XC Full Sus options

IRL_MBiker

Looking for something a bit more springy for my XC racing adventures, have decided that the AM type of bike is too much of a compromise between a proper XC/DH bike so I have in mind a more aggressive XC full suss..

Options are:

1. Titus X carbon build, with a mix of XTR/SRAM XO, hope Evo/stans podium wheels.
2. Specialized Epic Brain M5 Alu frame with above spec.
Slightly less aggresive:
3. Canyon XC Nerve XC 9.0 SRAM X0, Crossmax SLR Fox forks
4. Dream Build, YETI 575 with a mix of XTR/SRAM XO, hope Evo/stans podium wheels


Opinions?

Shaggy_Dog

I'd rule out the Yeti 575 as it's a long way from an XC race bike, Try the ASR or ASR 5.

The Nerve XC is also not a race bike strictly speaking, more of a trail/marathon bike. The Nerve MR (marathon) and Lux MR (proper full-blown XC) are closer to race bikes. I found the back end of the Nerve XC a little sluggish.

I'm a big fan of the Cannondale Scalpel and Specialized Epic. If I was buying an XC race bike I'd buy a Trek Superfly Elite or Niner Air 9 Carbon

IRL_MBiker

Was thinking of building up a Giant Anthem X, seems like a light XC oriented FS, not sure about the Titus X, seems like a great price from On-One... Although theres a guy on eBay selling Epic frames for around £1000....

I have a carbon HT, just would be nice to have a full sus for the rougher course...

getonyourbike

Anthem X...

jonnyashworth

getonyourbike wrote:

Anthem X...

x2 (excuse the pune)

frogstomp

jonnyashworth wrote:

getonyourbike wrote:

Anthem X...

x2 (excuse the pune)

x3

.. with a 120mm fork..

njee20

hope Evo/stans podium wheels.

Odd choice, heavy-ish hub with the lightest, most fragile rims out there. Certainly not the rim choice for a 575. 240s on Alpines would be a similar weight and far more versatile.

If you have the money for a dream build on a 575 why are you only considering an M5 Epic, which can't be had frame only anyway? Surely you either have £5k + or you don't?

Frodo1095

Look at the new Santa Cruz TRc (130mm travel), sits between the XCc and LTc.

Have a look at the Crest rims instead of the podium, easily light enough to race on and very strong.

njee20

Or the Alpine is slightly lighter.

FWIW I've got some Hope Hoops on Crest rims and they're 1585g, and some A2Z hubs with Podiums and Revolutions and they're 1246g, so there is potentially a big difference if you choose the right hubs. The A2Z are dirt cheap, and will probably last 20 seconds or so looking at the sealing! I do keep them for racing as well.

lawman

Ibis mojo sl-r, light, strong and arguably one of the best looking bikes around and very versatile. Wheel wise I'd say podiums are a race only rim, as said alpines or crests would much more suitable

fivethirtyonepm

grab one of the 2010 Turner Flux frames from CRC whilst they still have them in stock (they are half price right now!) and then build it up with 120mm Reba RLT Ti's (with 20mm maxle) or 120mm SIDs (with maxle) and Hope/Stans wheels.

i've just done something very similar (via Merlin) with top end finishing kit throughout (full XT groupset, Thomson bars & stem, Hope Pro II / Crests etc etc etc) and it came it at about £2,100 all in.

Shaggy_Dog

njee20 wrote:

hope Evo/stans podium wheels.

Odd choice, heavy-ish hub with the lightest, most fragile rims out there. Certainly not the rim choice for a 575. 240s on Alpines would be a similar weight and far more versatile.

If you have the money for a dream build on a 575 why are you only considering an M5 Epic, which can't be had frame only anyway? Surely you either have £5k + or you don't?

You often end up with a lighter overall weight with Pro 2's as they have much larger flanges so need shorter spokes.

njee20

Not really, they don't have tiny flanges, but they're not particularly big. A2Z or AM Classic are far larger.

You're talking about a very small weight saving anyway with shorter spokes.

rockmonkeysc

Giant Trance X. Light weight, climbs well, comfortable & descends amazingly well. More fun than an Anthem when descending, ride is closer to 140mm trail bikes than 120mm xc bikes.
I ride mine on the mendip DH trails a lot, I like the way I can abuse it on the way down then quickly ride back to the top for the next trail & keep doing that all day.

IRL_MBiker

Right I've narrowed it down to the Epic or Anthem X... Xc geometry with F&R suspension..

Yes, the Epic frame is available online for just under £1k, the Anthem for £1.2k so pretty close...

Well, yes, i agree that the Crests may be a better choice than the Podiums, i'm running a set of Podium's on Hope 2's already, they seem tough enough for XC, i've gotten them re-trued after a month, but i think thats wise with any handbuilt wheel...
Ideally I would like a set of DT Swiss Ceramic hubs, but don't want to spend an absolute fortune..

Shaggy_Dog

It's just as much a race bike as the Anthem, the handling is just less "racy". Let's put this into context though, no bike will win you an XC race, a bad one might lose it for you but once you have a reasonably light, reasonably efficient bike, it's all down to you.

Taking said reasonably light and efficient bike to a professional and qualified bike fitter will have more impact on your performance than whether one bike is very slightly better than another.

Shaggy_Dog

Sorry, posted that in the wrong thread! Duuur!