've ever seen. Absolutely shocking!

The ride on the 456 is much more forgiving than the Mmmbop. Although you can compensate by using tall, high volume tyres.

The 18" Mmmbop comes up bigger than the 18" 456. Ialways felt like my 456 was just VERY slightly too small. Whereas the Mmmbop feels perfect (for me).

Both bikes make very capable all-dayers.

I've used both bikes in XC races, and both bikes in proper DH races too. The 456 managed the xc better, and the Mmmbop managed the DH better. They both coped very well with both though.

I prefer the Mmmbop, and am very glad I made the move, but that's because it suits MY riding style best.

butcher of bakersfield

Thanks, Cat, that's just what I'm looking for. Hasn't helped me decide though

The trouble is, I want a bike for every occasion, and I can't have that all in one package. It's interesting that you found the 456 a good climber though.

thel33ter. No offence, but that still looks ghastly. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess

Everything on the bike looks lovely. The frame looks like it's had too many pies..

rockmonkeysc

How about a 456 Summer Season? Better down hill than the standard 456.

Jimfrandisco

For what it's worth don't be put off by thinking the mmmbop won't climb - can't comment on the 456 but the mmmbop consistently has me pushing higher gears and climbing quicker than previous bikes i've had (including XC full sussers).

...but then i picked mine up for £150 quid on CRC, so for that price couldn't go wrong.

(and yes...it is ugly with that 1.5" headtube, but it rides better than it looks!)

beardytwo

If you think the mmmbop is ugly then perhaps you shouldn't go for it as it may well play on your mind every time you go to get it out of the shed. I think it looks significantly better in the flesh than in photos and that includes the paint colours but each to their own.

More importantly though its is a great bike that can be ridden allday. I have mountain king 2.4's and a carbon seat post and its comfy enough for an alldayer in the north downs with no arse ache at all...

It climbs amazing well even in some pretty awful conditions we are now seeing. Power transfer is great and its super agile for such a substantial frame. Mine is about 26ib. I just need to change the stem as it seems to be very sensitive to length but otherwise I love riding it..

Northwind

The 456 isn't so massively different to your Fury, not if you built it with the same parts at least. Yes they're obviously different but they do the same job in much the same way.

The Mmmbop is a fair bit more confidence inspiring and capable on the descents. But yep, the back end is rough as ****, to the extent I found it made the thing hard to control with a 2.1 tyre, the back tyre was barely on the ground on rocky stuff. Fired in a 2.3 and now it's tamed and, well, fantastic.

And yes it's more focussed and downward-oriented than a 456 but it doesn't hold it back. Mine is just my allround trail/xc bike and it's very good at it, climbs surprisingly well- barely any less well than my Soul, it finds less grip and it lifts the front just fractionally earlier but nothing to worry about.

Not for everyone maybe but for me the minor drawbacks are way outweighed by the huge benefits of the thing.

Pudseyp

I know they are a bit more expensive but as an alrounder why not consider the Cotic or the Transition Trans AM ????

butcher of bakersfield

Because they cost a fair bit more and I'm a cheap skate

Gah, I'm thinking about the Blue Pig now. And I've been given a deadline for getting my xmas list in to Santa.